Happy SUNday!

March 6, 2022March 6, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Testing my new to me Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS 10-megapixel digital bridge camera with a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 28-420mm (equivalent) AF 15X Optical Zoom lens. Wow, what a mouthful!

The all-glass Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon Optical Zoom Lens provides powerful zoom combined with precision optics. Its fast aperture range (f/3.5-5.4) and 15x zoom range (28-420mm equivalent) offer extraordinary creative performance and sharp images.

It was rather late in the afternoon when I gave the camera a bit of a test so the images are quite contrasty. I am surprised at just how sharp the lens is even fully zoomed at the 420mm handheld.

Here are some late morning images a few days later.

Close-up “macro” setting with fill-in flash.

I didn’t know this about the camera until just now doing some background research – The EasyShare Z1015 IS comes with a rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (KLIC-8000) but is also compatible with disposable CRV3 Lithium batteries, and it can use AA-size batteries (Lithium & Alkaline) as well. Plus, the camera includes an AC adapter/charger, that utilizes the camera’s USB port to provide power. With all of these power options; you’ll always have the means to power your camera available to you. Frame your shots with the high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) or with the 3.0″ indoor/outdoor color LCD, and then verify the exposure of your pictures using the histogram feature with highlight clipping. The LCD display lets you view your pictures right-side-up with auto picture rotation and in review mode, quickly magnify images up to 8x to confirm focus and details, fast scroll through pictures, or view multi-up images. I’m impressed.

Overall a smaller and more compact 15x bridge camera.

As best as I can tell the camera was released around 2008 and all things considered, it had some impressive specs for the time. I’m very impressed with the performance of this vintage digital camera here in 2022. At the moment I think this one is a keeper. Thanks for stopping by! – 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.

My unfinished Leica IIIg project

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It’s been fully serviced and brought back to the factory specifications. The old leatherette covering has been removed and the new leather has been delivered. So why haven’t I finished with the restoration? The simple and short answer is I have no idea. This image was taken in the Summer of 2020 and the camera hasn’t been touched since – it’s not on display either. I guess it’s time to finish this project, load some film, and enjoy it. I can’t believe how quickly time is slipping by.

It looks so industrial without the leatherette. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Canon AV-1

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve added this lovely Canon AV-1 to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. If you’re not familiar with this model it’s worth your time to read a bit more about it as it has some very interesting features and is super simple to use (it’s a great camera to use when you’re just starting into film photography).

This one is from 1981. A nearly perfect example of this not often seen Canon 35mm SLR. The AV-1 (Aperture Value) camera is pretty unique in that you select the aperture you want on the FD lens and then the camera selects the proper shutter speed for true auto exposure photography.
The AV-1 accepts all of Canon’s FD mount lenses (tons of them to choose from) and works directly with the dedicated Canon Speedlites like the 133A, 155A, 177A, and 199A.

This one is in collector’s condition – it’s that nice.

Load the film, set the ASA (far left dial) adjust the shutter dial (red A), pick an aperture (here it’s set to f8) compose and focus your subject then fire away.

The AV-1 accepts all of Canon’s FD mount lenses which is a bunch!

The AV-1 uses an easy-to-find and not expensive 6v A544 battery that’s sold pretty much everywhere. I buy these batteries online in groups of 5 to save even more.

Thanks for stopping by! – 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

At least they caught their mistake.

February 15, 2022February 15, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

This errata sheet was included with the Yashica brochure (pictured below) from 1974.

Yashica’s “Infallible” System needed to be corrected.

There aren’t too many of these sales brochures still floating around so I ended up buying one that is a bit rough condition-wise (but complete). It even has some prices written on the cover as a bonus.

The date code (lower right corner) is **E074** which I take to be July 1974. It’s one of the few brochures from this period that both the English and Japanese versions use the same images inside.

The sales brochures for the Yashica Electro AX and FFT cameras are pretty hard to find online here in the US on eBay and Etsy or through the Japanese auction sites. The owner’s manuals are even harder to find!

Here’s the back cover of the Japanese sales brochure. It uses the same date code ***074***.

Small stuff I know but I’m trying to document as much as I can on these last two models (AX & FFT) from Yashica in their M42 screw-in mount camera line (1972-1974). Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

1975 – an important year for Yashica

February 11, 2022February 11, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A dream collection of Yashica cameras – if only it was 1975 again! This photo is from the Yashica publication intended for US camera dealers and represents only a small portion of what was available from Yashica in 1975. Conspicuous in its absence is the flagship TL Electro-X ITS with its distinctive gold electron logo on the pentaprism.

From ‘Yashica A New Horizon’ – 1975 marketing brochure. If you look closely at the copy stand in the area just below the bulb on the right you can just make out a piece of black tape. On my copy stand, it says Yashica and since Contax didn’t make one (at the time of this image) they just covered up the Yashica name.
How cool would it be to own everything pictured?

My good friend Graham Buxton-Smither had this to say about the Contax image above – “It was an aspirational piccie back in the late 1970s – one could only dream about owning such gear – even more so when you added the Zeiss lens range. You are absolutely right about the copy stand – it’s Yashica’s Cope Stand II. Two other Yashica items are shown – the Microscope Adapter and the Magnifier. All is not as it seems with other gear too! The motor drive/250 back is the one later used by Olympus with the OM1n; the hammer-head flash is a lower-powered National, quite unlike the RTF540; the bellows is simply a basic Novoflex rebranded (the Contax Auto Bellows is far superior with swing/tilt), and the radio control kit is nothing like the actual one eventually produced under the Contax name. It’s still a great piccie though! I’m adding a photo to the Yashica Group showing the ML 55 2.8 + 27mm Tube on a Contax RTS Fundus that shows the true Contax 250 back and drive.” I’ve included an image of Graham’s Contax that he mentions above (see below).

This shows the ML 55 2.8 in 1:1 macro mode using Yashica’s 27mm Extension Tube. It’s attached to my lab kit – a Contax RTS Fundus with the Professional Motor Drive and 250 Back. I often use it with the AC Control Box when observing an item over extended periods of days or weeks.

If you’d like to visit Graham’s Flickr site which is just like visiting a Yashica and Contax museum you can find him at https://www.flickr.com/photos/164456136@N06/

Thank you for stopping by and hopefully, I’ve piqued your curiosity a bit! – Chris

Rare Yashica Minister-700 Camera Leaflet

February 6, 2022February 6, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I purchased this gorgeous advertising leaflet from a collector in Japan that is as fresh as the day it was printed back in 1964 (best guess of the actual date).

Yashica Minister-700 35mm rangefinder film camera.

The lower portion of this leaflet talks about a test that Asahi Camera magazine published in December 1964 praising the sharpness and speed of the f1.7 Yashinon 4.5cm lens and the accuracy of the built-in CdS light meter.

Yashica Minister-700 “DeLuxe” model 35mm rangefinder camera. There’s no mention as to what makes this a DeLuxe model other than the cost of a premium leather case for an additional 1,800 JPY.

The Yashinon f1.7 4.5cm lens has 6 elements in 4 groups. A lens like this would not normally be on a “simple” rangefinder like this at this price point of 18,000 JPY in 1964.

This model is not as common as the other models in the Minister “family” and it would be an excellent find for any collection. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

The Unremarkable Yashica FFT

February 4, 2022February 4, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Another look at this ‘unicorn’ from Yashica.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

The rather hard to chase down Yashica FFT – the last of its kind. I give this bugger a high chase factor of CF 9 not because it’s a sophisticated 35mm SLR with tons of features, it earns a CF 9 because Yashica just didn’t make a bunch of these things and when they were for sale I believe most of them stayed in Japan.

The serial number on this one is 41001738 (1974, October, and number 1,738 for that month up to that point).

HTF instruction booklet for a HTF camera.

No auto exposure or auto focus, no built-in power winder, and little to no style.

So what’s this gem’s claim to fame? It was the last m42 screw mount lens body in the Yashica family. Big deal. Something’s got to be last and this guy was it.

Yashica m42 lens mount bodies began in the Spring of 1961…

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Yashica’s ‘Stealth’ Camera

February 4, 2022February 4, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I know, sounds like clickbait. By stealth, I’m referring to a camera that few have heard of so it flew under the radar and avoided potential buyers back in 1972, 1973, and 1974. I don’t know how many Yashica sold but I do know it’s a difficult camera to find in working condition that isn’t beat to heck. So, if you’re looking for a challenging chase may I add this camera to your list.

It looks as though the first cameras rolled out in March 1972 and ended around February 1974.

The Yashica Electro AX. It’s a hard one to chase down and still get a working model that isn’t beat to heck.

It’s the same model but pictured with three different lenses. It’s also the only M42 lens mount body with the two leatherette patches on either side of the pentaprism.

The date code on this brochure is either 1974 or July (07) 1974 (lower right numbers).

My Electro AX was made in November 1973. Takes M42 screw-in lenses.

Here’s an earlier post I wrote about this camera https://yashicasailorboy.com/2020/01/31/yashica-electro-ax-yashicas-goofy-automatic-exposure-slr/

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Sears Tower 35 made by Nicca

February 3, 2022February 3, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Catalog pages from a Sears Roebuck camera catalog from 1952.

The Nicca-Tower Type-3 is an excellent camera to add to any camera collection featuring early Japanese 35mm rangefinder cameras. They can be a bit on the higher price range but well worth your time chasing one down. If you’d like to discover more about Nicca cameras please visit my good friend Paul Sokk’s wonderful site at http://www.yashicatlr.com/Nicca.html#type3

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Friday Fotos!

January 28, 2022January 28, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hyper-rare Yashica Pentamatic II – was only released in Japan for a very short time.

Yashica Model A still in its factory plastic.

Rare Yashica TL Electro X without the gothic ‘Y’ on the pentaprism (early first version).

As you may be able to tell, Yashica produced a wide range of cameras and there’s plenty of rare varieties worth chasing. I only discovered the TL Electro X without the gothic ‘Y’ about two years ago after convincing myself there was nothing new to collect from the Yashica line.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day and evening! – Chris