Yashica Auto Yashinon DS 50mm f/1.4

sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

Does anyone have any experience of this lens ? I'v carried out a search and found references to Yashinon lenses with various combinations of aperture (1.4, 1.7, 1.9) and quality (DX, DS & DS-M) but I can't find this one.

The lens is Auto only so I will have to modify my adapter to try it. Is it worth it ?

There is one on the bay ...

Click here to see on Ebay

but I guess that the price is a joke.

rbelyell · Expire: 2014-01-31

hey john
sorry i dont have experience w this particular lens, but i do with the yashica ml 50/1.4, which many, and i, consider a great lens and can be found on ebay for much less than the yashinon. perhaps im wrong, but i cant imagine the yashinon would be better as the ml is considered the poor man's planar!

Univer · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 282

Hi,

Here are two discussions that might be helpful:

Link 1

Link 2

Limiting the conversation (because I don't have any experience with the C/Y lenses) to M42 versions: the most commonly encountered series are DX, DS and DS-M.

The DX lenses are single-coated, rather distinctively styled and very nicely made. I've been pleased with the results from my DX 50/1.4, 50/1.7 and 200/4. DX lenses have an A/M switch.

The DS lenses are also single-coated, of later production, and, generally speaking, seem to feel a bit lighter, less robust and less well-finished than the DX lenses. I've used a couple of DS lenses, and the images have been perfectly nice, but the lenses don't handle as well as the DX's. The only DS I own is a 20/3.3, which is a fairly seldom encountered lens (and not really a stellar lens, so I wouldn't want to generalize on the basis of its performance). Note that the DS lenses are often described as lacking an A/M switch, but my 20mm has one.

The DS-M lenses were (I believe) the last M42 Yashinons, and are multi-coated. In terms of finish and handling, they're on the same level as the DS's; but they produce lovely images. These, too, are said to lack the A/M switch, but there are reports of DS-M lenses that have them.

Note that the 50/1.4 DX is known to have mirror-clearance issues, not only with digital bodies but with film bodies as well.

Hope there's something useful there!

Cheers,

Jon

sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

Thanks guys for your replies.

Phenix jc · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 398 Location: France

Here's some samples : Yashica Yashinon-DS 50mm f1.4
wo, contrast adjusted on some of them - E510

1

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sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

Thanks for the samples.

xjjohnno · Expire: 2011-11-18

I think the asking price is way too high considering I picked up a DX 50 f1.4 for $35 on Ebay late last year.
I quite like my DX but have the mirror clearance issue at towards infinity focus on my Pentax K20D. I can't comment on the DS not having used one.

kuuan · Expire: 2014-12-26

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09

Phenix jc · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 398 Location: France

A radioactive lens by the way ;
Probably mirror clearance issue with the 5D. (to check)

Univer · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 282

motleypixel · Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 135 Location: Austin, TX USA

Ahh finally found some talk about this lens. So can anyone confirm that the DX will hit my 5DMK2 mirror at infinity?

Thanks,
Roy