This Old Lens: Yashica 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount)

This Old Lens: Yashica 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount)

Have owned a lens similar to this lens before.

This Old Lens: Soligor 28mm f/2.5 (C/Y Mount)

Then, in a misguided attempt at photography logic (laughable) I sold it. Something, something I do not use it and the Contax ZEISS 50mm f/1.7 stays on the camera all of the time…

Then I proceeded to pay much more for other lenses that I also did not use often… None of which do I own anymore. So, after a quick run through a roll of film with my Contax 137 MA Quartz recently I decided to recify this prior error in judgment. Especially once I saw that these lenses were still dirt cheap.

Yes, I said lenses. I applied this same “logic” to a 135mm lens also.

For starters (and ease) I will cut and paste from my 2018 post and then show the new images. I wanted to make sure this good deal of a lens actually worked. And it did. <Engage cut and paste.>

Recently picked up one heck of a deal in a camera. Seems appropriate to find deals when it comes to lenses for it. I typically get three primes when I purchase a film system. A normal. A portrait. A wide. This is the wide. The Soligor Yashica 28mm f/2.5 f/2.8.

Why did I buy it?

• $34
  • $57, so a bit more than the third party lens.
• Came with caps and bag.
  • Not this time around.No caps or case.
• A solid little good looking all metal thing.

Now I was really looking forward to receiving the lens and I was not disappointed.

• Sharp.
• Great colors.
• Pleasing out of focus bits.

<End cut and paste.>

I only took a few images with this lens before.

I did not mention this above, but I bought this kit as a distraction while coping with my Father’s declining health. In fact, these sample images were taken while visiting him during one of his hospital stays in the months leading up to his passing in early 2019. That may also be why I let the lenses go so soon. 2018 pics.

Welp… That bit of slightly jarring throwback sorted.

The film.

Lomography 100. A favorite of mine. Developed with Cinestill CS41.

The replacement lenses arrived yesterday so along with finishing another roll of film I decided to test these newly received lenses out. Used the same roll of film to test both lenses. Here is the half dedicated to this lens.So a $34 bargain. I leave you with a few sample images below, and here is a link to an ongoing gallery.

Thoughts.

Soligor or Yashica, a similar lens spec with the same camera and film will net a similar result. If anyone were to ask me why I let go of much more fancy pants 35mm film cameras recently, this is where I would start.

Wanting fancy gear is perfectly fine.

But I have a much greater interest in results. And I could do no better than this no matter what camera I used.

Happy shooting.

-ELW