Category Happy SUNday

Happy SUNday!

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Happy Sunday all! Here’s three classic Yashicas that are certainly worth the chase. The only one that I’d consider rare or hard to find is the pro-black body J-3.

The Yashica J-3 in black was never advertised as best as I’ve been able to find out after years of searching and for the most part flew under the radar in sales and marketing. Fewer than 2,000 were made (unofficial count) and few remain today in mint or near mint (working) condition. It was Yashica’s first black 35mm SLR until the TL Electro X in black came along in 1968. There were chrome versions of both cameras that sold alongside the black models. Conversely, the TL Electro X ITS (Integrated Technology System) was only available in black and featured the gold electron symbol on the pentaprism. BTW, the Yashica Sailor Boy advertising figurine pictured here is the taller 20 cm dealer model and no, he’s not naked.

Yashica’s advertising figurine, ‘Sailor Boy’ (1962).

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.

Copyright © 2015-2021 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

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Happy SUNday! – Uncle Sam wants your money!

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Uncle Sam cast iron mechanical bank. Reproduced from the original which has a patent of 1875. This one was made in the late 1950s to early 1960s. He is a genuine original copy.

Sam weighs nearly 5 pounds and stands almost a foot tall. He’ll gladly take your money as he’s in excellent operating condition.

I wish I knew how to upload a short video here to show how he operates. Maybe I’ll learn soon and if I do I’ll gladly update my post.

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.

Copyright © 2015-2021 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday!

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Ready for Spring to spring!

Early Gerber daisy.
Our mighty front yard oak.
Just needs a plant, but which?
Maidenhair ferns in the afternoon sun.

Camera – Fujifilm FinePix JX250 (from 2010).

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.

Copyright © 2015-2021 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday!

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

When you take a surprise shot with your phone you’re sometimes rewarded with some pretty neat images!

Looks like a tornado with teeth.

Samsung Galaxy S8+

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.

Copyright © 2015-2021 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday! – last day in the Navy

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Remembering back to that March day in 1997 when I retired from twenty-two years of service in the United States Navy. Aerographer’s Mate Senior Chief Petty Officer (meteorology).

Carol and Chris – 1997

This was the last time I wore the uniform. Carol traveled around the world with me for the entire 22 years that I was in and we were able to be together when I was stationed in Japan and Puerto Rico. Of course, there was plenty of stateside duty too. Three ships – USS Midway (CV-41) Japan, USS Forrestal (CV-59) Florida, USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) Florida.

Retirement ceremony onboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67).

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday! – Nikkor Lens Test

Chris and Carol 2 Comments
Nippon Kogaku W-Nikkor C F3.5 2.8cm wide angle lens (1954).

One of the best and most useful features of having a mirrorless digital camera like this Fujifilm X-A10 is the ability to test and use some of my vintage lenses by using an adapter between the lens and the body.

It was a generally cloudy day with the sunlight filtered through some cirrus clouds so no harsh shadows and low contrast images.

Maidenhair ferns and cypress needles.
My trusty boulder and gravel test subjects.
Bald cypress in its autumn glory.
Here’s where a 28mm wide angle lens comes in handy.
I’m very happy with the resolution and detail of this vintage Nikkor glass.

I used a Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter M39 – FX to mount my Nikkor lens to my Fujifilm camera body. Fotodiox makes a wide range of quality adapters for use on almost any mirrorless body and vintage lens. You can find them at https://fotodioxpro.com/collections/lens-mount-adapters

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday! – Fujifilm Mickey Mouse

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Fujifilm MD (motor drive) 35mm film camera – released in March 1995 for the home market. This one was purchased at Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo in December 1996.

It’s since been sold to a very happy collector of all things Disney in Australia!

And here’s a throwback pic of a very early camera (1956) from Fuji Photo Film Company – the Fujipet.

The Fuji Pet 35 above was one of Fuji’s first 35mm cameras (1959).

Have a wonderful day and be safe! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday! – Zunow Magic

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Recently ended Yahoo Japan Auction for a Zunow SLR sales brochure – super rare!

The snip above is from a recently completed auction for a rather rare, no check that, super rare sales brochure for the famous 35mm SLR made by Zunow in the late 1950s. The final sales price for the brochure was an amazing $180 USD!

Pictured above (not my image or camera) is the first and only SLR made by Zunow. It’s rare to find one for sale as well less than 1,000 were ever made (maybe only 500). It’s a beautiful design but it was plagued with numerous build quality issues. I believe the most recent sale of a complete Zunow SLR went for around $15,000 USD.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday! – Yokohama then and now.

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

What a lovely surprise to be contacted by a gentleman who currently lives in the same neighborhood that Carol and I lived in back in the late 1970s. His name is Miguel and he was kind enough to share a current picture of the area.

The first image below was taken by me in the summer of 1978 from a hill overlooking the US Navy housing area looking east towards Tokyo Bay in the distance. The early photograph was taken on Kodak Kodachrome and hasn’t aged well as it’s lost most of its original color. Back in the 1970s, this part of Yokohama was very industrialized and on a hot hazy summer day the visibility was often restricted to less than three miles or so.

Summer 1978, Yokohama, Japan – Honmoku

This current picture below shows the vast changes that have occured since the Navy left the area. In the mid-1980s the original houses were torn down to make way for a wonderful upscale neighborhood and elementary school. If the smokestack (far right side) is the same one then these two pictures were taken in about the same place. How wonderful is that!?

Image taken by Miguel Patiño González, Summer 2020

My understanding is that the Honmoku Elementary School seen in the above image (lower left) is on the site where our government house stood.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day! – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

Copyright © 2015-2020 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.