Central Florida Dragway – 1972

December 27, 2018December 29, 2018Chris and Carol 2 Comments

A few found images from a quick trip I made to the track back in 1972. I believe these were taken with my Yashica TL Electro-X on Kodak Plus X Pan and developed by myself. The original negatives were in horrible condition and this is the best that my humble photo editor can make them.

“Vintage” funny cars of the day.

Joe Winter’s new Mustang body on his older funny car frame. Joe stopped racing at the end of 1972. Chrysler 392 Hemi powered, a nitro-fueled rocket capable of nearly 200 mph in the quarter mile.

1971 Chevy Vega body funny car of “Big Mike” Burkhart.

“Big Mike” Burkhart’s Vega funny car with its 426 Chrysler engine. Mike pictured on the left.

Camaro vs. Maverick

1969? Camaro

Mart Higginbotham’s Vega body funny car – it could be a Camaro body but I don’t think so.

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The Central Florida Dragway was located just east of Orlando off of SR 520 west from Cocoa Beach. It’s still in operation today.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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.

Yashica FR II – the camera that made me buy the Canon F-1

December 21, 2018December 21, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Time for another look at this underappreciated Yashica.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

I know – the FR II and the F-1 are miles apart in features (and price). I purchased my first Yashica, a TL Electro-X in 1971 and used it faithfully through much of the 1970s. Being a young (and married) US Navy Sailor and money deprived, the TL suited me just fine – until I was transferred to Japan in 1977. If you were ever stationed in Yokosuka then you know what Building A33 means. It was the Navy Exchange camera and stereo heaven!!! Reps from all of the major camera manufacturers were present and demonstrated their latest gear to the now cash flush Sailors. Upstairs was a branch of Navy Federal Credit Union… if you couldn’t afford it, finance it! Pure bliss.

I’m so easily distracted.

So it was time for me to upgrade my trusty TL Electro-X, so naturally I looked at what Yashica had to offer. The…

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Battery Burner – Canon’s Massive Motor

December 21, 2018December 21, 2018Chris and Carol 2 Comments

When you chase down something for over forty years the payoff should be special – it was! It’s not like these beasts are rare, if I had had a few more bucks in my pocket back in 1978 I could have purchased it for around $400 at the Navy Exchange in Yokosuka along with my F-1. But being an underpaid and over-deployed Sailor there’s only so much money to throw at cameras when there were hi-end stereos still to buy. ^.^

No one I knew at the time (including myself) needed one of these – they were meant for professional photographers and I was certainly not that. But how could a 25-year-old “camera bug” not want it? Just look at it! Crazy big but powerful and that sound it made when burning through film at 3.5 fps – wow! The F-1 was already a monster to lug around and this bit of motorized mayhem would add over 2 pounds to an already strained neck.

Yum-yum, eat ’em up!

So after 40 years I broke down and bought my Canon Motor Drive MF on eBay from a large camera retailer on the West Coast. I believe I got it at a great price – $60 plus shipping for a fully working and in nearly mint condition. I’m very happy with it and yes, it’s still a ridiculous piece of camera hardware but it harkens back to another time and place in photography and that makes it worth it.

It’s almost as big as the camera itself!

A gentle reminder that when in the continuous mode that the shutter speed range is from a low of 1/60 to a max of 1/2000. Single frame allows shooting down to 1 second.

It looks great on my original F-1 from 1978 and it’s a fun reminder of those heady days back in Japan when I wanted anything that could be attached to the F-1. After 40 years it just feels right! Merry Christmas to me.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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.

Nicca 3-S vs. Nicca 3-F

December 13, 2018December 13, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Another look at these two classic cameras from Nicca.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

We’ve always assumed that the Nicca cameras were pretty much the same size from one model to another. The early 1950s models look for the most part, the same as the 1958 models. Now that we have two Niccas in our collection it’s time to do some comparisons.

Nicca 3-F on the left and the Nicca 3-S on the right.

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First off, without the lenses attached, there is a slight difference in weight between the two with the 3-F weighing in at 445 grams and the 3-S weighing 432 grams.

There is however a difference in size which surprised us. The later model 3-F (left) is taller than the 3-S (right) by about 4mm.

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The 3-F is also longer than the 3-S by about 7mm.

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The 3-F is about 7mm longer and 1mm wider than the 3-S.

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The 3-F is the top body with the 3-S on the bottom.

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Since…

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Ricoh Five One Nine – 1958

December 6, 2018December 16, 2024Chris and Carol 1 Comment

The Ricoh 519 is a 35mm rangefinder camera made by Riken Optical Industries, Ltd. of Tokyo in 1958. The 35mm rangefinder field was extremely crowded in 1958, with Yashica entering the market with its first rangefinder at about the same time. Almost every major and relatively unknown Japanese camera maker had at least an entry in the marketplace. In general, the designs of cameras during this period could range from downright ugly to beautiful – I would place this Ricoh in the beautiful category. I love its lines and thoughtful engineering details. The build quality is exceptional – everything fits nicely, and the finishes are extraordinary. Who wouldn’t love the extra attention to detail with the “519” written in script?

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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.

Minolta XG-M 35mm SLR Set

December 4, 2018December 4, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I have this wonderful Minolta set available for purchase in my Etsy shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

The XG-M was introduced around 1981 and was Minolta’s best entry into the crowded aperture priority SLR market of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

This set includes the original Minolta MD 50mm f2 lens as well as a Minolta MD 28 f2.8 wide-angle lens and all that you see pictured above and below.

It’s a great little camera set with a couple of really nice Minolta lenses. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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.

When lens hoods “attack”!

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018Chris and Carol 5 Comments

Here’s something you don’t see every day – if ever. What happens to a rubber lens hood (lens shade) when left on for two decades? You get this…

When I saw this lens my first impression was that it had been in a fire. I had to pry it out of the leather camera bag it was in. Not very pretty at first glance.

Step 2 – Peeling the “melted” hood away from the lens body. What a gooey mess!

Success! No damage to the lens and I was able to unscrew what was left of the hood.

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The lens suffered no permanent damage and after a good cleaning looks new.

I imagine that over time the “rubber” deteriorated through some chemical process with the air. Hiding out in a dark leather camera bag probably didn’t help. Lesson learned – if you own one of these monsters go check your camera bag now and toss it before it “attacks”!!!

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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.

funky kodak

November 26, 2018November 26, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Cine – Kodak Eight Model 60 circa 1938

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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.

Happy SUNday! California 2004

November 25, 2018November 26, 2018Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Specifically Disneyland, California Adventure. With Tim and Lindsay.

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Always a great time with the kids!

Have a great Sunday! – Chris

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.

Sears Camera Catalog – 1952

November 24, 2018November 25, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The back cover of the Sears Camera Catalog – 1952

Of interest, the box that’s depicted for the Tower Type-3 rangefinder (far left, bottom) is not what the box looked like in 1950 and 1951 so I’d guess that it was changed sometime in 1952.

Here’s an example of a “modern” Tower blue box. (Detail from a larger web image)

It’s a wonderful catalog filled with great references and illustrations of the cameras and accessories available in 1952. The full front cover pictured below.

The Tower Type-3 was made by Nicca for Sears and in the catalog, it’s known simply as the Tower 35.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Category Classic Film Cameras

Central Florida Dragway – 1972

Yashica FR II – the camera that made me buy the Canon F-1

Battery Burner – Canon’s Massive Motor

Nicca 3-S vs. Nicca 3-F

Ricoh Five One Nine – 1958

Minolta XG-M 35mm SLR Set

When lens hoods “attack”!

funky kodak

Happy SUNday! California 2004

Sears Camera Catalog – 1952

The back cover of the Sears Camera Catalog – 1952