Yashica Pentamatic Lenses

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica Pentamatic ’35’

We recently acquired this lens for our Yashica Pentamatic collection. Why is it important? It’s a great find because it’s the first time we’ve encountered a lens with a lower serial number than one pictured in an advertisement (in this case, the first-ever ad for the Pentamatic, June 1960). We know it is total nerd stuff, but that’s what makes collecting fun.

The lens was made for Yashica by Tomioka Optical, which at the time made about 90% of all their lenses (TLR, SLR, RF, and Cine).

The lens serial number decodes 59 = 1959, 10 = OCT, and 0092, the 92nd lens made since production started.

In the second image, the other lens was made in December and was the 1,630th made. Tomioka was busy producing these lenses long before Yashica released the Pentamatic in March 1960. The first Pentamatic bodies were made in January.

The third image shows an early Yashica Tominon Super Yashinon-R f/2.8 3.5cm wide-angle lens SN 350246. The date code was dropped in favor of a simpler code: 35 = 35 mm, and 0246 is the sequence number since the start of production.

The ad shows a lens with a higher production number than the lens we own. 92 indicates it was made in the first batch of 100 lenses.

The October lens is on the left and the December lens is on the right. No November lenses were made.

From an early batch of wide-angle lenses from Tomioka Optical. This one is number 246.

A fast lens from Tomioka. The f/1.2 55mm lens which was made much later in the M42 screw mount.

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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

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2025 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

wordless wednesday

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Japan, 1979. Canon F-1.

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Yashica’s first SLR, the Pentamatic ’35’

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Yashica Pentamatic ’35’

Yashica’s first 35mm SLR

This complete set is from August 1960.

It was developed and designed with the help of Nicca Camera. Yashica acquired Nicca in 1958. The lens was made by Tomioka Optical.

It shares many design cues with the short-lived Zunow SLR.

Yashica would later acquire Zunow in January 1961.

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single frame – Kowloon, Hong Kong

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Canon F-1 with Canon FD 80-200mm f/4 SSC Lens on Kodachrome 64.

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camera porn – sexy stuff

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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A reminder, never leave batteries in your photo gear.

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Here is a new flash in its original box, Canon Speedlite 244T, that I received from a recent purchase on eBay. The seller has since refunded me, but this serves as a reminder to never leave batteries, especially AA batteries, in your cameras and other accessories. This “new” flash had these Philips batteries installed at some point, but the owner forgot about them. What a shame that an otherwise neat collectible is now ruined.

I’ve seen worse corrosion before, but this is right up there with the worst.

AA batteries in a flash unit can corrode in as little as a few months! These, however, have been left for decades.

Thanks for stopping by, and after reading this, please check your cameras. – Chris

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Asahi Pentax SL ‘Super Set’

January 6, 2025January 6, 2025Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Asahi Pentax SL Set
Super-Takumar f/1.8 55mm Lens
Asahi Pentax Metal Hood
Asahi Pentax Filter and Accessory Clip
Asahi Pentax SL Operating Manual
It’s been professionally serviced and looks and operates like new.

My beautiful set is from about 1969-1972. The instruction book is dated September 1969.

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Happy SONday!

January 5, 2025January 5, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. As seen from Amelia Island, Florida. Image taken by my son, Tim.

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Canon New F-1. Why not Canon F-2?

January 4, 2025January 4, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Canon New F-1 Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games Edition.
From Canon:
Instead of being a next-generation successor to the F-1, this camera was called the “New F-1” and not the “F-2.” With the first F-1 in 1971, Canon promised that the camera would remain unchanged for 10 years. This promise was fulfilled. During those ten years, remarkable electronics, precision manufacturing, and optics advances existed. The successor to the top-of-the-line F-1 had to incorporate the best electronic technology for better automation, versatility, and specifications.

The New F-1 uses interchangeable focusing screens to change the metering pattern, and it has a segmented metering element for metering flexibility. System AE is incorporated for automation to ensure optimum operation. The camera’s basic controls are the same as those of the old F-1, so F-1 users can easily adapt to the new F-1.

There are significant differences between the original F-1 and the New F-1. I like them both.

The closest I got to owning the 1976 Montreal Olympic edition was the lens cap. It’s shown here on my F-1 that I purchased new in the summer of 1978 while stationed in Japan.

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Have I crossed a line? (answer below)

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

As part of my New Year goal setting, I decided to round up my Canon F-1 cameras to do an inventory check and photograph them all together. After editing my pictures, I “found” another unaccounted-for F-1 and a box! Here is the family. On the upper left is my original F-1, which I purchased in Japan in the summer of 1978 (without the motor drive). The others evolved over the years with the green F-1, my latest acquisition (I hope).