She could be the first rangefinder camera I ever lay my hands on. I got her from my late grandfather back in the year 2000 along with a few other cameras. I don’t like rangefinders. As far as I know is that you cannot change the lens and it feels like pocket camera. It’s just not cool I thought. So I just put her in my camera bag.
I was still learning to take pictures with an SLR camera in high school, they all use SLR’s at that time, and then so do I. I used to get envy with my friends cameras and their zoom lenses. Since I only have a fixed 55mm lens. But then about a year and a half later I get to know that I’m better with fixed lenses rather than zoom lenses. It’s easier for me to focus on the subjects.
I almost forget that I had this Yashica electro rangefinder. I just remembered that I had her and a few other cameras while I was cleaning my OM-1. I founded her, and since I don’t put her in a safe and a cool dry place like anyone should have done, well.. she gets a bit foggingon the lenses and the view finder. But it’s not that bad, so I just cleaned her and then store it in a better place. I started to like her then.
My Yashica Electro 35 CCN Wide with the lens cap & leather strap.
I start using her, maybe around 2002. And I liked it. I like how she’s so compact, easy to focus, and the wide lens is fun and it’s a fast lens too. The view finder is so great, with a bright rangefinder. The shutter is very quiet too. And what I really like with rangefinders is that there’s no black screen when you press the shutter not like in SLR’s, so you could see what’s going on while you make your exposure. And since she’s an aperture priority AE rangefinder, you’ll get limited manual control over her. Just remove the battery and you’ll get your speed set in 1/30, and changing the ASA dial will be your alternative for exposure compensation.
I feel more close to the subject than when I’m using my SLR, I wonder why? I think it’s more because of the fixed lens, so you’ll have to get closer to your subject when you want to get a close up rather than using the zoom. But I use fixed lens on my OM-1, but still it feels different. At that time I rarely use my OM-1 though. Most of the time I use my Nikon F80 with 28-70mm lens. From that time with her, I take back what I say earlier about not liking rangefinders. I love them! I started to look for other rangefinders ever since.
I found out my electronics doesn’t work when I finally found the batteries for her (many thanks to yashica guy who explained to me about the difference in the battery type/code depends on which country you’re at). But the battery check light is still working. I really want to take a low light scene with her, because she’s capable of taking a long shutter speed (8 seconds! ). But I still have to repair the electronics to do that, so.. I hope I’ll get the time to do it. Wish me luck.
