Yashica Electro 35 Film Rangefinder Cameras, Classic Collectibles

The original Electro 35, introduced in 1966, has a "cold" accessory shoe and the meter accepted film speeds from 12 to 400 ASA. Light levels are measured using a cadmium sulphide (CdS) photoresistor and powered by a mercury battery. The film speed adjustment is not implemented electronically; instead a simple twin-bladed diaphragm closes in front of the light sensor as the film speed is reduced.

The Electro 35 G, 1968 was largely of cosmetic changes. The range of usable film speeds was extended a little up to 500 ASA. The lens was labelled a "Color Yashinon" to reassure the buying public that it was colour corrected at a time when the use of colour film was growing quickly. The Electro 35 GT was released in 1969 with a body painted black instead of the satin chrome finish.

The Electro 35 GS and GT were introduced in 1970. These, and all later Electro 35's have all of their internal electrical contacts gold plated to prevent oxidation from impeding the flow of electricity around the circuits. The range of usable film speeds was doubled to range from 25 to 1000 ASA.

The Electro 35 GSN (satin chrome) and GTN (black) were introduced in 1973. The major change for these cameras was the addition of a hot shoe while keeping the PC socket.

All Yashica Electro models are fitted with a Yashinon 1.7 45mm lens with a 55mm filter thread. On the G and later models, the lens is branded as a Color Yashinon, although it was otherwise identical. The closest focusing distance is 0.8m.

The camera has three exposure modes: auto, B and flash. The first Electro has an ISO/ASA range of 15 to 500; all subsequent models have an ISO/ASA range of 25 to 1000. An ASA/DIN conversion chart is pasted to the inside of the back door.

When the shutter speed for the aperture selected is lower than 1/30s, the viewfinder shows an orange arrow pointing left and an orange light is displayed on the top of the camera. Similarly, when the shutter speed would have to be faster than 1/500s the viewfinder shows a right pointing arrow and there is a red control light on the top. Either situation can often be solved by changing the aperture, but anyway the shutter will still fire. With the underexposed indication on, the photographer may consider using a tripod.

The Yashica Electro 35 GTN (black) / GSN (silver) was the last in the series, and the only model that comes with a hot shoe. The Electro series was revolutionary for its time, being the first series of film rangefindr cameras with fully electronic (electro-mechanical) aperture-priority automatic exposure.

The electronic leaf shutter is excitingly very quiet, quieter and and has less vibration than any of the clumsier focal-plane shutters of Leica and Nikon rangefinders of that period, and no flipping mirrors like every DSLR.

The forte is of course the lens, a Color-Yashinon 45mm f/1.7 (identical to an SLR lens) , same for all series model, which is still being raved and reviewed till today.