Got my very first RF. Yashica G Electro 35

enomooshiki · Aug 29, 2010

I finally got my very first rangefinder off ebay.

Yashica G Electro 35. I received it today and I have few questions.

Battery - What kind of battery does it take? Does it take one of those older mercury batteries? Is there a way to get them? or alternative?

Focusing - I noticed that when event I put the focus ring on infinity, I couldn't quite focus to the object that was very far away. Is this normal? or is there a problem that can be fixed?

Thank you for your time, your help is greatly appreciated.

Mats_A · Aug 29, 2010

I have a Yashica Electron GS. If yours also takes an old mercury battery 5,6 V then I can help you. The mercury battery can't be had any more but there are several options. I'm using two batteries stacked. On 3V Kodak Litium Battery 123 and one Kodak 1,5V LR9. This makes only 4,5V but these cameras works as well with lover voltage.
Other options are also available. Duracell are supposed to have a 5,5V cell that fits but I could not find it. These batteries that I use should be available in any photo store.

good luck

Mats

IloveTLRs · Aug 29, 2010

I had one a few years ago. I had a battery adapter that let me use modern batteries ... sorry, I don't remember what adapter/battery

samcomet · Aug 29, 2010

I use the A32PX which is 6V. and my camera guy says that this is ok. It's never been a problem for me in all the years that I've been using it. No adaptor required....it IS a bit uncommon to find though.....I did a web search to find a specialist battery place in my city of Sydney and got them sent by mail. I don't know about mail restrictions where you are but some countries will NOT allow alkaline bateries sent thru the post. Good luck. BTW there are a few excellent websites for Yashica & the Electro 35....don't know them offhand but I found them thru the popular web search engine. Cheers & happy shooting, sam

elekm · Aug 29, 2010

You can solder a small spring to the battery chamber door and narrow the opening for use with the 4LR44 6-volt battery, which seems to work well.

It sounds like your rangefinder is slightly out of calibration. You would need to remove the top deck to adjust this and also have some knowledge about which screw to turn to make the adjustment.

Also, if it hasn't been done already, you should consider replacing the foam seals. If the original seals are still in the camera, they're goo. Don't let the debris get into the shutter.

rmolson · Aug 29, 2010

Yashica batteries

There are quite few choices available for the Electro G. Radio Shack carries a 6 volt battery the right size the 4 LR52 /there is also the 6V 28 A and the 4LR44.
The Yashica guy www.yashica-guy.com also has an adapter the uses a smaller energizer 544. All of these work very well in the Electro and give pretty consistent results The cameras electronics seem very robust and can handle a variations voltage unlike some cameras that are only meter accurately with one type of battery.

Galah · Aug 29, 2010

The question of a suitable battery for the Yashica Electro GS comes up perennially.

I use an Excell Photo 6v alkaline A32PX, which has the exact physical dimensions to fit the battery compartment and works the electronics of the camera well.

I understand there is, also, a Duracell PX32A that also has the right dimensions and also works well (but I haven't used it myself).

Although both these batteries produce 6v (instead of the original 5.7), if you read the owner's manual, you will see it doesn't matter ,as the electronics are designed to deal with a range of voltages and do not require the exact voltage to function properly.

I'm in Oz, and I obtained mine through a speciality battery store called "The Battery Bar". "Battery World", another chain, may also be able to order one in, if required.

enomooshiki · Aug 30, 2010

Thank you everyone for answering the battery questions!

enomooshiki · Aug 31, 2010

rmolson said:
There are quite few choices available for the Electro G. Radio Shack carries a 6 volt battery the right size the 4 LR52 /there is also the 6V 28 A and the 4LR44.

So, If I can find a 4LR44, it would fit nicely in camera?

enomooshiki · Sep 5, 2010

Woo Hoo!

I got my battery adapter and fresh new battery for the Yashica and it works! It seems like meter is working and shutter speed is responding too.

I still have to adjust the focus.
What's the best way to go about and do this? I found how to adjust it, but I don't know the guide line..
Do I just put the lens at infinity and match the image with a tree far away?

Galah · Sep 5, 2010

enomooshiki said:
Woo Hoo!

I still have to adjust the focus...Do I just put the lens at infinity and match the image with a tree far away?

Well, a lot depends on whether the rangefinder on your camera is accurate or not.

If it is accurate (check by matching up the split image in your viewfinder at different known distances and reading the focus distance off the focus scale around the lens), then focus on your subject by matching the split image. The Minolta 7s adjusts for parallax (but only up to the closest focus distance).

If the rangefinder is inaccurate, you can still use hyperfocal distance focusing by using the smallest aperture available under the circumstances (highest f number) and adjusting the focus so the the infinity distance symbol is opposite the f number being used. This will maximise your depth of field and, depending on the aperture used, most things will be in focus. (Do not use this for subjects closer than about six feet.)

Got my very first RF. Yashica G Electro 35

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