Molly Ayala
The Yashica Electro 35 is a rangefinder camera made by the Japanese company Yashica from the mid-1960s onwards. It was the first electronically controlled camera, operating mainly in an aperture priority 'auto' mode. The camera has a bright viewfinder, and the yellow focusing patch of the rangefinder is well-sized and clearly visible in most lighting conditions. The Electro 35 is a popular choice for film photography enthusiasts and is known for its ease of use and sleek, retro design. In this article, we will explore the key features of the Yashica Electro 35 and provide tips and tricks for shooting with this iconic camera.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Camera Type | Rangefinder film camera |
| Manufacturer | Yashica |
| Lens | Color-Yashinon DX 45mm f/1.7 |
| Modes | Aperture priority 'auto', 'flash' (1/30), and 'bulb' |
| Usable Film Speeds | 25 to 1000 ASA |
| Power Source | 5.6V mercury battery (now banned) or 6V alkaline battery (PX28A or 4LR44) |
| Shutter Speed | 1/500 to about a minute |
| Shutter Release | Pressing the shutter button halfway displays arrows indicating over or under-exposure |
| Viewfinder | Parallax-correcting framelines; bright with a well-sized yellow focusing patch |
| Focus | Manual focus dial; self-adjusts for parallax |
| Light Metering | Cadmium sulphide (CdS) photoresistor |
| Film Advance | Manual |
| Film Types | Color or black-and-white with good dynamic range |
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What You'll Learn
Setting up the camera
The Yashica Electro 35 is a rangefinder camera made by the Japanese company Yashica from the mid-1960s onwards. It was the first electronically controlled camera, operating mainly in an aperture-priority 'auto' mode. The shutter is controlled electronically, so you will need a battery. The camera is designed to operate using a 5.6V mercury battery, but these have been banned due to environmental concerns. However, a 6V alkaline battery (PX28A or 4LR44) may be used with a purchased adaptor.
To set up the camera, first, check if the rubber pad inside the camera is functioning. As the film advance lever is operated, this slider shoots up to its original position, hitting a small rubber pad at the top. Over time, this rubber degenerates and prevents the proper internal operation of the camera. If the camera doesn't make a loud "clunk" when you wind the lever, the pad needs to be replaced.
Next, load the film. The Yashica Electro 35 is a film camera, so you will need to buy film, load it into the camera, and then send the film to be developed and scanned to get your images.
Then, set the ISO on the bottom of the lens. Look through the viewfinder and you will see two left and right arrow indicators. Press the shutter button down halfway; one of these arrows will light up, telling you which direction to adjust your aperture to get a good range of exposure.
Finally, check the focus. Look into the viewfinder and adjust the focus dial to combine the rangefinder focusing patch with the main image. You can also try measuring from the camera to an object at a specific distance, focusing the camera, and checking if the distance marking on the lens barrel matches the measured distance.
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Using the viewfinder
The Yashica Electro 35 is a rangefinder camera, so its focus system may be unfamiliar to those who have only used SLRs or point-and-shoot cameras. To focus, you must adjust the focus dial until the rangefinder focusing patch in the viewfinder combines with the main image. The Electro 35's viewfinder is bright, and the yellow focusing patch is well-sized and clearly visible in most lighting conditions.
The Yashica Electro 35's viewfinder also has indicators to help you adjust the exposure. The Slow and Over lights on top of the camera illuminate when you press the shutter button halfway, but they can be hard to see when you're lining up a shot. However, the Yashica Electro 35 also has arrows that light up in the viewfinder, making it easier to adjust the exposure. The red arrow pointing right corresponds with the red Over light, while the orange arrow corresponds with the orange Slow light.
The Yashica Electro 35's viewfinder also automatically corrects for parallax error. The brightline framing indicators move from the centre of the viewfinder to the lower-right corner as you move the focus point closer. This automatic parallax correction means that the image area only occupies about 50-60% of the scene you see in the viewfinder.
Finally, remember to take off the lens cap before shooting with the Yashica Electro 35, as it is easy to forget when you're not looking through the lens.
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Adjusting focus
The Yashica Electro 35 is a rangefinder camera, which means that it has a coupled and fixed 1:1.7 45mm lens. This type of camera typically has a manual focus, with a focus dial that you adjust to combine the rangefinder focusing patch with the main image.
To adjust the focus on the Yashica Electro 35, you can try the following methods:
- Look into the viewfinder and turn the focus dial until the rangefinder focusing patch and the main image overlap.
- Use a laser pointer through the viewfinder and adjust the rangefinder until the two dots overlap.
- Adjust the horizontal/infinity setting under the hot shoe.
- Adjust the vertical setting behind the battery check plate.
- Take the top off the camera to access the internal mechanisms and make adjustments with a screwdriver, being careful not to damage the rangefinder.
It's important to note that the Yashica Electro 35's original mercury battery has been banned due to environmental concerns. Using an alternative battery and adapter may affect the camera's light metering and shutter speed, which can result in blurry photos. Therefore, it's recommended to replace the foam light seals around the film compartment regularly to prevent light leaks and ensure optimal focus and exposure.
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Choosing the right film
The Yashica Electro 35 is a 35mm film rangefinder camera, which was manufactured from 1966 to 1977. It has a fixed 45mm f1.7 Yashinon lens, which delivers sharp images with good contrast. The camera works in Aperture Priority mode, which means that the photographer chooses the aperture and the camera chooses the exposure time. The Yashica Electro 35 also has a bulb setting for long exposures.
When choosing a film for the Yashica Electro 35, it is important to consider the ISO or ASA setting. The camera can be used with films ranging from ISO 12 to ISO 500, with the ISO/ASA setting easily accessible on the top of the camera. For low-light situations, a higher ISO film, such as Lomography 800, is recommended, although this will result in grainier images. For sharper images, a lower ISO film, such as Kodak Gold 100, is a better choice.
Another factor to consider when choosing a film is the type of images you want to capture. The Yashica Electro 35 can be used with colour or black-and-white film. A recommended colour film is the Agfaphoto Vista 400, while a possible black-and-white film is the Kodak TRI-X. It is important to note that the Yashica Electro 35 does not have a full manual mode, so metering must be considered when choosing a film. For this reason, chromes are not recommended for this camera.
Overall, the Yashica Electro 35 is a versatile camera that can be used with a variety of films to capture sharp and high-quality images. By considering the ISO/ASA setting, lighting conditions, and desired image type, photographers can choose the right film to achieve their desired results.
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Replacing the battery
The original battery for the Yashica Electro 35 is no longer available. You will need to purchase an adapter to fit a new battery into your camera.
The most commonly recommended replacement battery is the PX28A (4LR44) alkaline, which can be purchased with an adapter. The 4LR44 battery is also available on its own, but an adapter will be required to fit it into the camera.
Another option is the PX32 adapter, which transforms a 6V PX28 battery into a PX32. The PX28 battery is cheap and widely available, so this option may work out cheaper in the long run.
You can also use 675 zinc-air hearing aid batteries without an adapter, although the voltage will not be quite right. These batteries are very cheap, but only last a couple of months, which is usually long enough for a roll of film.
Finally, you could try the A32PX, which has the best on-load volt drop.
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Frequently asked questions
The Yashica Electro 35 is a rangefinder camera, first introduced in 1966. It was the first electronically controlled camera, operating in an aperture priority 'auto' mode.
First, set the ISO on the bottom of the lens. Then, look through the viewfinder and press the shutter button down halfway. One of the two arrow indicators will light up, indicating which direction to adjust the aperture to get the right exposure. Finally, press the shutter button fully to capture the image.
The original Electro 35 was designed to use a 5.6V mercury battery. However, due to environmental concerns, these batteries have been banned. Instead, you can use a 6V alkaline battery (PX28A or 4LR44) with a purchased adaptor.
The Yashica Electro 35 has a battery check button on the back. If the frame counter lights up, the battery is working. Alternatively, set the ASA dial to a low number, the aperture to 16, and go into a dark room. Then, press the shutter button halfway and check if the orange 'slow' light comes on.
