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ML
15mm /2.8 (Fisheye lens)
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One
of the most difficult Yashica lens to be accquired. One need to
wait for chance and luck to see whether can meet one of these
fisheye lens. I have recently accquire one used samples. Although
the outlook is a bit worn, but the picture quality is so far so
good as other Yashica ML lenses.
The color contrast is not
as high as other Yashica lens. Also, it may have some flare when
direct shoot into the sun. However, the 170o degree coverage and
can creates special images properties under careful composition.
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Optical
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Wide
open, this ML fisheye lens has some flares. Contrast is medium
and have slight warm color tone than other ML lenses.
After
stop down to f/8 to 11, the contrast crisp up to the very edges
of the image format. With its unusual large front size
elements, its has minimal corner darkness even at wide open,
which is always encountered when framing with such a wide angle
of coverage lens. Similar to the Zeiss 16mm/2.8 F-Distagon,
color fringing in high contrast subject over bright skys is not
evident.
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Best
Aperture
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f/8
-16
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Personal
feelings
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Fisheyes
lens can use to create some special images which includes wide
horizons. It can be sure that this lens has very low number of
productions, may be even lowered than the Zeiss F-Distagons.
The 16mm F-Distagon has higher contrast and better sharpness at
wider aperture. One can expected since the price differences is
very wide between these two fisheyes lenses.
Overall, this
is one of the Yashica ML lens with great fun and joy to use
with.
The large exposing front element and the built-in
hood calls for extra care when using, specially when taking
very close up for extraggerating shots.
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ML 21mm
/3.5
(Super wide angle lens)
Samples:
(Sony A7)
Picture
01
Picture
02
Picture
03
Picture
04
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NEW
! Matching Hood 1, 2,
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This
is one of the sought after super wide angle lens. It is quite rare
due to the low production number which makes this is one of the
difficult to get lens.
In addition, there is even a matching
hood for this lens. It is all metal and rectangular shape cuts the
flares more effectivelly. Again, it is quite difficult to find the
matching hood. Picture
Updated
The available date for
this Yashica ML 21mm/3.5 lens can be date back to 1979. At that
time, Leitz and Zeiss is still a bench markings in camera
industry, specially optical design. Of course, the German
photographic optical industry still in the leading edge in terms
of lens design and manufracturing, even today. At that era,
20~21mm wide angle lens was classified as superwide angles. For
converging such a wide angles of view plus a retrofocus design is
somewhat a difficult task for the optical designer. At that time,
one of the best corrected 21mm lens available on market is the
Super Angulon 21mm/4, designed for the Leicaflex cameras. Unlike
its symmetrical cousin SA21/3.4, this SA21/4-R is a retrofocus
design. The Super Angulon from Schneider performs so well, and
even by today standards, still edges over many competitors
designs.
On the other hand, the Kyocera (Yashica) has already
join forces with Zeiss AG. However, not until late 90's, 21mm
Distagon did not appeared in Zeiss lens design history. It is
belief that the Japanese optical designer has well studied the
optical design of the competitor's, specially Leitz products. Till
now, the Leica lens is still benchmarks of many Japanese
photographers, therefore, may have more or less influences to the
optical designers. Once you have study carefully and compares the
optical layout of the R-21mm/4 Super Angulon, you may find that
they are infact very similar. The Yashica ML 21mm/4 has 12 lens
elements, in 8 Groups. While the SA21mm/4-R has 10 elements in 8
Groups. The front and rear cemented elements can provide more
correction than a single glass lens. Since I am not an optical
expert, I can only compares the position, curvature, thickness and
shape of each glass/ groups. Apple to apple, to my suprise, the
combined cement front and rear groups have the similar shape of
the SA21mm/4-R. Of course there are some differences between them,
otherwise this will call Yashica SA instead of Yashica ML. No
wonders the Yashica ML21/3.5 become a well performer in the
Yashica/Contax history. :)
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Optical
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Wide
open, it has excellent sharpness in the center while the far
corners are some softness and fuzziess. Light fall off is not
appearent even at maximum openings. However, it has some
irregular distorsions in the far corners. Medium Contrast but
quite well color balance. Flare is also quite low.
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Best
Aperture
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f/5.6
to f/11
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Personal
Feelings
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Relative
compact and short gives this lens quite well handling and
balance. Minimum focus is 0.3m gives this lens many
applications. This ML 21mm lens has the similar feelings of the
21mm/4 Super Angulon for the Leica R.
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ML 24mm
/2.8
(Wide angle lens)
Samples
:
Picture 1
Picture 2
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One
of the well known wide angle ML lens. The optical quality is
excellent. If you compares the optical diagram of the famous 18mm/
Distagon with this ML 24mm lens, the answer follows:
The
Yashica lens line becomes popular rencently makes the price of
this lens goes up radically.
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Optical
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Stunning
performance already at open aperture. It has excellent
sharpness in the center part of the picture. This lens has very
good rendering of red color (longer wavelength ). In
addition, if use to take some blue sky picture, the effect is
just like a polizer has been used. Light falloff is not
appearent at full aperture, dissapeared at f/5.6.There is also
totally absent of color fringing when taking high contrast
subject.
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Best
Aperture
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f/4.0
to f/11
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Personal
feelings
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The
lens is a medium size wide angle lens. It takes 62mm
accessories filters. The Nikon 24mm/2.8 AIS just use 52mm. This
lens does not have CRC or any other kind of floating elements.
However, the performance excells in both near and distant
object. A very snappy and useful lens.
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ML 28mm
/2.8
(Wide angle lens)
Sample:
Picture 1
Picture 2
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First
Version
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Second
Version
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This
lens may be one of the lease expensive lens offered. In addition,
it is quite easy to get in the market, even new. The focal length
of 28mm is very useful. In close approach, one can have the super
wide angle impression, yet for group photos can have the
impression of 35mm. One of the frequetly use focal length. From
the optical diagram, this lens has 2 version. The earlier one have
optical design close to its relatives Distagon 18mm/4. Whilst the
later version got the impression of the Distagon 25mm/2.8,
specially if you compares the rear part of their design. This may
give some hits of why this ML 28mm/2.8 ( late version )
performance so well. It was belived that the whole range of the
Contarex lenses were studied exclusivelly by Kyocera optical
department ( as well as others ) before the production of this
generations of Contax Y/C lenses.
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Optical
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Excellent
sharpness across the whole image even corners at maixmum
opening. Light fall off is evident at full aperture, gone by
f/5.6. Red color rendering is excellent. This lens has mimimum
barrel distorsion.
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Best
Aperture
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f/4.5
to f/11
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Personal
Feelings
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Light
weight and compact lens. This lens has high optical properties.
Provides a clean and clear picture even at full opening. High
performance cost ratio too
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ML
35mm / 2.8
(Wide angle lens)
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ML 50mm
/1.9
(Standard lens)
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Usually
comes with the camera package.
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ML 50mm
/1.4
(Fast standard lens)
Sample
:
Picture
1
Picture
2
Picture
3
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An
outstanding high speed standard lens design. Muilty-Layer coatings
reduce flare to very low level. Light fall off in corners even at
full aperture, is still low. f/1.4 offers excellent brightness in
the viewfinder. One of the most frequently used focal length.
Picture
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Optical
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At
f/1.4 to 2.0, the lens have excellent sharpness in the center
part of the image. Color rendition is excellent, specially
those red colors (longer wavelength) and skin tones.
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Best
Aperture
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f/1.4
[center only] f/4.0 to f/8 [exellent]
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Personal
Feelings
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This
lens can offers very nice out of focus rendering. Shooting
point light source need to stop down to f/4 or the coma wings
becomes evident at the corners of the pictures. Yashica offers
this optics in a very reasonable price, yet comparable
performance with the 1,4 Zeiss Planar and other standard lens
like SMC-A 50/1.4, 50mm /1.4 PG-Rokkor and Summilux-M
50mm.
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ML 55mm
/2.8
(High performance
macro lens)
Sample
:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
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Yashica
ML55mm /4
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This
normal focal length marco lens is very useful in normal usage when
high speed is not required. It can focus from infinity to 1:2 .
With 27mm extension tube, it can extend its marco range from 1:2
to 1:1. This lens is still being offered NEW in some places.
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Optical
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Although
this lens is designed for the close focus range application, it
is equally useful for distance objects. However, this lens
performs better in near than in far. May be due to it is
lacking of the floating elements.
When used in close
proximity, this lens can provides excellent resolving power ,
even up to the far corners.
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Best
Aperture
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5,6
to 11
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Personal
Feelings
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The
maximum aperture is suitable only for composing. Stop down 1.5
stops brings this marco lens to its peak. Fine details and nice
contrast upto the edge of the picture. A very useful lens in a
compact package. The red color scale on the lens barrel
indicates the scale when the 27mm extension tube is attached.
Compensation for light loss is necessary when the lens is
further extended.
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ML 55mm
/1.2
(Ultra High speed
standard lens)
Sample
:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
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New
! Matching Hood 1, 2
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Another
difficult to get Yashica ML lens. This lens weights 410gram and
with large diameter lens elements. When compares with other 50mm ~
60mm /1.2 SLR lenses, this ML /1.2 lens weight at least 60 ~ 100g
more. It should employ some glasses with very high refractive
index which contributes to its weights. Maximum light transfers
makes focusing in dim situations a snap.
Recent find is
the matching square metal hood for this lens. It reduces the
flares effectively since the large diameter of the front glass
element will flares with side strong lights.
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Optical
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Completely
removes all the coma when stopped to f/2.0. This lens has the
slightly yellow cast, but not evident in the print. Even light
source in the picture areas does not cause flares and color
patches. On full aperture, high sharpness with rich graduation
already present in the cenetr part of the image area. Stopped
to f/2.8 gives best results.
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Best
Aperture
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2.8
to 8.0
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Personal
Feelings
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A
Noct-ML lens! Use in artifical lightings gives wonderful out of
focus images. If have chance, I will arrange a comparision
against the 55mm /1.2 Planar. A not to miss Yashica ML Standard
lens.
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ML 100mm
/3.5
(High performance
tele - marco lens)
Sample
:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
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New!
Matching Hood 1, 2,
3
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A
very fine lens with very low production number makes this lens to
be quite difficult to find. It is belief that the number available
in the market is much less than the Zeiss 100mm Marko -Planar. One
of the reason is the complex mechanical linkage for the aperture
stop down. Since the tele-marco lens has long extensions, which
calls for complex mechnical design. No wonder why the Makro-Planar
100mm employs such a large diameter lens barrels. This lens has
6-lens in 4 group. Provides 1:2 without adding extension tubes
(With 20 +27mm goes to 1:1). Beautiful finish as well as very
useful focal length makes this lens a real hot. It is very rare
even in second hand market makes the price goes to rocket high.
Since the front element of the lens does not recess like the
55/2.8 Makro, therefore, the Matching rectangular hood helps to
reduce stay light entering the lens in extream anglles. Again, it
is not that easy to find them in set.
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Optical
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Excellent
sharpness and shallow depth of field makes focusing a snap. The
contrast is excellent, also remarkable is the color rendering.
At maximum opening, whole picture area is rendered with high
sharpness. Stop down is just for control depth of field.
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Best
Aperture
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f/4.0
to f/11
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Personal
Feelings
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One
of the fine ML lens from Kyocera. No wonders some people says
that they should put the Zeiss logo with this lens and you
should not be able to notice much differences. BOKEH is nice,
may be due to 6-elements in 4 groups symmetric design.
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ML
100mm/4
Bellow Macro
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A very
rare Yashica ML lens.
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Optical
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5
elements in 3 groups modified tripet. This lens recalls the
image of the famous Apo-Lanthar construction. Due to only 6
glass to air surface, this tripet construction produces best
contrast and corrections. Need to use with the bellow for macro
works.
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Best
Aperture
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8
~ 11 for 1:1.4X to 3X
Full open is just suitable for
focusing only.
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Personal
Feelings
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This
lens image circle covers 6X7. One can use this lens to modify
into 645 or even 6X7 system. This is one of the most difficult
to obtain Yashica ML lens that have been in the catalog over
the years. The modified Tripet is very common for 100mm macro
lens in that era. Another similar construction macro lens is
the Micro Nikkor Ai 105mm/4, which is also 5 element in 3
groups. It is remarkable to note that if buying this lens, you
MUST need the orginal back cover. Since the reare lens elements
extends much further away than normal ML lenses, this lens
comes with the special milled back cover which perfectly match
this lens only. All other Yashica back cover did not do the job
well.
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ML 135mm
/2.8
(Telephoto lens)
Samples:
Picture 1
Picture 2
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ML135mm
/2.8 c
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ML 200mm
/4.0
(Telephoto lens)
Samples:
Picture 1
Picture 2
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A
very long telephoto lens. This mays resembles to its old designs
from Yashinon era. There is another version (Later) ML 200/4 c ,
which was said to have excellent performance. Picture
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Optical
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It is
not that high contrast in distant ranges. Moreover, under high
contrast situations has slight color fringes. In close distance
( 2.5m), it provides a soft, but can resolve subtle color
contrast.
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Best
Aperture
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f/5.6
- f/8
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Personal
Feelings
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The
minimum focusing range (2.5m) limits its applications. Needs to
attache the 27mm extension tube extends its ranges. Built
quality is excellent, but just so so optically.
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(NEW)
ML
300mm /5.6
(Telephoto lens)
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ML300mm
/5.6
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One
of my recent accquirement. Since more and more Yashica / Contax
fans joined in searching the Yashica ML lens, together with the
number of Yashica ML 300mm lens produced is really scared, makes
this lens really uncommon these days.
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Optical
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It is
very contrast and can retain bright colors. May be due to f/5.6
design, color fringes (Dispersions) is not appearent on high
contrast suituation. The ML 300/5.6 "C" version has
optical configuration of 6 element in 3 groups, therefore, has
less glass / air surfaces which lead to low transmission loss
and hence high contrast.
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Best
Aperture
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f/8-11
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Personal
Feelings
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The
front lens has almost no coatings together with the very well
color correction performance. I will make a guess here that
high refraction to low dispersion glass is being employed in
this lens, since coating with these glasses is not effective.
Yashica / Contax did not offer much design in the 300mm
range. Normally, Yashica user will not buy a
Apo-Tele-Tessar to bridge distance up, yet, the physical size
of the T* 300mm/4 Tele Tessar is also too large. Whilst this
ML300mm/5.6 is only a 5.6 aperture, it is however, always with
me when ever I went to take some nature pics. The only draw
back is the relative long near focus (4.5m). Extension rings is
recommended for this lens for it has to be extend the close
focus.
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Reflex
500mm /8.0
(Mirror lens)
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ML Zoom
28mm-50mm /4.0
(Zoom lens)
Samples:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
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This
is one of the "recent" design zoom lens. Zoom range is
limited when compared to those available nowadays. However, the
picture quality is excellent and this is a uncomprimised design.
The constant 3.5 aperture, ML multi-layer coatings and large
diameter of the glass employed makes this lens have performance of
those fixed focal length. The focal length of 28mm to 50mm are
quite useful and can covers many applications. After using this
28-50 zoom, I realize why the Leica introduce the TRI-ELMAR for
the M-series.
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Optical
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The
ML 28-50/3.5 Zoom reallys shines in the ML Zoom lens range.
This may be one of the low production zoom lens before its
discontinuation. Built quality is excellent, comparable to
those T* coatings brings wonderful color renderings. However,
it has slight yellow cast in the viewfinder, but not apparent
in the picture. Straight enlarge to 10 X 12 is not a problem,
even the corners throughout its zoom range.
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Best
Aperture
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f/5.6
to f/11
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Personal
Feelings
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The
draw back is its rotating front lens group makes the use of
polarizer inconvenient. Also, the minimum focus of 1.0m also
limits its applications. It gets well balance when use with
FX3-2000 and other Contax bodies. It is just another Zeiss
quality in a Yashica brand lens. Another not to let goYashica
lens.
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ML
Zoom
35-70/4 lens
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Optical
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This
lens has mechanical variable cam for adjusting the aperture. At
the maximum openings, (@35mm,) it is just like the optics has
being one stop down from the maximum aperture. This leads to
very good performance in the 35 -50 Range. While the 70mm range
is also quite good in terms of contrast and resolution.
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Best
Aperture
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5.6
to 11
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Personal
Feelings
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Another
recent accquire zoom lens. One of the recent design, which
features close focus to 0,60 m.in all focal lengths. This has
increased the convenient in actual applications of an so called
Universal Zoom. Beautiful color rendition and resolution. As
mentioned in the leavelet, this lens corrects various optical
errors to a large extend, plus the modest maximum aperture and
muilty coatings that make the lens has exceptionally good
imaging forming capabilities.
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ML
Zoom
35-70/ 3.5-4.5 lens
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Cosina
designed and built OEM lens. It is same as the one offered for
Nikon, Olympus , Ricoh .... etc. Plastic construction makes the
lens really light weighted. No comments on the optical perporties.
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MC
Zoom
28-80/3.9-4.9 lens
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Another
most "RECENT" introduced zoom lens. The lens covers very
useful range, from wide angle to medium telephoto. It is a MC
lens, which offers MuiltiMode Programe mode operations when used
with later Contax Bodies. It has excellent mechanical design, with
the out looking closed to current Zeiss lens line up. It
usually sells along with the Yashica FX108 package.
This lens
has the Marco range, unlike the ML28-50/3.5 zoom, it 's minimum
focus range is 0.6m, which extend its useful range.
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Optical
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It is
not a ML lens, the coating on the lens elements are just like
the DSB ones. Builty quality is a real plus, it has complex
mechanical design that supports the Macro mode.
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Best
Aperture
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8 -
11
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Personal
Feelings
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One
of the most frequently use lens. When use with the ML21mm/3.5
and ML200mm/4 lens, it can covers most of the subject. This
lens has exceptionally low gometric distorsion, specially the
50mm range. Field curvature is also exceptionally low.
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Yashica
Auto Extension Tube Set
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Auto
Extension Tube for Marco lens and Telephoto lens. It comes in 3
pieces, 27mm + 20mm + 13mm. With combinations with the 2-Yashica
Marco lens, which can brings it to life size reproduction. From
the construction, it looks same as the CONTAX extension except it
is marked Yashica. It is more cheaper than the CONTAX counterparts
but is more rare than the Contax ones.
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(NEW)
Leitz
TELYT 400mm/6.8 long lens
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Self-modify
LEICA lens for used with YASHICA camera body. Although the lens is
very long (due to it is not a Telephoto design), it offers very
good handling. The lens is compose of 1 group of cemented glass
element plus hollow aluminium tubes. It can be dissment into 2
pieces for easy transport. Also, it use push pull focus mechanism
which allows easy tracking and fast focusing. When use with the
Yashica Auto Extension tube, it can capture some small buterflies
or inserts which the 100mm Marco lens will have too little
clearence.
There is another Leitz 560mm/6.8 optical unit
which can mount into the same tube.
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Optical
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Wonderful
contrast and resolutions. Due to the simple 2-elemnets/ 1 Group
design, this lens has minimal losses due to internal
reflections.
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Best
Aperture
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:
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8 -
11
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Personal
Feelings
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Near
Apochromatic performance. It has absolutely no color fringe
across entire picture area, even at high contrast
situations. When stopped to f/8 to f/11, it has wonderful
resolutions and beautiful out of focus rendetion. It is
specially suitable suitable for Flora and some still lifes.
Although it is a 6.8 lens, however, the viewfinder looks like a
5.6 lens. One of my favourite long lens.
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(New)
Yashica
Orginal 2X tele extender
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Optical
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Best
Aperture
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:
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Personal
Feelings
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Accquire
recently in brand new cosdition. To my suprise, it is being
Made in Hong Kong. I lives here for so many years and never
hear that we have camera / lens manufractured. May be the
Universal Optical factory located in the Kwun Tong has produces
this early in the 80's. It is relative a rare item, built
quality is upto Contax Mutar standard. Of course I will not
expect the same optical performance to be equal to any of the
Mutar. However, just for personal collection is a pretty well
excuse for keeping this. This Yashica 2X is back to the
hometown again after a few decades of being wander around the
world. :)
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