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.

 

[ic-racer]

It is a common problem with these cameras. Just about any worthy repair person should be able to fix this for you.

 

[dynachrome]

I tried the 60 with the FX-3 Super and with an FX-3. Here's what I found that might be interesting - the problem happens only with the FX-3 Super and only with the lens at infinity. With the mirror up, if I turn the focusing ring just slightly off of infinity, the mirror drops right down. The 50/1.9 ML lens doesn't cause the problem at all with either camera. A few things:
The 60 is a Made In West Germany model. Could there have been a subtle difference in the rear of this model compared to the Made In Japan model? I will look at some photos of both online. I think the FX-3 Super came out after the FX-3. Maybe the bodies have a subtle difference. The mirrors don't look different. I think they go both back and up. Maybe the FX-3 Super's mirror isn't going back quite as far.
At some point, Topcon stopped making the RE Super. They stayed in the market a little longer with two cameras and an f/1.7 standard lens made for them by CIMA Kogaku. These were the RE 200 and the RE 300. The 300 took a winder. I have a 200. They do look funny with the ancient Exakta mount. Why did I bring them up? The 58mm/5.8 CM f/1.4 lenses had a section which stuck out to protect the rear element when the lens was not mounted on a camera. These f/1.4 lenses would not mount on the 200 or the 300. I wouldn't mind adding a 50/1.4 GN to my collection. It might fit my 200 and is probably better coated than my 5.8 CM f/1.4. The 5.8 is sharp and has a pleasant rendering but is a little low in contrast. I find my two 5.8 CM f/1.8 lenses to be very good, maybe better than the later CIMA made f/1.7 model.

 

[Don_ih]

Could there have been a subtle difference in the rear of this model compared to the Made In Japan model?

No. Flip your mirror up and you'll see it's slipped past the edge of the backing by a mm or so.