The instruction book is hard to find, but I was lucky to find one from a collector in Canada. This one was published in September 1969.My gorgeous Asahi Pentax SL in the piano-black finish. Shown here with its Super-Takumar f/1.8 55mm lens.1960s low tech at its finest.All the bits.
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
A reader sent me these pictures of his Yashica TL Electro X ITS camera and asked if I knew anything about this version. I hadn’t seen a gold and lizard skin Yashica before (Contax, yes; Yashica, no).
I’ve seen similar lizard skin coverings, but from the image, it’s difficult to tell if it would have been applied at the factory.The serial number indicates it was made in August 1970.The plating quality looks sub-par, but it’s pretty worn again, so it’s difficult to tell.
Here is a genuine gold Contax camera with lizard skin coverings that’s presently for sale on an online auction site (see below).
This one is in new condition, so comparing the two cameras is difficult. Yashica joined Contax in 1975 to create a new line of modern Contax-branded cameras.
I suppose Yashica or one of its distributors might have made this gold TL Electro X version, but if they did, they left off the ‘ITS’ logo (badge) that would have been on the camera’s front just to the left of the lens. See an example of a genuine TL Electro X ITS camera below.
What do you think? Genuine or not? Ultimately, it’s his camera, and if he likes it, then great. 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
My Yashica FX-D Quartz goes from funky blue to stately black.
I like the blue, but the previous owner didn’t install it well.It looks like it should have looked when Yashica first released it. The black leatherette is from a seller in Japan, so I feel like it’s a good traditional match for this era camera.
What do you think? Blue or black. 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
My 1959-ish Asahi Pentax H2 with a fabulous Asahi Auto-Takumar f3.5 35mm lens and all of the period correct bits. I’m a big fan of wide-angle lenses on 35mm cameras, even though a 35 is on the upper end of the focal length scale. Those few extra millimeters can make all the difference in group shots or when working in tight spaces in our historic district. www.ccstudio2380.com
A modern-made leather half-case contrasts nicely with the vintage satin chrome metalwork.Asahi Optical Auto-Takumar f3.5 35mm lens. Surprisingly, the early Takumar lenses didn’t usually have a matching Asahi Pentax lens cap. Some caps just had Takumar on them.A gem.
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
I’ve decided to part with some of the more important cameras in my collection and this set certainly qualifies.
None better… Canon F-1 ‘Super Set’. Canon F-1 body (1978), Canon FD 55mm f1.2 Chrome Nose lens (1972), Canon Motor Drive MF with Grip MF, and finally a Canon Servo EE Finder. Everything is part of my collection and everything is working as designed. A tribute to Canon’s designers and engineers. I’ll be listing this set soon in my camera shop at 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
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.
Far left is the TL Electro X in silver chrome (it also was available in all black) and on the right the TL Electro X ITS which was only available in pro-black with the gold electron symbol on the pentaprism.Not to overlook the quality of the lenses from Yashica which were made in-house by Tomioka Optical. Here’s an Auto Yashinon DS-M 50mm f1.4 – super sharp lens (and fast).
If you’re looking to acquire a true classic 35mm SLR that will ease you into film photography, then I highly recommend getting this model Yashica. They were produced in rather large quantities during the late 1960s through the mid-1970s and if you find one that looks as nice as this one (and is a one owner) then the likelihood of getting one in fully working condition goes way up. Avoid online sellers that provide fuzzy pics and vague descriptions – look for sellers that will answer your direct questions as to the functional condition of the camera. The good news is that this Yashica uses a very common battery – I’m using an Energizer A544-6V alkaline (also known as an LR44). The battery provides the correct voltage with no drop-off over time.
BTW, this one was made in the then newest Yashica factory in Hong Kong and is marked “Hong Kong” on the bottom plate vice “Japan” which would be marked on the right side back of the top plate. This one will be leaving my collection soon as I am currently downsizing my camera collection. You can watch for it in my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com
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.
Also known as the Nikon N75 in North America and the F75 everywhere else outside of Japan. It’s a sophisticated autofocus and auto exposure 35mm film camera that uses almost all of Nikon’s F mount lenses.
Original list price in 2003. It’s actually a very expensive film camera in it’s day. At about 110 JPY to USD puts it in the high $500 range.
This particular camera had the date time display option so technically it would be the Nikon U2 QD.
I’ll have this wonderful available in my camera shop very soon. You can visit my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com
Here’s a fun little contest brochure that was included with my camera.
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.
This is the earliest brochure that features the complete Canon F-1 system at that time. The back of the brochure has Bell & Howell as the distributor in the US and Canada.
The brochure is in near full mint new condition with the exception of a small dealer date stamp on the lower back cover. There is a very slight bend on the lower left of
the cover that is barely noticeable. The binding (staples) are tight and there is
no writing, no missing pages, and no folded or dog eared pages. It’s clean
and bright with no musty smells.
Perfect for your collection and a great way to enhance your Canon F-1.
The brochure is an incredibly detailed description and introduction to the camera – its features, technology, and applications. There are illustrations of the camera
and its accessories, tables of specifications, an exploded diagram of the camera,
and detailed guides to the use of the camera and accessories. There are also numerous color photos taken by the camera and its associated FD & FL lenses.
It’s a large 8 x 11 format and has 18 pages. The actual publication date is November 1979 – English Edition printed in Japan.
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 Fujica GW690 6×9 Professional camera by Fuji Photo Film Company. Mine was made around 1978 and it’s still going strong today. It’s one of the most affordable (and plentiful) larger medium-format film cameras available.
The Fujica is a fixed-lens rangefinder that takes (6) D cell batteries – it could take 6 batteries as it’s big enough but there’s no built-in light meter and the shutter is mechanical so no need for batteries.
3 lbs 2 oz (1,1414 grams) without film.
This is a big, no crazy large camera with a super sharp EBC Fujinon 90mm f/3.5 lens. The lens is made up of 5 elements in 5 groups. The leaf-shutter is a Seiko #0 with B, 1-1/500.
Yashica TL Electro X ITS with a huge Tomioka 55mm f/1.2 and the ‘Beast’.
My TL Electro X ITS with its super-fast Tomioka 55mm f/1.2 lens is big and heavy but not Fujica heavy. The Yashica weighs in at 1,019 grams which is heavy enough. Size and weight do not make a camera great – the size of the negative and the quality of the optics are the foundation of true greatness and this camera delivers
Direct scan of the 6x9cm negative. No post-production.
Direct scan of the 6x9cm negative. No post-production.
I’m very pleased with the camera and lens and I’m equally pleased with the Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros black and white film. If you’re looking to get into the 6×9 format then I recommend you give the Fuji a try.
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 ship almost worldwide and my shop is hosted by Etsy for safe and secure shopping. 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.
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 