YashicaT (T AF)

The Yashica T (T AF) is a product of the early 1980s, when autofocus and programmed exposure were quietly rewriting what a compact could do — a autofocus compact paired with a Carl Zeiss Tessar 35mm f/3.5 T*. Some backstory: the original 'T' — Yashica's first compact with a proper Carl Zeiss Tessar T* lens.

Format

35mm

Year

1984

Lens

Carl Zeiss Tessar 35mm f/3.5 T*

Min. focus

0.9 m

Flash

Built-in auto

Battery

2× AAA

The Carl Zeiss Tessar 35mm f/3.5 T* sits in the daylight sweet spot: sharp wide open, well-corrected against flare, and small enough to disappear in a jacket pocket. Standard 35mm keeps it compatible with whatever Kodak, Ilford, Fuji or CineStill stock you find on the shelf today. It runs on common AA batteries — you can resurrect one on a Sunday afternoon with whatever the corner shop has in stock. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 0.9 m, close enough for a coffee cup or a face but stops short of true macro. Something that catches new owners off guard: started the legendary T-series that would later peak with the T4/T5. Best for street, travel and environmental portraits — 35mm is the all-rounder documentary photographers default to.

The Yashica T (T AF) has its fans for a reason, but it's no longer a secret — set a strict budget, hold out for a clean copy, and don't overpay for a famous name.

• §1The original 'T' — Yashica's first compact with a proper Carl Zeiss Tessar T* lens.
• §2Started the legendary T-series that would later peak with the T4/T5.