Saturday Spotlight – My favorite RF

December 19, 2020December 19, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Whenever I reminisce about classic cameras from the 1950s it’s hard not to think of this Nicca camera inspired by the iconic Leica 35mm rangefinder (RF).

By today’s standards there’s nothing easy about using a camera from this era. Some of the “negatives” – manual focusing using a rangefinder (not thru the lens like an SLR), manual exposure and shutter speed settings, difficult film loading, and lots of add-ons just to be able to shoot with a wide angle or telephoto lens to name just a few. The positives – this is considered to be a miniature camera (compared to other film cameras), interchangeable lenses, rugged construction, excellent lens choices, and portability. I like this camera because it just feels right cradled in your hand.

Tiny 2.8cm (28mm) wide angle lens made by Nippon Kogaku (Nikkor-Nikon).

Optical viewfinder that provided the correct angle of view of the 2.8cm lens.

Nippon Kogaku W-Nikkor.C f3.5 2.8cm lens.

Optical viewfinder mounted on the Nicca’s accessory shoe.

If you want to experience film photography in its purest form then check out one of these amazing machines from the 1950s. Leica, Nicca, Yashica, Canon, Nikon, Leotax, and dozens more.

Totally random here but I wanted to give a shout out to my friend Peggy’s WordPress site at https://cameragocamera.com/ It’s a lot of fun to visit and she’s tested nearly every camera on the planet (almost) nearly every camera. Pop on over for a read and be sure to click follow while you’re there.

Thanks for stopping by and have a safe and 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.

New in the Shop – Amazing Cameras, Awesome Values!

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all!

We’ve added some really unique and hard to find cameras in our camera shop this week and we’re offering for the first time ever a 15% discount on almost everything in the shop – some with free shipping too! Visit the shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! – 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 – Nicca 3-S

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Nicca 3-S 35mm rangefinder camera from the mid-1950s. Here it’s mated with a rather rare Nippon Kogaku W-Nikkor C 28mm f/3.5 wide-angle lens and matching Nippon Kogaku optical 2.8 viewfinder.

The Nicca is a solid camera in its own right. Many call this type of camera a Leica copy or clone but I prefer to say it was inspired by Leica’s design.

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

My camera shop can be visited 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.

SUNday Spotlight – Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

July 12, 2020July 13, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Happy SUNday and thanks for stopping by!

Today I’d like to show you a new addition to our collection. While on one hand, we’re downsizing the collection while on the other hand, we continue to add classics – especially rather hard to find classics like this one.

The Yashica-Nicca 35 YF or as it was known in Japan, the Yashica 35 Fair-Way.

DSCF0203

The first and only dual-branded camera from Yashica, the YF is a 35mm rangefinder camera that uses interchangeable L39 screw-in mount lenses (made by a variety of lens producers). Here it’s mated with its original Yashinon f/1.8 5cm lens.

DSCF0217

The Yashica YF is rather unique in its design and a break from the more traditional Leica-like cameras of the 1950s. The YF was first produced in July 1959 and according to the serial numbers, ended its run by September 1959 with just a little over 6,200 made.

DSCF0212

The camera back features an easy to open film door that made loading 35mm film cassettes a breeze. Very similar to the Nicca Type-5 but its door swung to the right.

Shown with the film door and baseplate completely removed.

The serial number shown here decodes to August 1959 number 1,603rd made since the start of production in July.

DSCF0208

Another neat feature of the YF is that the film advance lever was located in a slot on the upper right of the top plate which made advancing the film and cocking the shutter super easy.

The single eyepiece is late and provides a clear view through the rangefinder.

The perfectly placed rangefinder windows afforded a bright view and easy focusing.

An original sales brochure from late 1959.

The original instruction booklet in English.

From a Yashica sales brochure from around mid-1960.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit 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.

In the Shop – more neat stuff!

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all – happy Friday! Here’s some of the newest items in my Etsy hosted camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

snip 6261

Almost everything in my shop is offered at a 10% discount and some even include free shipping in the USA. I ship internationally too.

http://www.ccstudio2380.com

snip 6262

Is there something you’ve been looking for? I may have it in my collection and just haven’t posted it yet. Ask and I may have.

I will be offering my Minolta SR-T 202 with matching MC Rokkor-X f/1.7 50mm lens shortly. The additional good news is that both will come in their original Minolta factory boxes! One-owner and fully functional. Stay tuned. – 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.

New in the Shop – neat stuff!

June 13, 2020June 13, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hello all… I hope your day and weekend are going well. Here are some new items I’ve added to my Etsy shop this week. My shop can be visited at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

snip 613

snip 613-2

snip 613-3

Everything is discounted at least 10% and many come with free USA shipping. I can mail almost anything worldwide and if there’s something that you’ve been looking for I just may have it. You can email me at ccphotographyai@gmail.com

Have a safe and happy day and thanks for stopping by! – 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.

New In the Shop – neat stuff!

May 25, 2020May 25, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! Here’s some new and interesting items in our Etsy Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Take advantage of my Memorial Day sale with 15% off.

snip 5-25

snip 5-25 1

Lots more can be found in our shop at http://www.ccstudio.2380.com

Thanks – 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.

In the Shop – New Arrivals for May

May 3, 2020May 3, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! I hope you are doing well and staying safe. Here are some items that I’ve listed in my camera shop recently which can be visited by popping over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com

snip may 3

snip may 3 a

Lots more in the shop and a big thank you all for stopping by! – 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.

1951 Classics – Contax & Tower (Nicca)

April 18, 2020April 18, 2020Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa and Tower (Nicca) Type-3

Two extremely different cameras that accomplish the same thing – recording an image on 135 film. The Contax is a much bigger camera and for the most part, it is an original design by Zeiss Ikon of Stuttgart. The Tower was made by Nicca Camera for the Sears, Roebuck Company for sale in the US and Canada. The Nicca was inspired by an original design by Leica and it’s often considered to be one of the better Leica “copies”.

Both cameras feature interchangeable lenses and both are rangefinders. The Contax has an attached exposure meter (non-coupled) and with the Tower, you would use a separate meter for determining proper exposures.

The Contax is a slightly larger camera and it’s a tad bit heavier due to the additional weight of the exposure meter. The Contax weighs 773 grams and the Tower weighs 591 grams.

The standard lens on the Contax is a Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/ 1.5 50mm and the Tower has a Nikkor H.C f/ 2 5cm.

DSCF8174

What’s interesting is that back in 1951 these cameras were considered to be “miniature” 35mm cameras per their advertising of the time.

contax iia clip 1

contax IIIa and IIa

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit 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.

In the Shop – New this Week!

March 30, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It’s Monday and it’s time to post some new items in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

snip 3-20

Everything is on sale for the remainder of March and the first week of April – take 15% off my already value-priced items.

Lots of other great items in the shop too – pop on over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com and see if there’s something you like.

Thanks, Chris

Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic

Yashica cameras and a whole lot more!

Category Nicca Collectibles

Saturday Spotlight – My favorite RF

New in the Shop – Amazing Cameras, Awesome Values!

Chasing Classic Cameras – Nicca 3-S

Nicca 3-S 35mm rangefinder camera from the mid-1950s. Here it’s mated with a rather rare Nippon Kogaku W-Nikkor C 28mm f/3.5 wide-angle lens and matching Nippon Kogaku optical 2.8 viewfinder.

SUNday Spotlight – Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Happy SUNday and thanks for stopping by!

Today I’d like to show you a new addition to our collection. While on one hand, we’re downsizing the collection while on the other hand, we continue to add classics – especially rather hard to find classics like this one.

The Yashica-Nicca 35 YF or as it was known in Japan, the Yashica 35 Fair-Way.

In the Shop – more neat stuff!

New in the Shop – neat stuff!

Hello all… I hope your day and weekend are going well. Here are some new items I’ve added to my Etsy shop this week. My shop can be visited at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

New In the Shop – neat stuff!

Hi all! Here’s some new and interesting items in our Etsy Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

In the Shop – New Arrivals for May

Hi all! I hope you are doing well and staying safe. Here are some items that I’ve listed in my camera shop recently which can be visited by popping over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com

1951 Classics – Contax & Tower (Nicca)

In the Shop – New this Week!

It’s Monday and it’s time to post some new items in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com