Classic Mamiya M645 – a medium format SLR from 1975

August 29, 2020August 29, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Who hasn’t seen a professional photographer with a Mamiya M645? They were the go-to camera systems for weddings, school photos, and just about any type of photography that benefited from its 6×4.5cm format. I’ll admit, the camera did best on a tripod in a studio but with a steady hand and fast film, it did well on walkabouts.

Here is mine from a recent purchase from the original owner’s estate. Mr. Ken Cobean was a well-known writer and photographer from New Mexico back when it was still part of the old west. Ken’s works were published in magazines such as Time and Life and Ken received two prestigious awards for his photography during the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

Here’s Ken’s Mamiya M645 from 1975.

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It’s a beautifully maintained camera from Ken’s collection of portrait and press photography and it’s available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

I Like Leica (stuff)!

August 28, 2020August 28, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

More Leica-Leitz stuff. This well-preserved brochure is from March 1949.

The finder was useful from 35mm to 135mm – a must once you started using lenses above 50mm.

The Leica catalog code is ‘VIOOH’ and the catalog number is 66,006a.

The finder was quite expensive for 1949 at $77 plus tax. I believe this brochure is dated 3/49 if I interpret the code correctly.

A somewhat similar viewfinder from Japan ca. 1952 from an unknown maker. This one is dedicated to using 13.5cm lenses.

Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit my “gift 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.

Friday Fotos! – Mamiya M645

August 28, 2020August 28, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Mamiya M645 – a classic from 1975.

Mamiya M645 – 15 exposures on 120 roll film.

Medium format film camera with Mamiya-Sekor C f/4 150mm portrait lens.

Prism finder mounted in lieu of the standard waist-level finder. No built-in exposure meter.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day (be safe y’all!). – Chris

Be sure to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com for some truly unique cameras and photographic accessories.

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.

wordless wednesday

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

pipes

wall arts

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

‘contrasts’

Be sure to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com for some truly unique cameras and photographic accessories.

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.

Large Format Lens – Wollensak Raptar

August 24, 2020August 24, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It sounds like a bird of prey – Wollensak Raptar. It’s actually a Raptar Serirs II 162mm f/4.5 (Catalog 2) lens that was made from 1947 to 1972. This one is from around 1950 and is in excellent condition with a fully working and accurate Wollensak Rapax 3 Synchromatic lens.

This 162mm lens is equivalent to a 55mm ‘normal’ lens in 35mm photography.

Classic Burke & James Press (4×5) camera from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s (pictured below).

Super clean and shiny.

1946 catalog from Burke & James.

This press camera is designed to shoot with still available 4×5 inch sheet film in both color and black & white negative film and color transparency (slide) film.

An example of a currently available 4×5 sheet film. Kodak, Fujifilm, Ilford, and others are still made and there are many online labs that develop the film.

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

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 ground glass focusing screen for my Burke & James 4×5 Press Camera

August 23, 2020August 23, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve recently acquired a rather large collection of cameras and various bits of gear from well-known New Mexico writer and photographer Ken Cobean’s estate. His son, Sam Cobean was kind enough to let me appraise his dad’s collection and we’ve since struck a deal for me to purchase it.

One of the cameras in the collection is this very nice Burke & James Press camera (pictured below) from the late 1940s to early 1950s (I haven’t nailed down the exact date of this particular camera as of this post). It may turn out to be a mid-fifties camera and lens set after a tad more research.

4×5 inch large format press camera. Equipped with a Wollensak Rapax Syncromatic shutter with speeds from 1 to 1/200th of a second plus ‘B’ and ‘T’.

The lens is a Wollensak 162mm f/4.5 coated Raptar Series II (Tessar type) made about 1950 or 1951. In 4×5 large format photography, a 162mm focal length lens is considered to be equivalent to a ‘normal’ 55mm lens in 35mm photography.

The ‘C’ with the ‘W’ inside it (in red) indicates that the lens is ‘Wocoted’ or simply has a Wocote coating on all lens surfaces. This lens was produced between 1947 to 1972.

After installing a new custom made ground glass focusing screen I decided to give it a test run in the studio. My Yashica LM proved to be an appropriate subject.

The revolving back on the B&J Press was rotated to take advantage of the verticle nature of the shot. I’m quite pleased with the results.

My ‘studio’ set up. The press camera is in the dark on the lower right.

The original ground glass in the press camera has seen better days.

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

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 – Leica Bits!

August 23, 2020August 23, 2020Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Part of the fun of collecting cameras is discovering something you didn’t know existed. In this case, I recently discovered that Leica Leitz made lens cases out of Bakelite (ancient plastic) that held various Leica lenses in the late 1940s and early 1950s (reportedly as early as the mid-1930s).

The case is designed to hold the lens securely with a small notch for the focus knob.

There are small numbers embossed in the base, 2729, and on the cap 2617. These numbers do not show up currently on a search of Leica catalog numbers.

The outside of the base of the Bakelite case.

‘BCDOO’ was the Leica catalog code for the Bakelite lens case for the 3.5cm Summaron. The translation of the French is “Bakelite boxes with screw-thread cover for…”.

Apparently, at some point in time (I don’t know the date of this catalog) these Bakelite cases were offered with the lenses as either a standard accessory or available as a separate option.

A small sample of the Bakelite cases.

Thanks for stopping by and here’s hoping you have a beautiful day and that you’re about to discover something neat in your camera collection! – Chris

By the way, my camera shop is always open at http://www.ccstudio2380.com so feel free to pop on over.

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 – Cameras, Lenses & Neat Photo Stuff!

August 22, 2020August 22, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! Hope you’re staying safe and taking care of one another. Here are some new items I’ve added to my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com this week.

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

My shop is 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.

Nikon D50 DSLR with AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5G ED Zoom Lens

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! I have a very nice classic Nikon DSLR from 2005 – it’s been fully tested, it’s super clean, and works 100%. The Nikkor lens is super sharp and focuses quickly and accurately. The lens can mount on any F mount body and can focus both with autofocus and manually.

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Here’s a couple of sample shots from it just this morning.

Full auto exposure and autofocus at full zoom. Great details, nice contrast, and fantastic colors.

A studio shot of the original Nikon camera strap and Lowepro padded DSLR bag that’s included with this nice set. The Nikon D50 excels for taking product shots for online auctions and it’s perfect for quick and easy pics for your website.

This set includes the Nikon D50 DSLR, the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5G DX ED zoom lens, the original Nikon camera strap, Nikon front and rear lens caps, Nikon remote with a fresh Sony battery, Nikon charger and battery, and the Lowepro case.

Nikon D50 DSLR and AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens and all accessories pictured. Fully working and as clean as new.

Super nice Nikon DSLR set as described and depicted here in this post. Additional pictures upon request. I'll ship anywhere in the US via USPS Priority Mail with insurance and tracking FOR FREE! I can also ship nearly worldwide just ask for a quote first. If you would rather purchase this camera set direct from my shop (hosted by Etsy) just pop on over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com Thanks, Chris

$129.00

Throwback Thursday – a Canon Classic

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Canon New F-1 Olympics

The Canon New F-1 Los Angeles 1984 Olympics Edition.

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

Be sure to stop by my always open camera shop hosted by Etsy 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.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Page 121 of 255

Classic Mamiya M645 – a medium format SLR from 1975

I Like Leica (stuff)!

More Leica-Leitz stuff. This well-preserved brochure is from March 1949.

Friday Fotos! – Mamiya M645

The Mamiya M645 – a classic from 1975.

wordless wednesday

Large Format Lens – Wollensak Raptar

It sounds like a bird of prey – Wollensak Raptar. It’s actually a Raptar Serirs II 162mm f/4.5 (Catalog 2) lens that was made from 1947 to 1972. This one is from around 1950 and is in excellent condition with a fully working and accurate Wollensak Rapax 3 Synchromatic lens.

New ground glass focusing screen for my Burke & James 4×5 Press Camera

I’ve recently acquired a rather large collection of cameras and various bits of gear from well-known New Mexico writer and photographer Ken Cobean’s estate. His son, Sam Cobean was kind enough to let me appraise his dad’s collection and we’ve since struck a deal for me to purchase it.

SUNday Spotlight – Chasing Classic Cameras – Leica Bits!

Part of the fun of collecting cameras is discovering something you didn’t know existed. In this case, I recently discovered that Leica Leitz made lens cases out of Bakelite (ancient plastic) that held various Leica lenses in the late 1940s and early 1950s (reportedly as early as the mid-1930s).

New in the Shop – Cameras, Lenses & Neat Photo Stuff!

Hi all! Hope you’re staying safe and taking care of one another. Here are some new items I’ve added to my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com this week.

Nikon D50 DSLR with AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5G ED Zoom Lens

Hi all! I have a very nice classic Nikon DSLR from 2005 – it’s been fully tested, it’s super clean, and works 100%. The Nikkor lens is super sharp and focuses quickly and accurately. The lens can mount on any F mount body and can focus both with autofocus and manually.

Throwback Thursday – a Canon Classic