Yashica Lynx 14E

The Yashica Lynx 14E is a 35mm rangefinder camera, particularly distinguished by its extremely fast lens. It was introduced in the late 1960s and is the successor to the Yashica Lynx 14.

Lens

The Yashica Lynx 14E is permanently equipped with a Yashinon-DX 45mm f/1.4 lens. This focal length corresponds to a slight wide-angle to normal lens in the 35mm format and is suitable for a variety of photographic tasks, from landscape shots to portraits.

The outstanding feature of this lens is its high aperture of f/1.4, which allows for shooting in very low ambient light without flash or with low film speed, and also enables pronounced subject isolation through shallow depth of field. The smallest aperture is f/16. Aperture control is manual via an aperture ring on the lens.

Focusing is also manual via a focusing ring on the lens. A split-image rangefinder is used for precise adjustment. In the central area of the viewfinder, a second, usually yellowish image is superimposed. By turning the focusing ring, the two images are brought into alignment. When the contours of the two partial images match exactly, the correct distance is set. The minimum focusing distance is approximately 0.8 meters. The focusing ring features a distance scale in meters and feet.

Additionally, a depth-of-field scale is engraved on the lens barrel. This scale indicates the range that will be in focus on the film, depending on the set aperture and focusing distance. For example, when focusing at 2 meters and an aperture of f/16, the depth of field extends from approximately 1.3 meters to 4 meters.

The lens has a 58mm filter thread for screw-in filters. Optionally, a 60mm clip-on lens hood can be used to reduce stray light during backlight shots.

Exposure Settings

Exposure metering for the Yashica Lynx 14E is done by an integrated CdS cell, whose metering window is located on the front of the camera. The exposure metering system is activated by pressing a separate button, the power switch. As long as this button is pressed, the light meter is active and displays the readings in the viewfinder. This prevents unnecessary battery consumption, as power only flows during the metering process.

Inside the camera’s viewfinder, there are two red warning lamps: “OVER” for overexposure and “UNDER” for underexposure. Correct exposure is achieved when neither of the warning lamps lights up while the power button is pressed. To set the correct exposure, first, the sensitivity of the loaded film must be set via the ASA setting lever on the lens. The adjustable range is from ASA 10 to ASA 800. The set ASA value is visible in a window on the lens.

Next, the desired shutter speed is preselected on the shutter speed ring. The available shutter speeds range from 1 second to 1/500 second, plus the “B” setting for long exposures, where the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release button is pressed. After selecting the shutter speed, with the power button pressed, turn the aperture ring until the “OVER” or “UNDER” lamp in the viewfinder goes out. The available aperture values range from f/1.4 to f/16.

If the “OVER” lamp lights up even at the smallest aperture, a shorter shutter speed must be chosen or a neutral density filter used. If the “UNDER” lamp lights up even at the largest aperture, a longer shutter speed must be chosen or flash used.

The shutter speed ring and the aperture ring are mechanically coupled so that they can be turned together to quickly switch between different time-aperture combinations with the same light value once a correct exposure value has been determined.

When using filters, exposure must be adjusted manually by opening the aperture according to the filter factor. For backlight shots, it is recommended to meter the exposure on the main subject or manually open the aperture one to two stops wider than indicated by the light meter for the overall scene.

Flash System

The Yashica Lynx 14E features an integrated flash system that allows the connection of external flash units.

On the top of the camera, there is a standard accessory shoe onto which a flash unit can be mounted. However, this shoe does not have electrical contacts.

The electrical connection to the flash unit is made via a sync cable, which is plugged into the PC sync socket on the side of the lens barrel.

Correct exposure for flash shots is not determined by the camera’s internal light meter. Instead, the aperture must be set manually, based on the guide number of the flash unit used and the distance to the subject.

Additional Features

In addition to its core functions, the Yashica Lynx 14E offers several useful additional features. The viewfinder is a bright Albada viewfinder, which displays the later picture frame. It features automatic parallax compensation, where the bright frame shifts diagonally to compensate for the difference between the viewfinder and lens angle of view at short focusing distances. The viewfinder also displays the “OVER” and “UNDER” warning lamps of the light meter, as well as the central split-image field for focusing.

The camera has a film transport lever for quick film advance and simultaneous shutter cocking. An automatic frame counter on the top counts the shots taken and automatically resets to “S” when the camera back is opened.

For rewinding the film back into the cartridge after the last shot, there is a rewind knob with a fold-out crank on the camera top and a release button on the camera bottom.

A mechanical self-timer is also integrated. It is activated by a lever on the underside of the lens barrel. After pressing the shutter release, the self-timer runs for about 7 to 8 seconds before the shutter is triggered. For using the self-timer, the sync selector lever must be set to “X”.

On the bottom of the camera, there is a standard tripod socket for mounting on a tripod, which is particularly recommended for longer shutter speeds or when using the self-timer. The shutter release button has an internal thread for a standard cable release, enabling shake-free shots at long exposure times.

Power Supply

The power supply of the Yashica Lynx 14E is exclusively for operating the CdS light meter. The camera itself is fully mechanical and functions even without batteries, though without exposure metering. It requires two 1.3-volt mercury batteries of the Mallory RM640R, Eveready E640N, or equivalent types. These batteries are inserted into the battery compartment on the underside of the camera, which is sealed with a screw-on cap. When inserting, ensure that the negative terminal of the batteries faces outwards.

Film Recommendations

The Yashica Lynx 14E uses standard 35mm small format film (eBay / Amazon*) in commercially available cartridges, typically for 12, 24, or 36 exposures. The camera has no DX coding recognition; film sensitivity must be set manually on the ASA setting ring of the lens in the range of ASA 10 to 800.

Both color and black-and-white films can be used. When using black-and-white films, color filters can be used with the 58mm filter thread to control contrast. The corresponding filter factor must be taken into account during exposure setting.

Quick Operating Guide

1. Load Film: Open the camera back. Insert the film cassette, thread the film leader onto the take-up spool. Ensure the perforation engages. Close the back cover. Operate the film transport lever and release until the counter shows “1”. The rewind knob should turn during transport.
2. Set Film Sensitivity: Slide the ASA setting lever on the lens to the ASA value of the loaded film.
3. Select Shutter Speed: Turn the shutter speed ring on the lens to the desired shutter speed until it aligns with the red index mark.
4. Measure Exposure and Set Aperture: Hold down the power button. Look through the viewfinder. Turn the aperture ring until neither the “OVER” nor the “UNDER” warning lamp illuminates. The power button can be released.
5. Focus: Look through the viewfinder and aim at the subject. Turn the focusing ring until the two images in the central metering field align exactly.
6. Take the Shot: Gently press the shutter release button to take the picture.
7. Advance Film: Operate the film transport lever fully to advance to the next frame and cock the shutter.
8. Rewind Film: After the last shot, press the rewind release button on the camera bottom. Fold out the crank on the rewind knob and turn it in the direction of the arrow until the film is completely rewound into the cassette. Open the back cover and remove the film.