Yashica Penta J Camera Test

[PFMcFarland]

Found this one in an antique mall last year with the original lens cap, meter, accessory shoe, instruction book, and ERC. And it works! It was tested with Kodak ProFoto XL 100, getting 39 exposures from the roll. The meter is off a stop, but that can possibly be adjusted out. Not bad for being at least fifty years old (manufactured 1962-64). Lens is clean, and the diaphragm is snappy. And I’m happy.

PF


Yashica Penta J by br1078phot, on Flickr



Upsweep by br1078phot, on Flickr



Concrete Close-up by br1078phot, on Flickr



St. Andrews Reconstruction 2 by br1078phot, on Flickr



Feather Landing by br1078phot, on Flickr



Country and Commonwealth by br1078phot, on Flickr



Work Bridge 2 by br1078phot, on Flickr



High Ground by br1078phot, on Flickr

More photos at the link below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N ... 231659081/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dennis Gallus]

Phil,
That looks like a good purchase. I had a Yashica J-something back in 1980 or so. It wasn't quite an auto diaphragm, if I recall one had to push a lever on the side of the lens body to reopen the aperture blades after taking a photo. All the same, it took very good photos.

Keep on posting, you are one of the site's most prolific members.

Best,
Dennis

[PFMcFarland]

Thanks, Dennis. That's the way this lens works, it's semi-automatic.

PF

[melek]

Is the meter bolted onto the camera? It seems to be a real nice camera with a sharp lens. And is the shutter release on the front of the camera - like an Alpa?

I'm always happy to see one of the lesser-known camera discussed and used

[PFMcFarland]

Is the meter bolted onto the camera? It seems to be a real nice camera with a sharp lens. And is the shutter release on the front of the camera - like an Alpa?

I'm always happy to see one of the lesser-known camera discussed and used

On the original SLR series from Yashica, which were also meterless, the shutter release was mounted at an angle. When the J series came out, it was turned towards the front to clear the clip-on meter, Mike. It's like a lot of add-on accessories from that time which were extra cost niceties. There is a shoe mounted on the front of the top cover with the letter J engraved on it, and that is where the meter resides, with a coupler over the shutter speed dial. You can see a notch in the bottom right of the shoe, and that is where the clamp from the meter hooks to secure it to the camera.


Yashica Penta J by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

[melek]

Thanks for the other photo. I like it without the meter and love that pointy prism housing. Look a bit like a Nikon F. I wonder if that was intentional.

My first view through an SLR was around 1972 when my hippie aunt showed up with her hippie boyfriend, their VW microbus, her guitar, his Yashica camera and a lot of hippie clothes. I recall the view had a purple tint (Purple Haze!). I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

[PFMcFarland]

The Nikkorex F had a similar arrangement, Mike.

PF

[davela]

I had one of these once a long time ago - can't remember how I got it, but I probably should have kept it. It is really a rugged all-mechanical beast. The controls sort of reminded me of rangefinder bodies of that era, less refined (in a sense that would appeal to the masses) than later model SLR's, but still nicely made. Yashica was certainly a serious contender in the market in those days.