Konica Kanpa! – A fun ‘Party Camera’ that takes your picture when you yell, “Kanpai!”

February 4, 2018February 4, 2018Chris and Carol 4 Comments

Confused??? Don’t be. Here’s a fun little 35mm film camera made by Konica in 1989. It’s called the Kanpai – essentially “cheers”. It’s a voice-activated camera that was designed to attach to a special mini tripod that allowed the camera to swivel (up to 100 degrees) and would take a picture whenever someone at a party yelled “cheers!” or whatever.

Part of our “Modern Classics” and “Plastic Fantastics” collection of film cameras.

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The microphone on the front of the camera (the 3 little holes next to the microphone icon) adjusts to the ambient sounds of a party and would then “listen” for when someone yelled “cheers” or whatever – it would then operate a small motor in the base which would turn the camera (when attached to the dedicated tripod) towards that sound and snap a picture. The lights above the microphone indicate the level of ambient sound and some degree of sensitivity.

The “framing monitor” is simply an optical waist level finder. The LCD indicates the selectivity and sensitivity (little Pac-Man looking thingy) of the microphone and how far the camera rotates to capture an image when attached to the dedicated tripod.

Not the original tripod – no cute shoes (yet).

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From a Konica press release: “One of three sound-level settings can be chosen. When used on low, the shutter is automatically released after 11 minutes and every three minutes thereafter even if no sound is detected, or when it detects a moderate noise level lasting at least 0.2 seconds. On medium and high sound-level settings, however, the camera fires only when responding to sounds with durations of 0.3 and 0.5 second or longer respectively (a single clap of the hands, for instance, won’t trip the shutter).

Although exposure interval times will vary with the camera’s sound-activated setting and noise levels, a 24-exposure roll of film typically will be fully exposed in 20 to 40 minutes. When mounted on its exclusive tabletop tripod, which couples to the camera’s film-wind motor, the Kanpai rotates left or right after each exposure (in a panning range of approximately 80 degrees) to capture action throughout the room. However, a tripod-mounted camera can also be fixed in one position. When not in its sound-activated release mode, the Konica Kanpai becomes a straightforward, fully automatic compact camera, featuring programmed auto-exposure, a fixed-focus 34mm lens, automatic film transport and ISO film-speed settings (100 & 400), and built-in flash. A clever framing monitor, located on the top of the camera, allows the photographer to take low or high-angle shots without having to look through the viewfinder.”

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The camera has a Konica 34mm f/ 5.6 fixed focus lens and an electronic programmed shutter capable of 1 to 1/200 sec. Designed to be used mostly indoors with the flash, I could see it being used as a street camera with its waist level finder.

Auto flash, self-timer, automatic exposure, and auto rewind. Date/time imprinting.

Fresh batteries were inserted (by the way, the date/time defaulted to 1-1-87 and stops at 1-1-19). It takes (1) 2CR5 6V lithium battery and (1) CR2025 button battery.

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List price in 1989 was ¥30,000 (about $215 USD) in “stone” finish (we think this one is stone).

We’re still on the lookout for the original tripod and shoes! Many thanks go out to our friend Peggy at Camera Go Camera for passing along this super cool camera! By the way, her site has some neat “STUFF” that she’ll be happy to send your way – check it out!

Available in red.

Party Animal!

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“Let’s get the party started!”, “Kanpai!”, “Cheers!” – also works if you yell “BANZAI!”

BANZAI, Daniel-san!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember, if you have some neat film cameras for sale – we are buyers! Contact us at chriscarol@ccstudio2380.com

C&C ^.^

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.

People that knew my mom

February 3, 2018February 3, 2018Chris and Carol 4 Comments

I wish I knew more than what the title says – just random people that must have known my mom. New York City, the late 1930s (?) or very early 1940s.

nyc trio

Photographer: Mary Whelan

Have a great Satur-YAY!

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.

Canon Autoboy S II (Super) – SLR Slayer!

January 27, 2018January 27, 2018Chris and Carol 2 Comments

One of Canon’s best compact 35mm film cameras of the mid ’90s. Also known as the Sure Shot Z135 in the US and the Prima Super 135 in Europe. This beauty features high-quality Canon optics with a powerful 38-135mm 3.6x zoom lens (f3.6 to f8.9). When released in March of 1996, it listed for ¥62,000 or about $540 USD! We’ve used the Autoboy in the past and we can vouch for the quality of the images it produces. 7 shooting modes, date/time and caption imprinting, auto flash modes and what Canon calls “AiAF”! Whoa!

Gorgeous surfaces – well finished and appointed.

These “Modern Classics” deserve another look in this digital age. They’re the perfect way to get into film photography without busting the bank!

: Includes the crazy hard to find original Canon sales brochure for the Autoboy!

The sales brochure was shot in and around Miami’s South Beach – some pretty awesome images inside from the post “Miami Vice” era!

The Autoboy has some heft to it (375g) – yes there’s plastic but of a much higher quality. The switches, levers, and whatnots are solid and the motor drive for the film transport and power zoom are quick and reasonably quiet.

It features a super bright viewfinder and clear zoom indicator reference lines, 7 shooting modes and can imprint date/time and up to 7 captions in multiple languages! It’s easy to use and has a quick, accurate autofocus.

We think this Canon gives the much-touted Yashica-Kyocera T* cameras a good run for the money (I think it outperforms them albeit with a bit slower lens but with a crazy wide focal range! autoboy box collage

autoboy case collage

Of course, we’ve added this beauty to our online camera store at https://www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us at chriscarol@ccstudio2380.com

C&C ^.^

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.

Fujifilm Instax 100 “Wide Picture Format” Instant Print Camera – 1999

January 25, 2018January 25, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Fujifilm’s very first Instax film camera – released in May 1999. This beautiful camera takes the wide format Instax film that produces images of 6cm x 9cm (actual 6.2cm x 9.9cm) in glorious full color – now Instax is available in monochrome too!

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The camera features a quality Fujinon 95mm lens (2 elements 2 groups) set at f14 and designed to use Instax film rated at ISO800. The shutter fires at 1/64-1/200th of a second. There’s a control to lighten or darken the exposure and an LCD that clearly shows your picture count. The lens focuses from 0.9m to 3m and from 3m to infinity with the push of a button.This set comes in its original box, has an unopened pack of Fujifilm (dated 2001), the original strap, and the instructions. Oh, and four new Fujifilm (AA) batteries!

If you’re interested in purchasing this unique (and a rather rare set) it’s available in our online shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

We can be contacted via secure email at chriscarol@ccstudio2380.com

Stop by and check out our other unique and hard to find cameras – a great way to get into film photography and show off your “Modern Classic”!

Thanks for stopping by!

C&C ^.^

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 J-7 and Yashica TL – the last of a series and the start of a new era

January 25, 2018January 25, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Yashica J-7 was the last camera in Yashica’s popular J-Series of 35mm SLR cameras that ran from about late 1962 to early 1968. They were: the J-3, J-5, J-4, and the J-7. You could throw in the J-P but the J-P was closer in design and function to the Penta J and not the J-Series. All of these SLRs featured the famous and common M42 screw mount lens camera bodies.

The J-Series featured a CdS exposure meter which was built into the camera body on the camera’s left front top plate (see images below). The disadvantage of this type of meter was that the exposure readings did not accurately reflect the amount of light passing through the lens. Adjustments needed to be made if filters were used. The Yashica TL was Yashica’s first SLR to feature an exposure meter built inside of the camera and took readings through the attached lens (hence the “TL” for through the lens). As Yashica stated in the instruction booklet for the TL – “The two CdS resistors measures the average degree of light entering through the lens and directed to the focusing groundglass. In other words, the average value of light directed to the film plane is accurately computed”. This was a giant step for Yashica and would lead them to pioneer the use of electronics in photography as each new SLR made major advances towards the goal of accurate “computer controlled” exposure readings. The Yashica TL Electro-X and the ITS were the pinnacles of these accomplishments by late 1969 and early 1970.

A close-up view of the CdS exposure meter on the J-7.

The last SLR in the famous J-Series of cameras.

The J-Series of 35mm SLR cameras from Yashica. The J-3 was the only one to be released in a pro-black finish.

The “Best of the Best” – Yashica’s ITS model of the TL Electro-X.

And there you have it. A very short history of Yashica’s early 35mm SLR cameras.

Thanks for stopping by!

C&C ^.^

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.

Hi! Mickey Mouse Camera

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Our super cool Hi! Mickey Mouse camera from Fujifilm.

Carol made a cute custom camera case for the Fujifilm Hi! Mickey Mouse camera.

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You can find this and many other interesting cameras in our online store at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

We’d love to see you there!

C&C ^.^

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 J-3 Sales Brochure – 1962

January 23, 2018January 23, 2018Chris and Carol 4 Comments

We don’t have an exact date on this brochure – we’re mainly basing it on the recognized release date in the United States. Since this is a Japanese brochure it could have been earlier or later.

Of interest, the first M42 screw mount camera made by Yashica was the Penta J which was also known in Japan as the “Jaguar”. The name Jaguar never appeared on the camera body, just in advertising. It is possible that the “J” in the J-3 could have been for Jaguar but the marketers from Yashica decided to shorten it to just “J” at the last minute.

Front and back covers for the first J-3 brochure.

These images (below) are from two different J-3 instruction booklets that we have in our collection. The one on the left appears to be from a rare early version of the book with the image on the right from the later and more common book. Of note, the camera in the left image does not have a name on the body while the camera in the book on the right shows J-3. It’s an entirely different picture of the J-3. Our guess is that the book on the left has either a prototype or pre-production camera before Yashica finalized the name for the camera. They may have still been up in the air about naming it J-3 or possibly Jaguar something.

The left camera appears without a name and very different (and rather odd looking) accessory shoe. The camera on the right carries the J-3 name and the “correct” accessory shoe that ended up in production.

2 j-3 collage

Same instruction booklet but with the “J-3” written in on the image. Look closely, notice how crude it is. Another clue that the camera was a pre-production or prototype camera.

Well, there you have a bit of Yashica controversy discovered 56 years after the fact! lol

Thanks for your visit!

Remember to stop by our store at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

C&C ^.^

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.

Garden Gate Details

January 22, 2018January 22, 2018Chris and Carol 4 Comments

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Our side yard garden gate – cedar and stone.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S8+

Chris ^.^

Be sure to visit our online store at https://www.ccstudio2380.com – lots of new arrivals!

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.

Fun Brochure! Konica Kanpa!

January 20, 2018January 20, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A fun little sales brochure from Japan. The Konica Kanpa! (Kanpai) is a party camera – it was designed to be used on a motorized tripod that would swivel the camera to the sound of someone yelling “Kanpai” (Cheers!) or other sounds and then the camera’s microphone would pick up that sound and the camera would focus in on that person or group and take a picture “hands-free”.

collage kanpai

Check out the cute little shoes for the tripod!

Stop by our store – https://www.ccstudio2380.com – lots of new and interesting things!

This just in!!! Our good friend Peggy from CameraGoCamera is sending us her Konica Kanpa! Cheers!

C&C ^.^

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.

Rare First Edition Canon F-1 Book – 1971

January 19, 2018January 19, 2018Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Rare first edition of the Canon F-1 instruction book. This one was printed in Japan in September 1971. It features a unique cover shot of the F-1 – all other books after this one are different.

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The Canon F-1 featured in this book carries a super early serial number – 100251

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Comparing this book to some of our others there are quite a bit of changes which would be typical of a first edition book.

It’s available for purchase at https://www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by!

C&C ^.^

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

Konica Kanpa! – A fun ‘Party Camera’ that takes your picture when you yell, “Kanpai!”

People that knew my mom

Canon Autoboy S II (Super) – SLR Slayer!

Fujifilm Instax 100 “Wide Picture Format” Instant Print Camera – 1999

Fujifilm’s very first Instax film camera – released in May 1999. This beautiful camera takes the wide format Instax film that produces images of 6cm x 9cm (actual 6.2cm x 9.9cm) in glorious full color – now Instax is available in monochrome too!

Yashica J-7 and Yashica TL – the last of a series and the start of a new era

Hi! Mickey Mouse Camera

Our super cool Hi! Mickey Mouse camera from Fujifilm.

Yashica J-3 Sales Brochure – 1962

We don’t have an exact date on this brochure – we’re mainly basing it on the recognized release date in the United States. Since this is a Japanese brochure it could have been earlier or later.

Garden Gate Details

Fun Brochure! Konica Kanpa!

Rare First Edition Canon F-1 Book – 1971

Rare first edition of the Canon F-1 instruction book. This one was printed in Japan in September 1971. It features a unique cover shot of the F-1 – all other books after this one are different.