Recommend Yashica D Accessories?

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rchae94

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Hello everyone, this is my first post on the APUG forums, so sorry for writing a topic that might be a bit common.

I recently purchased a Yashica D TLR, and am looking towards purchasing some accessories for it. I'm not well acquainted with the system format. Could anyone here recommend me:

A leather neck strap
Lens Hood
etc.

I'm based in South Korea, so SEA would be great (or USA I guess)

Thank you!
 

Down Under

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The Yashica, like its contemporary the Rolleiflex TLR, functions best as a minimalist camera. You can get by on very few accessories, and instead concentrate on getting the best out of your compositions and the very high quality of your images.

To me the true joy of using a Yashica (or indeed any other TLR) for general shooting, is that you need so little beyond the basics to go out and produce truly good negatives or slides. It's a great feeling to set out on a 15 mile forest hike or mountain trek as I did last weekend, with your camera kit (I took my Rolleiflex T) and indulge yourself in shooting all day without the feeling that your bag is getting heavier with every kilometer (or mile) you walk.

You did not say which lens is on your D, the less expensive Yashikor (three elements,very similar to the Novar, Xenar or other 'budget' lenses) or the more upmarket Yashinon (four elements, very similar to the Tessar). Someone here will very likely chip in with opinions as to which is best, but take it from one who has used both, with care and concentrating on taking your shots at the sweet spots from f/8 to f/16, you wouldn't really notice any difference between the two.

Two items you will need right away are a reliable exposure meter and a lens hood. Some use the Sunny Sixteen Method (set the camera f/16 and the speed at the EI/ISO rating, so if you are shooting TMax 100 or 400 you would be exposing at 1/100 at f/16 or 1/500 at about halfway between f/11 and f/16. Adjust to open more (downwards, so from f/16 to f/11 to f/8 to f/5.6) to compensate for shade or less light. As an example, shots with TMax 100 in open shade in the forest would probably mean exposures of 1/25 at f/8 or 1/60 at f/11. Trying to explain all this further to you would be too complicated. Get a meter and learn to use it. You will never look back.

Accessories now. A UV filter, to protect your lens and provide a small degree of light ray protection. Later on you can add a few black-and-white filters if you plan to shoot 'monochrome', a yellow, maybe an orange, a green, and a red. Also close up lenses, which consist of two separate lenses, the actual close up which goes on the taking lens, and a parallel corrector lens to be put on the viewing lens.

If you find a good polariser at an affordable price, go for it. I bought one in the 1970s for my Rollei and while I use it t most one or two times a year,it serves its purpose,which is to cut or remove glare from surfaces such as water. Almost a must for good landscapes or seascapes.

The good news in all this is that any of the Rollei accessories (filters and close ups in the bayonet I), which can be a little expensive, but of assuredly very high quality.

A camera grip (generic brand will be fine) will provide that extra element of stability, as will a camera strap, ideally adjustable.The strap you can make yourself at home, with easily obtained materials.

You can buy a tripod later, if your photography involves lengthy timed exposures. The new carbon fiber models are a tad expensive, but very light. I recently bought one in Singapore, and I have to say I wish I had got it twenty years ago.

And film, of course. Bob's your uncle in this area, there is a virtually endless choice of good 120 emulsions. I use Kodak TMax for B&W and Ektar for color negatives, and on those nowadays very rare occasions when I shoot slides, any of the good Fuji brands. My camera bag currently has ten rolls of TMax 400 (the 100 is more fine-grained but with 120 roll film, the faster 400 is ideal for everyday use and you won't lose any quality or sharpness), two of Ektar, and three of Fuji Provia.

Roll film is ridiculously expensive in Australia where I live, and a roll will give you 12 shots, so this is where minimalist thinking again has its place. Compose your shots carefully. Aim for quality rather than quantity. One or two or at most three well composed images will satisfy you far more than machine-gunning 100 or 200 virtually similar images with THAT medium, as a brief foray in Flickr will quickly show you.

All the above rather stretches the meaning of 'minimalist' to an extent. Get the lens hood, the UV, the meter, and a grip or a camera cord, load your D with film, go out for the day, and shoot. You will be amazed at the results.
 
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rchae94

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The Yashica, like its contemporary the Rolleiflex TLR, functions best as a minimalist camera. You can get by on very few accessories, and instead concentrate on getting the best out of your compositions and the very high quality of your images.

To me the true joy of using a Yashica (or indeed any other TLR) for general shooting, is that you need so little beyond the basics to go out and produce truly good negatives or slides. It's a great feeling to set out on a 15 mile forest hike or mountain trek as I did last weekend, with your camera kit (I took my Rolleiflex T) and indulge yourself in shooting all day without the feeling that your bag is getting heavier with every kilometer (or mile) you walk.

You did not say which lens is on your D, the less expensive Yashikor (three elements,very similar to the Novar, Xenar or other 'budget' lenses) or the more upmarket Yashinon (four elements, very similar to the Tessar). Someone here will very likely chip in with opinions as to which is best, but take it from one who has used both, with care and concentrating on taking your shots at the sweet spots from f/8 to f/16, you wouldn't really notice any difference between the two.

Two items you will need right away are a reliable exposure meter and a lens hood. Some use the Sunny Sixteen Method (set the camera f/16 and the speed at the EI/ISO rating, so if you are shooting TMax 100 or 400 you would be exposing at 1/100 at f/16 or 1/500 at about halfway between f/11 and f/16. Adjust to open more (downwards, so from f/16 to f/11 to f/8 to f/5.6) to compensate for shade or less light. As an example, shots with TMax 100 in open shade in the forest would probably mean exposures of 1/25 at f/8 or 1/60 at f/11. Trying to explain all this further to you would be too complicated. Get a meter and learn to use it. You will never look back.

Accessories now. A UV filter, to protect your lens and provide a small degree of light ray protection. Later on you can add a few black-and-white filters if you plan to shoot 'monochrome', a yellow, maybe an orange, a green, and a red. Also close up lenses, which consist of two separate lenses, the actual close up which goes on the taking lens, and a parallel corrector lens to be put on the viewing lens.

If you find a good polariser at an affordable price, go for it. I bought one in the 1970s for my Rollei and while I use it t most one or two times a year,it serves its purpose,which is to cut or remove glare from surfaces such as water. Almost a must for good landscapes or seascapes.

The good news in all this is that any of the Rollei accessories (filters and close ups in the bayonet I), which can be a little expensive, but of assuredly very high quality.

A camera grip (generic brand will be fine) will provide that extra element of stability, as will a camera strap, ideally adjustable.The strap you can make yourself at home, with easily obtained materials.

You can buy a tripod later, if your photography involves lengthy timed exposures. The new carbon fiber models are a tad expensive, but very light. I recently bought one in Singapore, and I have to say I wish I had got it twenty years ago.

And film, of course. Bob's your uncle in this area, there is a virtually endless choice of good 120 emulsions. I use Kodak TMax for B&W and Ektar for color negatives, and on those nowadays very rare occasions when I shoot slides, any of the good Fuji brands. My camera bag currently has ten rolls of TMax 400 (the 100 is more fine-grained but with 120 roll film, the faster 400 is ideal for everyday use and you won't lose any quality or sharpness), two of Ektar, and three of Fuji Provia.

Roll film is ridiculously expensive in Australia where I live, and a roll will give you 12 shots, so this is where minimalist thinking again has its place. Compose your shots carefully. Aim for quality rather than quantity. One or two or at most three well composed images will satisfy you far more than machine-gunning 100 or 200 virtually similar images with THAT medium, as a brief foray in Flickr will quickly show you.

All the above rather stretches the meaning of 'minimalist' to an extent. Get the lens hood, the UV, the meter, and a grip or a camera cord, load your D with film, go out for the day, and shoot. You will be amazed at the results.

I sincerely thank you for writing such a detailed reply. I'm still pretty weak at the fundamentals of Photography, but I've been practicing by myself with 35mm. To answer your question, I purchased one that comes with the Yashikor (MXV Copal?). I will try and get a lens hood and UV filter quickly, though, I'm not really sure which one I'm supposed to get. Also, aren't meters expensive? I looked up the Sekonic ones and they run around 100 dollars, which is out of my budget at the moment. Thus, why I am using my iPhone app for metering (not sure how accurate it is). Again, thanks for the detailed reply! Very much appreciated
 

Dan Daniel

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the less expensive Yashikor (three elements,very similar to the Novar, Xenar or other 'budget' lenses)

As a side note: The Xenar, by Schneider, is not a three element lens. It is Schneider's version of the Zeiss Tessar, 4 elements. It was used extensively by Rollei on Rolleiflexes and Rolleicords. Yes, Rolleis with Xenars sold for less than Rolleis with Xenars when they were both available on a model- I seem to remember $20-40 difference on a ~$300 list price?- so it was less expensive. But it was not a budget lens, and probably the best Tessar-type lens I've ever used was a Xenar on a 1949 Rolleiflex Automat.
 

Dan Daniel

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I sincerely thank you for writing such a detailed reply. I'm still pretty weak at the fundamentals of Photography, but I've been practicing by myself with 35mm. To answer your question, I purchased one that comes with the Yashikor (MXV Copal?). I will try and get a lens hood and UV filter quickly, though, I'm not really sure which one I'm supposed to get. Also, aren't meters expensive? I looked up the Sekonic ones and they run around 100 dollars, which is out of my budget at the moment. Thus, why I am using my iPhone app for metering (not sure how accurate it is). Again, thanks for the detailed reply! Very much appreciated

The phone app meter will do you fine. Suggestion: get a small notebook to carry in your pocket. Make a record of the settings for each shot. After the film is developed, spend a few minutes looking at the negatives and your notes. After a few rolls of this you'll get a handle on lighting and metering and can stop taking notes, but in the beginning it's a great simple way to learn quickly (and a notebook with pen/pencil works much better than punching numbers into a phone, but if that's the only way you'll do it then sure, use the phone).

Also: http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm
Works for all photographers, not just nature.

A lens hood is more important than a UV filter. On ebay are simple plastic Bay I hoods for $8-10 dollars. Search 'Bay I hood yashica'

Be sure to take some images with the subject close to the camera and the aperture opened up a bit (lower numbers, like 4 or 5.6) to see what that Yashikor lens does. Wonderful and distinct look worth exploring.
 

Down Under

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Dan Daniel, you have it right on all counts. The Xenar is indeed a four element lens. My wrong. Apologies.

rchae94, if you own a 35mm SLR or rangefinder with a built-in meter, you can probably use it to do your metering. A phone app meter will do just as well. A few years ago when prices for photo gear had dropped below basement level, I bought a Gossen Luna Pro on Ebay for A$60. Checked Ebay today and the very same meter goes for up to A$150+. There are still bargains out there, but you have to watch carefully and be prepared to buy now if a good gear item turns up.

My two Yashica TLRs are now long gone, but I know several local photographers who still shoot with them. Now and then we go out together to do a shoot, me with my Rolleiflex 2.5E2 or one of my Rollei Ts, they with their Yashicas. As I am the only one in our amateur group with a home darkroom, the 'chore' of processing all the films is then mine. When sizing up the results, I have to say I am often as not hard pressed to spot any differences between the Yashikors and Yashinons and my Zeiss Planar. Maybe in the mid tones. All our prints are made on 6.5 x 8.5 inch long outdated Multigrade III paper (the old Quarter Plate size) as I have a home fridge full of the stuff, most of it as good as new. The sharpness of medium format lenses has to be seen in prints to be believed.

Be sure to file away your negatives very carefully and hold on to them. As a teenage photographer in the 1960s, I shot news, weddings, local events, family snaps and many (far too many, but we all do) landscapes. Now, half a century and more later, I'm setting up to print, archive and donate one QP print and the original negative of about 1,200 images from 1961-1975 to the provincial archives in New Brunswick, Canada. Every time I go into the darkroom, take out a folder of old negatives and put one in the enlarger, I relive long ago events, the memories of which still remain almost crystal clear.

My contrast, one of my sons shoots with a Nikon D700. Recently he did a mountain trek and shot 3,000 images, of which he has now posted more than 1,000 OL for the world to admire. So far no-one has bothered. He wonders why.

Better one roll of 12 well thought out and carefully composed negatives than hundreds of machine-gunned pixel pikkies. He has yet to learn this. I hope he will some day. My Rolleis are here to be used, and like your Yashica D, if taken care of, our TLRs will probably outlast us.
 

paul ron

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just make sure the flash sync is set to X when using the self timer (not sure if this model has it).

usng anything else will jam the shutter n require it be opened to reset it. forcing it may damage the shutter.

here is a good site for info....
http://www.yashicatlr.com/LensesShutters.html#mxvvssv
 

Paul Howell

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I have 2 Ds, along with a 124, for filters and lens hood I used silicon sealant to attach a S VI slip on filter attachment which will take a S VI lens hood, you can use one filter with the hood. The silicon sealant is not permeant and will peel right off, on damage to the camera, just be careful when applying so that you get glue in the shutter or on the lens.
 

mgb74

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As said, keep it simple. You got it right with a lens hood and strap. Add a hood (Bay 1) I believe if you can find one. IIRC, the Yashica TLRs have a slot type connection for a strap. Ironically, just like more modern SLRs. Used straps should be easy to find. Or make a strap with nylon strapping. One benefit of a strap is that you can pull the camera down creating a bit of tension and use that tension to steady the camera when shooting slower than you might otherwise like.
 

R.Gould

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For me and my Tlr.s, I have a Rolleiflex, rolleicord and Microcord, I keep it simple. lens hood, two filters, orange and yellow, two Rolleinar close up sets, 1 and 2 cover my needs,all B1 plus a meter, in my case I use a Weston Euromaster, and some film, all fits easily in my pockets,I don't like ER cases, so just the camera around my neck, odds and sods in my pockets and I am ready for shooting,
 

jgoody

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+ 1 on the Rolleinars. These are closeup lenses for the viewing and taking lens and correct for parallax (spelling?) Get the 1 and 2 when you get sick of not being able to focus on close objects. I think your camera is "Bay 1" - which is the size filter, hood, Rolleinar etc that attaches to the lenses. I have had better luck with the Rollei hood than the generic plastic types. The larger negative (compared to 35mm) is wonderful - enjoy!
 

GRHazelton

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I've had good luck with filterfind.net for filters, shades, etc for older cameras. IIRC some of the Rollei series I bayonet accessories don't play well with YashicaMats, for whatever reason.
 

jgoody

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I've had good luck with filterfind.net for filters, shades, etc for older cameras. IIRC some of the Rollei series I bayonet accessories don't play well with YashicaMats, for whatever reason.
I should have said that I have a Minolta Autocord and haven't had any issues with Bay 1 stuff not working-- no experience with compatibility with Yashica. Filterfind is good as is Igor's Camera. BTW the lens hood bayonet is a little tricky the first time you use it - requires a firm push in before you twist.
 
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