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single frame: Prince Albert in a can

Jim Grey
10 comments on single frame: Prince Albert in a can
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Prince Albert in a can

Prince Albert in a can
Yashica Lynx 14e
Kodak T-Max 400
2014

Fellow camera-collecting blogger Peggy Anne reviewed her Yashica Lynx 14 recently, and it led me to look back at my photos from my nearly identical Lynx 14e.

This camera’s lens is simply incredible. Just look at that sharpness and clarity! And this is with the lens either nearly or fully wide open, thanks the the dim antique-store light.

When I restarted my collection in 2006 I intended to collect fixed-lens rangefinders. I had bought eight or ten of them when someone gave me an SLR they no longer wanted. The SLR bug bit me hard and that was pretty much that for my rangefinder obsession.

As I shrink my collection through Operation Thin the Herd I will to keep just one or two rangefinders — ones I will use and love. If I had to guess right now, I think I’ll wind up with my Canonet QL17 G-III and my Lynx 14e.

Not that either camera is in fully working order. The Canonet has always needed new light seals. The Lynx 14e’s meter is off by a stop. But for cameras I’m going to keep, I’m willing to invest in repairs.

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Comments

10 responses to “single frame: Prince Albert in a can”

  1. J P Cavanaugh Avatar
    J P Cavanaugh

    . . . Well let him out!

    Someone has to reference the punch line for the old prank phone call from the days of my father’s youth. I guess it may as well be me.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      One of the many services you provide. I’ll expect the bill in the mail.

      Reply
  2. Dan James Avatar
    Dan James

    Sounds similar to the Electro 35 range – fantastic lenses in those too. Shame the rest of the camera (in the case of the Electro) is a bit clunky and awkward to use, and very bulky.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      I don’t remember very well how the Lynx 14e was under use. I’m shooting my Minolta Hi-Matic 7 now and despite being the same size as the Electro and the Lynx it is much more pleasant to shoot. I sort of like it, actually. So maybe it’s just that the Electro is clunky.

      Reply
  3. Andy Umbo Avatar
    Andy Umbo

    I cannot say enough about Yashica! When I used to own the Contax system back in the 80’s, I tried to buy and use Carl Zeiss as much as I could (I’m a Zeiss fan big-time, hence all the Hasselblad stuff I own). I ended up buying a few Yashica lenses for the Contax in sizes I was going to get little use out of, and was surprised that they looked as sharp and contrasty as the Carls Zeiss stuff I owned; the only difference being the coloration (Zeiss stuff always has that “look”). I had used a series of Yashicamat 120’s over the years, and was always mildly surprised at the quality of the lenses, but thought that a “fluke”; maybe not! Maybe Zeiss got in bed with Yashica/Kyocera back then because they did have something going on….

    Is your refrigerator running….better catch it!

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      My Yashica TLRs render wonderfully as well! Maybe I should try more Yashicas!

      Reply
  4. Mike Connealy Avatar
    Mike Connealy

    That shot well illustrates the excellent sharpness of that lens. That’s one I regret getting rid of. It was kind of big and heavy, but the lens was outstanding and the parallax-correcting viewfinder was a big plus for close-ups.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      The Lynx 14 is kind of a beast to use. I had mine hanging around my neck for a whole day in a car museum and it was quite fatiguing. But when I saw the stunning results I no longer cared about that!

      Reply
  5. Jeremy Avatar
    Jeremy

    I have been seriously thinking of buying the Yashica Lynx 14e forlornly sitting and gathering dust in a thrift shop near where I work. The price tag is $19 but the meter doesn’t work unfortunately. Seeing how amazing the results are with yours, I might just pull the trigger this time. I love your photos btw.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      If everything else about that Lynx 14e seems to work okay you should definitely buy it for that price! Drop in some T-Max 400, meter with an app on your phone, and prepare to be blown away.

      Reply

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