Auto Yashinon 5cm f2 variations

[blotafton]

I like this lens a lot and have managed to get 3 of them. Upon closer examination I have spotted small differences.

The one with the serial number starting with 1 have a slightly different front plate, look at the serial numbers. Also the f numbers on the depth of field scale are finer.
When looking at the position of aperture open lever and the aperture ring they are not at the same location relative to the name plate.

The levers for opening the aperture looks like they are hand filed.

The middle lens looks taller but I think has been taken apart and put back together the wrong way. Real infinity is past the infinity mark.


If other forum members have this lens post if you have other variations or just have thoughts about this post.

Lets see what the highest and lowest serial numbers are.



#1


#2


#3

[visualopsins]

[caspert79]

This is a delicious lens, a real jewel. Stunning build quality and great bokeh.

[Alex TG]

Those got really expensive in the recent years, thanks to the one tatooed guy from YouTube...

[blotafton]

[blotafton]

[KEO]

You should include the 5cm Tominon C in your evaluation. It's the same lens.

[blotafton]

The Tominon looks so good! I'd like to have one. For the faint hearted don't check ebay prices

[Oldhand]

[Lloydy]

I think I have two of these lenses, and if so one is for sale. The numbers are 333335 ( which I definitely have ) and 330218 ( which is on my list but not in the cabinet and not marked as sold )

Both of these lenses had the sticky stop down problem, which I cured by removing the black cover plate on the back of the lens, then thoroughly cleaning the track that the brass piece slides along. I tried lubricating with light oil, but that went sticky on cold days. My view is it's best left unlubricated and spotlessly clean.

I have a similar Takumar, which is sometimes confused with the Yashinon, but it is 55 / 1.8 and is entirely different, the Yashinon has 6 blades and the Takumar has 10, but they are remarkably heavy for such tiny lenses and of very similar size and style. Both are wonderful lenses.

[Gardener]

[blotafton]

[Lloydy]

333335 is the highest of the two I should have, it's the one I still have. ( I think I had a few lenses stolen at the last Camera Fair )

[Alun Thomas]

A later variant still of the lens is for sale, if your pockets are deep enough (no affiliation with myself):

link to ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-AS-IS-Yashica-J-3-Black-Film-Camera-w-Auto-Yashinon-5cm-f-2-From-Japan/164496647861?hash=item264cc3a6b5:g:4YcAAOSwYddfKBjo



This lens looks like a black version of the Tominon badged same lens which was sold with the Wards SLR 600 camera (apparently a Yashica made unit). There are several Tominon lenses for sale on ebay with serials in the 39x xxx range, suggesting these were manufactured after Yashica stopped using the lens and moved on to something else.

[ramiller500]

These later M42 lenses used the same optical design:

Yashinon DX 50mm 2.0

Yashinon DS 50mm 2.0

These both can cause mirror interference at and near infinity when mounted on non-Yashica SLRs.

NOTE: The later Yashinon DS 50mm 1.9 was a different optical design (6-4 vs previous 6-5) and did not cause this interference

[KEO]

FWIW, I recorded the serial numbers of my lenses.

1) Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 --- 124202
2) Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 --- 323852
3) Tominon C 5cm f/2 --- 393516

BTW, number one has had a harder life than the others, and has a lot of wear and tear, but like the others it still functions flawlessly. These lenses are extremely robust mechanically. Even the grease still feels brand new in all three of them.

[Lloydy]

I found a scrap of paper with a list of stuff I sold at the Camera Fair last summer and my 'missing' lens was sold on the nearly mint Yashica Reflex 35 I bought it with, for £50, which was a bargain for the lucky purchaser, but still a good profit for me. I still have a Yashica TL Electro for the lens I still have.

[blotafton]

So far we have serial numbers starting with 1 and some more starting with 3. But no 2 or 4. I wonder if there are any starting with 2.

[KEO]

Here's another shot of my Tominon, FWIW:

[M. Valdemar]

Here's one that got away:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233858468152

[D1N0]

[caspert79]

[D1N0]

auto-takumars 55mm F2's are even cheaper and I like there bokeh better:p

[blotafton]

[D1N0]

The Yashinon Bokeh is more like the Pancolar 50/1.8 I think than the Takumar.

Can you tell them apart?

1.


2.