Yashica Mirror Problem

[dynachrome]

I ran into a problem with a Yashica FX-3 Super (not the Super 2000) when using it with the 60mm S-Planar. The shutter seemed to be firing properly but the mirror would not return until I bumped the bottom of the camera with my palm. I took off the 60 and put on a 50/1.9 Yashica ML. The mirror returned as it should. Is the Zeiss lens protruding into the camera more than the Yashica lens? I have read that some of the Contax SLRs have drooping mirrors which need to be re-glued. Could this be happening to the mirror in a Yashica camera? It doesn't look out of place. I haven't had this problem with any of my 55/2.8 Yashica ML lenses.

 

[Don_ih]

The mirror is sliding down. It happens to pretty much every Contax and Yashica slr from that period. You can heat up the mirror with a hair dryer and slide it back up but it will go down again. You could try putting a drop of glue at the base of the mirror after moving it.

Reattaching the mirror is a problem because it's actually adhered by a piece of double-sided tape. So, if you want to replace that, you need tape that's the right thickness or focus will be off.

 

[dynachrome]

I will have to discuss this with my repairman. It's a camera which has been overhauled and which now has a handsome gray textured vinyl covering. This is the first time the problem has shown up on any of my Yashica or Contax cameras. When the roll of film is processed I will see if there are any other problems. If the bracket holding the mirror can be replaced, I might buy some parts FX-3 and FX-3 Super parts cameras. The regular FX-3 is somewhat primitive with the meter button at the back but the ones I have work well and have nice finders.

 

[reddesert]

I don't know the S-Planar lens, but you have the lenses so you can determine whether it protrudes further back beyond the mount than other lenses. Also, to debug whether that is the issue, mirror-lens interference is most likely to show up when focused at infinity. If you focus significantly closer than infinity, the lens elements should move forward and out of the way.

(There are potential exceptions like internal focusing lenses or if the interference came from the lens mount not the optical block, but those are fairly unlikely.)

 

[Don_ih]

I might buy some parts FX-3 and FX-3 Super parts cameras

Far as I know, all those cameras use the same bit of double-sided tape to hold the mirror. If you store the camera on its back, the mirror stays put.