Yashica Auto Yashinon Lens 90-190mm Zoom f 1:5.8 M42 Mount Case

This is a vintage Yashica Auto Yashinon 90-190mm zoom lens with case. It features a maximum aperture of 5.8, a six-bladed aperture, and a classic push pull zoom design, with a 6ft minimum focus distance. Its length is 7 inches at 90mm, and 8.5 inches at 190mm. Yashica made two versions of this lens, the manual aperture Yashica-R, first made in 1961, and this auto/manual aperture Yashica Auto, probably first made about 1970 (online info is scant). This Auto version (auto aperture on vintage cameras) seems less common than the manual-only R version. The case is marked made in Japan on the base, and the plastic strap on the case appears to have gotten rigid with age

An interesting element of the Auto version design is that it has an M42 screw-on adapter (M42 on both ends). This is a required element, as you cannot achieve focus at 6 feet with the lens at 90mm without the M42 adapter in place. It is likely Yashica made a PK or other adaptor mount to screw onto the end of the body to make it more universal, hence the design. The upside of this design is that you can remove the M42 ring and attach it to another a short focal length close focus 42mm mount lens and use it as a macro focus extension ring, increasing magnification of the other lens.

This example has no haze, fungus, or damage to the glass, but there is a 2mm blotch and some fine scratches on the rear lens from a cleaning attempt that is only evident when you shine a bright light at an oblique angle and look down the tube (see photo). There is the usual dust in the lens. The body has light wear. The iris has no visible oil and is snappy. Lens creep is slow and only begins at about 45 degrees down.

This lens gets high marks adapted to digital cameras with an APC sensor. This version, having both a manual and auto setting, makes it easier to adapt to digital cameras because you do not have to worry about whether the adapting ring is pressing down on the M42 pin. It may depend on the manufacturer of the digital camera M42 adaptor ring, but when adapted, the lens was oriented with the focal distance notch on the left side of the mounted lens instead of the top.

The image of the dollar bill under a lamp were taken with the lens at 90 mm, f5.6 with a Canon T2i in P mode at a distance of 5 feet 3 inches from the front element with room lighting (1/15 second). The dollar bill in the background is sixteen inches away to show depth of field (did not nail focus of foreground). At 190mm, the dollar bill fills the frame (not shown). The lens is close to parfocal during zoom. Because of the long working distance, it is great for close-ups where you do not want to be close to the subject.