Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jim, this belongs on the SMUG list surely ! Jem ;-) - -----Original Message----- From: Jim Brick [SMTP:jim_brick@agilent.com] Sent: 22 January 2001 23:04 To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] Re: Yasuhara T-981 >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. > >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. ****************************************************** A couple of years ago, after hearing about the Yasuhara T-981 design and how it was to be manufactured, looking at the early web information and pictures, I commented about how it was probably going to be equal to a Petri purchased at a military PX. And that repair service, which it would undoubtedly need often, would be unobtainable. I was voicing my opinion from the facts that were available. I was told that Yasuharasan was the consummate engineer and the Yasuhara T-981 would be equal to any Leica. That it would be solid. A masterpiece. I was chastised unmercifully. Can you believe that... on the LUG? But too bad... I told you so! Jim ps... Petri's, however, did work. :-b