Yashica Samurai X3.0

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The unusual Samurai series was begun by Kyocera in 1987 with the X3.0. The Samurai completely discarded prior ideas about still-camera design, and instead creating a body more resembling the compact video cameras which were becoming popular at the time. The Samurai is a true SLR, exposing half-fame (17×24 mm) images—a format which had always been more accepted within the Japanese market (for example in the Olympus Pen series). The Samurai X3.0 can be found with both Yashica and Kyocera branding, and with accents in either red or teal blue colors. It may be seen as one of the originators of the "bridge camera" concept, alongside full-frame models such as Olympus's Infinity Zoom 300.

The X3.0 includes an integral, autofocus 25–75 mm zoom lens—a 3x zoom range (the later Samurai X4.0 zoomed in to 100 mm, a 4x range). Besides autofocus, the camera has motorized film advance and rewind, and power zooming using WIDE/TELE pushbuttons. A small "RS" (reset) button is also provided, in the event the camera's microprocessor locks up.

Specifications

  • Film/frame format: 35mm / 18×24mm
  • Lens: Yashica Zoom Lens 1:3,5-4,3/25-75mm using 14 elements (filter thread: 49mm)
  • Shutter: Electronic central shutter with speeds 2 to 1/500 sec.
  • Autofocus lock with half-press on shutter release
  • Integral electronic flash, activates automatically
  • Sequence-shooting and 10 sec. self-timer drive modes
  • Optional date/time imprinting at bottom right of image; three date formats
  • DX code sensing, ISO 50–3200 (default ISO 100 for non-coded cassettes)
  • Eyepiece diopter correction, +1 to -4
  • Battery: 6v lithium (2CR5)


Sources

  • Yashica Samurai X3.0 four-language instruction manual, from Mike Butkus' OrphanCameras.com
  • "Samurai: Autofocus Zoom Half-frame SLR!" in "Keppler's SLR World," January 1988 Popular Photography (Vol. 95, No. 1; pages 66–67).

Links



Japan Camera Grand Prix
Camera of the year

1984: Nikon FA | 1985: Minolta α-7000 | 1986: Canon T90 | 1987: Canon EOS 650 | 1988: Kyocera Samurai | 1989: Nikon F4 | 1990: Canon EOS 10 | 1991: Contax RTS III | 1992: Pentax Z-1 | 1993: Canon EOS 5 | 1994: Minolta α-707si | 1995: Contax G1 | 1996: Minolta TC-1 | 1997: Nikon F5 | 1998: Pentax 645N | 1999: Minolta α-9 | 2000: Canon EOS-1V | 2001: Minolta α-7 | 2002: Canon EOS-1D | 2003: Canon EOS-1Ds | 2004: Nikon D70 | 2005: Konica Minolta α-7 Digital | 2006: Nikon D200 | 2007: Pentax K10D | 2008: Nikon D3 | 2009: Canon EOS 5D Mark II | 2010: Olympus Pen E-P1 | 2011: Pentax 645D | 2012: Nikon D800 | 2013: Sony DSC-RX1 | 2014: Nikon Df | 2015: Canon EOS 7D Mark II | 2016: Sony α7R II | 2017: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II | 2018: Sony α9 | 2019: Lumix S1R | 2020: Sony α7R IV | 2021: Sony α1 | 2022: Nikon Z9 | 2023: Sony α7R V

Special Prize
1990: Konica Kanpai | 1991: Fuji Cardia Travel Mini Dual-P | 1992: Konica Hexar | 1993: Nikonos RS | Sigma SA300 | 1994: Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom Panorama | 1995: Ricoh R1 | 1996: Fujifilm GA645 | 1997: Canon IXY | Contax AX | 1998: Olympus C1400L | 1999: Nikon Coolpix 950 | Tamron AF28-300mm F3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical IF MACRO lens | 2000: Nikon D1 | Konica Hexar RF | 2001: Bronica RF645 | Fujichrome 100F/400F film | 2002: Minolta DiMAGE X | Nikon FM3A | 2003: Fujifilm GX645AF | Hasselblad H1 | 2004: Canon EOS Kiss Digital | Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM lens | 2005: Nikon F6 | Epson R-D1 | 2006: Ricoh GR Digital | Zeiss Ikon | 2007: Sony α100 | Adobe Lightroom software | 2008: Sigma DP1 | Fujichrome Velvia 50 film | 2009: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 | Casio EXILIM EX-FC100 | 2010: Sony Exmor R sensor | Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM lens | 2011: Fujifilm X100 | Epson MAXART PX-5V (R3000) printer |

Editor
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