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.
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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Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 
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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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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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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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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