I am just starting out with a Yashica FX3 2000. I would like to experiment with different types of lenses and am especially interested in fisheye lenses. Does anyone have any advice on what to start out with? Also, what types of lenses can I use with my particular camera? I know about Carl Zeiss, but those seem to be really expensive and out of my league for what I am trying to do as a hobbyist. Yashica doesn't seem to offer a whole lot. I appreciate any recommendations you can give me!!!

-- Toni Washburn (n331h@nctsdg.navy.mil), March 22, 1998

Answers

I'm not familiar with the camera, however, I can give you some general rules. First, what do you want to shoot?. Portraits, scenics, still lifes, all?. Your lens choice will depend on what you will be shooting. I would suggest you start with a "standard" lens; 50mm-55mm. This lens is standard on a 35mm camera because it simulatesthe field of view that one sees with their eyes. This lens would enable you to accomplish most of you photographic needs. If you are a landscape person, a wide angle lens (28mm-35mm) might be your next choice. However, if you want to shoot portraits, you would want something in the 105mm-135mm range.

You could solve some of these problems with a zoom lens which would enable you to reduce the overall number of lenses. A 28-80 and a 80-200 might be all you need.

As far as quality, I don't know much about Yashica lenses, but there are great choices available by manufacturers like, Sigma, Tamron and Kiron which are affordable. Stay away from the higher proced optics until you are sure this is a hobby you want to pursue. Remember this always, the quality of your image is not determined by the equipment; its the photographer. Shakespeare wouldn't have been any better a writer if he had a word processor.

-- (harold_todman@dmr.com), March 23, 1998.

I'm not familiar with the camera, however, I can give you some general rules. First, what do you want to shoot?. Portraits, scenics, still lifes, all?. Your lens choice will depend on what you will be shooting. I would suggest you start with a "standard" lens; 50mm-55mm. This lens is standard on a 35mm camera because it simulatesthe field of view that one sees with their eyes. This lens would enable you to accomplish most of you photographic needs. If you are a landscape person, a wide angle lens (28mm-35mm) might be your next choice. However, if you want to shoot portraits, you would want something in the 105mm-135mm range.

You could solve some of these problems with a zoom lens which would enable you to reduce the overall number of lenses. A 28-80 and a 80-200 might be all you need.

As far as quality, I don't know much about Yashica lenses, but there are great choices available by manufacturers like, Sigma, Tamron and Kiron which are affordable. Stay away from the higher proced optics until you are sure this is a hobby you want to pursue. Remember this always, the quality of your image is not determined by the equipment; its the photographer. Shakespeare wouldn't have been any better a writer if he had a word processor.

-- Harold Todman (harold_todman@dmr.com), March 23, 1998.