The Minolta 35 – updated info from Paul Sokk

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all. I wanted to share my good friend Paul Sokk’s outstanding website that mainly deals with TLR cameras made by Yashica, Paul has added a comprehensive outline and history about the early years of Minolta and concentrating his research on the Minolta 35. Here is the link to his Minolta pages. http://www.yashicatlr.com/Minolta35.html

I hope you take the time to pop on over to Paul’s site as you’ll be drawn in with his excellent facts, advertisements, charts, and of course, pictures of each model and any known varieties and types. Let me just say his works are always well researched and presented in a clear telling of the entire lineup of cameras and lenses.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

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, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

New in the Shop – Fuji Discovery 90

August 4, 2021August 4, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

New in my camera shop is this beautiful Fuji point & shoot 35mm compact film camera set in new, never used condition. These still new in the box cameras from the 1990s are getting harder to find and this one is from our “vast” collection of these types of cameras.

Some of its impressive specs:

Fujinon 34mm f/8 glass lens with 3 elements in 3 groups
* 1/40 to 1/600th Shutter
* Built-in Auto Flash
* Drop-in Film Loading
* Uses DX Coded Film
* Automatic Film Rewinding
* Self-timer
* Macro Mode
* Auto Focus
* Red-Eye Reduction

It’s available for purchase in my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa

May 13, 2021May 13, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/ 1.5 50mm lens shown here with a Zeiss Ikon slip-on lens hood (shade).

This lovely camera is from 1951 and features a built-in exposure meter.

Shown with the meter flap open for business. This image was taken with my Nikon D800 in my studio as a test shot – no post processing.

I haven’t had a chance to run a roll of film through this beauty yet. All levers, knobs, buttons, and dials are working as is the meter. My list of film test cameras is quite extensive so the likelihood that this one will see film anytime soon is slim, very slim.

A quick search on eBay shows a nice selection of these available in all sorts of condition and states of operation. A recent set with body, lens, and box went for $450 (similar to mine) in working condition. I would think around $350 to $400 is reasonable for a clean example and having the box is always nice and in this case worth the $50. I’d give the Contax IIIa a chase factor of 6 – they’re out there so finding one isn’t a problem but finding a 70-year-old camera in full functioning condition is the hard part. Expect some issues that may need to be addressed and of course without service (CLA) little guarantee of continued function. It does make an awesome display camera amongst my other 35mm rangefinders so it’s got that going for it.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chasingacoffee

Zoom Cardia 900 – SLR Slayer from Fuji

March 27, 2019March 27, 2019Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Released in Japan in February 1990, this powerful (and not so little) point and shoot 35mm film camera was designed to bring all of the best auto features into one small package. It listed for ¥ 43,800 ($300 at that time) and compared to other P&S compacts of that period that wasn’t a bad price.

It’s a good looking camera in my opinion and its got some heft to it with all of the micromotors built-in and that big Fujinon zoom lens (400 grams with the CR-P2 battery installed).

Excellent coverage from this sophisticated Fujinon zoom lens – wide-angle to a perfect portrait and short telephoto focal length.

The Cardia Zoom models are considered to be one of the best of the best in the compact 35mm film camera segment – certainly worthy of being called a Modern Classic!

Some of its impressive specs:

Fujinon Z 38-85mm f/3.8 (2.2x zoom) glass lens with 7 elements in 7 groups
1/8 to 1/250th Shutter
(1) CR-P2 6V Lithium Battery (powers both the camera and date/time function)
Built-in Auto Zoom Flash
Drop-in Film Loading with Pre-Winding
Uses DX Coded Film ISO 100, 200, 400, 1600
Date and Time Encoding
Back Light Compensation (BLC)
Multi Auto Focus with AF Lock
Fill-in Flash Mode
Auto Exposure Mode
Mid-roll Rewinding
Self-timer

LCD Window displays zoom lens focal length, frame counter, modes and a host of other data.

In actual use, the camera performs exceptionally well delivering better than expected consistently accurate exposures in a wide variety of situations. I would use ISO 400 as my daily film to be able to handle less than ideal lighting conditions. Of course, with the accurate fill-in auto flash, it would be hard not to take a great image.

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You’ll get this complete set as pictured – the film is expired (07/2010) but we typically get great results with it. Please buy a fresh roll of film before you take those “once in a lifetime” pictures.

Simple to use date and time databack.

Matching serial numbers. That’s the original purchase date (November 28, 1991)

The zoom flash adjusts with the focal length of the lens.

Yep, it’s an in the box original – just like we enjoy collecting them.

This set includes the original unused custom case from Fuji but like all of these vinyl cases from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s they tend to get “sticky” and shouldn’t be used.

Two batteries will come with this set – the original unopened (probably dead) lithium battery and a fresh new one. It will be ready to use right out of the box!

If you’re interested in adding this awesome like-new camera to your collection I’ll be putting it in my camera shop shortly at http://www.ccstudio2380.com or you can purchase it here by clicking on the payment (PayPal) button below. I’ll ship it anywhere in the USA for free using USPS Priority Mail with tracking and full insurance.

Fuji Zoom Cardia 900 Compact 35mm Film Camera Set

You’ll get everything as pictured and described in this post BEFORE it hits my shop. I’ll ship it in the USA for free! Please request a shipping quote for international sales. Thanks, Chris

$169.00

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.

Fujifilm Klasse

October 7, 2017October 7, 2017Chris and Carol 3 Comments

Fujifilm Klasse Sales Brochure

Beautiful all original sales brochure from Fujifilm (dated April 2012). This large brochure (about 21 x 30cm) is in full color and opens to a large centerfold. Packed with tons of information and features the specs direct from Fujifilm. It’s in mint new condition. Perfect for your reference collection. Mails worldwide. Ask for a shipping quote. Mails to the USA for $6.75 via USPS Priority Mail.

$20.00

A beautiful “wish we had” camera from Fujifilm.

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Thanks for looking!

Chris

Newest Pentamatic – another fine Yashica joins the family.

September 18, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A recently acquired Yashica Pentamatic for our collection. This one came to us from a fellow collector here in the southeast US.

This one includes the Auto Yashinon 5.5c f/1.8 lens that puts the lens as a very late production model (maybe mid 1961). Here’s a chance to check out our Pentamatic from many angles.

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The angled shutter release button is in a perfect position for maintaining a solid grip on this heavy body while releasing the shutter.

The lens serial number, No. 60521000 is unique in the fact that it’s a whole number (21000).

The cold shoe is mounted on the camera’s left side top plate. Actually a very good spot for it.

This unique lever controls the rewind knob which pops up from under the cold shoe (it moves from the “A” position).

The body serial number, NO. 126013189 decodes to: 12 = December, 60 = 1960, 13189 = 13,189th made since December of 1959.

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The lever is now in the “O” position which allows the back to be unlocked.

Pulling up the rewind knob completes the opening.

Our love affair with this fine camera continues. We just can’t get over the clean lines and excellent design.

If you want to acquire a nice Pentamatic for your own collection, they come up occasionally on US online auction sites and infrequently on auction sites in Japan. Nice examples can be had for under $50. Super nice examples will go closer to $100 with some guarantee of functionality from the seller.

Fuji Pet Art

July 22, 2017July 22, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited, Tokyo Japan

Fuji Pet 35 – 1959

Yashica Half 17 – Classic mid 1960s design

June 18, 2017June 18, 2017Chris and Carol 13 Comments

Many thanks to our friend and fellow blogger Peggy at Camera Go Camera for sending us this wonderful classic Yashica. It needs a little work on the slower shutter speeds but it’s super clean and a fun sized camera to boot. We look forward to running a roll through it soon.

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Being a half frame 35mm camera means that you can get up to 72 exposures from a standard 36 exposure film cartridge!

One of the more unique and modern looking Yashica logos. We like it better than the western style font that Yashica used for years.

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Certainly a nice camera to add any collection of 1960s 35mm cameras. It has such smooth lines and an exceptionally nice finish to the satin chrome.

Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W

Chris

Nicca 3-S… Quality Rangefinder from 1955

June 3, 2017June 3, 2017Chris and Carol 2 Comments

A beautiful example of a mid 1950s 35mm rangefinder camera – made by Nicca Camera Company, Ltd. DSCF5405

Mated with a sharp Nippon Kogaku Nikkor f/ 2, 5cm lens.

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Main shutter speeds of 1/25 to 1/500th of a second.

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Added bonus on this Nicca – marked <E.P> for exempt purchase. Normally marked for purchases made at military facilities and duty free shops.

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Nicca cameras were considered to be well made cameras during the 1950s. This example is at least 62 years old and the fit and finish is almost flawless. Nicca was acquired by Yashica in 1958 and the merger of the two companies helped Yashica to design and release their first 35mm single lens reflex camera in 1960 – the Yashica Pentamatic.

Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W

Chris

Yashica Pentamatic II at a recent auction.

May 30, 2017May 30, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

If you’ve been following our blog about the Yashica Pentamatic II, then you know that it had one of the shorter production runs of any 35mm Yashica SLR camera. Released in September of 1960 – only a few months after the original Pentamatic went on sale in May of 1960, the model II was replaced by the Pentamatic S by January 1961.

So few of these come up at auction that’s it difficult for a collector to find a good example of one to bid on. This Pentamatic II (pictured below), just sold on an online auction for ¥8,500 with fairly robust bidding activity. While that’s not an extremely high final sales figure, it was rather high in our opinion for a camera that may not be functional with a lens that may have some issues (fungus, mold). Having said that, given just how rare the Pentamatic II is, it is certainly undervalued by some collectors. The camera set looks to be in good condition overall – no major issues seen with the body and it looks complete.

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The serial number (NO. 96001891) would indicate that this body was made in September 1960, and that it was number 1,891 in the production run. For one month that is actually a high amount produced compared to the monthly totals of the original Pentamatic. We will point out that the only change that we’ve been able to find between the two models is that the model II uses a different standard lens – 5.8cm, f/ 1.7 Auto-Yashinon vice the original’s 5.5cm, f/ 1.8 A-Y lens.

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So there you have it – a Pentamatic II with the correct lens, strap and a genuine Yashica filter sold for around $80. You should expect to pay in the vicinity of $100 for a clean version with certified working shutter.

Thanks for your visit and as always, happy hunting!

Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag 35mm Film Camera

The Minolta 35 – updated info from Paul Sokk

New in the Shop – Fuji Discovery 90

Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa

Zoom Cardia 900 – SLR Slayer from Fuji

Released in Japan in February 1990, this powerful (and not so little) point and shoot 35mm film camera was designed to bring all of the best auto features into one small package. It listed for ¥ 43,800 ($300 at that time) and compared to other P&S compacts of that period that wasn’t a bad price.

Fujifilm Klasse

Newest Pentamatic – another fine Yashica joins the family.

Fuji Pet Art

Yashica Half 17 – Classic mid 1960s design

Nicca 3-S… Quality Rangefinder from 1955

Yashica Pentamatic II at a recent auction.