I believe it’s time to introduce the second camera from my shelf. A unique model, with one specific job, the Yashica Dental Eye II. A 35mm film analogue giant.

First of all, this camera is a beast in size and the first thing to notice is the large fixed lens barrel, packing a 100mm macro lens, meant for dentists to take close-up photos of teeth. Yashica did build a similar model called 230-AF, where the differences lie I am not exactly sure, since I haven’t had the chance to try the 230-AF. The Dental Eye II has a build in flash at the end of the lens, and with an on/off button. The light can be charged up, for efficient lighting when taking macro photos (it takes ages).

Besides the flash button, you have the option to compensate one stop on each side of your metered light. It also gives you the opportunity to lock the focusing with a screw, at the end of the lens barrel, which brings me to the biggest problem with the Dental Eye II, Focusing. Focusing with this camera, is a pain in the ass. It's almost impossible to hit the spot, Each time I shoot a roll of 36 exposures, I will be lucky to find maybe 5-6 frames in focus, and the rest out of focus. I hardly believe that I am the only one struggling with this. The focus area, is incredibly small. With that in mind, it's completely silly, that Yashica removed the screw mount, at the bottom of the camera, why Yashica, why?

The Dental Eye II comes with it’s own hard box for storage and transportation.

When you shoot it though it sounds amazing, and I personally feel amazing, whipping this giant tool around. I haven’t figured out yet - what my plans are for the Dental Eye II, but I know there is a project hidden in there somewhere. I really want to play around with it, in a studio as well. Which means, that I need to figure out a way, to put this on a tripod.

Below are some photos shot on the camera

*Shot on gold, and converted to b/w in lightroom*

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Yashica Dental Eye II

Ars-Imago

Mistakes were made