C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Yashica FX-7 Black (~1986) is a cosmetic variant of the FX-7, offering the same electronic program-and-manual SLR specification in a black body finish rather than the standard chrome. It uses the Contax/Yashica (C/Y) bayonet mount, giving access to the full range of Yashica and Contax-branded lenses as well as a large third-party ecosystem from Cosina, Tokina, and others. The shutter is an electronically controlled vertical-travel metal-blade design with a top speed of 1/1000s and flash sync at 1/100s.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The entry-level Contax/Yashica mount SLR in its black body variant - program automation on a budget C/Y platform.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Contax/Yashica (C/Y) bayonet |
| Introduced | ~1986 |
| Shutter | ~4s - 1/1000s + B, electronic vertical metal focal-plane |
| Flash sync | ~1/100s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted SPD |
| Modes | Program, Manual |
| ISO range | 25 - 1600 |
| Battery | 2x AA (required) |
| Mechanical fallback | None |
Yashica introduced the FX-7 series in the mid-1980s as a simplified, cost-reduced complement to the more capable FX-D Quartz and the prosumer FR-series bodies. The C/Y mount had been jointly developed with Contax and was by this point a well-established standard with a growing lens catalog from both Zeiss (Contax-branded) and Yashica (ML series).
The mid-1980s market context was one of intensifying competition from Canon's T-series (especially the T70 and T90) and from Minolta's Maxxum series, which introduced autofocus to mass-market SLRs in 1985. Yashica and Contax, sharing Kyocera's umbrella since the 1983 acquisition, responded with product differentiation: Contax positioned toward premium users (RTS II, 137 MA) while Yashica addressed budget-conscious buyers with bodies like the FX-7 and later the FX-3 Super 2000.
The black body variant of the FX-7 was produced in smaller quantities than the chrome version, consistent with Yashica's general production ratios across its mid-1980s lineup. The FX-7 was succeeded in the entry-level C/Y slot by the FX-3 Super 2000, which offered a fully mechanical shutter and was manufactured by Cosina under contract.
The FX-7 Black occupies a specific niche: it is the most affordable route into genuine C/Y mount photography, enabling access to the Contax/Zeiss T* lens ecosystem without the cost of an RTS II or ST body. For lens collectors who want a C/Y body primarily as a mount adapter - or as a backup body to a more capable Contax - the FX-7 in either finish serves the purpose at minimal outlay.
The black body is marginally more sought after aesthetically, particularly when paired with black-barrelled Yashica ML or Contax lenses. From a photographic standpoint it is identical to the chrome variant; the distinction is purely cosmetic and secondhand pricing reflects this modestly.
The C/Y mount is the primary asset:
No winder or motor drive was produced specifically for the FX-7; the body lacks the electrical contacts for motor drive coupling present on the FR and FX-D series.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Yashica FX-7 Black
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