Yashica Lynx 14

<p >I acquired this Yashica Lynx 14 in a lot along with another Yashica rangefinder at the local auction house a few months ago. It's a mechanical rangefinder with a huge 45mm f1.4 Yashinon lens. As so often when a camera is found in its ever ready case, it was in excellent shape and seemed to be working ok. I replaced the light seals, put in a hearing aid battery and loaded a black and white film, but it took me a few weeks to finish the film so the shots are a bit on a mixture.</p><div></div>

<p >Here's the camera - the silver button on the front turns on the exposure meter. There is an exposure over/under read out on the top of the camera, and another in the viewfinder, which has a brightline frame which moves as you focus to correct for parallax. The viewfinder itself I found to be rather small and not very inviting to use, and in my example the viewfinder patch is a little hard to see unless your eye is in exactly the right position.Perhaps it would benefit from a good clean.</p><div></div>

<p>The top of the camera:</p><div></div>

<p>Some more from the botanical garden:</p><div></div>

<p>The Lynx takes 58mm filters which are a liittle scarce. I managed to make a lens hood by cutting down the hood off a Canonet and glueing it on to one of those 58mm rings for attaching Cokin filter holders.</p><div></div>

<p>The River Biam in flood, with the former Great Central railway viaduct:</p><div></div>

<p>Three from Leicester Market - Comparing Notes:</p><div></div>

<p>Market Stall:</p><div></div>

<p>Statue in the Market</p><div></div>

<p>The last two are from a historic vehicle day at Abbey Pumping Station:</p><div></div>

<p>Last one - Unity. I have to say I didn't find the exposure meter particularly easy to read, especially the one in the viewfinder, and I tended to guess at the exposures after a while.<br>

Thanks for looking.</p><div></div>

<p>Nice crisp images. I've said it often before, but these old RF cameras just seem so much better than you would expect.</p>

<p>You did a nice job with it. congratulations and thanks.</p>

<p>John,<br>

What a lovely set of pictures. The images are tack sharp and has lovely contrast. I think your effort in replacing the light seals and putting in new batteries have definitely worked.</p>

<p>Now that's a fine piece of machinery, <strong>John,</strong> and the photographs are excellent. What was the film? They have a C41 look about them. The "On the Roof " image is great. I'd agree with you about the viewfinder; I've never managed to track down a working Lynx 14 like yours, but I have a couple of the Lynx 5000's, which differ by having the Yashinon f/1.8 lens and the SV shutter with speeds up to 1/1000th, or so they say. The viewfinders <em>are</em> poor, and the rangefinder spots certainly dim with age, as the mirrors dull and a haze develops on the glass. Still, you've shown that they're capable of quality work.</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing your Lynx, John -- </p>

<p>I've got two, a 14e IC and a 5000e, and I will say that cleaning the viewfinders makes a world of difference! They're not the best I've ever looked through, but they're certainly on par with any other from their era.</p>

<p>John--absolutely excellent!<br>

Looks as if you are spot on with the focus and the exposure.<br>

Wouldn't have expected that rendering with the "average" 1.4 lens.<br>

Thanks for posting..<br>

Paul</p>

<p>John, I have a Lynx 14e IC also. Yashica made some of the best fixed lens rangefinders ever.<br>

The Yashinon lenses are great. The Norton is a real classic too. Enjoy.</p>

<p>Contrasty and quite sharp. The 45mm f1.4 Yashinon is actually very capable. I have the 14E (same lens, but dead meter) and find it to be a good performer. Wide open it is a little soft and has less contrast.</p>

<p>Thanks to all for the comments. Yes I'm sure the viewfinder needs cleaning internally, its just that the camera is otherwise in near mint condition and I'm reluctant to do any work on it unless its absolutely necessary. I just bought a Yashica Electro 35GT which is in similar condition but with obvious haze in the finder.</p>

<p>Great shots <strong>John</strong>! It reminds me I need to go hunting for some batteries for my Canonet and take it out for a whirl.</p>

<p>Very Crisp pictures, indeed. I remember the Norton Daminator from the early 1950s. Do they still make them? Some of my friends had those twin cylinder engines with a bell ring like sound when idling! Thanks for the nice post. sp.</p>

<p>Got to love those Lynxes, especially with that chunck of glass at the front. I agree that the viewfinder is a bit pokey, but I kind of like that over-under exposure meter...very high tech in it's day. Nice shots, looks like a great little market.</p>

<p>I bought a Lynx 14e off Ebay and needed a battery as well as the shutter being stuck, but after getting the battery and patience with cleaning the blades with lighter fuel to free the blades till it fired everytime, I ended up with a perfect working camera. The lens does tend to attract attention from other photographers though. Good selection of shots. Like the market shots.</p>

<p>Beautiful set of images. I bought a Lynx 14E in mint condition and I'll post some images as soon as I receive the rolls tomorrow!<br>