1979
35mm SLR
Carl Zeiss compatible

Yashica FX-3

Name: Yashica FX-3
Brand: Yashica
SKU: 1906
Price: 800.0 AED
Availability: OutOfStock

Carl Zeiss glass. Without the Contax body price.

The FX-3 is the cheapest path to Carl Zeiss T* lenses on 35mm. It uses the Contax/Yashica C/Y mount — the same bayonet as the Contax RTS, RTS II, RTS III, and every Yashica SLR of the era. That means anything from a $40 Yashica 50mm to a $400 Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 T* fits and meters correctly.

Mechanically, it's an honest manual SLR. Shutter is fully mechanical (works without batteries), the meter takes two cells, and there are no auto modes — you read the LED indicators, set aperture and shutter, and shoot. Light enough at 410g to throw in a bag and forget about.

If your interest is the lenses, not the body, the FX-3 is the right body.

Match

Who this is for

Good for

Carl Zeiss lens shooters on a budget
Manual shooters
Backup body for Contax users
Travel

Not for

Auto-mode shooters
Photographers who don't care about lens system

Character

What it feels like to shoot

Reads like a smaller, lighter cousin of a Contax. The shutter is a clean mechanical clack. Three little lights inside the viewfinder are your only meter — line them up, press the button. With a Carl Zeiss lens mounted, the viewfinder pops; the rendering wide-open is the kind of thing you'll want to test on something more interesting than your dog.

Born 1979

History of the Yashica FX-3

Released in 1979 as Yashica's affordable entry into the C/Y mount system. Unlike the more famous Contax bodies that share the same mount, the FX-3 was deliberately stripped down to a reliable mechanical shell. The FX-3 Super 2000 followed in 1986 with a faster top shutter (1/2000s) and minor refinements; the lens compatibility is identical.

Technical specifications

MFG. 1979 – 1986

Format

35mm SLR

Manufacturer

Yashica · Japan

Production

1979 – 1986

Lens mount

Contax / Yashica (C/Y)

Metering

TTL center-weighted CdS

Viewfinder

Pentaprism, ~92% coverage

Shutter

1/1000s – 1s + B (mechanical vertical metal-blade)

ISO range

ASA 12 – 3200

Flash sync

1/125s X-sync

Exposure modes

Manual

Dimensions

138 × 86 × 50 mm

Weight

410 g

Power

2 × LR44 / SR44 (meter only — shutter is fully mechanical)

Original manual · Yashica FX-3

Get the factory user guide as a PDF. We'll also drop you a note with film + dev tips for this body.

Thanks. → Download the Yashica FX-3 manual (PDF)

Backed by GPP

Service & guarantees

Every analog camera ships through our bench

This unit has been bench-tested by GPP. Shutter speeds verified across the range, light seals replaced where age had taken them, meter calibrated against a known reference. Cosmetic condition is reflected in the listing photos — knicks and dings consistent with a working camera body. Mechanically, it's good to shoot.

Comes with our 7-day functional return policy: if anything we declared isn't working as described, we'll exchange or refund.

CLA'd by GPP — shutter speeds checked, light seals replaced where needed, meter calibrated against a known reference.
7-day functional return — if it doesn't work as we declared on this listing, we exchange or refund. Wear-and-tear consistent with the listed condition isn't returnable.
UAE & worldwide shipping — Dubai same-day before 12 PM (AED 50), UAE-wide in 2–3 business days (AED 40), international tracked in 5–10 business days (calculated at checkout). Insurance can be added on request. Customs and import duties are the buyer's responsibility on international orders. Full shipping policy.
Walk in to inspect — Warehouse D36, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Mon–Sat, 10am–7pm. Bring a roll if you'd like to test-fire on the spot.

Questions

Things people ask

What film does it take?

Standard 35mm film. We carry the widest selection in the Middle East — colour, B&W, slide — across consumer, professional, and cinema stocks. Need a recommendation for this body? Just ask us.

Is the camera serviced before sale?

Yes — every analog camera at GPP goes through our bench before it goes on the listing. Shutter speeds verified, light seals replaced where needed, meter calibrated against a reference.

What's your return policy?

7-day functional return. If anything we declared isn't working as described, contact us within 7 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange.

Can GPP develop and scan the photos I shoot with this?

Yes — our in-house film lab handles colour, B&W, and slide development with scanning. 24-48 hour rush available. More on the film lab.

Can I see the camera before I buy?

Always welcome. Visit Warehouse D36, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am–7pm.

Reading

Further reference

Camera-Wiki entry on the Yashica FX-3

Wikipedia article on the Contax/Yashica mount