Yashica M42 Timeline – update 9.23.19

Chris and Carol

Yashica’s M42 screw mount 35mm SLR cameras were super successful and in some cases, groundbreaking. Yashica was known as a “Pioneer in Electronic Cameras” during the 1960s and 1970s with the TL Electro-X being the first electronically controlled SLR camera. My good friend and fellow Yashica collaborator Paul Sokk ( YashicaTlr.com ) and I have studied Yashica’s serial numbering system as it applies to their 35mm SLRs that used the universal M42 screw-in lens mount.

These dates represent the earliest finding of an individual model based solely on their serial numbers – not necessarily their release date. In some cases, the dates are still fluid as there is still the possibility of finding a stray in the wild that would prove an earlier production date.

Yashica often included a month and year in the first 3 or 4 digits of the camera’s serial number. By decoding these numbers Paul and I have come up with the following list.

  • Penta J            6/1961
  • Reflex 35        3/1962
  • J-3                    2/1963
  • J-5                    3/1964
  • J-P                    8/1964
  • J-4                    4/1965
  • TL-Super        4/1966
  • J-7                  11/1966
  • TL                  11/1967
  • TL Electro-X Type 1    10/1968
  • TL Electro X Type 2      7/1969
  • TL-E                 6/1969
  • ITS                 12/1970
  • TL-Electro     4/1972
  • Electro AX     3/1972
  • FFT                 7/1973

In some cases, the dates are from cameras that appeared in sales brochures and user manuals. We have a high degree of confidence that these dates are correct and that they reflect a true chronology of these cameras as of this post.

Here’s an example of a Yashica serial number during this period –

(81200636)   8 = 1968, 12 = DEC, and 00636 = 636th made that month.

Yashica Type 1 Back Logo

The serial number on my Yashica TL Electro-X Type 1

If you’ve found a camera that exists outside of these start dates, please feel free to let me know and if you have a serial number that you’re unable to decode send it my way. You can contact me at ccphotographyai@gmail.com

Thanks – Chris

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6 thoughts on “Yashica M42 Timeline – update 9.23.19”

  1. Hi Chris. I have a Yashica J-3 with serial number 3308680. From your method I can deduce it was manufactured in March 1963. Would you say that the remaining numbers inform that it was the 8680th made that month? I only ask because it seems like a high number.

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    1. Hi Chris,
      My mistake if my blog implies that in the case of the J-3 that it was a monthly total. Yours was the 8,680th made since production began in January 1963. In the beginning, they made about 3K units per month but they tapered off near the end. I believe about 38K were made overall.
      Thanks for your question and I need to reread my blog post.
      Regards, Chris

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      1. Ah, thanks for clearing that up Chris. I have been out using the J-3 today. The meter seems accurate and the camera is working well. I can’t believe I have just encountered your site for the first time today. Keep up the great work.
        Regards, Chris

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  2. Thanks for your comments, Chris. I’m glad to hear that a J-3 is still being used out in the wild! In my example, I used the TL Electro X as a serial number that was decoded. The TL was one of the few M42’s by Yashica that used a monthly total.

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  3. I just got an electro 35 and the number on the back seems to be shorter than your example and I can’t figure it out. It also starts with a letter which I don’t know the meaning of. It says: H 304989

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    1. Hi Alex, Does your camera have “Made in Hong Kong” on it and is it the Electro 35 or the later 35 G or GT model? The ‘H’ would be for Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s assembly didn’t follow the same serial number system as the ones in Yashica’s Japanese lines. My interpretation would be – ‘0’ = 1970 and ‘3’ = March. It was number 4,989 made that month up to that point. The serial number would expand to cover Oct, Nov, and Dec made cameras and when the production exceeded 9,999 for the month. However, records from Hong Kong are not as they appear. The ‘3’ could just be for March and no year code was given. Since Yashica made a bunch of these cameras then the ‘04989’ would cover a monthly production of up to 99,999 units. Thanks for your question. Chris

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