Yashica TL

The Yashica TL series Single Lens Reflex 135 film cameras were initially a very similar design and specification to the Asahi Pentax Spotmatic series. The TL indicated through-lens (stop-down) metering.

The first set of cameras featured a Spotmatic-style viewfinder center-the-needle metering system. Unlike the rival Spotmatics, the TLs used zinc oxide batteries, and the TL Super instruction manual claims the camera was the first to use these batteries.

• TL Super (1966)
• TL (1968) - a cut-down TL Super which had a reduced shutter speed range, and lacked a hot shoe and mirror lock-up.

The later Electro series replaced this with miniature viewfinder lamps, and electronically timed shutters.

• TL Electro X (1968) also had electronically timed semi-variable shutter speeds.
• TL E (1969) - a TL with Electro-style miniature lamps in place of a viewfinder needle pointer (and mechanical shutter).
• TL Electro X ITS (1971) - essential the same as an Electro-X, but was only made with a black finish.
• TL Electro (1972) - a cut-down version of the TL Electro X, which had conventionally stepped mechanical shutter speeds, and lacked FP sync and mirror lock-up.
• Yashica Electro AX (1972) - aperture priority auto exposure.

Yashica TL-E image by Casual Camera Collector (Image rights)

Yashica TL-Super image by Denny Narciso (Image rights)

Yashica TL-Electro X image by Chris Whelan (Image rights)

Yashica TL-Electro X ITS image by Mike Novak (Image rights)