A little gem from 1964.

The “not often seen” category applies to this Yashica SLR from late 1964 through 1965. Actually came out about the same time as the Yashica J-5.

The J-P was a back-in-time camera from Yashica… while the J-5 was drawing rave reviews from the press and the public for some of its advanced features, Yashica decided to bring back a stripped-down 35mm. No built-in exposure meter… a focal plane shutter with a top speed of only 1/500… no attached cold shoe or hot shoe and they took away the ASA/Din dial.

On this model, they (Yashica or another distributor) further added a rather primitive 5cm f/ 2.8 preset lens of extremely small size. The result was a lightweight 35mm SLR with a price point of around the $120 to maybe $140 price range? Not sure that this combination of body and lens did not show up in any sales brochure of that era. Could have been, with discounts, at or below $100!!!

We were lucky enough to add this mint condition J-P with the odd little lens to our collection. We’ve seen enough of them on various sites to believe that Yashica did in fact mate these two together although it may have been a regional thing and the possibility that one of Yashica’s trading companies put the set together.

We will continue to search and hopefully, we’ll run across a complete set in its original box. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris and Carol

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Comments are always welcomed as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by, and while you’re at it, feel free to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios hosted by Etsy). – Chris Whelan

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