The Yashica 44 features crank film advance, with automatic frame spacing after the user aligns frame number "1" in a red window. The shutter is cocked manually with a lever on the shutter itself, however, and there is no interlock to prevent double-exposures. The Copal SV shutter has speeds from 1 to 1/500 second plus 'B', and switchable 'M' and 'X' synchronisation, with a PC socket. The lens is a 3-element Yashikor 60mm f/3.5. There is a standard bayonet mount for lens attachments; a hood, filters and close-up lens pairs were available. A metal lens-cap, hinged in the middle, attaches to the upper bayonet.