Happy SUNday! – Mamiya first pics

May 29, 2022May 29, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My new to me Mamiya C33 has been a joy to use. It’s everything I expected it to be and more. Here are a few pics from my first roll of film (Fujicolor PRO 400H). These are medium resolution scans from the lab and they’ve been kindly enhanced by my good friend Paul Sokk (www.yashicatlr.com) since I don’t have a decent photo editing program. Having said that, these images are presented uncropped in their original 6 x 6 cm format.

My Mamiya C33 (1969) with Mamiya-Sekor f3.5 105mm lenses and Seiko shutter. The top lens is the viewing lens and the bottom is the taking lens. Mamiya “matches” the lenses (maybe from the same batch).

Mamiya TLRs feature the ability to interchange lenses from 55mm to 250mm.

A snip from the Mamiya C33 instruction booklet dated from 1969.

Not an exciting pic but it does show the exposed roll neatly tucked into the upper film chamber. The new roll of 120 film is loaded into the bottom chamber. Of note, the Mamiya C series features a direct and flat film path across the pressure plate.

I’m very happy that the camera is in excellent working condition and that the lenses are crystal clear. All 12 exposures came out so I hadn’t forgotten how to use a light meter. I’ll scan the negatives myself once I get them from the lab and post those scans here. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

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.

Yashica’s Model A TLR – a camera you should collect

April 12, 2022April 12, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all… if you’re looking to get into medium-format film photography may I suggest you look for the Yashica Model A as a good starting point. The camera is super simple to operate and is very affordable compared to other Yashica models. The better price doesn’t get you an inferior camera though as the Model A uses high-quality Yashica lenses made by Tomioka Optical of Tokyo. Here’s an example of a Model A. This one was made in 1966 and is in mint condition.

Here’s a link to the instruction booklet. http://www.yashicatlr.com/PDFs%20User%20Manuals%20(new)/Yashica%20A%20(LoRes).pdf

The right side has a large focusing knob in feet and meters and a smaller film advance knob (upper left).

This camera’s left side features an accessory shoe.

A red viewing window indicates which exposure you’re on.

Film loading is simple as is unloading. The camera uses easy to find 120 roll film. I like using film from Fujifilm.

Both the viewing lens (top) and the taking lens are Yashikor f3.5 80mm made by Tomioka Optical. The shutter is made by Copal and features speeds from B (Bulb) to 1/300. The shutter is cocked by moving the lever (with a green dot) downward after advancing the film. The shutter release is the silver button on the lower left of the faceplate. The aperture is set by the silver lever to the right of the taking lens.

Instruction booklet from the first version of the camera (1956).

Why I love the Yashica-A. It’s simple to use and simple to operate and with less fussy features it’s likely to operate for decades to come and it’s easy to chase down on the online auction and buying sites (eBay, Etsy, Mercari). What’s the downside? Like any camera that’s over five decades old, fungus and mold on the lenses are the biggest issues. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to get at the lenses and give them a good cleaning as long as the fungus hasn’t etched the glass lens elements. I find my Yashica-A’s lens is just as good a picture taker as my much more feature-laden Yashica-Mat EM with a Yashinon lens. For much more on everything related to Yashica TLRs, stop by my good friend Paul Sokk’s site at http://www.yashicatlr.com – Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Yashima Flex – 1954

February 5, 2022February 5, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Before they were known as Yashica they were Yashima and this is one of the first cameras to feature their original name. This is one of the nicest TLRs in my collection and I was thrilled to find it many years ago on an auction site in Japan. The original lenses were marked Tomioka Tri-Lausar and later just Yashinon. Tomioka Optical eventually became part of the Yashica Company.

This is an incredibly difficult camera to find for sale anywhere but a few do show up from time to time. Your best bet is to keep an eye out for one on Buyee (Yahoo Japan Auction) in Japan. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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

Fernandina Public School No. 1

February 1, 2022February 1, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Public School No. 1 building, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida. This grand building is home to the county office for the Nassau County School Board.

The image above was taken with my Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera and Canon EF 16-35mm zoom lens late in the afternoon. In the image below taken about mid-day, I used my ca.1964 Yashica Mat EM twin-lens reflex film camera which shoots a 6x6cm square image on 120 roll film.

I enjoy photographing the many historic buildings in and around the Fernandina Beach Historic District using different cameras and formats. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Revisiting a classic – Yashica Flex model S

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Yashica Flex Model S. Maybe from 1955 or early 1956. First Yashica TLR with built-in exposure meter. Made by Yashima Kogaku Seiki Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan, which later became Yashica. The leather case is in excellent condition given its age. The camera is a gem and is a joy to play with.

A close cousin, the Yashicaflex AS-II (below).

This lovely camera dates from around 1954.

Yashima Flex twin-lens reflex camera from the talented craftspeople of Yashima Kogaku Seiki Co., Ltd.

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

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

SUNday Spotlight! – Pigeonflex

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

Hello all! Happy Sunday and thanks for stopping by.

Before Yashica was Yashica they were Yashima and Yashima’s first camera was the oddly named Pigeonflex.

pigeonflex with dirt

Proudly displaying 67 years of dirt, dust, soot, and grime. I’ve since cleaned it up (which was super fun) and as you see it here it was fully working! Credit goes to those talented craftspeople in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan those many decades ago.

I purchased this from a Japanese seller from Hokkaido, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Japan a few years back.

Yashima’s Pigeonflex Twin-lens Reflex (TLR)

A short two years later, this was the first camera from Yashima to carry the Yashica name – confused yet?

Yashica Flex S from 1955

Have a beautiful day and be sure to stop by my camera shop hosted by Etsy 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.

wordless wednesday

February 5, 2020February 5, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Camera: Fujicaflex Automat (1954) by Fuji Photo Film Company

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.

Happy SUNday! – Recent Arrivals

February 2, 2020February 2, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Some new additions to our already crowded Yashica family of cameras.

Our all-time favorite Yashica SLR.

*** Yashica TL Electro X ***

This one is from April 1973 and was made in the newly opened factory in Hong Kong.

Hard to find Yashica Electro AX – second to the last M42 screw mount lens bodies.

This is the only early Yashica SLR with a leatherette insert on the pentaprism. This one was made in November 1973.

Yashica D TLR from late 1966.

Some of these will be appearing in our shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com in the coming weeks as well as some other arrivals.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful 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.

(almost) wordless wednesday

December 4, 2019December 4, 2019Chris and Carol Leave a comment

yashica a cam and box

From 1964 – Yashica model A twin-lens reflex film camera still new in its original factory wrapper (and box).

*I know, pretty wordy for a Wordless Wednesday.

It’s available for purchase 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.

The Fujicaflex Automat- a monster TLR from Fuji Photo Film Company, Tokyo

November 17, 2019November 17, 2019Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Here’s another look at this wonderful camera. I’ve recently found the time to shoot a roll of film with it and the film will be developed soon. I’ll be sure to post the scans when I can.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Fuji’s only attempt at a twin-lens reflex camera – 1954

The Fuji Photo Film Company of Tokyo has a long history of making some very desirable cameras – from simple point and shoot models to high-quality professional medium format film cameras covering most types of film formats (Fuji Photo, after all, is in the business of selling film). Along the way, there have been a few cameras that have stood out for their technical achievements and innovations and one of them is the Fujicaflex Automat (for much more about this model please check out Mr. Koyasu’s wonderful site).

We’ve wanted to add this camera to our collection for many years and the right combination of events led us to this one. It was for sale in Japan a short while back and we missed it – it became available again from a collector in Thailand so we went for it.

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Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag 120 Roll Film Camera

Happy SUNday! – Mamiya first pics

Yashica’s Model A TLR – a camera you should collect

Yashima Flex – 1954

Fernandina Public School No. 1

Revisiting a classic – Yashica Flex model S

SUNday Spotlight! – Pigeonflex

Hello all! Happy Sunday and thanks for stopping by.

wordless wednesday

Happy SUNday! – Recent Arrivals

Some new additions to our already crowded Yashica family of cameras.

(almost) wordless wednesday

The Fujicaflex Automat- a monster TLR from Fuji Photo Film Company, Tokyo

Fuji’s only attempt at a twin-lens reflex camera – 1954