Electro 35 G...buy or wait for better?

[Amir Aziz]

I would suggest getting a russian rangefinder either a Fed 2 or a Zorki 3C. The Fed is closer copy to the orginal Leica LTM design while making film loading easier and having a combined rangefinder/viewfinder. The Zorki has a brighter viewfinder and faster shutter 1/1000sec as opposed to the Feds 1/500sec. Try to get a body that comes with either 50mm Jupiter 8 or Industar 61 or Industar 26M

[b1bmsgt]

Basically, you're either a Yashica fan or you're not, I guess...
If you check out the Yashica forum over at rangefinder forum.com, you will find a lot of folks who are rabid fans. If you think the Electro is too automatic, then a Lynx 5000 or 14 would be a good way to go. Both have full manual shutter speed and aperture along with an on-board meter, although I would recommend a good hand-held rather than trust the built in too far. The 14's will cost you a bit, but the 5000's can usually be had for a very low price.
I also have a few Zorki's and FED's. They are definitely hit and miss, but if you get a good one you are in for a treat, IMHO. I would recommend the Jupiter 8 personally, but the Industars ore OK too...

Russ

[r-brian]

I much prefered my Minolta Hi-Matic 7s over a Yashica Electro that I had. The Hi-Matic are either AE or complete manual. And the lenses are sharp.

[elekm]

Several decades have done a lot for the Yashica Electro cameras. The years have transformed them from lower-tier product into cult camera. Same goes for the smaller fixed-lens rangefinders made by Olympus, Canon, Minolta and to a much-lesser degree Konica and Petri.

Even so, they were all decent cameras then and are still decent cameras today. I just wouldn't overpay for them.

[Pumal]

A Mint, CLAD Yashica 14e IC is worth 100 bucks.
A Mint, CLAD Yashica Electro 35 GSN is worth 50 bucks