Samurai Z & ZL

The Z has everything that the X3 and X4 have, only more so. Under and over bracketing, high speed continuous shooting, a built-in intervalometer (72 exposures at 10 second intervals up to 23 hours 59 mins 59 secs.) X5 exposures on one frame, lens 25 to 75mm at f/4.0 to f/5.6, shutter 4 seconds to 1/500. The battery for all four of the cameras in the Samurai range is the 2CR5 6 volt. Expect to pay £100 to £120 for the Samurai Z. The ZL is as the model Z but left handed. Tele converters and close-up lenses are available for all the four Samurai models (at a price) but are extremely rare.

Yashica have now brought out a Samurai APS camera. An insult to us Half Framers! No morals these Japs, you know.

(Above: Both pictures by the Samari Z)

Samurai X3 & X4

The Yashica samurai is a good buy at a price most people can afford. I know someone who bought one for £29, but £70 is about right for the Sam X3. The first Samurai was the X3 with shutter speeds from 2 secs. to 1/500. The lens is a zoom f/3.5 to f/4.3, 25mm to 75mm. The camera is DX coded, self loading and self rewind. ASA settings from 50 to 3200, built-in (weak) flash, auto focus. Try to get ne with the supplementary flash shoe if you can. Focusing viewfinder, date on film if you want, auto flash, flash override, self timer, film counter readout.

Samurai X4 f/3.8 to f/4.8 25mm to 100mm zoom, single autofocus or continuous autofocus, 2 frames per second, backlight compensation, plus much, much more. Price £85 to £100.

(Samuri Z)

PEN F & FT S.L.R.

I suppose I had better mention the F and FT. Both these cameras have interchangeable lenses. The FT has a built-in meter. The F has a clip-on meter that couples to the shutter speed setting knob. The meter on the FT very rarely gives a true reading, and in my opinion the F is the better buy of the two. Because of these problems I think both these cameras are overpriced. You can pay £15 to £300 for the F and £150 to £400 for the FT. Spare lenses can cost as much as the cameras. If you must have one, have it professionally tested before buying and look out for loose lens mounts. This is a camera that could have been great, but is let down by a poor shutter design on both cameras.

All the cameras mentioned are in my collection, and all have been used by me, some more than others. I'm not an expert, but I would be pleased to help in any way I can with buying or advice.

Footnote: In his letter to the editor David Lewis (page 5) mentioned having a failed Pen S camera which a dealer wouldn't take on. He sent it to Eric who soon got it back in working order and David has since used it with good results. (C.R.C. Editor).