Category In the Shop at www.ccstudio2380.com

Sometimes silly is just silly – collecting Yashica stuff 101.1

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Carol and I have been Yashica fanatics since the early 1970s and over the years we’ve collected some pretty silly stuff related to Yashica.

In 1962 the Yashica marketing guys and gals came up with a cute little fellow to act as a marketing mascot of sorts to promote Yashica’s extensive new line of SLRs and the next generation of 35mm rangefinder cameras. Yashica’s ‘Sailor Boy’ (never officially named) was born courtesy of a design executed by Modern Plastics of Japan.

The ‘Sailor Boy’ appeared in Yashica’s sales brochures and occasionally in a few instruction booklets. Here he’s pictured in an early flyer for the Minimatic-S (1963).

26088376221_59093d3733_o

This is the larger dealer display ‘Sailor Boy’ – about 20cm tall.

15133132085_31459ec63f_o

Here’s the dealer display ‘Sailor Boy’ helping to promote the new (1962) J-3.

Anyway, here’s where the real silliness comes in. When you start to discover all of the different ways that Yashica employed their little mascot it’s a fun challenge to find him on some pretty unlikely things. Here he’s promoting the release of the Electro 35 – the world’s first electronic 35mm camera (1966).

DSCF9533

Of course he’d be on a couple of beach bags – he’s Yashica’s ‘Sailor Boy’.

DSCF9534

Whether riding a smiling dolphin or dancing in a grass skirt on a remote island, the ‘Sailor Boy’ was always there to remind you to take your non-waterproof Yashica Electro 35 along for the fun!

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

BTW, there’s some neat new stuff (cameras and gear) over in our shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – there’s always a few classic cameras to pick from as well as a nice collection of lenses.

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 © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

New in the Shop – Yashica-Mat 124G

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Perfectly operating Yashica-Mat 124G twin-lens reflex (TLR) 6×6 cm medium format film camera. Whew!

The last TLR in a very long line of innovative and quality made cameras by Yashica. The last 124G rolled off the assembly line at the Okaya factory in 1986 (Kyocera was in “control” and was about to kill off the Yashica name. Yashica’s first TLRs? The Pigeonflex and then the Yashima Flex (1953, 1954).

This model’s serial number is 164216 (roughly 1983) and it’s never been offered for sale before. I purchased it directly from the original owner who kept it unused as part of his collection. It’s been thoroughly tested – the light meter is spot on (I’ve installed a new battery), the shutter is accurate at all speeds, the lenses are crystal clear, and the aperture blades are snappy and oil free. I see only the slightest specs of dust on the reflex mirror inside which is typical (even straight from the factory there was dust as the mirror chamber is not sealed). It’s a joy to use and all controls operate as they should – smooth and precise. I’ve installed new light seals after carefully cleaning away the old ones. The CdS meter is built-in and coupled. BTW, these later model 124Gs are built as rugged as any of Yashica’s previous models – you get the benefits of a newer TLR with a fresher CdS meter with gold contacts. You should be able to use this camera with proper care for another 30 years or more!

It’s available for purchase in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com or you can buy it directly from here by clicking on the PayPal payment button and get free USA shipping!

Vintage 1983 Yashica-Mat 124G Twin-lens Reflex (TLR) Medium Format Camera (120 or 220 Roll Film) Producing 6×6 cm Negatives & Slides

Nearly new Yashica-Mat 124G TLR that's been completely tested and is in 100% fully operational condition. Open the box, load some film and you're a medium format square shooter! I've installed a new battery and new light seals. It comes with the original plastic Yashica lens cap (correct for this model). This camera is perfect for the discriminating collector or an active photographer. They don't come nicer than this well cared for beauty. It will ship FOR FREE within the USA via USPS Priority Mail and I'll mail it worldwide with some exceptions. Please contact me first for a quote. Thanks, Chris

$475.00

1968 Kaiser Jeep US Army Ambulance

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

This weekend the 24th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance came to a conclusion. There are so many events going on during our “March Motor Madness” it’s hard to keep up with all of the activity. One event, in particular, was held at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport and consisted of a display of about ten vintage US military vehicles all in operating condition and plated for use on the road.

20190309_133130

From Ft. Benning, Georgia

20190309_133138

Very nicely restored in period trim from the Vietnam era.

20190309_133032

20190309_133113

The truck is in great mechanical condition an operates on the roads here in Florida.

20190309_133054

What looks to be an accurate set-up for a field ambulance.

DSCF9511

If you’re interested in anything to do with classic cars then Amelia Island is the place to be during that 2nd week in March. Be sure to check out the 25th Concours for next year!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com for some classic and hard to find vintage cameras and photo gear! – 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

In the Shop – Fuji Smart Shot 35mm Camera Kit – Light Blue

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

In the shop today I’ve added a rather hard to find light blue version of this popular and fun Fuji camera. The Fuji Smart Shot was released in April 1994 for a selling price in Japan of ¥3,800

You can purchase this still new in its original box camera directly from here on this post by clicking on the PayPal button or over in my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Fuji Light Blue Smart Shot 35mm Compact Film Camera Kit with Fujinon f/8 35mm Lens, Film, Battery, Strap, Instructions

Super hard to find still new in its box, this Fuji light blue version of this popular and fun to use Fuji is unused and in mint condition. It comes complete with its original box (with packaging materials), an unused nylon strap, the instruction sheet, a roll of expired (07/2010) Fujicolor 100 film, and a new Fujifilm AA battery. The camera has been tested and works perfectly. I’ll ship this in the USA for FREE via USPS First Class Mail and worldwide with some exceptions – please ask for a quote first. Thanks, Chris

$68.75

F4U Corsair Model at the Fernandina Beach Airport Terminal

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I finally got the chance to check out the Corsair reproduction that hangs in the airport terminal building here on Amelia Island. The terminal was completed late in 2018 and represents a significant upgrade to the facilities that it replaced. Well done to all involved!

20190307_145609

The Corsair was flown by the US Navy and Marines in the Pacific theater of operations during the latter stages of WWII and enjoyed a reputation that was second to none.

20190307_145950

The Corsair was powered by a super powerful Pratt & Whitney engine.

20190307_150206

lobby logo

The main lobby before the addition of the Corsair.

20180820_202048 logo

The terminal building is designed to evoke a WWII F4U Corsair fighter-bomber.

Thanks for stopping by and if you find yourself anywhere near northeast Florida make time to stop and visit our unique airport terminal.

My camera shop is always open and always filled with some classic cameras and gear. You can find my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S8+

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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Tabletop Studio

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve been using a simple to build and simple to use tabletop studio for years. Recently (about 6 months ago) I upgraded my lighting by using two portable battery powered LED lights vice the multi-light fluorescent system I was using. No wires!

DSCF9476

The lights are powered by standard rechargeable “Sony” type camcorder batteries that give me about 2 hours of light at 100%. The lights are dimmable.

DSCF9477

Mounted on 2 mini tripods the lights are easy to move around and because of their light weight, I often hand hold one to get just the right amount of light exactly where I need it.

DSCF9480

Made by Fotodiox – Model LED 312D

DSCF9481

312 LED lights

DSCF9471

Finished product. With very limited post-processing necessary I’m able to process a bunch of images quickly.  My Fujifilm X-A10 is set to the light’s temperature (5,600K) so there’s little for me to adjust on the final image.

I purchased the lights directly from Fotodiox and I believe I got both with shipping for around $300. (prices vary) The lights come with cases for safe transport for location shooting, 4 batteries total, 2 chargers, and some light diffusers and a daylight filter.

I’m happy with the setup but I do need a third light for filling in the background a bit better and for more even lighting when photographing larger subjects.

Thanks for stopping by! BTW, my camera shop is always open 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

In the Shop – Canon New F-1 Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Edition

Chris and Carol 1 Comment

New in my shop today is this awesome Canon New F-1 with AE Finder FN, Canon FD 50mm f1.8 Lens and the Official 35mm Camera of the 1984 Olympic Games Lens Cap (plus all boxes, straps, caps, instruction booklets, warranty cards).

This is the first time that this set has been offered for sale and it’s in nearly perfect cosmetic condition and in 100% fully working (tested) condition.

The best Canon SLR to come out of the early 1980s – by far!

DSCF9467

The Canon New F-1 with AE Finder FN is a professional camera that combines a balance between the electronic and mechanical worlds – its electromechanical hybrid shutter provides greater overall accuracy and a wider range of shutter speeds. If the battery fails, you can continue shooting at any of the high speeds or B, all of which are mechanically controlled. A new Energizer battery has been installed and all metering features have been tested. Shutter speeds range from B to 1/2000.

DSCF9461

Complete set including the special New F-1 camera strap.

The AE Finder FN is for aperture-priority AE. Full manual exposure control is still possible. Three types of metering are possible – Center-weighted Average Metering, Selective-area Metering, and Spot Metering.

DSCF9452

The camera is in mint minus condition as there are a few marks on the baseplate where the motor drive was attached. The remainder of the body, the optics, and the lens are in full mint condition. Two rolls of film have been used with flawless results.

DSCF9454

The body serial number, LA 8541 matches the original paperwork from Canon. The lens serial number 7200857 matches its paperwork too. The camera body date code is Y227 which is 1984 and the lens is Y116 which is also 1984. This is a newer model in the LA Olympics run which I believe finished around 9500.

DSCF9466

The AE Finder FN removed showing the focusing screen AE installed.

DSCF9468

You can purchase this lovely set here directly from me by clicking on the payment button (PayPal) below or it can be purchased through my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Canon New F-1 AE Finder Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Edition 35mm SLR Camera Set with Canon FD 50mm f1.8 Lens

Complete set from 1984 - Canon's Limited Special Edition 1984 LA Olympics camera and lens set. In nearly full mint condition just off new. It's been fully tested and all systems are fully operational! Please take the time to check out the many detailed pictures I've provided in this post (on the blog) and in my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. Additional pictures are available upon request. I'll mail this gorgeous set anywhere in the US FOR FREE via USPS Priority Mail and I'll ship worldwide with some exceptions. Please contact me first for an international shipping quote. Thanks, Chris

$925.00

 

The power of trees

Chris and Carol Leave a comment

On December 30th of last year, our river maples in the front yard were in full-color bloom –

20181230_092842

December 30, 2018

On March 5th the leaves are starting anew –

20190305_171319

March 5, 2019

You see leaves but what you’re really witnessing is the raw power of a tree. In less than sixty days the old leaves fell and new leaves established themselves.

20190305_171350

These two river maples were started from seeds from other maples in our backyard – we transplanted them at about the two-year point in their lives. They should add some significant height this year as we’ve had a super wet Winter so far.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S8+

Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to check out some new additions in my camera 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

a man, a watch, a camera

Chris and Carol 2 Comments
24379666406_70ebcb17f7_o (1)

Mr. David Yulee as seen in downtown Fernandina Beach

Yashica Pentamatic S 35mm SLR mated with the sharp 5.8cm f/1.7 lens which I believe was designed by Zunow. No direct written evidence to support that claim but the design cues are clearly more Zunow than Tomioka. The camera is from 1961 and the lens is from 1960.

20186770749_3906ae1138_o (1)

Yashica Pentamatic S with attached exposure meter.

Yashica’s first SLRs represented a steep learning curve for the company.

The original Pentamatic ’35’ was co-designed with Nicca Camera starting in 1958. The camera was groundbreaking for Yashica to be sure but a miss overall against the competition (think Nikon F). Yashica’s best was yet to come. I happen to appreciate the rock-solid construction of this often overlooked camera. The lens was only in production for six months and disappeared from Yashica’s lineup at the same time as Zunow’s demise (January 1961). It was the standard lens for the Pentamatic II. This was not the lens that was supplied with the S – Yashica went back to the 5.5cm, f/1.8

Shot with my Samsung Galaxy S4 – January 2015

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com for some great cameras and photo gear. – 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.