Mint-Yashica TL Electro X 35mm SLR Film Camera M42 Screw Mount | Japan [TESTED] For Sale

==== Battery Included =====

If you\'re looking at a genuine piece of camera history — the Yashica TL Electro X, one of the most significant SLRs ever made. Introduced in 1968, this was the world\'s first commercially successful 35mm SLR with an electronically controlled shutter, and it sold over 300,000 units while its contemporaries barely cracked 3,000. That\'s not a footnote — that\'s a revolution.

Built on the universal M42 screw mount, this camera opens you up to a massive ecosystem of compatible lenses from Yashica, Pentax, Zeiss, Meyer-Optik, and countless others. The shutter operates at any stepless speed between 2 full seconds and 1/1000th — no clicks, no fixed stops, just smooth electronic precision. In the viewfinder, indicator lights warn of over or under exposure, no needle-matching required. For 1968, this was science fiction.

The body is all-metal, solidly built, and feels like it was made to last decades — which it clearly has.

What\'s included: [ body + 50mm f/1.7 Yashinon lens ]Condition: [Super Nice]

A fantastic shooter, collector piece, and conversation starter. Ships carefully packed from PhotoFusionArt.com.

HISTORY

The Yashica TL Electro X launched in October 1968 at a moment when camera engineering was pushing into new territory. Along with the Praktica PL Electronic and the Zeiss Ikon Contarex SE, it was one of only three cameras in the world to debut an electronically controlled shutter that year. The other two were effectively technology showcases — each sold around 3,000 units. The Yashica sold 300,000.

The secret was accessibility. Yashica paired the groundbreaking electronic shutter with a straightforward manual SLR design that photographers already understood, built around the widely adopted M42 screw mount. The shutter could be set to any speed between 2 seconds and 1/1000th — not just fixed stops, but any intermediate value — and the viewfinder displayed exposure warnings via electronic indicator lights, another industry first. Competing cameras still used fragile needle-and-coil meter mechanisms; the Electro X used solid-state circuitry with no moving parts.

Production ran from 1968 to 1974. In 1975, Yashica shifted to their proprietary Contax bayonet mount and the M42 era came to a close. The TL Electro X remains a legitimate milestone in camera history — underappreciated compared to its Nikon and Canon rivals, but technically ahead of nearly everything on the market at the time.

KEY FEATURES TO HIGHLIGHT IN PHOTOS / BULLET POINTS

• 🏆 World\'s first commercially successful SLR with an electronic shutter (1968)
• ⚙️ Stepless shutter speeds from 2 sec to 1/1000 — set any intermediate value
• 🔭 Viewfinder exposure indicator lights — no needle matching
• 🔩 M42 screw mount — compatible with hundreds of vintage lenses
• 📷 TTL centre-weighted CdS metering, stop-down
• 🎞️ ISO 25–800 film speed range
• 🪞 Mirror lock-up + self-timer
• 💡 Battery check button (green light indicator)
• 🏗️ All-metal body — built like a tank

Vintage Disclaimer:

\"As this is a genuine vintage piece over 40 years old, it is being sold as-is. While it has been [tested/inspected] and is currently working, please keep in mind that vintage electronics and mechanics are delicate. We cannot guarantee long-term performance, as these classic machines require gentle handling and may need professional servicing in the future to keep them running beautifully.\"

\"While this camera passed all checks this year, please remember that vintage mechanical items can be unpredictable. I guarantee it arrives as described, but I recommend a CLA (Clean, Lubricate, Adjust) every few years to keep it in peak condition.\"

Contact us for this and other vintage equipment we do trade ins and repairs too!