Weirdest SLR Yet!!!

[cuchulainn]

I found a Yashica Samurai 3.0 35mm camera in really good shape at a really cheap price. It's got the strangest design I've ever seen!!! It's an auto-focus designed to be held in one hand. It looks like an early video camcorder. I haven't run any film through it yet; but everything tests out okay. Has anyone else had experience with these odd ducks?

[Mark Vaughan]

Yeah, that is weird. Looks a lot like a mini DV camcorder. They say it really is a half-frame SLR though.

Mark

[nikonbob]

Yea, it is a half frame SLR with a very interesting design. Kicking myself for not buying one at a pawn shop years ago. Something about unique cameras that really attracts me. I did try out the af on it and IIRC correctly it was on the slow side but to be expected as it was out at the start of the af trend. I would be interested in your experience and impressions with shooting film in it.

Bob

[drako]

I have a question about this camera. At www.vicscameracollection.co.uk/yashica.htm I read this:


"The zoom covers a useful range -- 25-75mm in half-frame, which gives an image size approximately the same as a 35-105mm zoom in full-frame."


If the film frame is half-sized, then wouldn't the full-frame equivalent actually be 50mm - 150mm (rather than 35-105mm)?

[julio1fer]

I understand that in order to compare focal lengths for different formats you have to look at the diagonal of the frame.

Now, the diagonal is about 43 mm for full frame, and 29 mm for half frame. So, focal length in half frame should be multiplied by 43/29 = 1.48, or roughly 1.5 to convert to full frame equivalent.

Therefore this 25-75 would be 37-111 in full frame equivalent, or indeed close to a 35-105.

[drako]

Thank you, Julio!

[seele]

I remember them well: they even had one model made in left and right handed versions. However, the Yashica half-frame with vertical run film did not start with the Samurai; they made one called the Sequelle and that was built to a similar idea, abeit not a reflex.

[herron]

Not exactly an SLR, but this Mercury II CX (c.1945) in my collection certainly casts a vote in the weird-looking category!

[cuchulainn]

That looks cool!!!! So 20's or 30's Art Deco!!! I have got to find me one!!!! Tell me more about it?

[Deleted]

Here's another one with an art deco influence--the Argus A.

Wayne

[drako]

Wayne, it looks like one of those streamlined locomotives, like a Santa Fe Super Chief.

[drako]

Speaking of a Super Chief - check this out!

[herron]

I wonder if he got a ticket for being in that "No Parking" zone? ;D

[Andrew]

holy moly batman! what an incredible picture

actually that pic looks like it should have the new spiderman spread across the front!


(looks like in a scene from one of the spiderman movies)

[PeterW]

Ron,

I wonder if he got a ticket for being in that "No Parking" zone?

I would doubt it. He could have contended that he wasn't technically "parked" as his wheels weren't touching the ground.

I can't help thinking that if the picture was a cartoon the wires would twang back like bowstring and send him hurtling back along the tracks. But I spend too much time watching cartoons on TV with my grandson. Pity some things in cartoons can't be adapted to real life. .

Someone once said that life isn't a reality, it's an illusion brought on by a deficiency of alcohol. I'd call it deficiency of cartoon watching.

PeterW