Yashica Pentamatic I & II – 1960

September 26, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The original Pentamatic ’35’ and the Pentamatic II. The original Pentamatic made its debut in March 1960 and was first available for sale in April 1960 (production started in December 1959). The Pentamatic II was rushed into production in August 1960 and was only for sale in Japan. The only change between the two cameras… was the lens!

The P1 (left) came with the Auto Yashinon f/1.8 5.5cm lens. The P2 (right) came with the Auto Yashinon f/1.7 5.8cm lens. The goal of Yashica was to improve on the semi-automatic operation of the lens over the standard lens on the P1.

Serial numbers. The SN on the top camera is on the original Pentamatic camera body. The number, NO. 126013189 contains a date code and production sequence number. This camera was made in December 1960 and was the 13,189th camera made. The bottom camera’s serial number (Pentamatic II), NO. 126004171 decodes to: December 1960 and it was the 4,171st made since August 1960 (the start of production on the P2).

So both of the cameras were in production at the same time in the same factory. We’re highly confident in our analysis of the serial numbers. We have enough examples in our database and enough experience in decoding Yashica serial numbers to say that we are 100% correct.

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The whole process of releasing the Pentamatic II was rushed – the top plates were only slightly modified to accommodate squeezing in the “II”. The engraving was moved about 1 mm to the left so as to have room to engrave the “II”. On the back of the camera it only took a change in the serial number engraving to reflect the P2.

The Pentamatic II didn’t get any upgrades to the body… no self-timer and no hot shoe. The lens is a totally different lens and we’ll cover those differences in our next post.

Thanks for your visit!

Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W

Chris

First Look… Yashica Pentamatic II – Finally!!!

September 25, 2017September 25, 2017Chris and Carol 3 Comments

After years of searching, we’ve finally acquired our first Pentamatic II. A rather rare camera that was only released in Japan and only for a short time. It’s estimated (by us) that less than 6,000 bodies were made. How many of those survived to the present day is of course unknown.

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Much more detail about this Pentamatic coming soon.

Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9000W

Chris

Diving in Puerto Rico – 1989

September 22, 2017September 22, 2017Chris and Carol 5 Comments

I’ve hardly scanned any of my hundreds of pictures from our time living in Puerto Rico – 1988 to 1991. We lived in a big poured concrete house on top of the highest hill overlooking the Caribbean on the U.S. Naval Base at Roosevelt Roads (Ceiba). Hurricane Hugo (1989) blew out almost all of our windows – we weren’t there as we had evacuated a day before the storm hit. Our belongings were water damaged and our cars were scratched and sandblasted by the fierce winds but we were safe and our cats made it through the storm just fine (interior safe room with plenty of food and water).

We feel for the good people of Puerto Rico. It’s a tough little island and I’m sure they’ll pull through but the recovery will be slow and painful.

Here’s a photo I did find on my PC. It’s me getting ready for a dive at one of our favorite swimming spots on base.

Photo by Carol

Our house is circled in blue with the line underneath. This area was known as Nimitz Drive and was senior enlisted base housing. It looks like the forest (jungle) has taken over.

Large scale view of eastern Puerto Rico. Our house was in the small red circle. We could easily see the island of Vieques from our upstairs windows. The large red circle is where Hurricane Maria made landfall.

Hoping that Puerto Rico can recover quickly.

Chris and Carol

Newest Pentamatic – another fine Yashica joins the family.

September 18, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A recently acquired Yashica Pentamatic for our collection. This one came to us from a fellow collector here in the southeast US.

This one includes the Auto Yashinon 5.5c f/1.8 lens that puts the lens as a very late production model (maybe mid 1961). Here’s a chance to check out our Pentamatic from many angles.

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The angled shutter release button is in a perfect position for maintaining a solid grip on this heavy body while releasing the shutter.

The lens serial number, No. 60521000 is unique in the fact that it’s a whole number (21000).

The cold shoe is mounted on the camera’s left side top plate. Actually a very good spot for it.

This unique lever controls the rewind knob which pops up from under the cold shoe (it moves from the “A” position).

The body serial number, NO. 126013189 decodes to: 12 = December, 60 = 1960, 13189 = 13,189th made since December of 1959.

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The lever is now in the “O” position which allows the back to be unlocked.

Pulling up the rewind knob completes the opening.

Our love affair with this fine camera continues. We just can’t get over the clean lines and excellent design.

If you want to acquire a nice Pentamatic for your own collection, they come up occasionally on US online auction sites and infrequently on auction sites in Japan. Nice examples can be had for under $50. Super nice examples will go closer to $100 with some guarantee of functionality from the seller.

Fujifilm Epion RVX (APS) — Camera Go Camera… Check out this super cool Fuji!

September 6, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I saw this camera on Instagram and I was smitten. Look at it, LOOK!! Can you see it? It is very well camouflaged. I searched on eBay and low, there was one, just one…and it was in Japan. But it is an APS, dwindling film supplies. Then along came Asographic and there was new hope […]

via Fujifilm Epion RVX (APS) — Camera Go Camera

The Hoyt Building c1876

September 3, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Along beautiful Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island – Florida

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One of my favorite buildings along Centre Street. Such details and colors.

Taken with my Fujifilm X-A10 with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens

Velvia Vivid mode

Hand held at around 1/15

Thanks for stopping by!

By the way, please check out our fine art prints available at https://society6.com/ccstudio2380

Chris

Happy SUNday!

September 3, 2017September 3, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Rose in a window.

Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island – Florida

Fujifilm X-A10 with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens

Velvia Vivid

Be sure to check out some of our fine art images available at https://society6.com/ccstudio2380

Many thanks for your visit!

Chris

Our Town – Labor Day Weekend

September 2, 2017September 3, 2017Chris and Carol 2 Comments

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Always a few flags flying along Centre Street, Fernandina Beach – Amelia Island

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The fudge shop always a big draw – just getting the crowd on a Saturday night.

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Ice cream everywhere!

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There’s that Saturday night crowd at Fantastic Fudge.

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The famous Palace Saloon… you know they’ll be busy this weekend!

My camera… Fujifilm X-A10 with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens. Film simulation mode was Velvia Vivid. I love the gentle colors and the not “eye etching” sharpness that the Canon lens provides. ISO was generally 800-1200 and most apertures were f5.6 to f8 with super slow shutter speeds that were hand held.

Thanks for visiting!

Be sure to check out some of our fine art images available at https://society6.com/ccstudio2380

Chris

How to date a pretty little Yashica… *

September 2, 2017September 3, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

More exactly, how to decode the serial numbers on the Yashica YE 35mm rangefinder camera.

*Not an official Yashica dating site.

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We touched on this briefly the other day, but the Yashica YE serial number might have a date code embedded in it. We say might have because we are working off only a 25 camera database – possibly not enough to make a definitive call.

In the example above, the serial number (No. 392745) appears to decode to: 3 = March, 9 = 1959 and 2745 = 2,745th made.

The earliest camera in our database is: (No. 128049) which would be 12 = December, 8 = 1958 and 049 = the 49th made.

The latest in the database is: (No. 699821) which is 6 = June, 9 = 1959 and 9821 = 9,821st made.

Reports on some sites on the Internet claim that only 4,000 cameras were made. The serial numbers, if consecutive and continuous would seem to contradict that. For the moment, let’s keep an open mind about the serial number decoding. More info is needed to fill in the December 1958 and post June 1959 production numbers from Yashica.

If you have some additional info or serial numbers to share, please feel free to share that with us.

Thanks!

Be sure to check out some of our fine art prints available at https://society6.com/ccstudio2380

Chris and Carol

Lovely building along the tracks.

September 2, 2017September 3, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Our “vintage” town was conceived in the mid 1850s with many of the buildings from the 1870s onward still standing (commercial and private). Our town was skipped over by progress so we’re fortunate to have retained some of our Southern charm into the 21st century.

Here’s a neat old building that’s the last one on the south side of Centre Street – closest to the railway station and still active tracks.

If you look closely at the far right side you’ll see a passing freight train.

I’ve photographed this store in it’s many versions over the years… now it’s a jewelry store that been nicely reimagined. I love the faint outlines of previous advertisements on its side.

Note the rather large cedar trees on the property. The Lesesne House. Built just prior to the start of the Civil War.

Further down Centre Street and right next to the c1911 post office is this lovely home. One of the few remaining private homes (not B&B) still left in the downtown center.

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