Yashica J-P

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022Chris and Carol 3 Comments

A little gem from 1964.

The “not often seen” category applies to this Yashica SLR from late 1964 through 1965. Actually came out about the same time as the Yashica J-5.

The J-P was a back-in-time camera from Yashica… while the J-5 was drawing rave reviews from the press and the public for some of its advanced features, Yashica decided to bring back a stripped-down 35mm. No built-in exposure meter… a focal plane shutter with a top speed of only 1/500… no attached cold shoe or hot shoe and they took away the ASA/Din dial.

On this model, they (Yashica or another distributor) further added a rather primitive 5cm f/ 2.8 preset lens of extremely small size. The result was a lightweight 35mm SLR with a price point of around the $120 to maybe $140 price range? Not sure that this combination of body and lens did not show up in any sales brochure of that era. Could have been, with discounts, at or below $100!!!

We were lucky enough to add this mint condition J-P with the odd little lens to our collection. We’ve seen enough of them on various sites to believe that Yashica did in fact mate these two together although it may have been a regional thing and the possibility that one of Yashica’s trading companies put the set together.

We will continue to search and hopefully, we’ll run across a complete set in its original box. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris and Carol

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

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.

wordless (almost) wednesday

September 7, 2022September 7, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

A pair of cameras from Nicca

August 22, 2022August 22, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Nicca 3-F (1957) and a Nicca 3-S (1955) in this studio image from 2017.

If you’re looking to get into 35mm photography and you don’t want to go the Leica route then a well-made camera from Nicca is the way to go. Often gems like these can be found at a fraction of the price of a Leica from the same period and in my opinion, a Nicca is as good or better than the camera that inspired them. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Fun with Fuji’s K-28 “Construction Camera”

June 20, 2022June 20, 2022Chris and Carol 5 Comments

Here is another look at this unique and not often seen camera.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Here’s a camera you don’t see often – maybe never – Fuji Photo Film Japan’s Fuji K-28. A waterproof and dust/dirtproof 35mm compact camera. Designed for rugged use like on a jobsite or in the rain. All of the controls are sealed against the elements via tight fitting rubber gaskets and secure latching systems.

The camera gets its power from 2 AA LR6 alkaline manganese batteries. Here’s an interesting note from Fujifilm Japan:

Apologies and Requests
Fujifilm “Construction Camera” For Customers

By the way, when the capacity of the batteries is not complete (for example, when new alkaline batteries are used with used alkaline batteries) in part of “construction camera” we sell at this time. It is extremely rare that hydrogen gas is sometimes released from the battery, the gas mixes with the air inside the camera, and it turned out that there was a possibility that the back cover…

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Happy SUNday! – cameras no longer in my collection

June 19, 2022June 19, 2022Chris and Carol 5 Comments

All of these were either sold or listed in my camera shop back in July 2018. Part of the fun of collecting is getting to pass along cameras that you’ve enjoyed owning.

Minolta Weathermatic Dual 35 from 1987. It’s waterproof to 5 meters.

Minox ‘Spy Camera’.

Canon II F

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Mamiya-Sekor Lens Case

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

Hi all! I have another nice lens case to pass along. This one is from 1956/7 and it was designed to fit the Mamiya-Sekor 180mm f4.5 TLR lens for the Mamiaflex. These cases are not easy to find this nice from this period.

Of course, it will hold other Mamiya-Sekor TLR lenses like the 55, 65, 80, 105, and 180 mm. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Canon’s high-speed film eater – 1995

May 31, 2022May 31, 2022Chris and Carol 2 Comments

If you were looking for a way to eat through a roll of 35mm film back in 1995 Canon had the answer. Capable of continuous shooting at 10 fps, it was billed as the fastest AF SLR at the time.

We take high-speed shooting for granted today with modern mirrorless digital cameras but 27 years ago it wasn’t easy to get quality images that were in focus and at this kind of speed. I’ve never tested it at that speed as I’m content with single frame shooting and with the cost of film and processing I won’t be eating film with it any time soon.

Thanks for stopping by! Do you have a film eater at home that you don’t use? – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Happy SUNday! – Mamiya first pics

May 29, 2022May 29, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My new to me Mamiya C33 has been a joy to use. It’s everything I expected it to be and more. Here are a few pics from my first roll of film (Fujicolor PRO 400H). These are medium resolution scans from the lab and they’ve been kindly enhanced by my good friend Paul Sokk (www.yashicatlr.com) since I don’t have a decent photo editing program. Having said that, these images are presented uncropped in their original 6 x 6 cm format.

My Mamiya C33 (1969) with Mamiya-Sekor f3.5 105mm lenses and Seiko shutter. The top lens is the viewing lens and the bottom is the taking lens. Mamiya “matches” the lenses (maybe from the same batch).

Mamiya TLRs feature the ability to interchange lenses from 55mm to 250mm.

A snip from the Mamiya C33 instruction booklet dated from 1969.

Not an exciting pic but it does show the exposed roll neatly tucked into the upper film chamber. The new roll of 120 film is loaded into the bottom chamber. Of note, the Mamiya C series features a direct and flat film path across the pressure plate.

I’m very happy that the camera is in excellent working condition and that the lenses are crystal clear. All 12 exposures came out so I hadn’t forgotten how to use a light meter. I’ll scan the negatives myself once I get them from the lab and post those scans here. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Happy SUNday! – me and my Nicca 3-S

May 22, 2022May 22, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I recently rediscovered these images that I had taken with my Nicca 3-S 35mm rangefinder camera a few years back. I say rediscovered because I don’t believe I’ve posted all of the pictures before. They were hiding on a DVD in plain sight.

First, the camera and lens.

Nicca 3-S from 1955.

Super sharp Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-HC f2 5cm lens.

The images are unretouched, just as they were scanned by the photo lab.

Historic District, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida.

I’m quite pleased with the results. All images were taken on Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 800.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day! – Chris

Mamiya C33 TLR – 1969

May 14, 2022May 14, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

1969 was a great year, I went on my first date, we landed on the moon, the NY Mets won their first World Series and this wonderful camera from Mamiya was made.

Mamiya C33 twin-lens reflex camera with Mamiya-Sekor f3.5 105mm lens.

As it turns out, the little gold two-letter round stickers on most Mamiya cameras and lenses are date codes. Apparently not much can be gained by looking at Mamiya’s serial numbers but the date code stickers will tell the year and month according to Bill Rogers who is a Mamiya repair technician. His post about the stickers can be found at https://mamiyarepair.com/mamiya-production-date-codes/ – awesome info!

If you own Mamiya equipment (beyond their 35mm cameras and lenses) the stickers should be on almost all lenses and camera bodies (unless they’ve fallen off or were removed). You can just barely see the sticker on the side of the top lens in the picture above. In my case, the sticker is ‘IE’ which decodes to 1969 May. The body date sticker will be in the film chamber. Mine is ‘IF’ which decodes to 1969 May. If you read Bill Rogers’ site you’ll discover the secret to dating your photo gear. Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Category Classic Film Cameras

Yashica J-P

wordless (almost) wednesday

A pair of cameras from Nicca

Fun with Fuji’s K-28 “Construction Camera”

Apologies and Requests
Fujifilm “Construction Camera” For Customers

Happy SUNday! – cameras no longer in my collection

Mamiya-Sekor Lens Case

Canon’s high-speed film eater – 1995

Happy SUNday! – Mamiya first pics

Happy SUNday! – me and my Nicca 3-S

Mamiya C33 TLR – 1969

Apologies and Requests Fujifilm “Construction Camera” For Customers

Apologies and Requests
Fujifilm “Construction Camera” For Customers