Another of what we call the ‘littles’ that make collecting fun for us. Yashica-Yashima dual named item from around 1958. Shortly after this one was made most of the new silica gel packs used the new Yashica Co., Ltd. name on everything.
‘Sailor Boy’ displays the Yashica-Yashima silica gel pack from 1958. For reference the doll is about 4 inches tall.
Front view.
Back view.
Some time ago we purchased (through auction) what was listed as a rare black body Yashica J-5. The camera was sold by a well known camera dealer with a long ‘track record’ of prior excellent sales. We know from our research and hands-on experience that Yashica’s first ‘Pro-Black’ 35mm SLR was the J-3 as we own two of them and have sold others that were in our collection.
I (Chris) knew that there was about a 99% chance that this J-5 was faked and I don’t have a problem with buying modified or restored cameras as long as it is disclosed as such. But I took a chance on this one even though there were numerous red flags about its originality. The bidding was through an online auction site in another country and my desire to own this ‘rare’ camera got the best of me. My purchase bid went for much more than a typical J-5 should go for and I actually paid more for it (not including the over-the-top shipping fees) than one would pay for a genuine Pro-Black body (from the Yashica factory) J-3.
After looking at my new fake for some two years now, I’ve decided to remove the still fresh black enamel paint and reveal the satin chrome body underneath its black mask.
At this point the camera will get what I call an ‘interpretive restoration’ and will be reassembled in a way fitting a mid 1960s Yashica classic.
As you can now plainly see, the original satin chrome (silver) body is now exposed and in this image the ‘orange peel’ black enamel paint is obvious especially around the ‘YASHICA’. The leatherette has been removed and the residual adhesive remains visible at this point.
Upon closer inspection (now that the black is gone) it appears that the original satin chrome (silver) factory finish was heavily sanded almost to the point of the brass showing through. The enamel black comes off super easy with 91% isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab. For some strange reason the factory etching of the J-5 logo was filled-in with white paint before it was buried under the black. Silver body Yashicas were filled-in with black.
Another view (right rear of the body) of the original factory finish underneath the faked black top coat.
It will take a bunch of cotton swabs and plenty of isopropyl alcohol to rid this J-5 of its black top-coat.
So lesson learned for me… only trust in what you know exists… if it’s not documented elsewhere as existing then it’s been faked. But, and it’s a big but (pardon the pun), Yashica has never mentioned that they made a black body J-3 in 1963. I know they exist from the factory as I’ve studied it extensively and know they are real.
Watch as we reimagine this camera and give it a new life!
Many thanks, Chris and Carol
ヤシカ… A couple of new Yashicas have caught our fancy. From 1986 and during Yashica’s ‘dark period’ when they were taken over by Kyocera, this super nice (and truly new) Yashica MF-2 Super DX. To be sure it’s a very plastic camera but it’s filled with some nice high tech features… DX coding of the film speed, automatic exposure and built in flash. No focus needed as the lens can focus from about 3 feet to infinity (and beyond!!!).
The other member of the Yashica family is this nice almost 100% mint Yashica-A with gray leather and silky black metalwork. It’s from 1959 and works perfectly… shutter speeds are spot on and the aperture blades are snappy. No self timer on these basic models from Yashica, but they hit a great price point with buyers and had a long production run.
Yashica-A in gray with the original gray leather case. From 1959.
Yashica-A in gray leather and black metal. The Kodak film is close to the correct era (late 1950s).
Low key effect photograph. It gives the camera a bit of an edgy look.
Interesting lens serial numbers on this camera. The taking lens SN (pictured) is only 19 numbers less than the viewing lens. Almost spot on (haven’t seen that yet). Of course these lenses were made by Tomioka Optical of Tokyo for Yashica.
Brand new and never used (isn’t that the same?) Yashica MF-2 Super DX 35mm rangefinder camera from 1986. Parts made in Japan and assembled in Hong Kong.
Low key photograph gives this pretty but humble camera a nice look.
As always we appreciate your visit to our blog… feel free to comment. Many thanks and big smiles… C&C
We were finally able to get the Pentamatics together for a photoshoot. These cameras range from a March 1960 build date to January of 1961. The lenses are made by Tomioka Optical of Tokyo for Yashica. The lower left camera has both the Super Yashinon-R name and Yashica Tominon (kinda rare). The other three are Auto Yashinons, f/ 1.8, 5.5cm normal lenses that were supplied with the first Pentamatics.
Yashica’s first single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras.
No changes were made to the original Pentamatic ’35’ through its production run. Small (slight) changes were made with the introduction of the Pentamatic II which made its way to dealer’s shelves in the Fall of 1960. The Pentamatic II was never strongly advertised – as late as 1962, large camera dealers were still advertising the original Pentamatic.
1958 Kodak Kodachrome film in our 1961 Pentamatic.
The January 1961 Pentamatic from Arizona is getting (already completed) a ‘new’ baseplate to replace the engraved one (with Arizona driver’s license number). The first owner purchased it in June of 1962 and promptly engraved his DL number. Oh well… that was the norm back then. We’ve seen cameras with Social Security numbers engraved!
Please check out our more detailed posts about this uncommon camera from Yashica.
Thanks so much for the visit! C & C
Another of our favorites in the Yashica family. This limited edition J-3 is rather rare to find in nearly new condition these days. We haven’t found evidence from Yashica of the when and why they chose this model to be their first SLR in black (with matching lens). In all the brochures and pamphlets we’ve been able to read, nothing has ever been written about it and no pictures from Yashica either. We’ve checked Japanese home market sales brochures and of course those available in English. Not one word! The serial numbers (both the bodies and lenses) run within a small time period of mid 1962 (we believe).
***Please if a reader has more information about this elusive J let us know!
J-3 finished a roll of Sakura film.
Not quite the heavyweight the Pentamatic is but still a beast at just over 900 grams!
Same family but very distant cousins! Yashica made countless changes in its SLR line-up in just under three years.
As always… thanks for the visit!
Chris & Carol
Having only fond memories of the 1960s era SLRs can be quickly erased by putting a neck strap onto a Pentamatic and walking around with it. My first SLR was a Yashica TL Electro-X purchased in the PX at Patrick AFB near Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1972. I remember that with the normal lens (50mm f/ 1.7) attached it felt like a lead weight swinging from your neck and thumping against your chest with every step taken. But I can at least take comfort in the fact that I didn’t have to lug the Pentamatic!
Lots of brass and glass… nearly a kilogram of stuff here and that’s without film! Two pounds of camera can leave someone with a very stiff neck.
Conversely our new Fujifilm FinePix S9900W comes in at only 674 grams! But if you’ve never composed a picture with a beast like the Pentamatic then you missed out on some of the nuts and bolts of photography. But we’re happy to embrace the new technology… can’t wait to see what’s next on the horizon.
Our Fujifilm. Beautiful and very capable camera.
Many thanks for the visit! Chris & Carol
As Yashica was designing their first 35mm single-lens reflex camera during the Summer of 1959 (with help more than likely from the newly acquired Nicca Company) they faced another challenge… since it was decided to use an exclusive lens mounting system (Pentamatic bayonet mount) and not go with the more common M42 screw-in mount, they put Tomioka Optical Company in a bit of a spot.
Tomioka was their exclusive lens supplier through the 1950s but Tomioka also supplied a wide variety of lenses to other manufacturers as well. That meant that Tomioka would have to start building a new lens series with an exclusive mount very quickly in order to have enough lenses available to meet the demands of a new camera hitting the marketplace by the Spring of 1960.
Here is but a small collection of Pentamatic lenses that were available in the early 1960 time period.
One of the earliest examples in our collection of the standard lens supplied with the Pentamatic ’35’ starting in 1959. We interpret the serial number to read: 1959, December and the 1,630th lens made by Tomioka.
This lens is the standard lens for the Pentamatic II which came out in August 1960 (Yashica was still building and selling the Pentamatic I at that time. It was a rather odd lens to use as the normal focal length… 5.8cm (58mm) but with a slightly faster f/ 1.7 aperture.
Front view of the standard lens for the Pentamatic II. It is a very beautiful lens and it does provide a bright clear view wide open. Here it’s mounted on the Pentamatic I.
One of the earliest medium telephoto lenses for the Pentamatic. We don’t know what the ‘K.C.’ stands for… our guess would be that it applies to the coating on the surface of the lens. The serial number decodes to 135mm and the 927th made in the production run. We feel that this lens was made in 1959.
Original lens shade (as Yashica calls them) from the early days of production. The lens is the standard f/ 1.8 5.5cm lens for the Pentamatic I and S. From about mid year 1960.
A highly desirable early Tomioka branded lens for the Pentamatic. Another issue from 1959… the serial number 35 = 35mm and 246 indicates the production sequence. This lens is super bright and sharp. An excellent wide-angle lens for general photography.
The latest lens of the original production run that we now have is No. 60521000. The lens (above) shows that it is number 15,001 in the run which would put the lens into early 1961 production.
We hope to expand on more details of the early Pentamatic lenses in the near future. Stay tuned and thanks for reading our little blog!
Chris & Carol
You know when you get a new toy… the photographic kind, you’ve gotta play with it just to see its capabilities and possibilities. Our new Fujifilm FinePix has some great features and some that fall a bit short. The macro settings appear to be a nice plus.
Extreme close-up of the Yashica logo on the front of the leather case for the Pentamatic ’35’. We quite like this font… they used it some here and there in the late 1950s but went to the ‘western’ font for much of the 1960s.
Photoshoot c1960’s style.
Close-up of Sailor Boy’s hat. This hat is on the standard 4 inch promotional doll made by Modern Plastics of Japan for Yashica in 1962.
We were lucky to find another Yashica J-3 in Pro-Black trim for our collection. This image was not taken with the Fuji… back to the trusty Samsung Galaxy S4 with natural lighting.
So there you have it… a few new images to share with you.
Thanks for the visit… Chris & Carol
Here’s another nice Pentamatic for our collection. This beauty is in mint factory fresh condition! Only a few traces of past use. This camera was assembled in May 1960… about 6 months after the first one rolled off the assembly line in Yashica’s ultra modern factory in Nagano Prefecture (central Japan). The first half year of production showed a slow run up as approximately 500 units or so were made per month. This one has a serial number of 3,354. By August of 1960, Yashica was building about 1,500 units per month.
A beauty from May 1960.
NO. 3,354 since production began in December of 1959.
The lens was also made in May of 1960 at Tomioka’s factory in Tokyo.
As simple of a design as you can get. Love the shutter speed dial… still bright and colorful after 56 years.
The Pentamatic’s rather unique way to open the back and to pop up the rewind lever.
This Pentamatic is a fully working example of a beautifully designed camera. We can’t wait to run a roll of film through it and give the camera a good work out!
Thanks for the visit! Peace, Chris and Carol
Some recent images from our new Fujifilm FinePix camera. A beautifully simple camera with some nice “in camera” settings. The model is the S9900W and the setting selected is ‘Low-Key’.
1954 Yashima Flex
Tomioka Optical Tri-Lausar lenses.
Original Yashima Flex box from 1954.
Well there you have it. I enjoy the strong contrast and the muted highlights of the ‘Low-Key’ effect.
