Yashica ME1 (Japan model)
The Yashica ME 1 is a small, compact 35mm viewfinder camera with auto-exposure, made in both Japan and Brazil by Yashica.
It was possibly the first camera produced in Brazil by the Yashica factory in Sorocaba Sao Paulo from 1977. Production in Japan appears to have been earlier,
The focus zone settings are visible in the viewfinder through a small square window, below the finder window. Behind the focus ring is an aperture ring - with an "A" setting for automatic and stops from f/2.8-16 for flash. Film advance is by a thumb-wheel on the lower left of the back.
The film speed is set using a ring around the lens, with a display just below. The CdS photocell is just above the lens, inside the filter thread - allowing the auto-exposure to compensate for filters.
The top plate carries the shutter release, hot shoe and frame counter. There is a lever for the self-timer on the front.
Specifications[]
- Lens: Yashica 38mm f/2.8; 4 element, 3 group. 46mm filter thread.
- Focus: 4 Zones (1, 1.5, 3m and infinity) and feet/metres scales
- Metering: CdS cell
- Shutter: Copal auto, speed set by metering, 1/60-1/360 sec.
- Filter Thread: 46mm
- Flash: hot shoe
- Power: PX76A/675A 1.35v mercury button cell. Now Defunct but modern solutions exist
- ASA 25 -500 with DIN Equivalents in multiple steps
- Production country on base