Month November 2020

Mr. Ushiyama and Yashima / Yashica

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Another look at these two camera pioneers.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Image is from what I gather is a visa to visit (or do work) in Brazil. I believe this image is from 1957. Yashica did set up a factory in Brazil and had established an address there. Image is from what I gather is a visa to visit (or do work) in Brazil. I believe this image is from 1957. Yashica did set up a factory in Brazil and had established an address there.

Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama…

Founder and president of Yashima Kogaku Seiki Company, Limited. He and his brother, Mr. Jisaburo Ushiyama started a small manufacturing business in their hometown of Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan in the late 1940s and transitioned to making cameras by 1953. In the 1950s, Yashima grew to one of Japan’s largest camera manufacturers and by the close of the decade of the fifties, they outsold many of today’s best know camera makers. Yashima became Yashica and the rest is history. I believe these images are of Mr. Ushiyama as they were scanned from the original camera instruction booklets from Yashica.

Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama and his brother Jisaburo c1959. Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama and his brother Jisaburo c1959.

Scan of the president and director of Yashica camera... Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama c1959. Scan of the…

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Happy SUNday! – Yokohama then and now.

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

What a lovely surprise to be contacted by a gentleman who currently lives in the same neighborhood that Carol and I lived in back in the late 1970s. His name is Miguel and he was kind enough to share a current picture of the area.

The first image below was taken by me in the summer of 1978 from a hill overlooking the US Navy housing area looking east towards Tokyo Bay in the distance. The early photograph was taken on Kodak Kodachrome and hasn’t aged well as it’s lost most of its original color. Back in the 1970s, this part of Yokohama was very industrialized and on a hot hazy summer day the visibility was often restricted to less than three miles or so.

Summer 1978, Yokohama, Japan – Honmoku

This current picture below shows the vast changes that have occured since the Navy left the area. In the mid-1980s the original houses were torn down to make way for a wonderful upscale neighborhood and elementary school. If the smokestack (far right side) is the same one then these two pictures were taken in about the same place. How wonderful is that!?

Image taken by Miguel Patiño González, Summer 2020

My understanding is that the Honmoku Elementary School seen in the above image (lower left) is on the site where our government house stood.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday! – Minolta Six

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Here’s another look at one of the oldest cameras in our collection. We did sell this one to another collector recently.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Minolta’s first 6×6 medium-format camera. The body is made almost entirely from Bakelite. 1936

Minolta Six sideMinolta Six topMinolta six ad

It’s kinda hard to find a pre-war Minolta especially one that has a working shutter. What a lovely picture machine from another era. It’s available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Have a beautiful day and as always, 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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

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Happy Thanksgiving! – turkey and deck cleaning?

Chris and Carol 6 Comments
Before and after

This wood deck in my backyard is 17-years-old – I built it back in 2003 as an enjoyable spot to connect our house with the wooded back areas of my yard. I love trees and I love the shade they provide during the hot summer months here in North Florida. The downside of having a wood deck in a forest is that it tends to get dirty quickly – really quickly. Algae, mold, dirt, leaves, and grime combine to turn the wood black.

I started cleaning the deck with my pressure washer (electric 2100 psi) last weekend and I’ve still got a long way to go but I thought I’d share a before and after picture of just how nice it’s coming along. No chemicals, just water pressure (and time).

Pressure washing can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. I tend not to think about anything while I’m doing it. So its kinda peaceful during these frightening times.

Speaking of peaceful. I want to wish all of my friends and followers here on WordPress a wonderful Thanksgiving day and that you’re able and sit back and enjoy spending some time in person and virtually with the people you love.

Thanks for stopping by – peace and love y’all! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Single Shot – Nikon U2

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The Nikon U2 was the Japanese market version of the Nikon N75 in North America and F75 elsewhere. It was one of the last intermediate range consumer 35mm SLRs from Nikon. Released in 2003.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Chasing Classic Cameras -Nikon U2 – end of the line Nikon 35mm SLR

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Also known as the Nikon N75 in North America and the F75 everywhere else outside of Japan. It’s a sophisticated autofocus and auto exposure 35mm film camera that uses almost all of Nikon’s F mount lenses.

Original list price in 2003. It’s actually a very expensive film camera in it’s day. At about 110 JPY to USD puts it in the high $500 range.

This particular camera had the date time display option so technically it would be the Nikon U2 QD.

I’ll have this wonderful available in my camera shop very soon. You can visit my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Here’s a fun little contest brochure that was included with my camera.

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Florida Cottonmouth (water moccasin)

Chris and Carol 3 Comments
The water moccasin is a common visitor in our backyard habitat. This one was about three feet long which puts it in the average size class.

It’s a pretty but very deadly snake and in the nearly thirty years I’ve lived here I’ve seen about a dozen. Lately I’ve seen more as my backyard forest and wetlands have matured.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful and safe day! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

wordless wednesday

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Thanks for stopping by and remember to thank a veteran today (and everyday) as today is the official observance of Veteran’s Day in the United States. – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.