Lens Test – Vivitar 28mm f/2 Auto Wide-Angle Lens for Canon FD Mount

January 24, 2025January 24, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It’s a relatively rare lens (now) from the late 1970s to early 1980s. Kino Precision likely made the lens under the Kiron brand for Vivitar (started as Ponder & Best in the US). The serial number, SN 22810099, indicates the manufacturer (first two numbers), the year made (8=1978), the week (10=March 6-12), and the consecutive number for that week (099).

The lens is mounted via a K&F Concept FD-FX adapter. It is an older lens with the classic chrome breech lock ring used on Canon cameras starting in the early 1970s.

When I test classic film camera lenses, I almost always use my Fujifilm X-T2 as my platform. The effective focal length with a 1.5x crop sensor mirrorless camera is about 42mm (1.5 x 28).

It’s a heavy lens—288 grams (10.2 oz.) for its size—with lots of glass and brass. I couldn’t find the lens details, so I don’t know how many elements and groups it has. My guess is it has coated optics, as the later lenses have ‘MC’ on the front filter ring. It accepts 55mm filters.

My copy is infested with fungus and shows some haze deep inside. Here are some samples. It’s a shame, really, as the lens has the potential to be a good one. The fast f/2 aperture was not standard or common in a 28mm lens.

Under a bright LED, the internal haze and cloudiness are apparent. The image lacks sharpness.

Again, the fungus, haze, and general cloudiness take their toll.

Outside in dim sunlight, the color balance, as is the clarity, is off a bit.

The lack of detail is especially noticeable along the edges where the fungus filaments are the most evident.

Is it horrible? No, not really. Under the right conditions, it could make for some interesting mood shots. Can it be corrected? Yes, the internal elements and groups would need a deep cleaning.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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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, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2025 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Yashica Pentamatic Lenses

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica Pentamatic ’35’

We recently acquired this lens for our Yashica Pentamatic collection. Why is it important? It’s a great find because it’s the first time we’ve encountered a lens with a lower serial number than one pictured in an advertisement (in this case, the first-ever ad for the Pentamatic, June 1960). We know it is total nerd stuff, but that’s what makes collecting fun.

The lens was made for Yashica by Tomioka Optical, which at the time made about 90% of all their lenses (TLR, SLR, RF, and Cine).

The lens serial number decodes 59 = 1959, 10 = OCT, and 0092, the 92nd lens made since production started.

In the second image, the other lens was made in December and was the 1,630th made. Tomioka was busy producing these lenses long before Yashica released the Pentamatic in March 1960. The first Pentamatic bodies were made in January.

The third image shows an early Yashica Tominon Super Yashinon-R f/2.8 3.5cm wide-angle lens SN 350246. The date code was dropped in favor of a simpler code: 35 = 35 mm, and 0246 is the sequence number since the start of production.

The ad shows a lens with a higher production number than the lens we own. 92 indicates it was made in the first batch of 100 lenses.

The October lens is on the left and the December lens is on the right. No November lenses were made.

From an early batch of wide-angle lenses from Tomioka Optical. This one is number 246.

A fast lens from Tomioka. The f/1.2 55mm lens which was made much later in the M42 screw mount.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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New in my Camera Shop, just in time for holiday gift giving.

December 20, 2024December 20, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Here are just a few items in my Etsy camera shop from my collection of cameras and photo gear. Visit http://www.ccstudio2380.com to see these items in detail.

Asahi Pentax, Canon, Yashica, and Nikon.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

I’m back with more cameras, photo gear, lenses, and of course, more images!

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Fernandina Beach (Florida) Historic District.

Contax RX
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens.
Fujifilm Neopan Professional Acros 100II Film.
Straight scans from The Darkroom – no editing. I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Nassau County (Florida) Historic Courthouse on Centre Street.

It is a beautiful and well-balanced camera set. The RX was first released in 1996, towards the end of Contax’s 35mm film era. Yashica was long gone by then.

If you’re in Fernandina, you must have a few pirates along the street. Shown here just outside the Palace Saloon.

Our pirate friend in color. Canon EOS R with Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens.

There you have it. My latest photowalk in our lovely historic district. If you are ever near Amelia Island, you must pop on by for a visit. I highly recommend the Canon EOS R system, lenses, and Contax RX. The Carl Zeiss lenses made for the Contax line are absolutely incredible.

Parting shot.

My limited edition Nikon F2A 25th Anniversary set is in my camera shop. This is the one if you want to purchase a completely new and unused camera from 1978.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Happy SUNday! – Contax Bliss

April 7, 2024April 8, 2024Chris and Carol 4 Comments

The Contax 50th Anniversary Edition 137 MD Quartz 35mm SLR film camera.

The ’50 Years’ model had a unique leatherette and a gold Contax ‘button’ on the flash sync terminal.

I don’t usually chase anniversary models, but this one struck me as pure in the early 1980s.

Contax celebrated fifty years, 1932-1982.

One of two standard lenses is shown here.

Contax numbered their cameras, consequently. As far as I am aware, no date code is hidden in the serial numbers.

It’s a simple manual focus aperture priority camera first released in 1980. Notice the location of the tripod socket. The entire baseplate is removable to be able to install the four AA batteries needed to power the meter and motor drive.

I believe the red sticker indicates that the color of the body is ‘fin’ or ‘wine.’ The Google Translate app isn’t apparent.

There aren’t many of these models still available, but they are well worth being chased.

This particular camera was sold in Japan, and unfortunately, I don’t have the original paperwork or Japanese instruction booklet. I’d love to find the correct strap, too. The proper case is a bit of a mystery, but I believe it should have been C-004, according to my friend Graham in the UK. By the way, the period correct flash units made for the 137 MD is the Contax TLA20 and TLA30 Auto Flash units for true TTL flash metering. There is also a 137 Data Back and a 137 Grip Adapter. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit my camera shop (hosted by Etsy) at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Classic Canon Chrome

September 12, 2023September 13, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris –
An original version (l) Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 chrome nose lens from November 1971. I love these early Canon chrome nose gems as they look so classic mounted on the first Canon F-1.
The FD 50mm f/1.8 is a sharp alternative to the f/1.4 and often at a much better price.
I have this one in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com
Thanks, Chris

Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 Chrome Nose lens – 1971

When Canon released its first true professional 35mm SLR in the Spring of 1971, this was likely the lens that would have been with it. Of course, the f/1.4 was an excellent choice, especially for photographers who needed that extra speed for low-light situations. This lens’ date code is L1106 which indicates it was made in November 1971 and was the last version (l) lenses made. The chrome nose models were replaced by 1973 giving way to a slightly lighter and less expensive model. It has 6 elements in 4 groups, uses 55mm filters, and weighs a hefty 332 grams.

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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

Early Yashica Zoom Lens – like new!

August 22, 2023August 23, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica Auto Yashinon Zoom Lens
w/ Yashica Front & Rear Lens Caps,
the Original Factory Box and Case
and Metal Lens Hood.

SN 701123
7 elements/6 groups
55mm filter ring

This is a super sharp early lens in
the Yashica family. Tomioka Optical
made Yashica’s lenses (actually Yashica
acquired Tomioka).

This beautiful lens is now available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com
Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

July 23, 2023July 27, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Yashica Minimatic-S. A fully automatic (no autofocus) 35mm rangefinder was released in February 1963. The camera set both the aperture and shutter speed.

Yashica M. Released in June 1960. 35mm rangefinder with a sharp and fast Yashinon f1.9 lens. The “M” was also known as the 35M and 35 Model M.

Yashica Half 17. Capable of shooting up to 72 images on a roll of 36-exposure 35mm film.

Each camera uses selenium cell light meters to assist with setting the proper exposure. If you can find working examples of these classics you’ll enjoy a whole new level of vintage film shooting as the Yashinon lenses are sharp, colorful, and contrasty. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Nikon F 35mm SLR Camera with Photomic-T Finder from 1967

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It’s one of those camera profiles that even non-camera people will recognize (old movies, vintage print advertisements) instantly. The original Nikon F with a metered (light meter) viewfinder head.

Nikon F set from late 1967 with matching instruction booklets (and cap).

Nikon F Photomic-T with Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f1.4 lens. It’s been used but not abused through the years – notice the brassing around the ASA dial on top.

Original advertisement for the Nikon F from 1960. It’s shown here without the metered viewfinder (Photomic).

Actress Katharine Ross with her Nikon and motor drive.

I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot with my new to me Nikon but it’s in the queue. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Fujifilm Fujichrome Velvia film simulation and a 62-year-old Yashica lens…

November 14, 2022November 14, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Taken in deep shade during the late afternoon so it skews overly bluish which is actually how the scene looked. Nice true reds and again natural greens.

Out of the shadows and into the light the blue sky looks more natural against the deep greens of the trees.

I purposefully shot this high-contrast scene to see how my Yashikor lens handled it. Well, I believe.

I’m always pleasantly amazed by the quality of my images when shooting vintage lenses on a mirrorless digital camera. I believe I took this at f/11.

This is the first time in a very long time that I switched on the Velvia film simulation mode on my Fujifilm X-A10 mirrorless digital camera. I do enjoy shooting my classic film lenses on my camera – I used the Fotodiox L39 – FX adapter to mount the Yashikor lens to the modern camera. You can too… give it a try as it opens up a whole new world of photographic fun.

Let me add that none of these images were cropped in any way nor were they subject to endless post-production manipulation. These are about as straight from the camera as you can get.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Category Vintage Camera Lenses

Lens Test – Vivitar 28mm f/2 Auto Wide-Angle Lens for Canon FD Mount

Yashica Pentamatic Lenses

New in my Camera Shop, just in time for holiday gift giving.

I’m back with more cameras, photo gear, lenses, and of course, more images!

Happy SUNday! – Contax Bliss

Classic Canon Chrome

Early Yashica Zoom Lens – like new!

3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

Nikon F 35mm SLR Camera with Photomic-T Finder from 1967

Fujifilm Fujichrome Velvia film simulation and a 62-year-old Yashica lens…