The Yashica TL Electro X is a solid all-metal SLR from the late 1960s / early 1970s, made in Japan, offered here with the fast Yashinon-DS 50mm f/1.7 lens (M42). The camera has been serviced by a technician and tested with film, and the viewfinder has been cleaned — it is big, bright and close to perfect. The light meter does not work: that is the main drawback, and the price reflects it.
What to know before buying
The drawbacks, plainly. First: the meter does not work and I chose not to rebuild it — you meter with a handheld meter, a phone app or the Sunny 16 rule. That is normal practice with a mechanical camera, but you should expect it. Second: on this particular body the shutter only fires with a battery installed — without power the camera will not shoot. It takes one 6 V 4LR44 cell, which is easy to buy. Third: the body shows use and has been touched up with paint in places. All of it is visible in the photos, which are not flattered.
What the technician did
The camera has been through a service: the mechanics were checked and the viewfinder was opened and cleaned. A roll of film was shot through it afterwards — the shutter fires through its range, and film transport and rewind both work.
The viewfinder
The nicest thing about this camera is the large, bright viewfinder. After cleaning it is practically flawless — no dust, no haze. Manual focusing is comfortable even indoors, and on a camera with no working meter a good viewfinder matters more than it sounds.
M42 thread: almost any old lens fits
M42 was the most widespread screw mount of its era, so a huge pool of lenses fits this body: Carl Zeiss Jena, Pentacon, Helios, Industar, Takumar and dozens more. They are still easy to find and cheap. The same lenses go onto modern digital cameras with a simple adapter.
The Yashinon-DS 50mm f/1.7 Auto lens
The lens is as new: no fungus, no dust, no oil on the aperture blades. A fast standard prime with excellent sharpness and soft bokeh; f/1.7 is enough for indoor shooting and for portraits with a separated background. It is not limited to film — with an M42 adapter it works on a modern digital body.
Mechanics and shutter speeds
Metal body, honest mechanics, almost no electronics in the shooting path. Shutter speeds run from 1 s to 1/1000 s plus B for long exposures. It takes standard 35mm film, format 135: colour, black-and-white or slide.
What is included
The Yashica TL Electro X body and the Yashinon-DS 50mm f/1.7 lens. Film and a 4LR44 battery need to be bought separately.
Who this suits
Anyone who wants to shoot fully manually: with no working meter the camera teaches you to think about exposure instead of trusting automation. And collectors — it is a distinctive model, Yashica built its pitch around an electronic metering circuit, which is where the "Electro X" name comes from, and the body is very much of its time.
You can pick up film in the catalogue, and leave development and scanning to me.
Specifications
Type: 35mm film SLR. Made in Japan, late 1960s – early 1970s. Lens mount: M42 screw thread. Lens included: Yashinon-DS 50mm f/1.7 Auto. Body: metal. Shutter: 1 s – 1/1000 s, B. Light meter: not working. Power: one 4LR44 (6 V) cell. The shutter fires only with a battery installed. Camera condition: signs of use, touched up with paint in places; film-tested after service. Lens condition: as new.
Frequently asked questions
Does the light meter on the Yashica TL Electro X work?
No. That is the camera's main drawback and it is reflected in the price. You meter with a handheld meter, a phone app or the Sunny 16 rule.
Does it need batteries?
Yes. It takes one 6 V 4LR44 cell, also sold as PX28A or A544. On this body the shutter only fires with a battery installed — without power the camera will not shoot. The battery is not included.
Which lenses fit the Yashica TL Electro X?
Any M42 screw-mount lens — Carl Zeiss Jena, Pentacon, Helios, Industar, Takumar and others. It is the cheapest pool of vintage glass on the used market.
Can the Yashinon-DS 50mm f/1.7 be used on a digital camera?
Yes, with an M42-to-your-mount adapter. Focus and aperture are manual, but the lens is fully usable on digital.
Has the camera been tested with film?
Yes. After the service a roll was shot through it: shutter, film transport and rewind all work.
What is the cosmetic condition?
The body shows use and has been touched up with paint in places. The lens, by contrast, is as new — no fungus, dust or oil. Everything is visible in the listing photos.
