Fujicaflex – Superman as a TLR!

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Certainly a tough but worthy camera to chase. As of today, there are only two for sale on eBay and both are in Japan.

Heavy metal!

An example of a complete set. This wasn’t my camera but it was the same seller that sold me mine (from Thailand).

If Superman was disguised as a TLR he’d be the Fijicaflex by Fuji Photo Film Company. 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.

You never know.

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Collecting is a powerful motivator. When I first listed this wonderful collection of boxes for the Canon AE-1 Program I thought it would be a perfect fit for someone looking to round out their Canon collection. I know I try very hard to collect classic cameras with their original boxes as I like the look of a camera with its box. Silly I know but fun!

Whenever I buy large collections locally I’m always looking for orphaned boxes – boxes that their cameras are long ago sold or in some cases, stolen. I picked up this super clean box set and listed it in my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com with the hope that it would find a new home. It did and what surprised me the most is that it was sold to a collector in France. Postage and VAT were incredible (nearly $75) on top of the sale price I had it listed for. Powerful motivation. But I’ve done the same purchasing nice boxes from Japan to add to my collection. Actually, when you think about it I’m just a worldwide recycler! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! – Chris

Canon EOS 500N – lightweight 35mm SLR that’s perfect today.

November 6, 2021November 6, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

When looking for a simple and lightweight 35mm single-lens reflex film camera look no further than this hard-working Canon. Released in 1996 and is still a very capable camera to this day. Mine has the Canon Zoom EF 35-80mm f4-5.6 III attached and everything is in top working condition.

One of the advantages of this camera is its ease of use and as the title suggests is light in weight. With two CR123 batteries installed and with the lens attached (lens cap too) it weighs just 546 grams with is super easy to carry around as the primary or secondary camera while on a photo walk.

The camera is capable of full manual shooting as the lens can be taken off autofocus and exposures both aperture and shutter speed set by the user. It also features 10 creative and programmed exposure modes including macro.

I’ve added it to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com if you’re interested in purchasing it.

Happy SUNday! – Classic Asahi Pentax K1000

October 31, 2021October 31, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Happy day all, thanks for stopping by! Today I have a very nice early model Asahi Pentax K1000 from the late 1970s. One of the longest-running 35mm SLRs ever made. I find it rather compact compared to other cameras from the same period so it’s a little hard for me to get a good comfortable hold on the body. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good camera but I tend to like a bigger body especially on the right side where I usually grip the camera. Its simple design and rugged reliability are its claim to fame (low cost too).

I’ve just listed this in my online camera shop yesterday and it just sold to a client in Finland! My Etsy Shop (www.ccstudio2380.com) has a tremendous worldwide appeal which I’m most appreciative of. It’s fun to think that cameras that have been a part of my collection can end up finding a new home almost anywhere on Earth (that’s the best part of online selling). I had a vintage Japanese-made auxiliary viewfinder from the 1950s end up going back to Japan last week from my eBay site – cool!

Here is the Asahi Pentax K1000

Includes a gorgeous Asahi Optical Company SMC Pentax-M f2 50mm lens and instruction booklet from 1981.

Engraved Asahi Opt. Co. on the right rear top plate.

An early serial number indicated it was made in Japan. Interestingly the lens has been made in Taiwan.

wordless (almost) wednesday

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica Flex AS-II made in November 1954

Thanks for stopping by and have a classic day!

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

Minolta Maxxum 7000i aka Dynax and a-7000i

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hello all! The next camera from my collection is headed to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Everything was still Made in Japan with this model.

Everything has been tested with a fresh Panasonic 2CR5 battery and all is good. The flash “talks” to the camera controls making nearly automatic flash photography simple and easy. The Minolta bag is like new and so is the camera – only a few scuffs here and there on the outside finish. It’s super clean inside and out (just like all of my cameras). The AF Minolta 50mm f1.7 lens is optically clean, clear, and sharp. Two Minolta camera straps are included as is the front and rear lens caps and body cap. The eyepiece, hot-shoe cover, and 2 expansion cards are also included. What I like is just how simple this camera can be to operate in full automatic mode or go old school and go full on manual.

The Minolta 35 – updated info from Paul Sokk

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all. I wanted to share my good friend Paul Sokk’s outstanding website that mainly deals with TLR cameras made by Yashica, Paul has added a comprehensive outline and history about the early years of Minolta and concentrating his research on the Minolta 35. Here is the link to his Minolta pages. http://www.yashicatlr.com/Minolta35.html

I hope you take the time to pop on over to Paul’s site as you’ll be drawn in with his excellent facts, advertisements, charts, and of course, pictures of each model and any known varieties and types. Let me just say his works are always well researched and presented in a clear telling of the entire lineup of cameras and lenses.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Yashica’s early movie cameras

September 23, 2021September 23, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica’s 8 U-matic as it appeared when new.

Yashica made some wonderful movie cameras in the 1950s, 60s and into the 1970s. Many of their designs were ahead of their time with lenses made by famous optical companies including Zunow.

My good friend Paul Sokk from Australia has written a comprehensive piece on Yashica’s earliest designs and can be found at http://www.yashicatlr.com/Yashica8.html

For Paul’s full article pop on over to http://www.yashicatlr.com/Yashica8.html

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

A camera cleaning set from Hansa – 1950s

September 10, 2021September 10, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I purchased this neat little set the other day – I just had to have it because well, it’s neat and unique and it’s a bit of photo gear history. Hansa was an important Japanese company that made everything from sophisticated cameras and lenses to silly little cleaning kits and everything in between. I’m not 100% sure they actually made these items or had them made (think Vivitar).

Neat set from at least the mid-1950s. I’ve seen this exact same vinyl, color and texture, on other vinyl accessories cases from this same period. I have a flash unit that’s exactly the same but it wasn’t made by Hansa.

Awesome rice paper instruction sheet shows you how to use the items in the set. The only piece I’m missing is a pair of tweezers. The green blower brush is no longer flexible as the rubber has become brittle with age.

Everything tucks away nicely in this little case and it fits nicely inside of your camera bag. I’ve had this piece on display with some of my 1950s cameras.

Of course the most famous Hansa item is the very first Canon camera that’s marked Hansa Canon.

The tribute Hansa Canon camera from 2012 (75th anniversary edition.

Actual Hansa Canon camera from the 1930s (not mine).

Thank you for stopping by and have an awesome (and safe) day!

Yellow filter from Ihagee

September 9, 2021September 9, 2021Chris and Carol 2 Comments

I “found” this wonderful little filter the other day and as of yet haven’t figured out which lens it was designed to fit. I believe it is pre-war or maybe not but it’s diameter is only 33mm (give or take a millimeter). I was hoping it would fit my Meyer Gorlitz Helioplan f4.5 40mm lens but no such luck.

ATM my best guess is that it was made to fit the Ihagee Anastigmatic Exaktar f3.5 55mm lens but I don’t have that lens and I don’t know the filter size. If someone out there knows I would greatly appreciate knowing a bit more about my filter and the Exaktar lens.

It’s very well made and it looks as though the filter glass is interchangeable. It looks like the case is made of Bakelite and the inner cork lining is clean and intact. I get the feeling this filter was hardly ever used.

Ihagee is best known for making one of the first 35mm SLR cameras in the world back in the 1930s and post-war made a well respected line of 35mm cameras under the Exakta brand.