The Yashica MF-3 Super is a 35mm cheap plastic camera with full manual operation, except focus. It work in a simple manner in which the exposure can be adjusted according to the climatic condition, as in the Sunny 16 rule. Let’s see in detail how it works, but first have a good look in the photos below to get used to its parts.

At the front of the camera, the most important features are the built-in flash and its switch. This camera doesn’t have a flash hot-shoe or plug.

Most controls are at the top of the body, such as the film advance lever, rewind crank and shutter release. In the lens barrel are located the aperture ring and the ISO ring.

In the back is located the rangefinder, the back cover latch and the flash ready light.

The battery cover and spool release are located at the bottom. This camera uses two AA batteries that are installed as oriented in the stickers inside the battery compartment. This camera will operate normally without batteries, except the flash won’t work, of course.

Photometry

The photometry of the Yashica MF-3 Super is a quite common system used in cheap cameras of the day and it is based on the sunny 16 rule. The aperture ring has four positions: sunny, overcast, flash, and cloudy. Select it according to your conditions and you are good to go. Be aware that this ring is very close to the ISO ring, so it is easy to turn both together by accident. Always check your ISO setting.

Since the maximum aperture of this lens is f/3.5, I think it may bokeh, but I am not sure if I would put my money on it. However, be aware that the maximum aperture is only reached for the cloudy setting using ISO 100.

How to use the flash

The flash operation in this camera is straight-forward. Move the flash latch to the on position and you will hear it charging. When charged, an amber light on the left side of the viewfinder will turn on. Then change the aperture to the flash icon. If you are not sure if the flash is needed, this camera has your back. Press the shutter release button until you find some resitance. If there isn’t enough light, a red LED will light inside the viewfinder. Flash operation is not automatic, you must turn it on or off by hand, though.

How to load film in the Yashica MF-3 Super

To load film in the Yashica MF-3 Super, follow these steps:

1. Open the back cover using the latch on the left side of the back of the camera.
2. Pull the rewind knob, insert the film roll in the chamber and press the rewind knob back, so the shaft will engage the film.
3. Pass the film tip over spool and make sure the holes are engaged with the sprockets.
4. Close the back cover and pull the film advance lever.
5. Press the shutter release and pull the film advance lever again.
6. Se the ISO using the most inward ring of the lens barrel. The ISO value is marked at the bottom of the camera.
7. Done.

How to rewind and unload film in the Yashica MF-3 Super

To rewind and unload film in the Yashica MF-3 Super, follow these steps:

1. Press the spool release button at the bottom of the camera body.
2. Rewind the film turning the rewind crank clockwise until you feel the film is free from the spool.
3. open the back cover and remove the film roll.

Image Quality

I had performed some tests with my camera using a Kodak ColorPlus 200 film. To be honest, I was quite surprised by the result, as you can see in the photo below. Both images were not treated at all, quite impressive.