Yashica J-7 and Yashica TL – the last of a series and the start of a new era

January 25, 2018January 25, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Yashica J-7 was the last camera in Yashica’s popular J-Series of 35mm SLR cameras that ran from about late 1962 to early 1968. They were: the J-3, J-5, J-4, and the J-7. You could throw in the J-P but the J-P was closer in design and function to the Penta J and not the J-Series. All of these SLRs featured the famous and common M42 screw mount lens camera bodies.

The J-Series featured a CdS exposure meter which was built into the camera body on the camera’s left front top plate (see images below). The disadvantage of this type of meter was that the exposure readings did not accurately reflect the amount of light passing through the lens. Adjustments needed to be made if filters were used. The Yashica TL was Yashica’s first SLR to feature an exposure meter built inside of the camera and took readings through the attached lens (hence the “TL” for through the lens). As Yashica stated in the instruction booklet for the TL – “The two CdS resistors measures the average degree of light entering through the lens and directed to the focusing groundglass. In other words, the average value of light directed to the film plane is accurately computed”. This was a giant step for Yashica and would lead them to pioneer the use of electronics in photography as each new SLR made major advances towards the goal of accurate “computer controlled” exposure readings. The Yashica TL Electro-X and the ITS were the pinnacles of these accomplishments by late 1969 and early 1970.

A close-up view of the CdS exposure meter on the J-7.

The last SLR in the famous J-Series of cameras.

The J-Series of 35mm SLR cameras from Yashica. The J-3 was the only one to be released in a pro-black finish.

The “Best of the Best” – Yashica’s ITS model of the TL Electro-X.

And there you have it. A very short history of Yashica’s early 35mm SLR cameras.

Thanks for stopping by!

C&C ^.^

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Variations on a Theme

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018Chris and Carol 2 Comments

In response to this weeks challenge… leaf on slate

Thanks for stopping by!

Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Hi! Mickey Mouse Camera

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Our super cool Hi! Mickey Mouse camera from Fujifilm.

Carol made a cute custom camera case for the Fujifilm Hi! Mickey Mouse camera.

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You can find this and many other interesting cameras in our online store at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

We’d love to see you there!

C&C ^.^

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Yashica J-3 Sales Brochure – 1962

January 23, 2018January 23, 2018Chris and Carol 4 Comments

We don’t have an exact date on this brochure – we’re mainly basing it on the recognized release date in the United States. Since this is a Japanese brochure it could have been earlier or later.

Of interest, the first M42 screw mount camera made by Yashica was the Penta J which was also known in Japan as the “Jaguar”. The name Jaguar never appeared on the camera body, just in advertising. It is possible that the “J” in the J-3 could have been for Jaguar but the marketers from Yashica decided to shorten it to just “J” at the last minute.

Front and back covers for the first J-3 brochure.

These images (below) are from two different J-3 instruction booklets that we have in our collection. The one on the left appears to be from a rare early version of the book with the image on the right from the later and more common book. Of note, the camera in the left image does not have a name on the body while the camera in the book on the right shows J-3. It’s an entirely different picture of the J-3. Our guess is that the book on the left has either a prototype or pre-production camera before Yashica finalized the name for the camera. They may have still been up in the air about naming it J-3 or possibly Jaguar something.

The left camera appears without a name and very different (and rather odd looking) accessory shoe. The camera on the right carries the J-3 name and the “correct” accessory shoe that ended up in production.

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Same instruction booklet but with the “J-3” written in on the image. Look closely, notice how crude it is. Another clue that the camera was a pre-production or prototype camera.

Well, there you have a bit of Yashica controversy discovered 56 years after the fact! lol

Thanks for your visit!

Remember to stop by our store at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

C&C ^.^

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Garden Gate Details

January 22, 2018January 22, 2018Chris and Carol 4 Comments

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Our side yard garden gate – cedar and stone.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S8+

Chris ^.^

Be sure to visit our online store at https://www.ccstudio2380.com – lots of new arrivals!

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Silence

January 21, 2018January 21, 2018Chris and Carol 4 Comments

Silence – wishing our vintage Teac reel to reel was up and running again…

teac silence

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your week!

C&C ^.^

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Happy SUNday! Go Jags Go!!!

January 21, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Jacksonville Jaguars play for the AFC Championship today –

Go Jags Go!!!

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Gotta have the “Angry Kitty” head!

C&C ^.^

Fun Brochure! Konica Kanpa!

January 20, 2018January 20, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A fun little sales brochure from Japan. The Konica Kanpa! (Kanpai) is a party camera – it was designed to be used on a motorized tripod that would swivel the camera to the sound of someone yelling “Kanpai” (Cheers!) or other sounds and then the camera’s microphone would pick up that sound and the camera would focus in on that person or group and take a picture “hands-free”.

collage kanpai

Check out the cute little shoes for the tripod!

Stop by our store – https://www.ccstudio2380.com – lots of new and interesting things!

This just in!!! Our good friend Peggy from CameraGoCamera is sending us her Konica Kanpa! Cheers!

C&C ^.^

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Rare First Edition Canon F-1 Book – 1971

January 19, 2018January 19, 2018Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Rare first edition of the Canon F-1 instruction book. This one was printed in Japan in September 1971. It features a unique cover shot of the F-1 – all other books after this one are different.

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The Canon F-1 featured in this book carries a super early serial number – 100251

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Comparing this book to some of our others there are quite a bit of changes which would be typical of a first edition book.

It’s available for purchase at https://www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by!

C&C ^.^

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Pentax IQ Zoom 105WR – Weather Resistant 35mm Compact Camera

January 19, 2018January 19, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Are you looking for a compact 35mm camera with a powerful 2.8x electronic zoom (38-105mm) and the ability to be able to plunk this camera into water, sand, snow, and mud? Of course you are!

Too many compact 35mm film cameras have to be babied – can’t take them out in the rain, snow or down to the beach and definitely a no-go for white water rafting! Not so for this super tough compact from Pentax!

The gray portion of the body is a rubberized grip which makes this fun compact easy to use when it’s wet. A powerful 38-105mm Pentax zoom lens with zoom macro is super sharp.

This camera is brand new, never used but fully tested by us – the complete set is still new in its original boxes with all paperwork including the operating manual!

This camera is guaranteed by us to be ready to use right out of the box! Just add film and your creativity!

One of the more sophisticated 35mm compacts of the late 1990s, this Pentax features a 5-point multi autofocus system, auto exposure, power zoom lens with zoom macro, power winding, and multi-mode flash with red-eye reduction.

This Pentax features a large true view viewfinder and big LCD. Easy to operate controls even when your hands are wet or gloved. The date/time feature is super easy to set and we’ve even installed a new lithium button battery to power that function.

This set includes a brand new Pentax soft case to protect your IQ Zoom 105WR while traveling.

Some of the many outstanding features of this fine camera. Still made by Asahi Optical too!

Also features an adjustable diopter eyepiece with an easy to use thumbwheel – something not normally found on a camera of this type. The on-off switch is easy to grip and the camera switches easily to the panorama mode.

Easy loading and positive closure of the film back to seal out water, sand, snow, and mud!

This wonderful camera set is available through our online store at https://www.ccstudio2380.com

If you’re looking at trying your hand at film photography then this is a perfect camera to start off with. If you’re getting back into film photography then you’ll be satisfied with what this camera can do for your creative spirit.

Thanks for your visit and we think you will be surprised at the great price we have it listed for. All of the cameras we sell are guaranteed to work right out of the box! We’ve installed brand new Panasonic batteries in this one – just add your 35mm film and you’re good to go!

C&C ^.^

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Month January 2018

Yashica J-7 and Yashica TL – the last of a series and the start of a new era

Weekly Photo Challenge – Variations on a Theme

Hi! Mickey Mouse Camera

Our super cool Hi! Mickey Mouse camera from Fujifilm.

Yashica J-3 Sales Brochure – 1962

We don’t have an exact date on this brochure – we’re mainly basing it on the recognized release date in the United States. Since this is a Japanese brochure it could have been earlier or later.

Garden Gate Details

Weekly Photo Challenge – Silence

Silence – wishing our vintage Teac reel to reel was up and running again…

Happy SUNday! Go Jags Go!!!

The Jacksonville Jaguars play for the AFC Championship today –

Go Jags Go!!!

Gotta have the “Angry Kitty” head!

Fun Brochure! Konica Kanpa!

Rare First Edition Canon F-1 Book – 1971

Rare first edition of the Canon F-1 instruction book. This one was printed in Japan in September 1971. It features a unique cover shot of the F-1 – all other books after this one are different.

Pentax IQ Zoom 105WR – Weather Resistant 35mm Compact Camera

Are you looking for a compact 35mm camera with a powerful 2.8x electronic zoom (38-105mm) and the ability to be able to plunk this camera into water, sand, snow, and mud? Of course you are!

Too many compact 35mm film cameras have to be babied – can’t take them out in the rain, snow or down to the beach and definitely a no-go for white water rafting! Not so for this super tough compact from Pentax!