It was released in 1961 as the next step in Yashica’s 35mm SLR line development. Actually, it’s still very much a Pentamatic S, but without the self-timer. This was the first Yashica with the popular M42 screw mount. The Penta J was also known as the Reflex 35 J in markets outside the U.S. and Japan.
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
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
Service station across the street from base housing.One of the few signs in English.Stuck in traffic. Toyota Lite Ace. “Fukushima Electric Works Co., Ltd. Building Materials Department.” The little green sticker in the upper right corner says, “Let’s Drive Slowly in Kanagawa.”Avenue ‘D’ along the base housing area.Delivery vehicles at the ready.Some of the best taxis anywhere.Traffic, again. “Wisteria Express.”Tokyo, I think.
It doesn’t seem that long ago, but the late 1970s were long ago!
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
The MF drive handles better for me. Its grip is so big that I feel confident toting it by my side.
Canon’s film eaters: The F-1 is on the left with the Motor Drive MF, and the Canon New F-1 is on the right with an AE Motor Drive FN. The grip on the New F-1 is slick, so it feels less secure in my hand. The most significant difference between these two is that the New F-1 is a shutter-priority AE camera, and with this motor drive, all one needs to do is focus. The original F-1 would need the rather large Servo EE Finder to achieve the same performance results.
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
Here is a recent visible satellite image (Saturday, 25 January) of the SE US. The whiteish areas along the coastal areas of Georgia and the Carolinas is snow still on the ground since the recent snowstorm.
If you look closely, the snow extends southwestward across south-central Georgia and into the Florida panhandle. The areas over the land are cloud-free, which provides a clear shot of the snow. The clouds over the Atlantic Ocean are mostly stratocumulus, which forms when super cold air flows over the warm ocean along and just east of the Gulf Stream (Sargasso Sea).A closer view of the snow cover on the ground.
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
It’s a relatively rare lens (now) from the late 1970s to early 1980s. Kino Precision likely made the lens under the Kiron brand for Vivitar (started as Ponder & Best in the US). The serial number, SN 22810099, indicates the manufacturer (first two numbers), the year made (8=1978), the week (10=March 6-12), and the consecutive number for that week (099).
The lens is mounted via a K&F Concept FD-FX adapter. It is an older lens with the classic chrome breech lock ring used on Canon cameras starting in the early 1970s.When I test classic film camera lenses, I almost always use my Fujifilm X-T2 as my platform. The effective focal length with a 1.5x crop sensor mirrorless camera is about 42mm (1.5 x 28).
It’s a heavy lens—288 grams (10.2 oz.) for its size—with lots of glass and brass. I couldn’t find the lens details, so I don’t know how many elements and groups it has. My guess is it has coated optics, as the later lenses have ‘MC’ on the front filter ring. It accepts 55mm filters.
My copy is infested with fungus and shows some haze deep inside. Here are some samples. It’s a shame, really, as the lens has the potential to be a good one. The fast f/2 aperture was not standard or common in a 28mm lens.
Under a bright LED, the internal haze and cloudiness are apparent. The image lacks sharpness.Again, the fungus, haze, and general cloudiness take their toll.Outside in dim sunlight, the color balance, as is the clarity, is off a bit.The lack of detail is especially noticeable along the edges where the fungus filaments are the most evident.
Is it horrible? No, not really. Under the right conditions, it could make for some interesting mood shots. Can it be corrected? Yes, the internal elements and groups would need a deep cleaning.
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
Classic Canon AE-1 35mm SLR film camera.Shown with a sharp Canon New FD 50mm f/1.8 lens.My set will include everything pictured (minus the display stand).This is the last AE-1 in my extensive Canon camera collection.
This beautiful set is now available in my Etsy camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. It’s been professionally serviced and returned to factory specifications, including a new battery. Just add the film!
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
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
Overnight, we received a nice coating of sleet along the Atlantic coast in extreme Northeast Florida (Amelia Island). With the surface temperature just above freezing, the roads are wet but not iced over. It’s pretty cool, though.
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
Here are some random images of cameras that I’ve featured on my Instagram and Facebook pages.
An early Nikon F. The camera that started it all.Nikon FTn Photomic Apollo Nikon FTn Photomic, late 1972 to early 1973, ‘Apollo’ body. I purchased this lovely set from the original owner’s daughter. It still works like new, but I haven’t had the time to shoot a roll of film with it yet, as there are many more in line before it. What a machine!Nikon F Photomic T 35mm camera set with a sharp and fast Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens. c1967.Asahi Pentax H2 set from 1959. It’s one of the more classic-designed early SLRs in my collection. The Auto-Takumar f/2 55mm lens is as good as they come.
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
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 