Yashica FR-1 – The Contax RTS for the budget-conscious

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 17/03/2026

Chuck, thanks for your kind words. There are so many cameras out there, including lesser-known models. And really, as long as you’ve got the hang of the magic triangle – aperture, shutter speed, ISO – and can recognise your subjects, they’ll all take good, worthwhile photos. Enjoy your latest purchase. Walter

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 17/03/2026

Thanks for your lovely post, David. As well as this FR 1, I also own a Contax RTS with a Plantar 1.7/50mm. They are very similar in terms of functionality, and I can’t spot any differences in the results. What’s more, the Yashica has no issues with the casing, which is a nuisance on the sister model, where a great deal of emphasis was clearly placed on the design created by Porsche. I’ve also had the chance to gain some experience with the Yashica Electro 35. I actually still own several of them. Apart from the ‘GX’, they’re all a bit clunky, but the lens performance is good and the in-camera exposure has always worked well. Although I much prefer to work with an external light meter. I can well understand your reasoning, but don’t do it. Focus on the cameras you already have. They all take good photos. As you can easily gather from my posts, I have my reservations about ‘luxury brands’ and the ‘mainstream’. Also, as the owner of a ‘luxury camera’, you’re not always objective; you’ve paid a lot of money for it and are proud of it, so it must be good. That was one of the reasons why I bought so many old cameras – to compare them, not just to take photos. My conclusion after 12 years is that they’re all on a par. It’s the person behind the camera who takes the photo. You should use your precious little treasures regularly – use it or lose it – and try to improve your own skills. Walter

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 18/03/2026

Thanks for your comment, I’m glad you liked it, Dana. It’s annoying that the problem with the time display keeps cropping up, but it happens with every brand. It’s often down to the internal light meter. It’s not too much of a problem for me, as I prefer to use an external light meter. Before you take any further steps, read my reply to David for some guidance. My purchase four years ago was a stroke of luck – I bought it from a private seller in Italy, and it was in very good condition. You could tell just from the description and photos, though. You should take your time when searching. Walter

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 18/03/2026

The FR 1 was Yashica’s top-of-the-range SLR camera at the time and bears a strong resemblance to the Contax RTS, which was also manufactured by Yashica. The lenses are interchangeable, and I’m not sure whether the “Yashica ML 1.7/50mm” was included in the kit with the FR 1 at the time. With the possible exception of the 28mm – there’s some disagreement about that – this “ML” lens series generally receives good reviews. I’ve just had a look at the photos of your Yashica (Kyocera) 230-F; I wasn’t familiar with it. I own cameras with this design too. I have no qualms about showing them in public, and no one has ever said anything to me about them either. All my photos were taken in Düsseldorf, which is near Mönchengladbach. I assume you’ve been to that city too; it’s bigger, more beautiful, and that’s where the airport for flights to the US is located. Thanks for your comment. Why not give the 230-AF a go?

Sneakerzoom replied:

Comment posted: 18/03/2026

It appears to be a very affordable system camera, the FR-1. I am seriously intrigued. And of course you're right, I should just take the fake Yashica out for a spin and see what's what with this 80s piece of kit. And yes, I'm quite familiar with Düsseldorf - I have family in Neudorf, just to the north, though my ancestral roots are in Bayern - north of Passau. I'd love to go back there for some photo hikes some day.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 18/03/2026

The camera and lens are certainly comparable to a Contax RTS and the Planar 1.7/50mm. I own both cameras and lenses. As they are less well-known than the ‘Contax’ brand, they are also much cheaper on the second-hand market. I’m familiar with ‘Neudorf’; it’s a district of Duisburg that borders directly on Düsseldorf. I hope you’ll be able to put your plans into action. Best regards

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 18/03/2026

It was my first time using a camera and lens; the weather was on my side, and the camera handled the exposure automatically. I wasn’t surprised by the result. The film was developed using the C41 process in a minilab, and in my opinion, the Noritsu-Koki scan is a cut above the quality you get from standard home scanners, even if you try your hardest. Yashica already had some excellent lenses for its rangefinder cameras. I own several lenses from Yashica’s ML series with a C/Y mount, and I can recommend them all for the Contax RTS – with the possible exception of the 28mm. Opinions are divided on the 28mm; mine can now only be used on an E-mount due to a fault with the adapter. I use it on the Sony NEX-6 and am happy with it. Thanks for the nice comment, my friend.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 19/03/2026

Thank you for your kind comment, Michael. Yes, I have quite a few camera sets from a wide range of manufacturers. I wanted to see if there were any significant differences in the photos. But that isn’t the case; even lesser-known brands like Yashica here produced good cameras and good lenses. It was not without reason that Carl Zeiss entrusted Yashica with the production of the Contax RTS. Later, Carl Zeiss lenses with C/Y mounts were also manufactured under licence by Yashica. The FR I looks great with its simple design and is very easy to get to grips with. I haven’t had it for very long, but it works perfectly and, from what I’ve researched, it has a good reputation among users. All the best, Walter

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

Hi John, thanks for your kind comment. @Sneakerzoom mentioned this camera a few comments back. It seems to be in demand at the moment. I’m not familiar with it, but I’ve seen this design on other cameras. As is often the case in Japan, it appears to have been developed in collaboration with Minolta, which can only be a good thing. I’d go along with your decision to use the 28mm and 50mm lenses for your visit to the market. Having read your profile, however, you’ll have far more specialist knowledge in these matters. Enjoy the camera and the lenses you’ve bought, John.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 22/03/2026

Thanks for your comment and the kind words, Chris. Well, the cameras have been around for a few years now, and if you’re not the original owner, you don’t know their history. As someone suffering from GAS syndrome, I own quite a few cameras from well-known manufacturers and have fewer problems with them than, for example, with almost-new digital cameras from Olympus or the OM system. Even a friend’s Leica Q3 started playing up after a month, and the repair took four months. Given the positive experience, I’d simply carry on using the camera as it is. You could wind the shutter more carefully and just tape the ISO dial in place. With my old automatic cameras, I now very often use a small external light meter and take a reflected light reading with the Invercone. So I shoot in manual mode and the results are actually better than with the internal metering. All the best, Walter

Chris Routledge replied:

Comment posted: 22/03/2026

I think that's a good approach. The FR1 is a great camera for sure, but as you say it has been around a few years now. It's probably about time mine had some exercise now the weather is improving.