Unhappy T4 user - help.
Mikey
Having heard all the raves about the Yashica T4, I bought one a few years
ago, initially for parties etc.
I have just opened my latest batch of prints from the lab. I now remember
why I hadn't used the camera for a while. (2years!!) All the prints
taken indoors and even on cloudy days oustside are VERY soft and some are
out of focus. It's not as though I've missed the subject, as on some prints
nothing in the frame is is focus. I use Kodak Gold 200 and 400 the latter
being slighty better. The results are a long long way from my ageing SLR
and even worse than my £20 Halina from Dixons!
Any adice would be gratefully received.
Cheers
Mikey
Anil Trivedi
>I have just opened my latest batch of prints from the lab. I now remember
>why I hadn't used the camera for a while. (2years!!) All the prints
>taken indoors and even on cloudy days oustside are VERY soft and some are
>out of focus. It's not as though I've missed the subject, as on some prints
Does the camera have fresh batteries or those from two years ago?
Just a thought. After all auto-* cameras need a lot of battery energy.
Is the lens clean?
Anil
Herb & Lee Kanner
In article <vwb-ya02408000R...@news.dircon.co.uk>,
v...@hotmail.com (Mikey) wrote:
> Having heard all the raves about the Yashica T4, I bought one a few years
> ago, initially for parties etc.
>
> I have just opened my latest batch of prints from the lab. I now remember
> why I hadn't used the camera for a while. (2years!!) All the prints
> taken indoors and even on cloudy days oustside are VERY soft and some are
> out of focus. It's not as though I've missed the subject, as on some prints
> nothing in the frame is is focus. I use Kodak Gold 200 and 400 the latter
> being slighty better. The results are a long long way from my ageing SLR
> and even worse than my £20 Halina from Dixons!
>
> Any adice would be gratefully received.
>
> Cheers
>
> Mikey
It's a pity you didn't return the camera immediately. I own two T4s, the
original model and the Super model. They both take pictures which are
almost always needle sharp. However, with cheap cameras like the T4, I
would expect that quality control would not be of the best, and there are
bound to be some lemons. So, that is one possibility.
The other possibility, since you say that you got better results with the
faster film, is that you are hold the camera in a very shaky way. The T4
tries to use the fastest possible shutter speed, but it's possible that in
reduced light you are getting into slower shutter speeds where camera
shake shows up. Remember, that is a very light-weight camera and you
don't have inertial mass working for you.
All this is an attempt at second guessing. All I can say is that I blow
up all my negs to 8 x 10 and the T4 competes very favorable with my SLRs.
Herb
--
Herb and/or Lee Kanner
TravGlen
As someone who went through this several years ago. (By that I mean, plastic
body, plastic lens, supposedly high quality p&s), Dump it, and go for one of
the high quality metal body, glass lens p&s. My own favorite is my Nikon 28
TI.
Mikey wrote in message ...
Joe Berenbaum
v...@hotmail.com (Mikey) wrote:
>Having heard all the raves about the Yashica T4, I bought one a few years
>ago, initially for parties etc.
>I have just opened my latest batch of prints from the lab. I now remember
>why I hadn't used the camera for a while. (2years!!) All the prints
>taken indoors and even on cloudy days oustside are VERY soft and some are
>out of focus. It's not as though I've missed the subject, as on some prints
>nothing in the frame is is focus. I use Kodak Gold 200 and 400 the latter
>being slighty better. The results are a long long way from my ageing SLR
>and even worse than my £20 Halina from Dixons!
>Any adice would be gratefully received.
>Cheers
>Mikey
Assuming you know how to use an autofocus compact and that your
technique isn't the cause of the problem, it sounds like the camera is
malfunctioning. It is a good idea to return such a camera for repair
within the guarantee/warranty period if you think there is something
wrong with it. It is very expensive to get them repaired out of
warranty and not usually worthwhile- it could cost more than you paid
for the camera in the first place.
Joe B. (Please remove the ".com" from my address for email)
Zheng (Bruce) Li
Hi, mikey:
I think your results are quite normal for T4 if you shoot indoors
or cloudy outdoors when using medium speed film. The highest shutter
speedin T4 is 1/700s, which is higher than lots of other P&S. And the
AE program in T4 tends to use the highest speed possible, which might
also be resonable for P&S. If it is dim, the lens openes up, and the
Tessar formula inevitably gives soft results. You might wish to try
FUJI Super G++ 800; or try to point the center of viewfinder to a
brighter item in the scene, hold AE&AF, recompose and shoot. This
will possibly also solve your out-of-focus problem. I've heard that
the T4's AF works best either very close or using infinity-lock, so
how about try to use your T4 in that range? Anyway, we are paying
a lot for the "Carl Zeiss" and "Tessar".... But at around f/8-16,
I really like the Tessar, no matter it is in my T4 or Yashcamat.
Bruce
mps...@nwu.edu
In article <vwb-ya02408000R...@news.dircon.co.uk>,
v...@hotmail.com (Mikey) wrote:
> Having heard all the raves about the Yashica T4, I bought one a few years
> ago, initially for parties etc.
>
> I have just opened my latest batch of prints from the lab. I now remember
> why I hadn't used the camera for a while. (2years!!) All the prints
> taken indoors and even on cloudy days oustside are VERY soft and some are
> out of focus. It's not as though I've missed the subject, as on some prints
> nothing in the frame is is focus. I use Kodak Gold 200 and 400 the latter
> being slighty better. The results are a long long way from my ageing SLR
> and even worse than my £20 Halina from Dixons!
>
> Any adice would be gratefully received.
>
> Cheers
>
> Mikey
I second those who suggest that there is something wrong with your
camera. I have had a T4 for about four years and have always gotten very
sharp images inside and out. I have also shot inside museums with
available light (Kodak 400) and enlarged the photos, with very good
results, to 14X10.
Good luck.
berry
"TravGlen" <fuz...@zeus.jersey.net> writes:
>Mikey wrote in message ...
>>
>>Having heard all the raves about the Yashica T4, I bought one a few years
>>ago, initially for parties etc.
>As someone who went through this several years ago. (By that I mean, plastic
>body, plastic lens, supposedly high quality p&s), Dump it, and go for one of
>the high quality metal body, glass lens p&s. My own favorite is my Nikon 28
Of course, the T4 has anything but a plastic lens.
B.
Herb & Lee Kanner
In article <65g2mb$75g$1...@news.jersey.net>, "TravGlen"
<fuz...@zeus.jersey.net> wrote:
> As someone who went through this several years ago. (By that I mean, plastic
> body, plastic lens, supposedly high quality p&s), Dump it, and go for one of
> the high quality metal body, glass lens p&s. My own favorite is my Nikon 28
> TI.
>
And where the hell did you get the idea that the Zeiss Tessar f3.5 is a
plastic lens?
Cheng-Wee Lai
Herb & Lee Kanner wrote:
>
> In article <65g2mb$75g$1...@news.jersey.net>, "TravGlen"
> <fuz...@zeus.jersey.net> wrote:
>
> > As someone who went through this several years ago. (By that I mean, plastic
> > body, plastic lens, supposedly high quality p&s), Dump it, and go for one of
> > the high quality metal body, glass lens p&s. My own favorite is my Nikon 28
> > TI.
> >
> And where the hell did you get the idea that the Zeiss Tessar f3.5 is a
> plastic lens?
Hey! if a plastic lens can give such a result and good reputation among
users, who cares whether it is made of glass or plastic.
cheng-wee lai
I love my Rolleiflex for B&W,
Nikon for Assignment,
and T4 for travel.
o...@cybertours.com
> Hey! if a plastic lens can give such a result and good reputation among
> users, who cares whether it is made of glass or plastic.
The problem is that most plastics are softer than the dust particles in
the air (Mohs (sp) scale.). Therefore the lenses abrade over time. The
$10 disposable cameras usually work well because they are used during a
short period before damage can be done to the plastic lenses.
Charlie
> > Hey! if a plastic lens can give such a result and good reputation among
> > users, who cares whether it is made of glass or plastic.
> o...@cybertours.com wrote:
>
> The problem is that most plastics are softer than the dust particles in
> the air (Mohs (sp) scale.). Therefore the lenses abrade over time. The
> $10 disposable cameras usually work well because they are used during a
> short period before damage can be done to the plastic lenses.
I may be mistaken, but I believe the tread referred to plastic lenses
on high quality point and shoot cameras like the T4 and Epic.
I may be wrong here too, but I believe at least in the case of the Epic,
it is the =internal= aspheric element that is plastic. The aspheric
element may actually be glass, but for the price the camera sells for, I
doubt it.
Anyway, none of the external surfaces of these cameras are plastic. No
worry about abrasion.
--
Charlie Newark, DE
To reply by email please remove antispam "TY" from address.
Herb & Lee Kanner
In article <347D9E...@earthlinkTY.net>, Charlie <de...@earthlinkTY.net>
wrote:
Charlie, you are absolutely correct, and I was about to post exactly what
you said about internal aspheric elements. However, let me point out that
the Zeiss Tessar is a pre-World War II design, and does not have any
plastic elements. I also believe I have read that many other very fine
f3.5 lenses of that era, including the Leitz Elmar, use the same design.
steven T koontz
> If it is dim, the lens openes up, and the
> a lot for the "Carl Zeiss" and "Tessar".... But at around f/8-16,
> I really like the Tessar, no matter it is in my T4 or Yashcamat.
>
>
good point, my rollei with a xenar (same design) is soft between 3.5 and
f8 but from f8-f22 get wonderful pics.
--
"why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?"
steve's pictures @ http://www.mindspring.com/~skoontz
L. C.
Herb,
Per your help, earlier I am about to buy a T4. You stated that the lens
is pre ww2 design. would this be the same lens on my antique Rolleiflex
twin lens,Carl zeiss Tessar f3.5? This camera takes sharp, very
contrasty photos. Is this because of lens or film size or both? BTW do
these old Rolle's have any collecter value?
Another question on the T4: I cant focus very well thru view finder. (I
wear bifocals with plain lens on top). The Epic was clearer for me, Is
this a common complaint with P&S cameras? I have only tried in store and
hope I can get used to it.
Thanks,
Larry
"The waters are dark and deep---miles to go before I sleep"
David Garth
Zheng (Bruce) Li wrote:
>
> I think your results are quite normal for T4 if you shoot indoors
No, no no! I am a pro who is very picky. My wife has a T4 super and I am
amazed at the results. Very sharp and contrasty. On a recent trip she
shot Velvia in it, and I shot E100SW in my F5...both her slide and mine
can beprojected interchangebly without anyone noticing the difference.
(Yes, on a light table with a 4x Schneider loop, you can tell the
difference.) When she uses 200 speed print film, the 4x prints and 8x10
are very sharp.
Take yours back. It isn't working as it should!
Dave
Allen L. Johnson
It looks to me that the original persons' query was never answered.
I have a T4, and after a while it also gave blurred photos. I noticed that
it never gave the green-light-out indication of being too close to focus,
and so I sent it back for repair. It has worked just fine since.
The reported problem with the Tessar formulation is zonal - there are
certain regions of the film plane that are not at optimal focus. The
advantage of the Tessar is that it gives good results with fewer
glass(plastic)-air interfaces - it can give very high contrast, which is in
fact perhaps more important for "sharpness" when you throw in the film MTF
to the mix.
Allen Johnson
lensman3
It sounds as though there is a focussig defect of som,e kind. Clue is
that ISO 400 works better: smaller apertures give greater depth of
focus/ moer forgivign of focus errors. Consider having the camera
looked at by a good repairer. Due to cost of repairs, many people
replace rather than repair. I don't have one, but the T4 reports are
all favorable, except the one below. If you are getting sub-Halina
results, there is a defect somewhere.
On Tue, 25 Nov 1997 22:12:08 +0000, v...@hotmail.com (Mikey) wrote:
>
>Having heard all the raves about the Yashica T4, I bought one a few years
>ago, initially for parties etc.
>
Garry Lee
? Camera shake