Yashica FX-3 Super 2000

Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 is the all-mechanical Contax/Yashica-mount SLR — in production 1986-2002. Where the original FX-3 (1979) topped at 1/1000s, the Super 2000 raised the mechanical shutter ceiling to 1/2000s, an unusually high mechanical-shutter top speed for its era. The body is fully manual: meter aside, no electronics are required for shutter operation.

Key features

• Contax/Yashica bayonet mount — accepts all Carl Zeiss T* and Yashica CY-series lenses
• Mechanical horizontal cloth shutter — 1s to 1/2000 + B (no battery needed for shutter)
• Center-weighted TTL meter — battery-dependent (LR44 ×2)
• Manual exposure only — no AE
• Compact body — ~445g
• Self-timer + depth-of-field preview

Practical notes

• FX-3 Super 2000 bodies on used market: $100-200 working examples
• Frequently paired with a Zeiss Planar or Distagon as the cheapest "Zeiss host" body — battery-independence makes it ideal for long-exposure or cold-weather work
• The mechanical shutter is reliable but rangefinder-collimation accuracy on modest bodies varies; verify focus at infinity before committing to a body

Related cameras

• Yashica FR — electronic AE Yashica CY sibling
• Contax RTS — flagship Contax CY body
• Contax Aria — late Contax CY body
• Nikon FM2 — competitor mechanical SLR with 1/4000 top speed

Native lenses

• Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 C/Y — universal normal
• Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm f/2.8 C/Y — wide-angle reportage
• Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.8 C/Y — portrait telephoto