This Old Camera: Yashica Electro 35 GSN… The real one, not the recent plastic mock-up.

First, I am stunned I found a working Yashica Electro 35 GSN. Second, I am surprised I found it so easily locally. Went like this:

• Walked into local camera shop.
• Saw Electro in the bottom of the case.
• Asked if it works. Answer was yes.
• Really? How much? $65.
• Really! I’ll take it.
• Manu, “Wait, it works?”…
• Sorry Manu.

I waded through a boatload of busted shelf trophy examples online before finding this one.

And work it did. SE Camera even gifted me with the ever-ready case on a later visit.

Pluses:

• Bright viewfinder in my example.
• Appreciate the 45mm focal length.
• Very bright at f/1.7.
• Nice LED exposure read out in viewfinder and on top plate.
• Sharp Yashinon lens.
• Shutter lock.
• Surprisingly solid feeling without being heavy.
• Accurate metering.
• It is a beaut.

Minuses:

• Fragile. Hard to escape the feeling that this will soon be a shelf trophy without warning one day.
• Weird battery. The one that came in the camera just packed it in (Hope it is the battery…) and it took a bit longer than usual to find one online.

Sample shots from the first roll below and ongoing gallery here.

Happy shooting.

-ELW