Yashica's budget Electro 35 MG-1 — fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder, aperture-priority electronic shutter, 1975.
The Yashica Electro 35 MG-1, from 1975, was a lower-cost model in the Electro 35 line of fixed-lens 35mm rangefinders. It was built to a simpler and more economical specification than the G-series bodies while keeping the electronic aperture-priority exposure of the range.
This is a 35mm coupled-rangefinder camera with a fixed lens of moderate speed, typically a 45mm around f/2.8, and an electronically-timed leaf shutter. Exposure is aperture-priority automatic, with the meter choosing a stepless shutter speed and finder lamps warning of exposure errors. A battery is needed for the electronic shutter to time correctly.
The MG-1 is a budget-friendly entry into the Electro rangefinder experience, suiting students, beginners and casual travel photographers who want automatic exposure and rangefinder focusing. Its lens is slower than the f/1.7 optics of the G-series, but the camera is lighter and simpler to use.
On the used market, test the electronic shutter and meter, as Electro bodies can develop timing and pad-related problems. Inspect the lens for haze and fungus, check rangefinder patch contrast and alignment, and confirm the battery type and correct exposure response. Replace perished light seals before shooting.