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Yashica 3.5/40 Enlarging Lens

Author/Copyright:

John Jovic

The Yashica 40mm F3.5 enlarger or enlarging lens is pictured below.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     

Specifications

The specifications shown below are from personal observation and measurement.

  Yashica
3.5/40[pc]
Focal Length (mm): 40
Maximum aperture (F): 3.5
Lens construction (elements - groups):  
Angle of coverage:  
Recommended negative size (mm):  
Minimum aperture (F): 16
Number of aperture blades 6
Designed magnification:  
Useful magnification range:  
Achromatized wavelength range (nm):  
Distortion at basic magnification (%):  
Focal length design value (mm):  
Barrel outer diameter A (front) (mm):  
Flange mount thread size: M39x1.0
Filter size (mm) M40.5 (pitch unknown, possibly 0.5)[pc]
Barrel outer diameter B (rear) (mm):   
flange focal length (mm):   
Back focal length (mm):   
Distance from flange surface to the second principal point (mm):   
Principal point spacing (mm):  
Total length (mm):  
Weight (g):  
Coating: coated


Application Notes

The lens was fitted to a Canon 5D2 using a readily available M42 (x1.0) to Canon EF adapter, an M42 (x1.0) helicoid of approx 13mm-20mm and an M42<M39 adapter to which the M39 mount lens was actually fitted. In this configuration it was not possible to focus beyond a very narrow range around approx 150-200mm, see sample images below.

The lens was also tested using a Canon 5D2 with a Nikon PB-4 bellows. In this configuration a hotspot became evident at certain magnifications although the lighting conditions (light table, ie very bright background) probably contributed to this, as did the lack of a lens hood (due to a damaged filter thread) and the hotspot may have been far less evident in normal conditions.

Sample Images

The lens used in this test was in poor condition and was received with fungus on all exposed elements, including inside the lens. The fungus was cleaned however one of the internal elements had been permanently etched and damaged by the fungus so was impossible to clean fully. The lens was also dented significantly although this does not seem to have affected optical performance however the lens is no longer capable of taking any lens hood or filters due to a damaged front filter thread. The inability to have a hood fitted does matter with this lens as it showed a tendency to have a flare or hot spot at high magnifications and with strong backlighting, such as on a product table (eg. the images of the lens below).

Overall this lens seems to perform well optically, despite fungus damage. The sample images below have not suffered from a noticeable loss of contrast and have been processed as normal.

Colours are quite saturated straight out of the camera, despite the lack of a lens hood.

Wide open sharpness is excellent even outside the central zone although sharpness increases as the lens is stopped down a little.

Bokeh is harsh behind the plane of focus and soft in front. The harsh bokeh may be used for pictorial effect, particularly if the lens is used with a mirrorless camera having a much shorter register, thereby enabling the lens to focus much longer distances, possibly to infinity. The lens was only tested on a Canon 5D2 (which has a long register) so the focus range was very short and narrow, not much more than approx 150mm using a short helicoid.

   
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F3.5 on Nikon PB-4 bellows.

 
     
 

 
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F8 on Nikon PB-4 bellows.

 
     
   
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F3.5 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
   
  Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F8 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2  
     
   
 

100% unsharpened crop at F3.5

 
     
 

 

 

100% unsharpened crop at F8

 
     
 

 
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F3.5 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
   
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F8 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
   
 

100% unsharpened crop at F3.5

 
     
 

 
 

100% unsharpened crop at F8

 
     
 

 
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F3.5 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
   
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F3.5 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
   
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F3.5 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
   
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F3.5 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
 

 
 

Photographed with a Yashica 3.5/40 enlarging lens at F8 on a helicoid and a Canon 5D2

 
     
   
 

100% unsharpened crop at F3.5

 
     
 

 
 

100% unsharpened crop at F8

 

 

References
   
[tbc] To Be Confirmed. The information has not been confirmed by a credible source.
[pc] Photo Cornucopia. Measured or personally observed by the Author.
   
     
 
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