A classic Asahi-Takumar lens from 1958.

September 19, 2025September 19, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My Asahi-Takumar 135mm f/3.5 lens set is shown with my Asahi Pentax 35mm SLR from 1957. The lens is from 1958. The lens is listed at 300 grams or 10.5 oz. My lens weighs 326 grams. There must be an error in the original weight, or my lens was modified by the factory after the first lenses were made.

It’s one of the first auxiliary lenses made for their new 35mm SLR camera.

Asahi Optical Company’s first 35mm SLR with a pentaprism. This model was released in May 1957, and the lens followed shortly after in 1958.

A snip from the instruction guide. This lens is the closest to mine in design.

The earliest lens design had two chrome aperture rings.

It’s shown here mounted to my Fuji X-T2 via an adapter.

A test image. The equivalent focal length is about 200mm when used on a 1.5x crop sensor camera, such as the Fuji.

There may be some light haze or cloudiness inside one of the lens elements, as this shot lacks contrast.

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Comments are always welcome; I’ve learned a great deal from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by. While there, visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios, hosted on 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 SUNday! – Back to 1959

September 7, 2025September 12, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Three “new” cameras from 1959.
The Asahi Pentax H2 shown here in its Honeywell Heiland badges, the Canon Canonflex, and the Yashica Pentamatic ’35’. All three made their debuts that year, although the Yashica more formally in March 1960. The Asahi is the 4th pentaprism 35mm SLR after their original in 1957. The Canon and Yashica were their first-ever SLRs. The Asahi Pentax more or less set the standard for what a compact 35mm SLR would look like for the next decade. Not pictured with this trio is the Nikon F, which was also released that year.

Three gems from the late 1950s. These were the standard lenses that would have been attached as part of a ‘kit’.

This one is a beast! It’s about the same size and weight as the Canon F-1, which was released much later in March 1971.

Of the three, I think the Yashica has the cleanest design and looks the most modern for the time period.

It takes two hands to handle the Canon. The Canon’s lens is radioactive. Not quite enough to heat your dinner (I hope).

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An elegant machine designed to capture light on film.

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

From 1959. An Asahi Optical Company H2. Shown here with its North American market distributors’ engravings. No self-timer, accessory shoe, or light meter. A clean machine.

The Asahi Pentax ‘Original’ or just ‘AP’ as it came to be referred to. From 1957. Asahi’s first 35mm SLR with an eye-level pentaprism.

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Asahiflex IIa – one of the original 35mm SLRs

June 19, 2025June 19, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

From Japan, released in 1955. The Asahiflex IIa was one of Japan’s first 35mm SLR cameras.

The Asahiflex IIa with a gorgeous Asahi-Kogaku Takumar f/3.5 50mm lens.

The Asahiflex had interchangeable screw-in lenses.

The Asahiflex IIa and a Nicca 3-S. The Nicca is from 1956.

This is a Leica IIIg from 1956. It was made in Germany and features a sharp Leica Summaron f/3.5 3.5cm lens.

It’s a great camera to add to any early 35mm camera collection, and there are plenty still available to collect.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Comments are always welcome; I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by. While there, visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios, hosted on Etsy). – Chris Whelan

The Original 35mm SLR from Asahi Pentax

March 1, 2025March 1, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Asahi Pentax

The original Asahi Pentax 35mm SLR (1957-1958), equipped with a Takumar 58mm f/2 lens and an Asahi 46mm UV filter.

It’s a fully functional gem.

The camera was in Australia, and the lens was in Japan; now, they are together in the U.S.

I’m happy to add them to my collection.

It’s credited as being the first modern 35mm SLR camera. It doesn’t look much different from later SLRs from other manufacturers. It was preceded by the Asahiflex pictured below.

The Asahiflex IIa was the first ‘modern’ 35mm SLR from 1955. It featured a pop-up viewing hood instead of an eye-level pentaprism like the later Asahi Pentax original from 1957.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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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

A little gem from 1959.

January 15, 2025January 15, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Asahi Pentax H2 – 1959
One of my favorite early 35mm SLRs in my collection. It’s as good, if not better, than the Nikon F from the same year.

Camera and Lens: Fujifilm X-T2, Fujinon XF 10-24mm f4 R OIS, Fujifilm Acros Simulation.

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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.