Traduction de Manuel M

In 1988, Yashica had the daring to issue a camera resembling no other, and, moreover, half-format. Badly took some to him because it was a failure. Assassinated on the baptismal funds by critics, the camera with the look of video camera however had real ergonomic qualities.
Ten years later, Yashica, meanwhile last in the bosom of the Japanese group Kyocera, launched again a very close camera by general ergonomics. Giving up the half-format on film 135, it is the APS who became the photographic support about it.

The camera is a little smaller than its predecessor, because of reduction of the size of the cartridge APS compared to that of the 135. The zoom has one “range” a little longer than the first Samurai. The viewfinder is improved, because it was one of the reproaches done with the first generation, as well as the quality of optics.

The catch in hand is of the standard of video cameras and reminds that of Olympus IS and Canon Autoboy.
For holding it well, it is necessary to slip the right hand under the wrist-strap. The fingers find a natural support in a hollow filled with non-skid rubber. The index finger makes it possible to control the zoom and the shutter release. With the back of the camera, on a quasi-vertical panel, the viewfinder and the master switch are, of blue colour. One finds there an ACL, from now on generalized on the compact camera. A trap door masks buttons of not-essential adjustments.  The APS cartridge fits in the camera by underside. It requires only one minimal opening, since with the APS, it is the camera which fully manages the setting of film.
The exposure being entirely programmed, it does not have there other adjustments.

Another characteristic: its plastic hull is iridescent and is about impossible to photograph correctly.
 

The first name of this firm, founded in 1949 in the province of Nagano, was Yashima, name derived from Yoshihama which all 8 island of the Japanese nation. It will be then transformed into Yashinon, name which will be preserved for optics, its speciality. It will be itself derived and will become Yashica, in 1958.
The first produced cameras will be of 6 X 6 and 4 X 4 more or less copied from Rolleiflex.
In 1958, Yashica manufactured its first 24x36, rangefinder camera with fixed lens on an aesthetic basis of Contax inspiration: the 35. This camera will be the first of very a long lineage, made up of several series of 135 rage finder cameras with fixed lenses which will make its reputation.
In 1958, Yashica buys Nicca (ex- Nippon Cameras), which manufactures very beautiful copies of Leica, in screwmount M 39. Nicca has then, a very good reputation of quality. Between 1948 and 1957, more than 60,000 rangefinder cameras were produced, particularly for export.
Since 1949, these cameras are distributed in the USA by Sears & Roebuck of Chicago (Tower) and Peerless of NY (Peerlees). During this period, Nicca are primarily proposed with Nikon optics. Certain dealers, leave however the choice of optics, to their customers (Nikon, Canon, Steinheil…)
For Yashica, specialist in optics, buying Nicca would have to allow him to compete with Canon and Nikon on this market, by ensuring the industrial manufacturing of the bodies in the Nicca factory and optics in his own factory. The name of Nicca Camera Company Ltd will be kept.
On the basis of excellent Nicca 3F Type II - with cocking lever - will be manufactured in 1959, the very first Yashica rangefinder camera with interchangeable lens of the brand: the YE. It will be too expensive to produce and will be sold badly. Seeking to dissociate itself while saving money in manufacturing costs to fight against Canon, Yashica will introduce the superb YF, stamped Yashica and Nicca. Unfortunately, this splendid camera will fail by a rangefinder ridiculously small and unworthy of its other performances.
One saves money where one can… In any case the knell of uprange rangefinder camera sounded. The YF will be the last rangefinder camera with interchangeable objective of the brand.
Its comfortable financial situation and its strategic good choices (mounting 42 with screw…) will allow Yashica to pass without encumbers, the critical cape of the advent of the Single Lens Reflex camera.

In 1983, Yashica will merge with the Kyocera group. This group started in 1959, in Kyoto, as ceramics manufacturer. From the merge the Yashica cameras will bear also the Kyocera logo. In the middle of the Eighties, the distribution of the brand will be chaotic in France. It is finally Hasselblad France which will ensure the distribution.

Camera manufacturing stopped in 2005.