Newest Pentamatic – another fine Yashica joins the family.

September 18, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A recently acquired Yashica Pentamatic for our collection. This one came to us from a fellow collector here in the southeast US.

This one includes the Auto Yashinon 5.5c f/1.8 lens that puts the lens as a very late production model (maybe mid 1961). Here’s a chance to check out our Pentamatic from many angles.

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The angled shutter release button is in a perfect position for maintaining a solid grip on this heavy body while releasing the shutter.

The lens serial number, No. 60521000 is unique in the fact that it’s a whole number (21000).

The cold shoe is mounted on the camera’s left side top plate. Actually a very good spot for it.

This unique lever controls the rewind knob which pops up from under the cold shoe (it moves from the “A” position).

The body serial number, NO. 126013189 decodes to: 12 = December, 60 = 1960, 13189 = 13,189th made since December of 1959.

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The lever is now in the “O” position which allows the back to be unlocked.

Pulling up the rewind knob completes the opening.

Our love affair with this fine camera continues. We just can’t get over the clean lines and excellent design.

If you want to acquire a nice Pentamatic for your own collection, they come up occasionally on US online auction sites and infrequently on auction sites in Japan. Nice examples can be had for under $50. Super nice examples will go closer to $100 with some guarantee of functionality from the seller.

Buckets

September 18, 2017September 18, 2017Chris and Carol 1 Comment

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Buckets along Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island – Florida.

Chris

Seagull 4B-1

September 18, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A great camera that I’ve never considered. Looks like she found a good one!

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When I return to the UK for the summer, I take my new cameras back with me. This is mainly due to the humidity here. Everything goes moldy or grows fungus especially if you leave the air condition off. There isn’t much you can do about it in Japan when there is 90% humidity for days on end. This website gives some advice if you can’t afford a special cabinet. I am thinking of investing, but for now, I am saving all the little silica packs.

Anyway, it also means I can buy new-to-me cameras to play with when I return. However, the choices are getting smaller as my blog list gets bigger. It also meant I took all my medium format cameras back, but still had some film left in my fridge. Instead of throwing or giving it away I searched for a reasonably priced 120 film camera. The Fujipet

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Peaceful SUNday

September 17, 2017Chris and Carol 2 Comments

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A calm Atlantic Ocean… for now.

A happy and peaceful Sunday for all.

Chris and Carol ^.^

American Beach – Amelia Island

September 16, 2017September 16, 2017Chris and Carol 1 Comment

No widespread flooding during Irma from storm surge but a few low lying areas did flood from the heavy rainfall during the storm.

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Thanks for your visit and wishing all a speedy recovery.

Chris

The Pippi Longstocking House – Amelia Island, Florida

September 15, 2017April 7, 2019Chris and Carol 17 Comments

Located in what is known as Old Town (Fernandina Beach) overlooking the Amelia River on the northwest side of Amelia Island. Originally built around 1870 for a harbor pilot Captain Bell and the second owner was also a river captain in 1901. Located on a high bluff at 212 Estrada Street, it overlooks the former Spanish fort San Carlos (c1811).

It’s a lovely house that’s been restored and maintained throughout the decades. It stood in as Pippi Longstocking’s house in the late 1980s movie “The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking”… “The house was altered and remodeled through the years. When movie producers came calling in 1987, it was its original weathered white with hunter green shutters. The house stood in for Villa Villekulla, the fictional home of Pippi, a character in a series of books written by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. The young girl lives alone in a small Swedish village sharing the house with her monkey and horse. She befriends the two children living next door, Tommy and Annika Settergren, and they have many adventures together.”

Today it is a private residence and is not open for tours. It’s a very easy to photograph house because of the large open area in front of the house (actually Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park).

The “Pippi Longstocking House” on Amelia Island. Built c1870

If you find yourself near Amelia Island it is well worth the visit (don’t miss the 40 block Historic District of Fernandina Beach while you’re at it).

Pippi says “hi”! Actress Tami Erin

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out my camera and photography shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Chris

Tropical Storm Force Winds – Irma

September 14, 2017September 14, 2017Chris and Carol 5 Comments

Here’s a small sample of what it was like here in extreme Northeast Florida on the morning of September 11, 2017 as TS Irma (downgraded from hurricane at that time) made its way northward across the north central part of the state well west of Amelia Island.

The winds were east-southeasterly at about 40 mph sustained with gusts into the 60-70 mph range when this video was taken at 8 AM. The oak in the video is about 60 feet tall and nearly 80 feet across. It held up nicely in the relentless winds. Check out the 20 foot tall flagpole – it did well too.

The flooding in the street was from the heavy rainfall and blocked storm drains and not from storm surge. Once the drains were cleared the water was gone.

A big shout out goes to the fearless linemen from Illinois that worked to restore our power… which was out for only 61 hours! Considering how much damage there was that was a remarkably short period of time. At one point in the repair work near our neighborhood, dozens of linemen were using five power company bucket trucks to string new wires and set new poles. Thank you!!!

Chris

Irma Damage

September 14, 2017September 14, 2017Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Almost everywhere in Florida was affected by Hurricane Irma – some more directly than others and of course some suffered a complete loss of their homes, businesses, cars and lives. The difficult journey of recovering from the damage and destruction will be a long one and some will just give up and go.

Our corner of Northeast Florida (our little island) for the most part did pretty well considering where we are located. Closer to home, our neighborhood had damage but the homes came through. We lost our power for 61 hours – a small time really compared to what others will see.

These pictures are from around 8 AM or so on Monday morning (9-11-2017) – the winds were still gusting into the high 60 mph range with some gusts to near 90 mph in the predawn hours.

Neighbors house avoids getting damaged from a rather large oak branch.

Directly behind our house on another street. This was about a 60 foot oak that blew down and missed the house completely.

Just outside the neighborhood at the beach. Just after the highest water was receding.

At the beach. Only a few poles came down.

Some damage along the beach road (above and below).

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By the afternoon on Monday, the strongest onshore winds were past but the ocean was still very rough.

The best to all that are suffering through their recoveries from Harvey and Irma.

Chris and Carol

Our Silly Old Cat!

September 13, 2017September 13, 2017Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Zoe, our 18 year old Siamese cat decides to check out something she’s never seen before.

A rather large puddle in front of our house created by the heavy rains from the passage (well west of us) of Hurricane Irma. Zoe ran out from the garage and down the driveway (with winds around 35 mph with gusts to around 55 mph or so) to get a closer look at this “new found thing” (and a drink!).

What we don’t see is that as soon as I moved the camera away, she proceeded to JUMP into the puddle and swim around!!! I couldn’t believe what I saw and of course she was out in a flash – soaked and meowing her head off! No damage done and now she knows that she can’t walk on water.

The street flooded only because the drains were blocked by leaves that had been ripped off the oak trees by the gusty winds. As soon as a neighbor cleared the drains (shortly after this shot) the street was back to normal and Zoe’s swimming hole was gone.