Yashica ML 28-85

[Orio]

And speaking of zooms... I just bought one. A Yashica ML 28-85 for 129 Euros.
I was looking for a zoom wide to moderate tele to replace the Tamron I sold a few months ago.
I was oriented on the Contax zooms but they are too expensive for the kind of money I am prepared to spend on a zoom lens. The 28-85 at Keh was for double price than I paid for this and it was in "bargain" condition (which means dents and scratches on glass). On Ebay, the Contax 28-85 in good condition is often listed around 500 Euros and sometimes more. Of course if you wait a bit you can catch the auction when you can win it for much less. But still, I don't have this kind of patience for zooms, and the Christmas holidays are at the door.

The advantages of the Yashica ML 28-85?

- as mint, costs half than scratched Contax, and it is only slightly slower than the Contax.

- it is a highly regarded lens. Some even think it's the best ML lens made. Probably it's not, but even then, it can't be THAT much worse than the Contax

- it is reported to have excellent colour saturation and contrast. It is said to be weak on flare, but hoods exist.

- it is a rare lens. It was made in few exemplars and it's very difficult to find one on Ebay. So itěs also interesting from the collector POV or the photo samples site POV (yes Attila I'll pass over the samples )

This is the lens I bought:
Click here to see on Ebay

And these are some comments on the ML 28-85:

http://www.cdegroot.com/cgi-bin/photowiki/Yashica_28-85/3.5-4.5_ML
http://www.fhtino.it/fotografia/yashica/comments.html

As for hands-on experience, I will report when I receive the lens. It's sent by courier from italy, so it should be fast.

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[F16SUNSHINE]

Yes this is a nice lens I own it also. Probably you did not buy it for the 5d which is good. I find it suffers from vigneting at wide end (many zooms do). This would not be a problem on crop cam but on your full frame would be noticeable. It has the locking macro mode which can be useful although, only adds weight if you don't use it. I will be interested to see what you think of it. I am currently in the process of "trimming the fat" off my kit. The zooms will be the first (maybe the only) to go.

[Orio]

[Attila]

I look forward your samples, I am curious I had and have a couple of very good zoom lens so let see how this one perform.

[shijan]

Orio or someone who used this lens, what can you say about minimum focus distance? in tech specs of this lens it say 170cm and as for me its the main disadwantage of this lens (curerntly i use MC 28-80 and it can focus up to 45 cm min). is it possible to use macro mode for focusing to near distances up to 50 cm? or macro mode is only for real macro distances?

[doomed-forever]

Do you have Samples Pictures taken with the Yashica ML 28-85, Orio? How's the Quality compared to to the slow Contax Zeiss 28-70/3.5-4.5 Zoom, or especially the Contax Zeiss 28-85, which is also a Push Zoom Variant, with the same Focal length.

[doomed-forever]

Dead Thread here? It's been very rare, that a lens is regarded as way good (28-85 ML) but no samples, even very few only onto the net...kinda weird....

[Lloydy]

if it's as good as my ML 80-200 / 4 then it will be an excellent lens, and they would make a great pair of walkabout lenses.. The 80-200 is a lovely compact lens that is easily the equal of the Vivitar Series 1 lenses.

[kendo1]

I got one for free with a Yashica FRII I put a bid on, about £9. Are you sure it is not 28-80 MC?
Nice lens.
http://cdegroot.com/photo-yashica/yashica-slr-faq-4.html

[biggles3]

[eddieitman]

I do own one and i could be persuaded to part with it if anybody is interested, can also put samples up if interested

[doomed-forever]

I've shot another one for a bargain price into excellent condition.