Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Slobodan, It is the rather poor build quality of the Yasuhara camera that lets it down. Like many, I had high hopes for it, and I was especially keen to see its 1.0x finder. The reality is rather grim though: On receiving my camera, the shutter release was jammed. After releasing the shutter the release button stayed down and refused to pop up. A drop of WD40 did the trick. Next, the advance lever refused to spring back. After firing the shutter and advancing the camera for about 1,000 times, while sitting in front of the TV, things got slightly better. Next, the self timer was very loose, as if it were to drop off the camera any time. Yasuhara assured me that it was within spec. The rangefinder was out both horizontally and vertically. My good friend Shintaro Yaginuma (of black paint Leica fame) rectified this. I have also been warned that, since the shutter of the Yasuhara is based on an SLR, and there is now no reflex mirror in front of it, the shutter is prone to light leakage. Since I have not been able to put a film in the camera (the back is jammed shut) I cannot confirm the leakage. I believe a while back Fellow LUGger Jem Kime had also posted his negative findings on the T-981. The Yasuhara is made in China, and as with many 'foreign' goods made there, you get knock offs made by the same factory! I have certainly seen many otherwise identical, but unbranded T-981 in China for a fraction of the cost of the real thing. To sum up, and much as I have said before, the T-981 was a great idea that had been executed poorly. Regards, Joseph on 18/1/01 10:44 PM, S Dimitrov at sld@earthlink.net wrote: > Joseph; > > Tell me some more, I'm all ears. I did notice that after the initial > excitement a certain quietude about it. > > Slobodan > > > "Dr. Joseph Yao" wrote: >> Slobodan, >> >> If you are referring to the Yasuhara LTM rangefinder camera, it has been on >> sale for two years. I got mine in April 1999. >> >> I regret to say the Yasuhara T-981 was a great idea but poorly executed. >> >> Regards, >> >> Joseph