Yashica LM

dbetinis

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Hello, I am new to this group. I would like to know if anyone has done a light meter repair on a 1957 Yashica LM. I have done some minor repairs on my cameras, such as a mirror replacement and film reverse arm correction but I am a bit shaky about opening up that side of the camera.
I can't seem to find any YouTube videos on this repair. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

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Sharktooth

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It's about 90 certain that it's the selenium cell that's gone bad. There are no replacement cells available (at a reasonable price), so it's probably a wasted exercise trying to repair it. That being said, there's still a slim chance that it's a wiring problem that could be fixed.

In the end though, it'll be much easier (and safer) to just get one of the new small light meters that will fit in the accessory shoe. You can find good ones for under $100, and they have the added advantage of also being usable on other cameras as well. Another alternative is to use a light meter app on your cell phone (some of these are free). A third option is to get a good used hand-held light meter. All of those options are probably going to be better than the original meter, even if you can get it working.
 
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dbetinis

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dbetinis

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Thank you for your advice. Before I bought the camera it had been taken to a camera shop and checked out before shipment. The shop said everything was working. The problem was the shipping, poorly packed and bouncing around in a box. Maybe that damaged the cell or dislodged a wire. Are those cells delicate? I have two other LMs that work perfectly.
 

Sharktooth

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Selenium cells are prone to surface oxidation, which is a fact of life as they age. Storage conditions also play a significant role. Bad handling, combined with age, doesn't help either. Just be thankful that your other ones still work, but their time will come too.
 

beemermark

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Highly possible. Just because it's old doesn't mean the cell in no longer good. But whatever the cause the cost of repair would greatly exceed the value of the LM. Buy a cheap meter, even cheap meters work well.
 

Dan Daniel

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I am not familiar with this specific camera and meter. It looks very much like the selenium meter on the Minolta Autocord. I've found that often the meter needle on the side block has bounced and been bent slightly and is hanging up on the meter somewhere. On the Autocord, the needle is very long and makes a turn, making it prone to bending.

Bending a meter needle is very tricky! Very delicate, and you need to immobilize sections of the needle without misshaping it while yo do misshape (i.e. bend) another section.

Well, not knowing the camera and not being able to see details, I don't know if this will fix anything for yours. On the Autocord, the outer cover can be lifted off by removing three outer screws.
 
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dbetinis

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I have a Sekonic meter with a selenium cell that works. I think it's the same cell in the LM. Here are some shots of the Yashica LM meter. There is no external access to the meter.
 

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dbetinis

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I am working on restoring one of my Yashica LMs. There are many scrapes and scratches on the body. Can anyone recommend a touch-up paint that is close to the original?
 
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Traikman

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Hello! I'm commenting here to save this thread. I've been in possession of my grandfather's Yashica LM (not sure the year, but 1957 would be a good guess) for many years. It's not in the best shape, unfortunately, but I think it's still repairable. I was considering sending it off to be fixed, but I'm not sure it's worth the several hundred dollars it might likely come to. So, I'm considering learning to fix it myself. Not exactly my area of expertise, but I think it would be a great opportunity. My goal is to actually shoot with it. I have my other grandfather's old Voigtlander Prominent as well (which is in great shape), so keeping and using these cameras does have a sentimental meaning for me.

I'm open to advice and words of caution. I'll also update my progress!
 

Sirius Glass

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I recommend the Gossen Luna SBC light meter and the Sekonic L308s light meter for your camera.
 
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