Finally I have found soem time to present you some of my analog cameras.
Lets beginng with one of my all-time-favourites:
The Yashica T3
It’s a Japanese Point-n-shoot from the late 1980s. No eye candy at all but the inner values definately count. It provides s very good lens, a Carl Zeiss T* Tessar 2.8/35, also known as „eagle eye“.
Overall there are five different T-models which appeared in chronological order. Only the T3 is equipped with the faster 2.8 Tessar (instead of 3.5.).
The sister version the T3D has in addition a date function and can imprint the year, month and day (till 2019!) There is also a T3 Super which – when my research results are right – was only available for the US-American market. It has some features of the later upcoming T4 like continuous shooting and preflash combined with the 2.8 Tessar.
The successor, the Yashica T4, was made famous by the photographys of Terry Richardson.
Main specifications
- shutter speeds from 1/630 to 1 second
- self timer with aprox. 10 seconds
- film speeds ISO 64-1600 (DX Code)
- focus from 0,5 m to infinite
- automatic load mechanism, film transport and rewind
- integrated flash with an automatic at low-light (ca be turned off)
- 6-V-lithium-battery (2CR5)
- weatherproof protection (JIS-Norm 4)
- dimensions: 128 x 67,5 x 52mm
- weight: 275g (without battery)
- list price 1991: 287 DM (German Mark; thanks to Hartmut for the information!)
- price (10/2010): 20 € with shipping, case and manual
I bought this camera back in october 2010 at ebay. I began studying in a new towm and wanted to capture my everyday university life and other moments as uncomplicated as possible.
Very important for me was an easy and fast handling, provided by a good autofocus, fast prime lens, standard battery, a flash and a handy size.
A very nice feature is the N.A.scope, an angle finder, which allows you to shoot from below or above your head.
It could have been the perfect camera, if the T3 had a quiter or even manual film transport. It is possible to take discreet pictures, but you should not unpress the trigger till you have left the scene. After you release your finger from the trigger a really awful noise starts. ;)
Like many analog cameras, which have a reputation to be something „special“, the second hand prices began to rise enormously. I had the chance many years ago to get it for aprox. 20 bucks. It does not look like a very good camera, more like a plasic-fantastic lomy-style ugly thing.
Even if it’s not a good-looking camera the photograph show that it does not to gave to hide itself!
In general I do not have many bad negatives. I’m always looking forward to pick up a developed film, beause I knew: My Yashica T3 never lets me down.