Author Chris and Carol

Yashica-Mat 120 Film Camera Set – 1960

Chris and Carol 9 Comments
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Pretty close to the way it looked when it was unboxed back in 1960. This one was part of a short production run of only a handful of cameras. It was for sale at US Military Exchanges (stores) in Japan as it is marked *EP* which meant an exempt purchase. No taxes paid but it could not be purchased or sold on the Japanese domestic market.

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It was Yashica’s first crank film advance TLR and it also featured auto cocking of the shutter. First released in April 1957.

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The quality of the images taken with a Yashica-Mat are outstanding – Yashica used high-quality Yashinon f/ 3.5 80mm lenses made for them by Tomioka Optical of Tokyo.

They are a joy to use and it’s a great camera to get into medium format photography with. It produces large 6 x 6 cm negatives or slides.

Thanks for your visit! Please visit our camera shop for some interesting vintage photo gear at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Chris and Carol  ^.^

Yashica J-7 …1966 / update 1

Chris and Carol 5 Comments

The last in Yashica’s “J” series of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras. These wonderful cameras carried Yashica through the dynamic changes in 35mm photography during that decade.

The J-7 is not a common camera. We don’t have a feel for the amount of sales for this model. The Yashica TL Electro-X was on the horizon – the J-7 was the last of the old technology bodies. Soon thru-the-lens (TTL) metering would turn things around for Yashica.

Here’s a photo essay of this classic and classy camera…

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Yashica J-7 35mm SLR film camera. The last of the ‘Penta J’ series of cameras from Yashica. The J-3, J-4, J-5 and then the J-7. All were well-designed heavyweights… lots of brass and glass. No TTL metering.

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Also of note is that this is the first time that Yashica lists “Yashica Trading Co., Ltd.” at its Jingumae, Shibuya-ku headquarters. The J-7 was the last of the “J” series and the TL-Super was Yashica’s first TTL exposure metered 35mm SLR.

There are two slight variations on the TL-Super. Version 1 is shown here. Look closely at the film advance lever… it is all silver very similar to the J-3. On the Version 2 of the TL-Super the lever is very similar to the later TL-Electro X with part of the lever silver and the rest black plastic.

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CdS light meter sensor “window”.

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Rare complete set with the original box.

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The J-7 is about as hard to find (in nice condition) as the J-4. The J-5 and J-3 being the most common. Each model makes a very fine camera to get into film photography with as most average (working) bodies going for well less than $50. Since the Yashica uses the universal M42 screw-in lens mount, there’s a whole world of outstanding lenses to choose from and not break the bank.

Good luck!

Chris and Carol ^.^

 

Minolta Uniomat III

Chris and Carol 4 Comments

35mm rangefinder camera from Minolta. This one is from about 1963. Neat little camera – a bit small for my hands so it’s hard to reach the lens to focus comfortably. The rangefinder focuses well but doesn’t snap out at you although the view is bright. No film test for this one. The shutter fires and the speeds appear to be on time – the rear lens element is “ate up” (Southern term) with fungus and when I got rid of the fungus I was left with an etched lens. Maybe some polishing might bring it back. The light meter appears to be accurate too.

It’s a pretty little thing. I like the gray leatherette body and it certainly looks nice under my studio lights. We like to collect complete sets when we can and this one has its original box, leather case (black), silica-gel pack and the owners manual. It would have been extra nice had Minolta made the case gray like the camera.

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Although the box has some damage from handling it over the years, it’s still quite solid. It was covered with soot, dirt, dust, grime and I’m sure some DNA – it was so dirty that the Minolta logo was not visible! I used a new bar of ‘Mr. Clean Magic Eraser’ lightly made wet to gently ‘erase’ the dirt. It’s amazing how well it did without damaging the delicate 50+ year old paper. A new way to restore some of our older boxes in our collection.

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Nice image from inside the owners booklet.

We wish we had a chance to run a roll through it to test the f2.8 45mm Rokkor lens… but as is typical with these vintage rangefinders, the rear lens element is trashed with fungus.

Thanks for your visit. We hope you know a bit more about this unique camera.

Chris and Carol Photography ^.^

Yashica Pentamatic S & a “new” old school copy stand –

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Every now and then as a collector of all things Yashica, you get a little lucky. In this case my luck was finding an accessory that I wanted so badly back in the day (early 1970s). It’s not actually an accessory – more of what I’ll call ‘studio support equipment’.

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Pentamatic S on the copy stand.

I know. It’s just a simple copy stand. They’re for sale everywhere. But not a built in 1971 Yashica branded copy stand – and in its original box too! Collector heaven.

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The grids are about 20 x 20 so it’s actually quite large.

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It’s definitely from another time and place. No official name for it – just a copy stand. It’s built pretty well – lots of real steel parts and no plastic. I believe the plastic looking parts are Bakelite. I’ll need to modify the tripod screw bracket a bit for use by my digital Fuji.

Yashica TL Electro-X

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

One of the most successful SLRs from Yashica – the ‘Pioneer in Electronic Cameras’… the Yashica TL Electro-X. The world’s first electronic single-lens reflex camera.

A random collection of clips from Yashica sales brochures and our eclectic collection of all things Yashica –

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‘ITS’ = Integrated Technology System… maybe.

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We’ve recently added this hard to find accessory from Yashica. It was still new in its original box! It will be used in our studio for some copy work.

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Original box. Lucky find!

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The Copy Stand listed for 20,000 JPY in 1971. About $55 USD

 

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Large dealer’s sign. Two sided but non lighted. Ca. 1968

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Yashica ‘Sailor Boy’ with another version of the slogan and electron logo. The ‘Sailor Boy’ first made his appearance in 1962.

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Elegance on ice.

Do you have something to add to our database about this interesting camera? Please feel free to comment. 

Thanks,

Chris & Carol Photography ^.^

Winter departs… Spring will pass quickly… Summer stays & sizzles

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We enjoy our all too short Winter… the sky is bright blue and often cloudless. The humidity is bearable for once. Spring – one of the nicest seasons – departs quickly as the Summer sun returns north of the equator. The unrelenting heat drives us to seek water and shade. Boats and beaches – sea breezes and cool drinks – air conditioning and thoughts of the mountains. But Summer is our favorite season – it has to be – it seems to never give up or go away.

It’s also a favorite time to enjoy photography. The colors are amazing and if you’re lucky, the day will end with a cooling thunderstorm – light show included!

Bring on the Summer!

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Supporting cast: Fujifilm FinePix XP100, Sony Cyber-shot W170, Samsung Galaxy S4

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your summer!

Chris

East China Sea Sunrise

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Sunrise and showers as viewed from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41) while conducting flight ops in the East China Sea in late 1979. Sometimes, the loneliness of life at sea can be rewarded – however briefly. Standing there in the predawn hours waiting for the tropical night to end – a dissipating rain shower on the horizon adds a bit of drama to the sunrise and the photographers night is done.

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The sun touches the clouds and the tropical shower has all but dissipated. A distant ship (part of our Task Group) can be seen on the horizon’s center.

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Flight Deck personnel clean their aircraft for the days activities. US Navy Sea King helicopter (on the right) from HC-1 and a F-4J Phantom jet awaits its next sortie.

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The cumulonimbus cloud drops its precipitation into the warm sea.

Camera: Canon F-1 (1978 version) with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens on Kodak Kodachrome.

Thanks for your visit.

Chris

Yashica Pentamatic S – Phase 1

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

A long neglected (not by us) Yashica Pentamatic S is getting a much needed restoration and some re-imagineering  by us as a top-level professional SLR.

A few peeks before the color coats get applied. Stripped of its hardware and sanded to slickness – 2000 grit sandpaper – she’s ready to shine again!

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We love the hints of brass that are showing through the factory silver finish after the wet sanding. The Pentamatic family of SLRs have one of the sharpest looking pentaprisms around. Without a clunky accessory shoe on the top of the finder, the Pentamatics have a clean, modern design. This one is from early in the production run in 1961. It’s number 237 off the assembly line at the Yashica campus in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture.

Stay with us as we will post updates along the way!

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W

Thanks, Chris and Carol Photography