Yashica Electro35 Rangefinder glass replacement

Erik L · Feb 3, 2025

Hi folks, I’ve nursed an Electro 35 back to health but the little glass for focusing has lost all its coating and there is no ability to focus using the rangefinder. Does anyone know of replacements or a way to fix this? Thanks for any help!

John Wiegerink · Feb 3, 2025

Try to locate a parts camera. That's usually the fastest/best way to go. many times you can actually use a semi-transparent mirror from another make camera and sometimes not.

blee1996 · Feb 4, 2025

I agree a parts camera might be the easiest option, if it has a good mirror. Electro 35 are plenty out there and inexpensive.

If you really want a sparklingly new half silvered mirror, there is a Japanese seller on eBay member nobbysparrow who can custom cut one for you. You need to measure the precise dimensions of your old mirror including thickness. After replacement, recalibrate your rangefinder.

Erik L · Feb 4, 2025

Thanks much guys! I’ll look at those options or just use zone focus or hyper focal and play with the camera as is.

John Wiegerink · Feb 4, 2025

Erik L said:
Thanks much guys! I’ll look at those options or just use zone focus or hyper focal and play with the camera as is.

Your plan is a good way to find out if you and the camera can get along. I'd say zone focus would be pretty good from f3.5 on if you are good at guessing distances. You'll have much more hit or miss at f1.7 or wide-open for sure.

Erik L · Feb 4, 2025

John Wiegerink said:
Your plan is a good way to find out if you and the camera can get along. I'd say zone focus would be pretty good from f3.5 on if you are good at guessing distances. You'll have much more hit or miss at f1.7 or wide-open for sure.

That’s kind of what I was thinking. I was so happy after I ripped the thing apart and replaced the pad of death and re soldered some wires that it actually worked when I put it back together and I didn’t even notice that the mirror coating was just dust on the bottom of the rangefinder compartment! The new battery and and new mirror are probably worth more than the camera at this point but it felt good getting it back in working order.

John Wiegerink · Feb 4, 2025

Erik L said:
That’s kind of what I was thinking. I was so happy after I ripped the thing apart and replaced the pad of death and re soldered some wires that it actually worked when I put it back together and I didn’t even notice that the mirror coating was just dust on the bottom of the rangefinder compartment! The new battery and and new mirror are probably worth more than the camera at this point but it felt good getting it back in working order.

I remember when these sold brand new. The store I worked at sold them and I almost bought my girlfriend one. That would have been a waste of money since she dumped me for another. When these are working correctly the exposure system is second to none for accuracy. Oh, and that's to say nothing about the lens on these things. I have three different models of this type Yashica and all their lenses are excellent. It's a little bulky, but an excellent picture taker.

MattKing · Feb 4, 2025

John Wiegerink said:
The store I worked at sold them and I almost bought my girlfriend one. That would have been a waste of money since she dumped me for another.

Another boyfriend, or another camera?
Shall I go and Report myself now?

John Wiegerink · Feb 4, 2025

MattKing said:
Another boyfriend, or another camera?
Shall I go and Report myself now?

Another boyfriend, but I often wonder if I had given her that GSN if she would have remain my gal or not. I have a feeling that the answer is no to that one. She was in her second year of college and I was still a senior in high school. Just wasn't a good match I guess, but the Yashica GSN was and is. Thanks for a little humor on a very dull day in Michigan.

Yashica Electro35 Rangefinder glass replacement

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