Yashica Yashica-A Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

davta9
( Expert)

Review Date
January 28, 2005

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5,
4 votes

Review 1 of 9

Price Paid: $50.00

Summary:

i purchased this camera off an Internet listing site with the intention to learn and get experience in medium format photography. so far for the $50 dollars i paid, i have gotten much more in return. this camera is a joy to use. i would recommend a hand meter before going out to take photo cuz this camera has none. so far i have ran two rolls through it and the images where very nice. i shot about 5 images at f3.5 and the rest at f8 due to it being a foggy day. the images are sharp...even at f3.5 witch was surprising. the blur this camera produces in the background of portraits is wonderful. i do me own darkroom work and working with 6x6 negs was a joy as well. i don't know if I'll ever use my 35mm again. i might have to upgrade to a full medium format system=) the only complaint i have is the focusing screen is dark. i was worried that all the images i took would be out if focus...but lucky i was wrong=) worth every penny..go out and get one if you wanna get a feel for medium format!!

Strengths:

a joy to use...takes you back to the basics of photography. big negs!! price..can be found for cheap! the fact that is makes images that surpass my far more expensive 35mm SLR and is lighter due to its...no extra stuff to carry...IE extra lenses.

Weaknesses:

dark viewfinder image....makes you second guess your focus. i would say thats the only draw back but even that still doesn't take away from its low price and high image quality.

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Rating
Reviewed by:
(Professional)

Review Date
May 5, 2003

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5,
4 votes

Review 2 of 9

Price Paid: $45.00 from at a salvation army

Summary:

This Yashica A model is simply one of the best buys in the camera world,once youve learned to handle it you can get very sharp results with beautifull blur and contrasts although not as versatile as the yahicamats and 635(my favorite)it is a very good learner/beginner camera for a student who really want to learn photography and go medium format. Put an Trix or an Agfapan film in it ,set it on f11 or f16 and you will blow away any 35 mm formats in many aspects,as long you get the time and subject in front of you whether landscape nature or portraits. Im really amazed how much photography you get for the money! go ahead -enjoy

Strengths:

MUCHO.! Sharpness,the >right> blur strenght can take 35 mm film format(great !try it!) 6x6 format good looks

Weaknesses:

Needs time to install and work with but that goes with the fun! a little heavy best sharpness at f 11 and f 16 paralax

Similar Products Used:

rollie mamiya hassys bronica and other yashicas(my favorite is the 635)..

Customer Service:

none

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Rating
Reviewed by: John McKenzee
(Expert)

Review Date
March 13, 2001

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5,
3 votes

Review 3 of 9

Price Paid: $100.00 from Adorama

Summary:

Great backup camera for any system if you need to make enlargements. It is as cheap as the 35mm Nikon 50 1.7. With its all manual controls and no need for batteries you will always be able to get an image.

Sharpness is really good at f16.

Strengths:

Sharp lens at f16. I tested this by putting a laser printout with font size 4 on it 13 feet from my tripod mounted camera. I could read the letters from the negative (TMax 100) after developing normally in my basement sink with TMax developer.

Sharpness at edges is ok at f11.

16x20 enlargments blow away my Nikon 50 1.7 lens. Contrast and image quality are just great.

Weaknesses:

Soft at f3.5 - f8

My mirror/prism is out of alignment so I have to focus a foot in front of the subject for the subject to be sharp - but this is not normaly a problem at f16 which is what you want to use on this camera.

It does not hold film flat. I had to put in a single black construction paper and two strips of electrical tape on the plate that is supposed to hold the film flat. Since then, my negatives are consistent.

Similar Products Used:

Rolleicord V

Customer Service:

Not used.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Jonathan Bundick
(Intermediate)

Review Date
February 11, 2001

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.25 of 5,
4 votes

Review 4 of 9

Price Paid: $69.00 from Ebay

Summary:

This is a great camera. Use if within it's limitations, and you can't go wrong. Very sharp when stoped down, and great for soft port's wide open. A great addition to a complete camera system.

Strengths:

Light, Built like a tank. Inexpensive, and Sharp if stoped down past f11

Weaknesses:

Limited shutter speed range, (1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300) Soft when shot wide open.

Similar Products Used:

Other TLR's

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Rating
Reviewed by: don farra
(Expert)

Review Date
October 3, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 5 of 9

Price Paid: $80.00 from texas

Summary:

*This camera is a fun toy. Lets face it if you own one of these you know that "soft" images come naturally to this camera.
*It is a very simple camera with very basic controls, but when you think of it all the old masters has nothing more than this to play with it is not all that limiting.
*The only reason I brought this camera was I used something like it in high school and created some great shots with that one. Now it serves as a reminder that you can really go over board on spending money on photographic gear and still not have as much fun going back to the basics.
*Why give it 5 stars? For the money and the relative image quality it provides along with the enjoyment it provides there are few cameras out there that can match this fun toy.

Strengths:

*primative
*built in soft lense
*tuff camera body

Weaknesses:

*primative
*focusing can be pain with low contrast subjects and in low light levels
*film loading can be a real pain sometimes.

Similar Products Used:

*other twin lens cameras over the years

Customer Service:

*not worth fixing if it breaks, then again what is there to break?

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