New Arrivals

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

Hi all… thanks for stopping by! Just in time for Father’s Day I’m offering a nice 10% discount on almost everything in my shop – CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Lots of unique items from our vast collection of photo gear and other collectibles from our travels over the years. Here’s a small sample…

We also have a bunch of gear and cameras that haven’t been listed yet. If there’s a particular item you’ve been searching for lets us know as we just might have it. Contact us here or at ccphotographyai@gmail.com

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.

Fujica GW690 Professional – medium format photography on a grand scale

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021Chris and Carol 3 Comments

A true classic from Fuji Photo Film Company. Have you ever thought about trying this camera? You won’t be disappointed. Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

fujica gw690 2 The Fujica GW690 Professional from Fuji Photo Film Company – November 1978. It’s a rather hefty medium format 120/220 roll film camera capable of producing images at an amazingly large 6 x 9 cm.

fujica gw690 Loaded with Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros.

Its original list price was ¥143,500. The camera features a non-interchangeable EBC Fujinon 90mm f/3.5 lens (5 elements in 5 groups) and a Seiko #0 leaf shutter with settings for T, 1-1/500 second. It weighs “just” 1,430 grams. No batteries needed as there is no built-in exposure meter. Simply focus the easy to use rangefinder, meter via a handheld meter (or phone app), set your aperture and shutter speed and you’re good to go. By the way, this beast produces 8 super sharp images so you can eat through a roll of 120 film in a hurry.

20130403_88ff69 Original sales brochure – 1978.

●11FUJI　GW690ⅡGOLD Released in 1985, the now Fuji GW690II in…

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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.

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.