Happy SUNday! – more cameras

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

As I continue to reduce my camera collection, I’ve added these two gems to my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

The original Nikon F 35mm SLR film camera was introduced in 1959. Here is my 1969 model.

Introduced in 1971, this is a mid-1973 model of the Canon F-1 35mm SLR film camera.

You can’t ask for a better camera in the Nikon line.

Canon’s top-of-the-line camera for a decade.

Off subject, here is a beautiful picture that a dear friend took along the north coast of Long Island.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Comments are always welcome; I’ve learned a great deal from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by. While there, visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios, hosted on 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 © 2015-2026 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Canon FTb-N in Black

March 12, 2026March 12, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Appreciating my first FTb-N in gorgeous black. Now I can see the F-1 DNA. I’ve overlooked this model for decades. It’s simple and uncomplicated. It just works, and of course, the best part is Canon glass.

Shown here with a classic chrome nose FD 50/1.8 lens.

This camera is dated February 1977. The lens is from April 1972.

This isn’t a display piece; it shows its dents, dings, and brassing with pride earned from years of careful use.

The FTb was produced from 1973 (in this version) until late 1977.

I’ve added an early Canon chrome nose lens. They look good together.

Still has a glow to it after all these years.

The Canon FTb-N is still widely available, and with production continuing until late 1977, there are still some super sharp bodies out there at a fair price.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Canon F-1 Family

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My original Canon F-1 from 1978 is on the upper left (with the motor drive)—the Canon O.D. F-1 is my most recent acquisition.

With their original instruction booklets.

With an early Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 chrome nose lens.

OD F-1. A limited edition olive drab version from early 1978.

My earliest model. The serial number indicates that this camera was in the first 20,000 built in 1971. It also has the <E.P> mark.

It’s one of my favorite 35mm SLRs in my collection.

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 © 2015-2025 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

A little gem from 1959.

January 15, 2025January 15, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Asahi Pentax H2 – 1959
One of my favorite early 35mm SLRs in my collection. It’s as good, if not better, than the Nikon F from the same year.

Camera and Lens: Fujifilm X-T2, Fujinon XF 10-24mm f4 R OIS, Fujifilm Acros Simulation.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

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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.

Nikon F – this one is from late 1964

January 23, 2024January 23, 2024Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Nikon F
Nikkor-H Auto 2.8cm f3.5 pre-Ai
Nippon Kogaku Tokyo 1964 (late) body and Nippon Kogaku K.K. lens from around 1961 or 1962. The body was modified to accept the Photomic-T finder.
Classic Nikon at its best. I enjoy using this focal length over 24mm or 35mm, and with modern fast films, the f3.5 aperture is not an issue. On my Fujifilm X-T2 (APS-C Sensor), the lens has an effective focal length of 42mm.

The lens is from around late 1961 or 1962. The first lens in this style and focal length was serial number 301xxx, released in early 1960.

Mostly Nippon Kogaku caps. The Nikkor front cap is 52mm and is a bit newer style for this lens.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Nice find, Minolta X-700 boxes

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

I’m always on the lookout (chase) for items to add value to my camera collection. Recently I purchased a super nice Minolta X-700 35mm SLR and Minolta 50mm f/2 lens from a local collector who swore he still had the original boxes that the camera came in. After much searching around his home, he discovered them packed away in a seldom-used Christmas ornaments box. The boxes are factory fresh since he put them away when still new.

The outer shipping box is a bit rough but it did its job and kept the presentation boxes fresh.

A body cap and a rear lens dust cap. An added bonus is the little plastic insert that covers the film pressure plate.

I don’t have the camera and lens anymore so it’s a good time to pass this set along to the next collector. If you are interested they are available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. 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

new kid on the block – Nikon L35AF

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Can’t wait to shoot a roll! More to come. – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Zeiss Ikon IIIa with Box – 1951

June 11, 2020June 11, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

We were lucky enough to collect this wonderful Contax with an original box (we love old cameras and their boxes)!

The Contax IIIa (and IIa) are interchangable lens 35mm rangefinder cameras.

The Contax IIIa was made by Zeiss Ikon AG. Stuttgart, West Germany.

We haven’t run a roll of film through it yet but we hope to soon. The lens is a Carl Zeiss 50mm f/ 1.5 and the exposure meter (top) appears to be working after all these years.

Exposure meter flap in the open position. The meter has selenium cells that are powered by light – no batteries necessary. The only downside is that over time they do give out and they can be a bit fragile after nearly 70-years-old.

The Carl Zeiss f/ 1.5 lens is considered to be fast even by today’s standards.

Here’s the Contax IIa – same features but without the built-in exposure meter.

Here’s another camera in our collection that’s available to purchase. From 1955, the Minolta A2 (or A-2) 35mm non-interchangeable lens rangefinder camera.

DSCF8447

DSCF8451

The Minolta is available in our Etsy camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful 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.

Nicca 3-F Brochure – 1957

November 22, 2019November 22, 2019Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Here is a very nice brochure for the popular Nicca 3-F (lever) 35mm rangefinder camera – a sophisticated Leica inspired camera from Japan.

An inside view of the brochure. The serial number on the camera is No. 151144

Analysis of the serial numbers indicates that about 6,000 cameras were made. This assumes that there were no breaks in production and that the numbers were assigned consecutively.

The front and back cover of the brochure. Hinomaruya ひのまるや (upper left corner) was the sole distributor for Nicca in Japan – I’m not sure if they handled distribution outside of Japan.

Nice assortment of available accessories for the Nicca 3-F

This brochure has survived in near mint condition – it’s obvious collectors have handled it carefully over the years.

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.

Yashica Mystery – what is it and what does it mean?

June 23, 2019Chris and Carol 6 Comments

Contributor and Yashica aficionado, Graham Buxton-Smither posted this picture in my Flickr Group, https://www.flickr.com/groups/2734130@N24/pool/ the other day asking if I’d ever seen this type of serial number on a Yashica TL Electro X (pro-black body) before. I haven’t so I thought it would be good to broadcast it in this blog in hopes of discovering something about it.

Serial number with its odd two letter prefix ‘FI’. Photo courtesy of Graham Buxton-Smither https://www.flickr.com/photos/164456136@N06/

The serial number itself is unremarkable in the sense that it follows along with the standard for a Yashica SLR. It decodes to December 1969 as the manufacture date. The ‘FI’ has no previous use that I’m aware of so it was a surprise to see it. Graham states that it is on a one owner Yashica TL Electro X purchased in the UK when new. It appears to be a factory mark as the black paint looks undisturbed.

I’m stumped as there isn’t an example anywhere in my databases. I can’t even fathom a guess at this point.

Any help including guesses will be appreciated.

Thanks – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag 35mm Cameras

Happy SUNday! – more cameras

Canon FTb-N in Black

Canon F-1 Family

A little gem from 1959.

Nikon F – this one is from late 1964

Nice find, Minolta X-700 boxes

new kid on the block – Nikon L35AF

Zeiss Ikon IIIa with Box – 1951

Nicca 3-F Brochure – 1957

Yashica Mystery – what is it and what does it mean?