Half Format CAMERAS 135, from 1914 to ours days

		made in Japan (3)		Click on picture to see large model
Produced by	Model	description	Year, Lense	Picture
Yashica	Rapide	Yashica's first half-frame was a vertically-styled camera, similar in appearance to the Taron Chic, with Interchangable lenses. The camera is called Rapide, not because it used Agfa rapid cassettes , but because it had a unique method of film advance: the wrist strap. Film speeds of 10 to 800. Built-in self-timer, tripod socket and cable release socket. Parallax markings in the viewfinder. M and X flash sync.	1961, 538g, Yashinon 2.8/28
Yashica	72-E	(1962) The predecessor to the later Mimy. A bare-bones, no frills half-frame with a 28mm manually-focusing (f2.8) lens. The shutter speed can be set at B, 1/8 - 1/250. The selenium cell which surrounds the lens (as in the Olympus Pen E series) sets the correct aperture. Otherwise, the camera has a cold shoe and a PC contact. As with many Yashica half-frames, the film is inserted upside down, so that the film can be advanced with a quick flick of the left thumb. This was the first of the Yashica cameras to use this feature. Too bad it was not adopted by other half-frame manufacturers -- it would have helped sales of all half-frame cameras.	1962, 365g, Yashinon 2.8/28
Yashica	Mimy	The Mimy is a more "automatic" version of the 72E, but still a basic, no-frills half-frame with a 28mm (f2.8) lens. The selenium cell which surrounds the lens (as in the Olympus Pen E series) sets both the correct shutter speed and aperture. Otherwise, the camera has a cold shoe and a PC contact. Apertures can be set manually for flash use or low light situations.. It was designed to produce good-quality pictures in a small, inexpensive package, and it accomplishes this feat quite admirably. As with many Yashica half-frames, the film is inserted upside down, so that the film can be advanced with a quick flick of the left thumb.	1963, Yashinon 28:2,8
Yashica	Mimy S	similar to the Mimy, but with a focusing lens.	1964, 353g, Yashinon 28:2,8
Yashica	Yashica Half 17	In this camera a selenium meter around the lens automatically sets the correct aperture and shutter speed in program fashion -- 1/30 at f1.7 to 1/800 at f 16. The automatically-selected shutter speed, along with distance, over/under exposure and parallax information are visible in the viewfinder. For flash purposes, the aperture can be set manually, while the shutter is fixed at 1/30. A "B" setting can also be selected, which fixes the aperture at f1.7 -- great for low-light shooting. The camera included a cold shoe with PC contact, self-timer; cable release connection, tripod socket and a unique case system, a thumb-operated film-advance wheel quickly advances the film. Takes a 52mm filter. shutter: Copal Auto	1965, Yashinon 1.7/32, 452g
Yashica	Yashica Half 17 Rapid	This model is called "RAPID" since it uses Agfa Rapid cassettes. It is nearly identical to the Half 17 with the same lens and camera features. The body is about a half an inch longer to accomodate the RAPID cassettes. In addition, the shutter speed is not displayed in the viewfinder, just a match needle system. To operate, you turn the f-stop ring on the lens until the needle in the viewfinder matches the notch on the scale. The camera does not have the film speed dial of the original since it does not need it. The tab on the RAPID cassette sets the film speed. In this model the film is loaded "upside down" and a thumb-operated film-advance wheel quickly advances the film. Takes a 52mm filter. shutter: Copal Auto	1965, Yashinon 1.7/32, 452g
Yashica	Yashica Half 17 Rapid EE	A selenium meter around the lens automatically sets the correct aperture and shutter speed in program from 1/30 at f1.7 to 1/800 at f 16. The automatically-selected shutter speed, along with distance, over/under exposure and parallax information are visible in the viewfinder. For flash purposes, the aperture can be set manually, while the shutter is fixed at 1/30. A "B" setting can also be selected, which fixes the aperture at f1.7. The film advance is different from most 35mm cameras, in this model, the film is loaded "upside down" and a film-advance wheel under the left thumb quickly advances the film. Film speeds of 12 - 400 and a 52mm filter.	1964, 453g, Yashinon 1.7/32
Yashica	Electro Half	For fast action, focusing information is displayed in the viewfinder -- distance icons appear on the bottom of the viewfinder indicating the distance to the subject. In addition, there are focusing detents at infinity, 10 feet, 4 feet and 2.5 feet. After focusing and composing the shot, exposure was a breeze. First, dial in the film speed (ISO 12 - 400). Then two options are available. For the easiest exposures, just select from one of three exposure icons on the front of the lens -- sunny (f11), cloudy (f4), or indoors (f1.7). The camera then selects the correct shutter speed. If you prefer, you can use two tiny colored lights on the top of the camera to get the correct exposure. After selecting an appropriate weather symbol on the front of the lens, point the camera at the scene. Then slide a level on the camera back into a small red zone. If the red light on the top of the camera lights up, it means that a slow shutter speed will be used and that a tripod is needed. Another alternative is to open-up the aperture. If the red light does not light up, move the lever into the orange zone. If the orange light lights up, it means that the scene is too bright for the chosen f-stop. If it doesn't light up, the exposure will be set correctly. In short, as the aperture ring is turned (f1.7 - 16.0) the red and orange lights will indicate if over- or under-exposure exists. It sounds complicated but it works well. On the back of the camera is a switch that allows you to choose from A (auto-exposure), B (for time exposure), and a lightning bolt (for flash use). There is also a battery check, cold flash shoe, tripod socket, cable release connection, self timer, parallax marks in the viewfinder, and a shutter lock switch.	1962, 512g, 32mm f1.7
Yashica	Electro Half 6 transistor	It is nearly identical to the Electro Half with the same lens and camera features, oly called "6 transistor" on top.	1962, 512g, 32mm f1.7
Yashica	Half 14	(1966) One of the "speed-demons" of the half-frame world, this camera's claim to fame is its "super-fast" 32mm, manually-focusing, f1.4 lens. The shutter speed was manually set from B, 1/15 - 1/500. The camera had a CDS meter, cold shoe and PC contact. The body design was basically the same as the Half-17. Takes one 625 battery.	32:1,4
Yashica	Samurai Z	A smaller version of the original Samurai, it did not skimp on features, just size. And unlike a lot of auto-everything cameras there are no buttons or switches to set before use. Simply drop in the film cassette, push the ON lever and you are ready to shoot. The zoom toggle falls under your index finger naturally. A slight press on the shutter release (right next to the zoom toggle) focuses the lens and determines the exposure. A final press takes the picture. It has a KYOCERA ZOOM LENS 25mm-75mm,1:4-5.6 motorized (equivalent to a 35-105mm on a full frame 35mm camera) (f4.0/5.6) lens with 12 elements in 10 groups. It has a through-the-lens, center-weighted silicon exposure system that automatically controls the electronic shutter (from 4 seconds to 1/500) and the aperture. Automatic DX coding of film from ISO 25 through 3200. Manual exposure compensation of +/- 2 f-stops. Autofocusing from infinity to 28 inches. Motorized film advance and rewind can be set for single or continuous film advance up to 4.5 frames per second. Multiple exposure, self-timer, intervalometer and combinations of these are built-in for fascinating picture possibilities. Features and settings are displayed on an LCD panel on the back of the camera. Built-in calendar and clock can imprint film with various date and time configurations. LED's in teh viewfinder tell you if the focus and exposure are correct. You can also turn on -- or off -- a beeper as an auditory check. Built-in pop-up flash can be set for automatic, manual, fill-in and other settings. Includes hot shoe, tripod socket and even diopter adjustment on the viewfinder. Accessories include hand strap, side-grip strap, case, additional flash adapter, 43-58mm step-up ring, eyecup, 1.4x screw-in teleconverter (yielding a 35-105mm zoom) and closeup lens (focusing to 14 inches). Put all this stuff in a regular 35mm and you'd need a suitcase! But yet, it all fits in one hand! And the list of features goes on! You can see why this camera has been selected as the "mascot" for this web site. Although the manual features of this camera are limited, the sharpness of the lens alone makes up for it. Uses a CR5 battery.	1989, 528g, 35-105:4.0-5.6
Yashica	Samurai Z2		1990, AF-Zoom 3.4-4.3/25-70
Yashica	Samurai Z 2-L	Left-handed version of Samurai Z. Uses a CR5 battery.	1990, AF-Zoom 3.4-4.3/25-70
Yashica	Samurai ZL	Left-handed version of Samurai Z. Uses a CR5 battery.	1989, AF-Zoom 3.4-4.3/25-70
Yashica	Samurai X3	(1988) The Samurai X3.0 was the first model of a series of ergonomic (built-to-fit-the-hand for one-hand operation), half-frame, "bridge" SLRs that Yashica manufactured beginning in 1988. It is a true SLR camera which makes it stand out from many point-and-shoot cameras, as does its half-frame format. The zoom covers a useful range KYOCERA ZOOM LENS 25mm-75mm,1:3.5-4.3 in half-frame, which gives an image size approximately the same as a 35-105mm zoom in full-frame. The lens is threaded for a standard 49mm filter, and gives effective f-stops from f3.5 at wide angle to f4.3 at telephoto. The viewfinder has an adjustable diopter to fit sharpness to the user's vision. Shutter speeds range from 2 sec. to 1/500 sec. Shutter and aperture are automatically set by the camera -- no manual settings. There is a built-in flash which can be turned off, turned on, or left to operate in various automatic modes. An accessory allows the use of a regular flash. The exposure, film advance and focusing are strictly automatic. The standard model is black, but the control buttons came in different colors, such as red and green. In fact, it just has a gold shutter release and lens cap. Various accessories were available, such as wide and tele lens converters, cases, straps, etc. Uses one CR5 battery.There are several "sub-models". The most common is the left-handed version. There was also a clear, fully functioning model for demo purposes. Last, but not least was the Grand Prix 88, often called the gold version.	1987, 635g, 35-105:3.5-4.3
Yashica	Samurai X4	Modified version of the X3.0 with 25-105mm zoom. The size of the body was not increased. Uses a CR5 battery.	1988, 712g, AF-Zoom 3.8-4,8/25-100
Yashica	Sequelle	A vertically styled camera that looks similar to an 8mm movie camera only wider. It had a 28mm, manually-focusing (f2.8-22) lens with idiot symbols instead of feet/meter distance marks. The exposure system is metered-manual. First, the film speed (10 to 800) is dialed into selenium meter. When the camera is pointed at the subject the meter displays a number in a window on top of the camera. This number is then dialed into an "exposure" ring on the lens. The shutter speeds (1/30 - 1/250) are set when the film speed is dialed in, and then aperture fine-tunes the exposure. For flash use, the "exposure" ring around the lens is set to the "FLASH" mark and a separate lever allows you to select the desired f-stop. The shutter is 1/30 for flash use. The exposure ring also has a B setting which allows manually setting the f-stop. This is the same set-up that the original Canon Demi half-frame used. No manual settings of the shutter speed, except B and FLASH (1/30). The Sequelle also sported a battery-powered, built-in motor drive for advancing the film. Viewing was through a pop-up sports finder. Tripod socket, cable release socket and PC contact built in. No built-in flash shoe. In order to use the camera you'll need the motor-drive battery holder which takes three AA batteries and fits into the back of the camera where film normally goes. You'll also need the special film take-up spool, which slides into the side of the camera with the film. Apparently a rare version with a 45mm (f4.5) lens was made for police use, although in all other respects it is the same camera.	1962, 824g, Yashinon 2.8/28
Yashica	Yashica Sequelle (Police Special)	Apparently a rare version with a 45mm (f4.5) lens was made for police use, although in all other respects it is the same camera.	1962, 824g, Yashinon 4.5/45