YASHICA CAMERAS USING THE MINOX CASSETTE
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Perhaps the best known Minox offshoot is the Yashica Atoron. Yashica first developed its own submini 16mm camera -- the Y16 -- and clip-load cassette. When that attempt failed to sell, they made a camera -- the 16EE -- that used the more popular Minolta cassette. That also failed to sell well. They then attempted a submini with the Minox cassette -- the Atoron -- in 1965. It had a fixed-focus 18mm Yashinon f/2.8 lens (closes down to f/16). Shutter speeds of 1/45-1/250 and B. Built-in selenium meter. The meter provides a match-needle, programmed-type of exposure system which sets the f-stop and shutter speed in tandem -- just like on the Minolta MG. First, you dial in the film speed. Then, you point the camera at the subject. Lastly, you match the meter needle with a follower needle by turning a dial. This makes the exposure settings -- from 1/45 at f2.8 to 1/250 at f16. There are no manual settings for the aperture or the shutter speed, but the dial is marked in EV units. You can use a hand-held meter which reads out in EV (most older ones do), or simply remember that EV 12 is approximately the same as sunny-16. The meter face is marked with a "sunny day" symbol at EV12. Built-in sliding yellow filter. Other slip-on filters (80A and ND4) were available that covered the lens and the meter. Other accessories, such as a case and an AG flash unit were available. Shutter lock ring around shutter release. The Atoron came in two body styles; one was smooth, the other had a waffled surface. Many people report that this camera is a quality shooter. It did not have the push-pull film advance of the Minox, but used a film-advance tab -- a style later used on many 110 cameras. While the Atoron lens had a variable aperture (which Minox models lacked ), the Atoron lacked a focusing lens (which the Minox had). The Atoron depended on depth-of-field to get everything in focus.
Same as Yashica Atoron with a different name
Same as Yashica Atoron with a different name
In 1973, Yashica added the model T. This was a standard Atoron Electro, but with a transparent top so that the user could view the mechanics of the camera. The original price was $190.
Same as Yashica Atoron Electro with a different name
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