Jump to content

Yashica Lynx 14 or 14e?


bennybee

Recommended Posts

Hi,

I am very happy to have found this very interesting and friendly

forum for classic cameras. Untill now I've been lurking but I wanted

your advice about which Yashica Lynx with the f1.4 lens to buy.

The Lynx 14 seems to have a meter window on the top plate, but is the

light meter also visible in the viewfinder? Isn't the Lynx 14E (with

the lights/LEDs) perhaps more reliable because of the solid state

nature of the lightmeter readout?

My other classic cameras are : a Yashica Electro 35 GSN, an Agfa

Isolette III with Apotar lens (restored by Certo6), an Agfa Record

III with Solinar (at this moment CLA'd by Certo6), a Retina IIc, a

Topcon Unirex with five UV-Topcor lenses. I also own a Retina IIIS

and Retinette IIb, both of which I think of selling off soon.

A Konica Auto S2 may well be on the whish list for this year too...

Hope to read and see more interesting threads here. Thanks in advance

for your input. Best, BENNY.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have the Lynx 14. The simple little match-needle meter on the top cover is handy and accurate. The display in the viewfinder is another story. That is a purely optical system using a reflective coating on a piece of glass placed at a 45-degree angle in front of the viewfinder window. In my Lynx the coating has deteriorated, mostly along the top edge, so the viewfinder meter readout is not visible unless I point the camera directly at a very bright light. The rangefinder patch is also dim, though still useable.<br>    I think either model is capable of producing very good results, and that condition is really the issue. If you are going to buy one at a distance, it would be very important to question the seller very specifically about the condition of the viewfinder/rangefinder and the meter. While I often rely on sunny-16 and estimated focal settings in my street shooting, the Lynx is obviously a camera that one really wants to work flawlessly under low-light conditions.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

with older cameras like this, I'd get whichever one was in better condition. Frankly, I wouldn't count on the meters being reliable in either case. The reason to buy either of these cameras is the lens, and it's the same on both. Expect the meters not to last. BTW, the Konica Auto S2 is wonderful as well, but the same caveat about the meters applies. A good Auto S2 without a working meter can be found for $25-30, while the ones with good meters go for 2-3X as much.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Even on the Lynx14E the indicator lights are not very bright and barely visible when shooting in sunlight. I replaced the original bulbs by some designed for model trains, and they are much brighter. I currently have some trouble with the meter circuitry of my 14E but I think it is not a common fault. Many 14E's on the market suffer from rotten battery contacts (sometimes corrosion is even visible behind the semi-opaque viewfinder window, the battery compartment is very close to it) and/or rotten battery wires. Other common faults are misbent internal aperture levers which don't move the aperture any more. The giant lens barrel is not very rugged and sometimes the whole barrel gets somewhat misbent due to bumps. If the filter ring is dented, check the lens barrel carefully. If not all grooves and edges are exactly in parallel with the camera body the camera probably is a junker. However, the excellent lens is worth some repair efforts.

 

The meter on the Konica Auto-S2 is a different story. These often suffer from corroded contacts of the battery test switch - pretty often the needle moves when the test button is pressed. You can bypass the test switch, try to clean the contacts or - the only permanent cure - make a new switch contact from a tiny piece of nickel-plated metal sheet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you all. Great info. I now know what to watch out for. It is indeed a camera that you buy for the lens. BTW, I was extremely happy with the results of the Yahsinon DX 45mm/1.7 lens of the Electro GSN : incredibly sharp and splendid contrast and colours. That is what sharpened my appetite for yet another Yashica RF camera. And the lens on the Lynx 1.4 does look awesome too, doesn't it? Thanks.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Benny, I have both cameras. The top deck meter indicator is a

nice feature of the 14...advantage 14. The meter of the 14E, with

internal LEDs is probably more rugged...advantage 14E. 14

calls for PX625 mercury cell, while 14E calls for PX640 mercury

cell. Adapters like CRIS MR9 (others available too) allow use of

the 14 with easy to find hearing aid batteries. PX640A cells

(alkaline, 1.5v) are currently available through Radio

Shack....expensive and who knows how much longer they will be

available. Adapters are available for this battery, but are spendy

if you get the best. Battery advantage arguably goes to the 14 .

Service for both cameras is available from Mark Hama, who

knows these cameras better than anyone else. He replaced the

degraded mirrors in the rangefinder of both of my cameras, and

also the mirror for the internal meter indicator on the 14. Both

cameras now functon like NEW! These are heavy beasts, so be

prepared to buy a nice Op-Tech strap if you intend to tote them

around for any length of time. I like both models. In twilight

conditions, I use he 14E due to the LEDs. Otherwise, I like the

needle indicator of the 14 as it seems more precise when

making over/under exposures. Lest I forget, they are truly

awesome picture-takers, too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't help with the Yashica question, but I just recently

purchased a Konica Auto S2 from Cameta camera. It came with

the manual, and it's in excellent shape, and the meter works fine.

Of course, since I can also use it manually without the AP

feature, the meter is helpful, but not essential, should it go. I

shot one test roll so far -- exposures were fine. Now I look to

using it quite a bit in the next few months. It certainly is a much

bigger camera than the Canon QL17!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...