Minolta vs Yashica
Ok, let’s admit it. I’m going to piss off a lot of photographers. Well, maybe not a lot,….but certainly everyone who invested $400+ in a Yashica T4. Yes, the lens is very sharp. But it’s still a plastic film point and shoot with extensive vignetting. (which I find ‘cool’,…but you certainly don’t buy lenses for your SLR to do that) And while I originally bought my Contax G1 and T2 back in 2002, (the T2 was $190 back then), and do find them well worth that price,…just for the titanium feel alone,…I wouldn’t now buy a T2 for $800-1000. After all, they are “point and shoots”.
Alas, I found a Minolta 110 Zoom Date in a local Goodwill. Certainly plastic,….and certainly a zoom. However, for an $8 camera,….what the hell. First let me say,…this camera has the tiniest viewfinder I’ve ever seen. Ever,…what were you thinking Minolta? But the next surprise was good. After receiving back an exposed roll of Fuji Superia 200,…..uhhh,…I was blown away! Not being a Minolta fan,….that couldn’t be right. Right? While the viewfinder is small, the autofocus is extremely accurate.
To My Surprise
So, since I had no manual, I thought it would be time to research exactly what this $8 plastic fantastic was exactly. Was this a fluke? Is it really possible for an $8 ‘zoom’ camera to be almost as sharp and have as much contrast as a Contax T2? (I don’t have a Yashica T4,….I had to borrow one for the last review)
What did I find out? I learned that the greatly admired artist, Ren Hang, did most of his outside work with a Minolta X-700. But he used a Minolta 110 Date for almost ALL of his inside work! (I didn’t know that, and have since verified it, seeing it in his hands while working) Is his work as sharp as the old T4 Terry images? Yes. Does that reinforce the old adage,…”it’s the photographer, not the equipment”? Well, sure. And does that kill the T4 legend? Not really. Legends are legends. And to some extent, they’re always based on fact. Yashica T4/5’s are awesome cameras. Are they 50x as awesome as a “crappy” Minolta P&S? I don’t know about that. However, it does go to show that if your ideas are really original, you don’t have to wait and save up for the perceived “good stuff”. Just get an old Minolta, Pentax,….or even an Agfa p&s. And astound us. 😁
First, let’s say what the the Yashica has that the Minolta does not. On the Supers and T5’s, a very cool chimney viewfinder. And the “Zeiss T* coating” licensed to Kyocera by Zeiss. Focal length: Yashica – 35mm wide vs. Minolta (unzoomed) – 38mm. Aperture: Yashica – f/3.5 vs Minolta – f/5.4 @ 38mm? Pretty bad.
Only Major Advantage – Viewfinder
When it comes to the viewfinder, the Yashica definitely wins. Even without the “Superscope”. Size wise, they’re the same. Results? Look at old TR stuff against any inside ‘white wall’ RH stuff. Ren Hang wins every time. But, to be honest, that’s a very subjective opinion. And I’m still whining about that atrocious Minolta viewfinder.
Then there is the Rokkor zoom lens vs fixed Tessar lens? Sorry. I can’t tell the difference. I mostly use primes myself. But I do have one zoom that’s as good as my primes; The old Nikon 17-35mm. So zooms can be good. The only caveat I would give is,…I’m not a pixel peeper. It either looks sharp and saturated with a good amount of micro-contrast,…or it doesn’t.
In Essence;
- Ease of use: Same
- Image results: Same (Sorta…😳)
- Today’s prices: Great difference
- Size: Same
- Weight: About same
- Film Loading: Same
- Who they were originally marketed to: Same
- Made In: Yashica-Japan Minolta-China
Yashica has an On/Off on the lens door. (both have lens doors) Minolta has a regular On/Off switch. The Minolta is a hard plastic, and appears really solidly built. However, mine’s marked ‘Built in China’,…boo. Not quite a Contax T2/T3, or ‘titanium’. But it does appear to be as well built as the Yashica T4’s. The Yashica T4 was made in Japan,…yay! As far as Ren Hang was concerned, (despite his European exhibits and worldwide acclaim, he was jailed in China a few times before his suicide),….remember, he may have actually wanted a Contax,….or? But the average Chinese male in the urban centers earns about $1,000 USD or less per month. With the cost of living, taxes, etc., that makes a $50 Minolta X-700 a pretty expensive camera.
Will I tell you both cameras are the same? No. But, the Minolta does; Let you use either expensive Lithium or Alkaline CR123A batteries, has matching flash recycle times to the Yashica, is DX coded from 25-3200, auto loads, auto advances and auto rewinds, has AE lock, Fill Flash and more. You can turn the flash on or off, or leave it on Auto. (I always have it ‘ON’) I assume the Minolta Freedom 90, 115, 130, etc., are all the same. (especially as there is only one manual for all) However,….the 110 is different.
Hmmm,… what’s it going to be? Drop the big bucks and follow the masses,….or go down a road less traveled? Either way is valid. But for complete disclosure,….I make my own espresso and don’t ever go to Starbucks. So, what do I know?
Addendum: The Minolta Freedom 115 is NOT the same as the 110. Lens is different. (37.5mm vs 38mm) Also, the 110 does NOT have the ‘Freedom’ marque. Just a (probably important) caveat. Ren’s exact camera is the Minolta 110 Date. (no Freedom) And, yes, they are rare, but can be found on KEH or Ebay for $10-$30!
One thing I like about film is that, depending on format, everyone has the same “sensor” size. 😁
Hello! Was wondering if the Minolta 110 zoom ( so no date) is the same exact camera but just does t have the “date” option?
Thanks
HiMaria,
They both have the same lens, so I assume other than the added function date button on top, (to add date to film,…unused on mine), they are the same. The real point of the article was that great images are obtainable from even the most lowly of cameras. If your style can work with the rather limiting aperture, you can produce amazing images,….as Ren Hang showed us.
Thanks
AF
hello sir. Rather presumptuous opening statement. I could care less what another photographer uses for their work. ghat said, I know Ren and his work. He reminds me of Andy Warhol a bit. Never quite hitting the top-end of other well-tuned professionals, but not really caring either. As to getting quality shots from such ‘lower end’ cameras, yes you can get a few here and there. Remember, the quality is found in the lenses. Reminds me of a professional who was teaching us in a class that it’s not the camera, it’s the photographer. Emphasizing that one could take good photos with any camera. Well, the next week I took him up on that. I told him my cousin was getting married in a few months and would he be interested in doing the photos. I then asked him what camera he would use. He said his Msmiya RB 67. I then said, well since you told us we can get good shots with any camera, I brought along the camera he wants you to use. It was a 200 instamatic. Can’t remember which brand. I also gave him a few boxes of cube flashes to use. He smiled and hesitated and then said, OK, I can do that, but he will have to sign a waiver. I asked what for. He said, in case some photos don’t turn out to his liking. I then asked him, would he have to sign a waiver if you use the Mamiya? Then he laughed and said, ok…you got me.
These types of ‘professional ‘ photographers using such equipment are, at the end of the day, mundane. Sure, they have a niche and appeal to some groups, but the ultimate quality is resonated by the equipment, most importantly the lenses, chosen. How far-reaching their audience travels is limited at best. But it’s still fun. Hell, I shoot 110 myself, but just for myself. For self-amusement. Thank you for the article.
Hi Tim,
“Never quite hitting the top-end of other well-tuned professionals” Really? Says who? You? To accomplish half as much on the world stage in Communist China pre 2017, (the year of his death), would be nearly impossible for most, irrelevant what equipment they used. And did you expect the average Chinese citizen could even afford a Linhof or Hasselblad? Seriously, while you wouldn’t want to shoot with a disposable camera with absolutely no control over aperture or shutter speed, a $50 Nikkor, (or Rokkor in Ren’s case), is arguably as sharp as a $1000 Leica M lens. (according to Photodo) And using a little point and shoot, in context, would take a backseat to production and creative abilities. Moreso under a repressive regime. I could not have taken half my images without the help of so many people. (Models, Make-Up Artists, Stylists, etc.) There are many genres of photography. Some requiring more expensive equipment. But most don’t. You use what you have and try to avoid pining for what you don’t have. By today’s standards, most of the great photographers of the 20th century were Neaderthals. I doubt the great galleries of Europe consider Ren’s work “mundane”, or are even concerned with what camera he used. Your “ultimate quality is resonated by the equipment” statement is only a reality to proponents of Gear Aquisition Syndrome, who feel they can buy their way to creativity and inspiration. Sorrily,…they can’t.
Cheers
AF
Tim, You are talking about two different types of photographic quality, one technical and the other about the image. There are many photos that are technically impeccable but dull as images and others that are technically precarious but extraordinary as images.
hello there 🙂
thank you so much for the great overview!
I have the option to buy the Minolta riva Zoom 150, does it have the same specs as the 110 with only bigger zoom?
would you reccomend getting it?
thank you so much 🙂
Hi Dor,
Yes, it’s basically the same camera. As a general rule, (on all lenses), there are more aberrations to correct throughout the entire focal range with a zoom. So the less range, the better. However, with a point and shoot the difference would be miniscule. Plus, I only shoot mine at the shortest focal length. (i.e., I never zoom) But, again, other than losing aperture, I doubt you could tell the difference in print whether zoomed or not. In fact, when using 35mm, half the time I use this camera and leave the “big guns” at home.
Federico
Thank you so much for the quick and informative reply Federico, very appreciated and helpful my friend 🙏🏼