Happy SUNday! – Argus C3 from 1955

September 5, 2021September 5, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Argus C3 was produced with very little variations or upgrades between 1939 and 1966 with reportedly over two million sold. This one is the Color-Matic model and based on its serial number was likely made in 1955. Since its a basic 35mm film camera with no built-in light meter or electronic exposure control it requires no batteries to operate. With proper care and storage there’s little to go wrong or fail. The camera is affectionally known as “The Brick” due to its weight and lack of any ergonomic design. It features interchangeable lenses – here it’s fitted with a 50mm f3.5 Argus Coated Cintar lens.

I acquired this camera from the estate of a retired US Army Colonel along with some very nice early 1950s East German made lenses. This was the first camera the colonel purchased upon the completion of his assignment in West Germany. The Argus was proudly made in the US.

Here it’s pictured with an Argus flash designed specifically for use with the C3 (takes 2 C cell batteries).

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

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, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

saturday shots – spotless spotmatic

September 4, 2021September 4, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

New to me Ihagee Exakta Varex – 1950

August 28, 2021August 28, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve had the good fortune to acquire this lovely camera and lens from a neighbor who gifted it to me. The camera was purchased new in West Germany in the early 1950s (the exact date is unknown) by her father, US Army Colonel Marshal C. Winton (Ret.).

The Varex was the model sold outside the United States between 1950 and 1951. In the US the model is known as the Exakta V. The Varex and for that matter the V are not common cameras today and are quite difficult to find on the many online auction and selling sites. The follow on models made by Exakta are quite common and are easy to find online and I’m sure locally in thrift shops and at swap meets.

If you’re interested in exploring the Exakta line of cameras you’ll find an array of uniquely styled cameras. Exakta did not manufacture their own lenses so you’ll find a variety of German made lenses available in the Exakta bayonet mount (early Topcon cameras were made with this mount). Zeiss, Schacht, Schneider, and Kilfit to name just a few. If you’re interested to dive deeper may I suggest you pop on over to https://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/lenses.html

The lens on my Varex is the rather rare Meyer Gorlitz (sometimes Goerlitz) Primoplan f/1.9 58mm. This lens was first released in 1952. Shown here with the waist level finder in the open position ready for picture taking. The finder is removable and can be replaced with an eye-level pentaprism finder.

If I may ask for help, I’m having a great deal of difficulty finding an owner’s manual or instruction book for the Varex model either in German or English. Even the Exakta V instructions will do in a pinch. Consistent with the short production run of this model almost anything associated with it is hard to chase down. Please contact me if you have or know of someone who has the instruction book. Thank you!

To the left is the high-speed dial with shutter speeds up to 1/1000th second and on the right is the slow-speed dial with timed exposures up to 12 seconds.

Pictured here with its waist level finder closed.

Asahi Pentax 6×7 – one that got away*

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

*Sold actually before I really got a chance to bond with it.

After chasing after a really nice Asahi Pentax 6×7 set I found myself in a familiar place. I had collected bit by bit a nice set in mint condition only to discover I was too hesitant to actually use it. So I sold it for way less than I should have and went with a Fujica GW690 with less features and a few more road miles on it. Turns out it was the right thing to do as I enjoy shooting these larger medium-format cameras as the quality of the images are simply awesome. My advice? The AP and Pentax 6×7 are awesome cameras packed with tons of features but if you just want to go big then check out the Fujica.

Fixed lens, no meter, just lots of detail packed into this beast.

A size comparison between a typical 35mm SLR and the Fujica 6×9.

Fernandina Beach (Amelia Island) post office on Fujifilm Acros 100. I couldn’t ask for any more detail and clarity.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

a Yashica classic – Pentamatic ’35’

August 21, 2021August 21, 2021Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Yashica’s first ever 35mm SLR. Designed with the help from Nicca, the first Pentamatics were produced in late 1959 and made their debut in the US by the Spring of 1960. Tomioka Optical made a majority of the lenses that were used on all three models of the camera – Pentamatic ’35’, Pentamatic II, and the Pentamatic S. My good friend Paul Sokk has written an excellent piece about the development of this important camera for Yashica. Paul’s site can be found at http://www.yashicatlr.com/Pentamatic.html

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy and safe day!

Leica-like 35mm Cameras by Paul Sokk

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My good friend Paul Sokk in Australia has one of the best camera sites you’ll ever come across. Paul covers in great detail cameras from Yashica, Nicca, and Leotax to name just a few. Here’s the link to a rather new section that Paul added just recently. http://www.yashicatlr.com/LeicaCopies.html

Paul’s knowledge of Yashica cameras, especially the twin-lens models, is second to none (shameless plug). http://www.yashicatlr.com/index.html

If you decide to give his site a read be sure to let him know what you liked specifically and please share anything of interest as Paul is always seeking out new information and ideas to share with his readers.

Canon Model 7s Instruction Book – 1966

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

I’ve decided that I’m unlikely to acquire the Canon Model 7s which was an upgrade to the original Canon 7 (1961-1964). I have ‘lots’ of 35mm rangefinders in my classic camera collection now and adding another would only confirm my diagnosis of ‘GAS’. So, I’d like to pass along this rather hard to find instruction booklet for the 7s.

The Canon 7s was produced between 1965-1968.

My instruction book is in great condition with no missing pages, no writing, and the staples are tight and rust free. There’s some marks on the covers (see pics) and some minor wrinkles here and there but the book overall is solid and would make a nice addition in a collection.

My booklet pictured here was printed in April 1966.

The inside front cover to the 7s instructions. The biggest change from the first Model 7 was the addition of a CdS exposure meter replacing the original selenium cell meter on the 7.

The booklet is available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by and be safe.

Canon Model 7 Instruction Booklet – 1968

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I was rather surprised to find such a late date booklet for the original Canon 7 35mm rangefinder camera (August 1968) since the camera went out of production in 1964. The Canon Model 7s was in full production during this period (it followed the Model 7 with only slight improvements).

A scan of the front cover and inside back cover from the booklet. Canon didn’t feature their 50mm f/0.95 lens in this edition.

A scan of the back cover – take note of the 08/68 date code (bottom center). Again the f/1.4 lens is featured.

I haven’t had the opportunity to use my Model 7 yet as I’ve been super busy with a refresh of my kitchen (paint, new floors, and new cabinets) but I hope to soon. Here in Florida COVID-19 the Delta variant is running rampant so the thought of a walkabout with the camera is on hold for now. I’m vaccinated but apparently not many of my fellow Floridians and tourists are (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view). What a shame as the local hospitals are nearly full with sick unvaccinated people.

Thanks for stopping by and be safe.

It’s just a box

August 7, 2021August 7, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Chasing boxes — sounds pretty lame and it is in the big picture of collecting classic and vintage cameras but a camera box from the early 1960s can be either a rat or a gem after all these years. They’re just colorful cardboard with some stickers here and there after all and cardboard doesn’t do well if stored improperly. Moisture, bugs, sunlight, heat, pollution and crushing are just a few of the nasty things that can degrade 40, 50, and 60 year-old cardboard.

So, knowing all of the things that are stacked against finding a collectible camera box I’m happy to say that this one is a pleasant surprise. It’s far from perfect but it’s still very nice (no not so funny smells either).

My best guess is that this box was made in late 1962 based on the serial number of the camera that’s written on the bottom of the box.

Originally the area that’s blacked out said 50mm f1.4 lens but a previous owner carelessly modified the box when the body was separated from the lens when sold.

Here’s the camera that came with the box (a nice bonus). The box is nice because the camera is in near mint condition and is fully functional. The Canon Model 7 accepts LTM screw-in lenses from Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Leica, and a bunch of others. The bayonet part around the opening was designed to accept Canon’s ‘dream lens’ the 50mm f/0.95 which you can discover more about it at https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/s43.html

So there you have it… another aspect to collecting classic film cameras, collecting the boxes that went with them. Most people dispose of the camera box right after they took their new camera out of the box (I’m guilty) and some left the original box at the camera shop when they took their camera home (not guilty).

A scan from a *Canon Product Catalog* from March 1967 (the Canon 7S had already been released). Note the ‘dream lens’ is affixed in this catalog’s image.

Chasing the Canon Model 7

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Being a fan of most of Canon’s cameras and lenses it was only a matter of time before I started chasing after the Model 7. Although this model was released while the world was catching the SLR craze, it stood out as one of the best rangefinders Canon had produced up to that point. It also served notice to Nikon and Leica that Canon was a serious competitor capable of building outstanding cameras and lenses. Here’s my Canon 7.

Super bright and accurate view-rangefinder (Leica M challenger).

Dual range selenium cell light meter that’s still very much active and hopefully still accurate.

I haven’t decided on a lens for it yet but I’m looking for a nice 50mm f1.4 lens that would have a serial number in the range of this body. From what I can tell, this camera left the factory with a lens in the range of 114000 to 116000. The chase is on!

I’ll post additional updates on this camera as I get the original box and case “in the studio” for some glamour shots. I’m also chasing after the appropriate instruction booklet for it in either English or Japanese (or both), a brochure, and of course, the proper lens. For now, my trusty Nikkor fits nicely.