Yashica's late-1980s consumer C/Y SLR — the 109, electronic shutter, program and manual exposure.
The Yashica 109 is a 35mm film SLR from the late 1980s, a later manual-focus consumer body on the Contax/Yashica (C/Y) bayonet, sold as the 109 Multi Program. It followed the 108 in Yashica's automated consumer line and took Yashica ML lenses and Carl Zeiss T* optics, continuing the use of the established C/Y mount in a lighter, more automated camera aimed at general users.
The 109 is a C/Y bayonet SLR for 35mm film with an electronically controlled focal-plane shutter and through-the-lens metering. It offers programmed automatic and manual exposure, with the metering information shown in the viewfinder. Because the shutter timing is electronic, the camera relies on a battery to fire. Specifications that cannot be confirmed, such as the exact shutter range, are left out rather than guessed.
The 109 suits a beginner, student or traveller who wants program automation with access to the Zeiss and Yashica ML lens systems in an easy-to-use body. Program mode makes everyday shooting simple, and the camera is light to carry. As with the 108, the trade-offs are more plastic consumer construction and full battery dependence versus the earlier mechanical C/Y models.
On the used market the 109 is an inexpensive later C/Y body, so check both foam and electronics. Replace perished foam light seals and mirror-damper foam. Confirm the camera powers up and the electronically timed shutter fires with a fresh battery, and test program mode and the meter for correct response, as electronic faults are the main risk on these bodies. Inspect the prism, and verify film advance, rewind and the bayonet lock work smoothly.