Yashica FX-3 Super 4000 part II

Following on from my previous post of the same title. The KF-M1 lingered in pieces for a couple of months until I finally decided to convert it to a Contax/Yashica lens mount. I've converted Phenix made, Yashica based, cameras before but from Pentax K mount to C/Y. That was fairly straight forward and I expected this to be the same - I was wrong. Converting from a Nikon mount to a C/Y mount turned out to be more difficult. The main issues were due to the way the Nikon mount transfers aperture information to the body which meant the metering circuit was different and also due to the shorter flange to film distance and the wider lens mount causing some mechanical differences.

Without going into all the details, essentially, I replaced the KF-M1 mirror box and viewfinder along with the meter circuit with the same from a Yashica FX-3. The increased range of shutter speeds is a slight issue and, as it now stands, the meter doesn't work if the 1/4000 shutter speed is selected. That's not really an issue. I also added a grip, replaced the shutter speed knob as the original was difficult to grip, and fitted new covers. As I replaced the viewfinder and metering system with the same from a Yashica FX-3 Super 2000, I also gained a flash ready signal in the viewfinder though that required the hot shoe to be replaced with one with the extra flash contact.

The shutter speeds were adjusted and the 1/4000 is just within specification but it's clear this shutter is struggling to reach the 1/4000 speed. Some further adjustment might improve it but I decided to leave it as it is. 

The same shutter, used in the Yashica Super 2000, but without the 1/4000 speed, exhibits almost identical characteristics and is already struggling to reach 1/2000. This isn't a match for the shutter used in the Contax S2 though, even that, can struggle to reach 1/4000.

Overall, I'm happy with the result. The camera handles well and with the increased weight of the metal top and bottom plates it feels more solid than a Yashica FX-3. Despite the fact I probably won't give it much use, I think it's a keeper.

Update: Despite my reservations about how much use I might give it, this has become a goto camera for me. I really like the handling of it. It's a bit noisy but it's an easy camera to use.

Canon EOS EF Eyecup will fit Contax and Yashica

The Kyocera F-3 eyecup was used on the Contax S2, 167, Aria and maybe other bodies. It also fits earlier bodies like the 139, 137 and 159 and also Yashica bodies like the FX-3, FX-D, FX-103 etc. I, personally, prefer it to the round eyecups that were used on the earlier Contax and Yashicas.

However, the Kyocera F-3 eyecup has become scarce and when they do become available they are expensive. So I looked for an alternative and found the Canon EOS EF eyecup fits perfectly. It's the same style as the Kyocera F-3 though slightly different in shape. Original Canon eyecups are available and are not expensive but there are Chinese made copies that are available very cheaply on ebay.

The Canon EF eyecup fits Canon EOS 350D, 400D, 450D, 500D, 550D, 600D, 1000D etc. bodies. There are other similar models so, if buying, check it's the correct one.

Here's a few pics of one I bought fitted to a FX-3, a 139 and the KF-M1 mentioned in my previous post.

And a couple of pictures of the eyecup itself.

Yashica FX-3 Super 4000 anyone?

 I recently acquired a Map KF-M1 camera. Made by Phenix in China using a Yashica FX-3 chassis, it has a Nikon lens mount and a top shutter speed of 1/4000 sec. It's the same camera as the Kenko KF-2N which was clearly an attempt to create a camera with the same specification as the Nikon FM-2n. The Map version was made exclusively for Map Camera in Japan and, unusually, has no branding on it. There was another version called the Phenix DN66 sold in the Chinese domestic market.

I was intrigued how the top shutter speed was achieved. The Nikon FM-2n uses the same Copal shutter as the Contax S2 and I knew that shutter will not physically fit into a Yashica FX-3 chassis - I've tried it. The shutter is larger and has slightly different mounting positions. So, to find out how it was done, I had to get a camera. All the variants are rare and, if you do find one, expensive. But I found a KF-M1 in China. The seller accepted an offer but it still cost me nearly £190 with the import tax paid.

With the camera dismantled, first inspection of the shutter suggested it was the same shutter as is fitted to the Yashica Super 2000 (and many other cameras) but it has an extra position on the shutter speed selector. A check of the shutter speeds shows it is struggling to get to 1/4000 and the general shape of the test results graph is very similar to that from a Yashica Super 2000.

(Note: The upper and lower limits on the above results sheet are from a Contax S2 and are not correct for the KF-M1. They should be the same as the FX-3 limits below.)

It's not unusual for the Yashica Super 2000 shutter to be slow at the top speed but some adjustment will usually bring it into specification. I'll have to see if I can get the KF-M1 shutter closer to what it should be.

So it appears Copal produced a further upgrade to the 2000 shutter, which was itself an upgrade of the original 1000 shutter as used in the original FX-3. So I'm surprised that a Yashica Super 4000 never appeared if the shutter was available and could be fitted with no modification to the existing FX-3 chassis. Maybe it was because it would be competing with the Contax S2.

Now I need to decide what to do with the dismantled KF-M1. I don't want a camera with a Nikon lens mount. I could fit the shutter into an existing FX-3 Super 2000 or I could fit a Yashica lens mount to the KF-M1. The camera is quite well made and, unlike the Yashica with plastic top and bottom plates, the KF-M1 has metal top and bottom. The focus screen is the original Yashica one with the diagonal split prism, which I don't like, but if I change the lens mount I'll also have to change the viewfinder so that's not an issue. Whatever I do, the camera is unlikely to get a lot of use from me so if someone out there has an urge to own a Yashica Super 4000, get in touch and we can discuss.

Update: There is now a part 2 to this post at https://contax139.blogspot.com/2021/02/yashica-fx-3-super-4000-part-ii.html

Contax 50mm f/1.7 AE/MM differences

I've worked on both AE and MM versions of this lens before but have never done a direct comparison of the two. Recently I had reason to work on one of each at the same time so was able to do some direct comparisons of their construction. I thought it was worth recording what I found.

The two samples I compared had serial numbers 6504056 (AE) and 7380543 (MM). The differences noted may not be the same for all AE or all MM lenses.

Plastic/metal

The lens uses metal components for the focusing helical, plastic for the internal block that includes the aperture mechanism and carries the lens elements and a mixture of metal and plastic parts for the focus and aperture controls and front cover and dress ring. This is mostly the same in both lens versions except the focus ring on the MM version is metal but plastic on the AE version. The AE version I had showed why this change was probably made - it had cracks in the plastic around the screws that attach the ring to the focusing mechanism. This had caused the focusing ring to become loose and allowed the focusing helical to separate - which is how I came to have the lens. I have seen some cracks like this before so is clearly a potential issue.

Focus guides

Lenses of this general construction usually have one or more guides that allow the focus helical to move back and forth but stopping it from rotating. If these guides, or the slots they move in, become worn, slop or backlash can appear in the focus mechanism. Many lenses have one of the guides split so that its width can be adjusted to take up any excess. The AE version didn't have a split guide while the MM version did.

The slot in the helical component was also different in cross section which means the guide only contacts the helical at the edges in the MM version. What difference this would make I don't know.

Lens mount

The construction of the lens mount is completely different on these two lenses but I think the mount changed before the MM lenses were introduced so this isn't a AE/MM difference as such. The mount, of course, works in exactly the same way but the parts and their assembly is different.

I guess the question has to be, if the differences are so small, why is one lens suited to MM mode cameras and the other not. There may be other differences between the aperture mechanisms that are not really visible. The small constructional differences I could see between the two assemblies were not worth mentioning but maybe they do have some significance. The basic operation of both look identical.

Edit: I have, of course, passed over the infamous 'ninja star' aperture shape of the AE lenses. This is minimal on the 50/1.7 but it is present and shows the shape of the aperture leaves on the two lenses are different.

A new 139 fault

There's not many faults on the 139 I haven't previously seen but I did find a new one recently. The camera had very inconsistent shutter speeds with variations of up to half a stop in either direction. The shutter speeds are often out of specification, maybe 50% of the time, but I've never before seen a 139 with such variations.

The problem was caused by a contaminated shutter magnet so the solution was quite simple - clean the magnet. It's something I do anyway if I service a 139.

The shutter magnet is not to be confused with the release magnet, which can also become contaminated but the symptoms are different. Here's a picture of the shutter magnet. The white plastic arm has a metal plate at the top which contacts the magnet face. This plate and the magnet face are the parts that need to be cleaned.

The more usual symptom of a contaminated shutter magnet is the shutter staying open due to the plastic arm staying permanently stuck to the magnet.

Yasuhara T981

I've created a new website for the above camera. Nothing Contax related but there is some Yashica interest. You can find it at www.t981.co.uk https://sites.google.com/site/t981yasuhara/home.

Strap Lug Replacements Available

Following on from my previous post. I went ahead and had some replacement strap lugs made. These are made from stainless steel so won't wear like the originals did. Made for the 139 but they will also fit the 159, 137, RTS and RTSII.

The lugs can also be supplied if anyone wants to fit them themselves. Please contact me for prices.

Old strap lug. Insert has moved and lug has been badly worn.

New stainless steel strap lug.