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Yashica Lynx 14E

The 1968 Yashica Lynx 14E is   one of the few leaf shutter RF's with a fast 1.4 lens, and it is also among the first cameras to offer the modern wonders integrated circuitry -- hopefully a good thing.

• The Killer feature is electronic manual exposure control.   Pushing  the little silver button on the right front of the camera turns the meter on.   You see a "UNDER" or "OVER" light in the viewfinder.  Turn the shutter speeds or f/stops until the lights go out, and you got the exposure.  The bottom line is that the photog has more control over the camera and exposure.
• 35mm Rangefinder with fast 45/1.4 lens, focusing to 30"   The  immense 1.4 lens dominates the camera.
• The Lynx is in an elite club.   The number of leaf shutter 1.4 lensed rangefinders can be counted on one hand.
• VERY Nice viewfinder/rangefinder with a projected parallax corrected frameline. 
• Mechanical Copal shutter, range 1 to 500 plus B and self timer  (works without batteries)
• Flash sync at all speeds via the PC connection.  No hot shoe. 
• Very Quiet leaf shutter.
• Over/Under exposure lights in the finder, but I doubt if they are LEDs.  You adjust the f/stop and or the shutter speeds until the correct exposure is indicated.
• Large, convenient easy to use controls
• The Lynx uses two PC640A batteries...strangely enough, they are still available. \
• Weight is a none too petite 30 oz,  aka 2 lbs. with film.   measurements 5 1/2" x 3 3/8  x 6 5/16"deep, 58mm filter
• Maybe they were made in black, but all I have seen were chrome.
• OK, its not a Leica, but it doesn't have a Leica price, either.
• If you plan to get the most out of your Lynx,   have it overhauled with its shutter, rangefinder, and meter calibrated, the rangefinder/viewfinder cleaned, lens cleaned, and the light seals replaced.  Like any other camera of the 60's and 70's, it  needs a good going over at least every 40 years!

Still very usable today, the Lynx 14 Electronic  strangely has no current production  equivalent with a leaf shutter  1.4 lens.

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Revised: November 26, 2003 .  Copyright � 1998-2002  Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved.    This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind.  Information in this document is subject to change without notice.  Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.