Light against the sky.

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I had someone add this image as their favorite the other day on my Flickr page and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed taking it. I was out and about in the early evening testing my Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens on my Fujifilm mirrorless camera body looking for interesting detail shots.

I think the little Fujifilm X-A10 handled this exposure quite well given all that it had to deal with.

It’s difficult for me to focus my manual lenses on my Fuji using the Fotodiox adapter – you’ve got to get the focus spot on, I mean really spot on when hand holding a shot like this. My camera quickly takes a dump (clarity wise) when you bump the ISO to handle any low light situations so you hold your breath and fire away. This one was recorded at ISO 400 at 1/100th probably at around f5.6. Of course, shooting with a 24mm lens helps too.

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.

Reflecting on reflections – a favorite subject.

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Bold reflection of the Fernandina Beach Post Office. Taken with a Fujifilm X-A10 with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens.

I think I enjoy the challenge and the opportunities presented by reflections when composing difficult shots. Should both subjects be in focus or only the primary subject? I think of photographing reflections as creating double exposures and I also view reflections as a way of seeing something new in an otherwise ordinary image.

Subtle reflections in a jewelry store window. Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida. Taken with a Fujifilm X-A10 with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens.

Fujifilm X-A10 with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens and Fotodiox adapter. There’s even reflections in this shot which I love to see.

Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida. Reflections in a classic doorway.

Reflected buildings in the late afternoon sun. Amelia Island, Florida.

Natural reflections – the best kind. A summer sky over the salt marsh, Amelia River, Florida.

Friday Fotos! – MM camera strap

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

We love collecting Disney stuff especially when it also relates to anything camera related. We have this rather colorful Mickey Mouse cloth camera neck / shoulder strap.

I believe we purchased it in the 1990s and never used it. It’s been on display (UV light protected) with our Disney cameras.

Real strap clips with protectors. It’s about 47 inches long (adjustable) by 2 inches wide and has elastic bands on the back to hold up to three film cans. The backing is a really nice sift velour fabric.

Here’s a neat little Mickey Mouse camera with a cute bag that Carol made just for it.

CC Design Studios

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

Good day, all! My camera shop http://www.ccstudio2380.com is filled with an eclectic mix of some really cool and rather rare items this month. Here’s a small sample.

There’s a little bit for most everyone in the shop from rare historical pictures to vintage film and of course, classic and vintage cameras and photogear collectibles. I’m about to list a few Fuji and Fujifilm cameras from my personal collection – a new in the box Fuji Discovery 90 35mm camera set and a new in the box Fuji Discovery 3000 Zoom 35mm camera set. I’m always open to offers and if there’s something you’re looking for to add to your collection just contact me at ccphotographyai@gmail.com – I just may have what you’ve been looking for.

Goody Box!

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My rather large mail box in front of my home. Lots of cool stuff comes in and lots of great stuff heads out. It’s a wonderful thing.

Test shot with my new Fujifilm FinePix JX250 ultra-compact digital camera. It features a super-sharp Fujinon f3.6 5X Zoom lens (5-25mm) and a useful 14 megapixels. No post production except for a tiny crop.

Wide-angle shot with my Fuji… super-sharp details and accurate auto exposure in a tricky lighting situation. No post production.

Ferns in a pot. OK exposure in a tough backlighting situation.

I’ll have more about this interesting point and shoot digital camera from Fujifilm soon.

New items in my camera shop for April 21, 2021

April 21, 2021April 21, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hello all… I’ve been busy adding new items for sale in my online camera shop, CC Design Studios, which can be found at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

I’m offering a very nice 10% discount on almost everything in the shop plus some with free shipping! I have many more items not pictured in my collection so if there’s a particular camera or lens that you’re looking for I just may have it. You can contact me here or at ccphotographyai@gmail.com – Chris

New in my Camera Shop – March 26

March 26, 2021March 26, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! We’ve been very busy adding items from our collections of things into our camera shop (CC Design Studios) at http://www.ccstudio2380.com this past week. Here’s a little peek at what’s been added.

Plus lots more!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – 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.

Digital time machine by Fujifilm

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Just a quick post to introduce you (again) to a great little time machine. Take a simple and in this case inexpensive digital mirrorless camera (Fujifilm X-A10) mount a Fotodiox adapter behind some vintage 35mm camera lens and suddenly your older lenses have a new life.

In this set-up, a Fujifilm X-A10 digital mirrorless camera, a Fotodiox Pro FD-FX adapter, and a Canon FL 50mm f1.8 lens from around 1965.

Set your camera to aperture priority and select the proper lens focal length in the camera’s menu, set to manual focus and you’re good to go.

In this example I’ve mounted a vintage Spiratone 135mm f2.8 lens on a Fotodiox M42-FX adapter. The ‘FX’ identifies the mount found on Fujifilm digital camera bodies. The ‘M42’ indicates the type of mount on this lens. M42 is also known as a universal screw mount and is used on film cameras like Yashica, Pentax, Fujica, and a bunch more.

This image of the ferns below was shot using the Canon FL 50mm f1.8 lens and the appropriate adapter. Captured at f2.8 at about one meter.

This image of the same ferns below was taken using the Spiratone Tc 135mm f2.8 lens nearly fully wide open at f4 from three meters.

If you’re like me you have a bunch of beautiful vintage lenses just sitting around looking good in your display cabinet. Now and then you’ll shoot a roll of film and then it’s back into the cabinet. By purchasing a few inexpensive adapters for use on your mirrorless camera these classic lenses can see the literal light of day again. Remember that when these lenses were new they cost big bucks back in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Why let that investment go to waste.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – 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.

Classic Canon FL 50mm f1.8 Lens – still going strong since the 1960s

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

In addition to my love of collecting almost everything Yashica made, my second love is collecting classic (and kind of modern) Canon cameras and lenses. As part of a rather large purchase of another collectors gear I ended up with my first ever Canon FL lens. The FL lenses came just before the FD lenses and replaced the Canon R mount models. The good news is that FL lenses can be used on more modern FD bodies (F-1, A-1, AE-1, T-70 among many others). Some vintage (1964-1971) FL lenses can be found online at relatively good prices compared to most FD lenses. The lower price allows you to maybe pick-up some super wide angle and telephoto lenses that would be beyond your collecting budget. A word of caution – since the newest FL lenses are 50 years old you have to be extra careful when inspecting them in person and you sometimes have to be real lucky to get a good one online. As always, if you buy from a trusted seller on Etsy, Mercari, or eBay then you stand a good chance you’ll get a nice lens that’s described and depicted accurately.

Here is my Canon FL lens (below).

Just the right amount of paint loss – pleasing patina.

Beautiful classic Canon glass. Only a few small specs of dust. No fungus, mold, or separation. Some light haze.

f2.8 at 1 meter – hand held. Soft and pleasing.

f8 at 1 meter. Better depth of field. Better separation from the background. Late day muted sunlight.

f8 at about 2 meters. Sharp and detailed – late day muted sunlight.

About f5.6-f8 at 3 meters. Wonderful bokeh.

If you have a mirrorless camera and you buy some affordable digital adapters then a great big world gets opened up when you start shooting through some lenses that are probably older than you (not in my case however, lol).

I use a very affordable Fujifilm X-A10 body (16 MP) for all of my vintage lens shots. Sure you can go crazy and go big on the megapixels but why bother – the older lenses do just fine and produce stunning images without breaking the bank.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – 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.

Looking through vintage glass – fun with classic lenses.

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

Maidenhair ferns at f2.8 – soft non-distracting background

This stunning image (above) was taken through a lens that was made in Japan in the 1950s. What I love about using these well-cared for bits of photographic history is that they produce a level of clarity and sharpness but without the razor sharp and sometimes unnatural look you get with today’s best digital cameras and modern lenses. In my opinion, vintage glass mounted on a mirrorless digital camera is the best of both worlds.

Japanese garden lantern shot at around f8 – nearly perfect focus of the entire roof

Azalea blossoms shot at about one meter at f4 – soft circular highlights and gorgeous bokeh

Shot at 135mm at f5.6 – here the background is not pleasing as the sky is bright blue and cloudless – see image below

Nice separation and spot on focus of the top of the flagpole – 135mm at f8

Fujifilm X-A10 digital mirrorless camera with Fotodiox M42-FX adapter. The T-mount is changeable and in this case I’ve mounted an M42 screw-in adapter. M42 bodies are typically found on older Yashica, Pentax, Fujica, and many other 35mm SLR cameras.

Let me introduce the star of this post. A wonderful 135mm short telephoto lens made by Sankor for Spiratone. It’s a fast f2.8 lens of a sonnar design with multi-coated surfaces (Tc).

If you own or have been thinking of purchasing a digital mirrorless camera then definitely look into shooting with these classic lenses. I think you’ll find its an interesting diversion from the world of autofocus (and image stabilized) modern lenses. It tends to slow you down and makes you appreciate the photographic process.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – 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 Fuji Fujifilm Cameras

Light against the sky.

Reflecting on reflections – a favorite subject.

Friday Fotos! – MM camera strap

CC Design Studios

Goody Box!

New items in my camera shop for April 21, 2021

New in my Camera Shop – March 26

Digital time machine by Fujifilm

Classic Canon FL 50mm f1.8 Lens – still going strong since the 1960s

Looking through vintage glass – fun with classic lenses.