Author Chris and Carol

Have I crossed a line? (answer below)

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Yes, and then some. An obsession.

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).

There’s one missing, an early model from 1971. I’ll update my pictures soon.
Here is the later 1978 model F-1 that I picked up for a song, and it’s in mint condition, too (missing from the group shot).
I love the early chrome nose lenses.
My earliest F-1. It’s from August 1971 and is in the first batch of 20,000 made. It also has a <E.P> Mark.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

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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.

A handsome couple.

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They make a handsome couple, although the classic chrome nose lens isn’t age-appropriate for this camera. The Canon O.D. F-1 is from January 1978, and the lens was produced in May 1971 (a very early batch).
The O.D. (Olive Drab) cameras were a limited edition, with about 3,000 made for the Japanese market (maybe a few sneaked out to Europe, but that hasn’t been confirmed).

I’ve wanted the Olive Drab F-1 for as long as I can remember, and this past year, I finally found one I liked and could afford.
It’s far from mint condition, but since I wanted one I could use and not worry about, this one is perfect.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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.

The Asahi Pentax SL – a gem from the late 1960s

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The instruction book is hard to find, but I was lucky to find one from a collector in Canada. This one was published in September 1969.
My gorgeous Asahi Pentax SL in the piano-black finish. Shown here with its Super-Takumar f/1.8 55mm lens.
1960s low tech at its finest.
All the bits.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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.

Canon O.D. F-1

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Shown with a Sekonic Twinmate L-208 light meter.
This is the set-up I used to compare readings between the F-1’s meter and the Sekonic.

Not very compact but it gets the job done.
O.D. Olive Drab F-1.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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.

A couple of Marys

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My mom and her bestie, c1940 or 1941.

My mom, Mary (R), and her best friend, Mary.
Kodak Senior Six-20. Her camera.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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.

Happy New Year!

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Here’s hoping it’s a good one…

As a side note, I joined the U.S. Navy 50 years ago and went on active duty on the 5th of January 1975. Amazing!

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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 © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

My most popular Instagram pictures of 2024.

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None better… Canon F-1 ‘Super Set’. Canon F-1 body (1978), Canon FD 55mm f1.2 Chrome Nose lens (1972), Canon Motor Drive MF with Grip MF, and finally a Canon Servo EE Finder. Everything is part of my collection, and everything works as designed. A tribute to Canon’s designers and engineers.

My second most popular image and post on Instagram.

Canon OD F-1 Olive Drab – JAN 1978 Model
It’s loaded and ready to go. I haven’t used one of my Canon F-1s in a while, and it feels good to hold an old friend again.
Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC Lens
Canon Power Winder F
Fujifilm Acros 100II B&W Film

The Canon F-1 still rules!

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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 © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Wish I still owned it. The Kyocera T

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Have you ever regretted selling a camera before you got a chance to use it? I have (many times), and this is one I let get away.

My beautiful set. I didn’t want to take away from its mint-new condition, so I sold it without ever using it.

For a die-hard camera collector like myself, mint new camera sets are the pinnacle of collecting (for me, at least). After the chase is over, the reality of ownership sets in. Should I or should I not use my newly found toy? I have used its camera cousin, the Yashica T2, and found it an exceptional camera.

Here is another set that’s still new in its original box (as fresh as it was from the Nikon distributor back in 1978).

Have you owned a camera set that was essentially new and then never used it? Tell me in the comments. Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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 © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Some new information about the origins of the <E.P> mark on cameras.

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This document was discovered on a recent Facebook camera group. I can’t recall who the original poster was, but it’s much appreciated. This is a document translation, as the original would have been in Japanese (obviously).

So far, this document is the only official evidence I’ve found about the <E.P> mark on cameras and other photo gear and its implementation.

According to the “Goods Tax Law,” the <E.P> Mark was created. This Canon in my collection is the earliest <E.P> mark I found on a Canon F-1.

This F-1 was made in August 1971 and is among the first 20,000 made.
A closer view of the <E.P> Mark.

I’ve written about this program over the years, you can read more about it in this post https://yashicasailorboy.com/2024/01/05/more-about-the-e-p-mark-on-japanese-made-cameras-and-lenses-1953-1977/

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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 © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Olympus-35 SP

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Many considered it a nearly perfect 35mm rangefinder camera when it was released in 1969. Does it have a few quirks that I don’t like? Sure, but the positives outweigh the negatives when used as an automatic exposure (AE) or electronic exposure (EE) camera. Simply compose, focus, and capture the light. Here is my SP.

It’s one of the best 35mm rangefinders in my collection.
Simple and clean lines.
ASA dial is on the camera’s left side.
Hold the ‘Spot’ button while pressing the shutter to properly expose a subject when it’s backlit.
The lens. At the heart of this exceptional camera is this fast and sharp G. Zuiko f/1.7 42mm lens. The ‘G’ indicates that the lens has 7 elements.
I find the camera is straightforward to load. It opens nice and wide.
The camera looks new except for a scratch in the chrome around the tripod socket.
Brochure from around 1970.
Sales guide.

As I downsize my collection of classic cameras it’s this beautiful Olympus’ turn to be passed along to another collector. It’s in my camera shop on Etsy at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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 © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.