jared_salyer1 Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I found at a garage sale a Skylark E rangefinder camera. The lens is a Tominor 1.9 45mm. This lens is tack sharp, I have Leica M with 3 lens and this lens is as sharp as the summicron 1.2 50mm. I can't seem to find any info on the tominor lens. If someone knows anything about this lens I would like to know about it. The camera was made by Manfield made in Japan. Thank you, Jared Salyer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 <a href="http://westfordcomp.com/classics/mansfieldskylark/index.htm"> Some Skylark stuff.</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_turner1 Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 From what I understand in past readings, Mansfield was the distributor and Yamato was the actual manufacturer. Several models I gather. Fairly good workmanship even on one of the lower specification metered types I have seen with a Luminor 40mm lens (triplet?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_m Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Which is sharper 'tack sharp', 'pin sharp' or 'razor sharp'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winfried_buechsenschuetz1 Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 This obviously is a name variant of the last Yamato camera. They made a line of Leica-lookalike small rangefinders, and finally they added a simple auto-aperture mechanism. The lens probably is not f/1.9, but f/2.8 as on all other Yamato cameras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin McAmera Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 I bought a Mansfield Skylark and a Yamato Palmat Automatic, which are functionally the same thing, but differ in styling. Neither was working fully, but I cobbled together one camera from the two, and I chose to have it look like the Palmat. What interests me is that you call yours a rangefinder; mine has no focussing at all; it's the simple camera Winfried refers to. It has six shutter speeds, which are really 1/10 - 1/200 plus B, but these are labelled B, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and explained in a table on the back as film speed settings. The aperture is automatic, or you can choose one of three fixed settings, intended for use with flash. I have only taken one film, to satisfy myself with my repair. I was quite impressed, but then I like the Pax cameras, and this is the same lens and shutter really. My Skylark's lens was called a Mantar and the Palmat's was a Luminor (both 40 mm f/3.5). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_waters Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 <p>The Skylark E seems to be a bit of a mystery. While bearing the Mansfield logo, it does not bear the Yamato name on the bottom plate as other Skylark Models. It is not even listed among the Skylark models. I too thought it must be a Yamato model or name variant that didn't make it to the Mansfield list, but alas, I could not find one like it listed among the Yamato fare either. I thought it looked an awful lot like the Beauty line, but again, nothing. I can find no info on the lens, nor does the meter, shutter speed and lens combo match with anything I can find. Perhaps a model that was not realeased anywhere but Japan, perhaps a rare find, as I have one as well. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, I can't wait to put film in it, and give it a go after your description of the lens. It is a great looking camera, and will display nicely when I am not playing with it!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_waters Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 PS. It is also not a mini version, like the Pax. It is a full size 35mm Rangefinder camera with a very nice built in light meter, (mine works GREAT), shutter speeds 1-500 and beautiful coated 1.9 45mm lens. Looks nothing like the other Skylark models, as it is a very nice looking camera. If someone out there knows anything, please jump in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_waters Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 <p>I will try and submit photos...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_waters Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 <p>here are a couple of photos...</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_waters Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 and another<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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