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Yashica 109 Specifications

The Yashica 109 Multi-Program SLR camera is a classic film-based camera produced by the Japanese company, Yashica. The camera was first introduced to the market in 1989 and is no longer manufactured. The 109 features automatic focus, mechanical film rewind and multiple exposure-setting programs. The camera can be equipped with a variety of lens models from various manufacturers.

Physical Type
- The Yashica 109 Multi-Program camera is a 35mm single lens reflex, or SLR, film camera. The camera body, minus lens, film and batteries, weighs approximately 510g and measures approximately 6 inches wide by 3.75 inches tall by 2.5 inches deep. Alkaline batteries are inserted through the bottom, and film is placed through the detachable camera back. Picture frames are shot at a single size of 24 mm by 36mm.
Exposure Settings
- The 109 can be shot either in automatic, manual, or priority settings. The shutter dial is on the top right-hand (photographer's right-hand) side of the camera and contains the icons "PROGRAM," 2000 through 1, "AV," "HP," "X" and "B." "PROGRAM" is for the automatic setting of both the aperture and shutter-speed. "AV" is the aperture priority setting; you set the aperture, and the camera compensates by choosing an appropriate shutter-speed. "HP" is the high speed priority setting, which gives priority to a fast shutter-speed and sets the aperture accordingly. The numbers 2000 through 1 are the manual shutter-speed settings. "X" is the flashbulb setting, and "B" is the long exposure setting.
Lens
- The Yashica 109 is originally equipped with a Yashica 50mm f/1.9 lens. The 50mm is a fixed focal length lens but has an aperture range from f/1.9 to f16. Alternative lens models can be used in place of the 50mm f/1.9.
Shutter Speed
- Shutter speed is the length of time the shutter stays open during exposure; a faster speed lets in less light, and a slower speed lets in more. The Yashica 109 has a shutter-speed range between 1/2000 second and 1 second, which can be set using the manual shutter-speed dial at the top of the camera.
Extras
- The 109 is also equipped with a 10-second-delay timer, a choice between either single-frame or continuous-frame shooting, and a compensation button. The compensation button is located at the photographer's left on the front of the camera body near the lens attachment ring. The compensation button forces an increased exposure of 1.5 EV (exposure value, a combination of aperture and shutter-speed) to illuminate objects in settings that are lit by backlight.

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