Yashica lens scam?

[truls]

I got a "Yashica" ML 28mm 2.8 in the mail, the bay seller claims new lens. However, it does not feel like a Yashica ML lens. The aperture is manual stop down, my other 50mm is automatic. Also the letters "ML" on the lens is somewhat faded, not clear white letters. The mount seems a bit different than my 50mm. Can someone more knowledgeable in the Yashica system explain what i have got? Could it be a fake Yashica lens?

The "ML" text in dark color, not white as the original 50mm to the right.


Lens mount different, original 50mm Yashica to right


The aperture in Contax vievfinder is shifted, when set at f.4 it display f.8 in viewfinder. With original lens this is correct.

[Stephen]

Not an expert on the Yashica lenses, but it is unlikely that Yashica did a manual aperture lens at the period of the ML series. I may be wrongly analyzing it, but the 28mm looks to be a different back to the 50, and they should be the same, there is a slot in the mount of the 28mm , where there should surely be the auto diaphragm lever, the same as the 50mm lens.

I have never heard of Yashica doing a budget version with only manual operation, but maybe? ....other than that the lens has been "got at", and the auto diaphragm disabled or the lever removed.

The ML lens should work with the Contax OK, same mount, same maker.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

Checked on the net, all ML Yashica lenses are indeed, fully auto diaphragm, (ML is Multi layered coating), and are fully Contax compatible, so if yours is manual only then it has problems.........

Stephen.

[casualcollector]

It appears the stop down lever is missing from your 28, as is the aperture indexing key. My guess is these parts may have been removed to allow the lens to be used on a Canon EOS camera body via an adapter.

Regarding the differences in other details. I believe Yashica's in house lens facility was busy building Zeiss branded lenses for the Contax line of cameras and Yashica lenses, were farmed out to Cosina and/or Tokina.

[truls]

There is some italian guy selling these lenses as new. www.ebay.com/itm/181126907138?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D181126907138%26_rdc%3D1

It is of cource my fault, not knowing what I bought. Learning something every day.

It may be a Cosina lens, with some Yashica labeling. No wonder the price was below other sellers of the same lens.

[lloydy]

That 28 has a look of a Minolta lens about it, but I'm not certain. The fully shrouded back was something Minolta did a lot. I've checked against my Minolta MD lenses and nothing matches, the Minolta's have a white diamond or triangle as the focus mark, but all my Tokina's have the red line and dot.

[lloydy]

www.ecosourceelectronics.com/yashica-ml-28-f2-8-lens-contax-c-y-mount-new.html

I suspect this is actually the same seller ?

Actually, I now think it is a genuine Yashica lens -

forum.mflenses.com/yashica-ml-21mm-f-3-5-preliminary-tests-t38037.html

A quick trawl through Google images for the lens shows it is that lens.

[Stephen]

Sellers photo shows missing lever and tab etc, I suspect he does not know it is so wrong, it is the same seller on both, must have bought a quantity to sell, but is no expert on the goods. It is suspicious he says to check it is the right type, but he clearly says new Yashica ML type, and it is clearly not right.

Stephen.

[lloydy]

I'm changing my mind - again - I think Stephen is correct.

www.flickr.com/photos/61407350@N05/7247244110/

shows a good picture of the back of the lens.

[Stephen]

It's pretty certain it is made by Yashica or for them, and was intended to fit an adaptor, special purpose type perhaps, which may explain why he has a quantity for sale, bought at auction perhaps. I suspect the glass is OK, it is the fact it is manual that lets it down. However, it would, of course, work on an adaptor for a Canon Digital, or Micro 4/3rd, OK as it stands.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

There was a second series of the C/Y mount lens, the Yashica DSB versions which were single coated, but they had the auto diaphragm lever and max aperture tab, missing from the ebay example. Some were marketed in the US as Yashica(US).

As far as I can find all the Yashica ML lenses should be auto diaphragm and have the max aperture tab in place, and therefore the offered lens is not complete.

My advice is contact the seller and seek return and refund, you are protected if it was Ebay, and Pay Pal.

It may simply be the seller did not understand the lens types and details, and thought he was honestly offering an ML lens.

Stephen.

[truls]

Thanks, I feel like Dr. Watson asking Mr. Holmes for advice..

Tomorrow the lens will be tested. It may not be bad, but Works only stopped Down, no big deal. I bought a New skanner, Plustek 8200i With Silverfast, scan quality may increase.