Yashica FX-3 35mm SLR w/ 50mm f1.9 lens (serial 924481)
Yashica FX-3 35mm SLR w/ 50mm f1.9 lens (serial 924481)
The Yashica FX-3 is a simple mechanical 35mm film SLR that's compatible with the excellent range of Contax/Yashica mount lenses (including many amazing old Carl Zeiss lenses). The included 50mm f1.9 Yashica lens is sharp and smooth to focus.
This is a very easy-to-use camera: you just tap a button next to the viewfinder to activate the light meter and adjust the shutter speed and/or lens F-stop until you see the green LED.
Like nearly all Yashica/Kyocera models from its era, this camera had badly degraded leatherette so we replaced it with genuine leather cut with a 'Cricut' machine. While this leather (which we reclaimed from a garment with a broken zipper) shows some wear, it's quite a nice upgrade from the original in our opinion.
Note that the test photos included were taken using expired Fujifilm Eterna 64D cinema film hence the somewhat unusual color rendition.
This camera's light meter requires two 357 silver oxide batteries (available as an option).
Condition notes
The camera and lens were tested with film and it performed very well both in terms of sharpness and exposure accuracy. In addition, the camera was tested with a shutter speed analyzer and all speeds were verified to be working well. As mentioned above, we replaced the crumbled old leatherette with genuine leather. The camera's body shows some brassing and cosmetic wear (see photos).
Manual
http://www.cameramanuals.org/yashica_pdf/yashica_fx-3_short.pdf
Note: the Yashica FX-3 and FX-7 are identical cameras except for their colors (black and silver respectively).
Specifications
- Type: 35mm single-lens reflex camera with focal plane shutter.
- Year Introduced: 1979 *Country of Origin: Japan.
- Construction: Composite top cover and skin with alloy metal internal skeleton, brass or stamped steel bottom plate.
- Negative Size: 24 x 36mm
- Lens Mount: Contax/Yashica bayonet mount.
- Flash Synchronization: Hotshoe mount, synchronizes at 1/125sec. or slower, no TTL flash.
- Self-Timer: Mechanical, 10-sec. delay, mirror prefire feature when activated.
- Shutter: Mechanical, vertical-travel metal blade, focal plane type.
- Shutter Release: Mechanical, threaded for standard remote cable release.
- Shutter Speeds: B (bulb), 1 to 1/1000sec. (12 steps).
- Exposure Metering: Through-the-lens, full-aperture center weighted light metering with SPD cell; manual exposure with LED display; metering range: EV 2-18 (with ASA 100 and 50mm F1.4 lens); ASA 12--1600 film speed range; exposure meter switch activated by pressing the exposure check button.
- Batteries: Two 1.5V alkaline (LR44) or 1.55V silver oxide (SR44) batteries, battery powers only lightmeter.
- Viewfinder: Eye-level, penta-prism type; 92% FOV and 0.91X magnification (with 50mm lens at infinity).
- Focusing Screen: Fixed, diagonal Split-image/microprism. Viewfinder Information: Display of correct exposure, over- and under-exposure with 3 LEDs.
- DOF Preview: None.
- Film Advance: Lever with 130° stroke and 20° stand-off. No power winder or motor drive capability.
- Film Rewind: Film rewind crank.
- Exposure Counter: Additive type, auto reset.
- Dimensions: 135 (W) x 84.5 (H) x 50 (D) mm
- Weight: 445g (without batteries).