The Curious Case of the Yashica ‘Olympic’* Camera

April 16, 2018April 16, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

No, not those* Olympics.

New to us, this neat little Yashica L AF 35mm compact point and shoot film camera is from 1986 and sports an Olympic theme. In all the years that Carol and I have collected Yashica cameras we’ve never run across a Yashica that featured a logo not directly related to Yashica – until now.

We’re big fans of the L AF and we’ve reviewed it before. Field Test of the L AF

We haven’t been able to find anything that relates to this logo – no other Yashica-Kyocera camera has one. And what exactly is “Camera America”? It looks like (somewhat) an official Olympic logo but without the 5 rings. Did Yashica-Kyocera invent it purely for a marketing campaign? The timing is off as the previous Olympics were held in Los Angeles in 1984 and the next wasn’t scheduled until 1988. Releasing an Olympic camera in 1986 just doesn’t make sense.

The colors and fonts match in our opinion (see below) – the reds and golds match so it most likely was applied by the factory. As was typical with Yashica and Kyocera, no documentation exists for a “Camera America” version of anything nevermind an “Olympic Edition”.

As we’ve said before the Yashica-Kyocera L AF is a low priced version of the more recognizable T* series of 35mm compacts and is a great camera for the money. If you run across one in working condition, by all means, give it a try.

This one is a tad beat up and it hasn’t been tested yet but we expect it to do well. Once we squeeze some time out of our busy schedule we’ll have a go at it.

By the way, here’s a clip from the instruction booklet for the L AF – more than likely the date depicted matches the release date of the camera (or pretty close to it).

yashica l af booklet

A sticky 1986 Yashica-Kyocera case for the L AF

Our first Yashica-Kyocera L AF

The image was taken with the L AF on Fujicolor film

The much more expensive version

Thanks for your visit. Have you ever seen an Olympic Yashica? Please share your comments if you have!

Chris and Carol ^.^

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 FUNday!

January 12, 2018January 12, 2018Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The end of a long work week (for some) and the start of a busy and fun weekend (for some). We hope to get out and about this weekend for some picture taking as we’ve got two cameras loaded with film and ready to go.

Ash in the studio having some fun!

The two film cameras we’re looking to use this weekend? How about a c1956 Nicca S-3 rangefinder and a 1998 Yashica-Kyocera Profile 4000ix APS camera! The Nicca has some Fujicolor 800 loaded and the Yashica has Fujifilm 200 expired APS film.

We’ll post our pics as soon as we can.

The Fujifilm 200 APS film cartridge being loaded in the Yashica Profile.

The decidedly weird Yashica Profile.

Thanks for stopping by!

C&C ^.^

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.

Hercules and Cacus – Piazza della Signoria, Florence

November 4, 2017November 4, 2017Chris and Carol 4 Comments

Maybe not my most favorite statue in Florence (so many to choose from) but I like the effect that my 24mm lens gives the viewer – add in contrasty late day lighting and it was a tough shot to get. Wide angle lenses like the 24mm slightly pointed upward will give the most (pleasing) distortion.

Canon F-1 with Canon FD 24mm f/ 2.8 wide angle lens on Kodak Kodachrome 25 color slide film. The light meter in the F-1 handled the tricky lighting rather well. If I remember correctly, I took a spot reading of the building in bright sunlight and then the deep shadows behind the statue – I then adjusted the exposure settings to reflect an average of the two.

Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus, 16th Century – Florence

Thanks for your visit to the most beautiful place in all of Tuscany.

Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text are property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

First Look… Yashica Pentamatic II – Finally!!!

September 25, 2017September 25, 2017Chris and Carol 3 Comments

After years of searching, we’ve finally acquired our first Pentamatic II. A rather rare camera that was only released in Japan and only for a short time. It’s estimated (by us) that less than 6,000 bodies were made. How many of those survived to the present day is of course unknown.

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Much more detail about this Pentamatic coming soon.

Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9000W

Chris

Yashica TL Electro X – Pro Black

August 14, 2017August 14, 2017Chris and Carol 2 Comments

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Yashica’s most successful SLR… the TL Electro X set the standard for pioneering electronics in photography.

This nice example is from 1971.

Hybrid Camera: Fujifilm X-A10 with Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens

Chris

Yashica Penta J and the J-P

July 27, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica’s first 35mm single-lens reflex camera with the Praktica-thread (M42) mount lenses was the Yashica Penta J… at least here in the United States and in Japan. Elsewhere (most of the world) the camera was known as either the Yashica Reflex 35 or Reflex J (Australia and possibly the U.K.). As best we can tell, they were all the same cameras with different top plates to accommodate the different names (logos).

Part of the demise (lack of sales success) of the well-built Pentamatic series of cameras that preceded the Penta J, was that Yashica decided to go with a Pentamatic exclusive bayonet mount lens system. Sturdy and well designed to be sure, but being unique limited the available lenses that could be swapped between cameras. The Praktica design M42 screw thread mounting system was in widespread use at the time and Yashica’s bayonet design just went against the flow.

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Now fast forward to 1965 ish… Yashica introduces the new J-5 AND the J-P! In between those years Yashica had introduced the J-3 and J-4. Why would Yashica go back in time and bring out another 35mm SLR in 1965 that was the cousin to the 1961 Penta J? Notice we say cousins… not brothers. They shared the same platform with one another but as you can see in the image below the top plates were of a different design.

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Yashica J-P 6-27-15 Papers

Stay tuned… more to come on these Yashica classics.

Many thanks, Chris and Carol

St. Augustine Florida Lighthouse

June 2, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The day I choose to visit the lighthouse was terrible – Florida wise. Mid September, crazy hot, oppressively humid and not a hint of a seabreeze. Oh and the sun was obscured by clouds all day. So with that said, it wasn’t a great photo opportunity for shooting with film. The few usable images came via my cameraphone and Sony Cyber-shot.

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Looking east towards the Atlantic Ocean.

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Optimistic that I would be able to get some good shots with my Canon A-1.

Overall the lighthouse is worth your time to visit, just pick a perfect weather day to go. The lighthouse has been fully restored and is kept very well maintained and the view from the top is exceptional – a bit toe curling if you and heights have an uneasy relationship – that red railing looks pretty thin at the top!

Thanks for your visit!

Cameras: Sony Cyber-shot W-170, Canon A-1 with FD 17mm lens, Samsung Galaxy S4

Chris

Part of our “We don’t collect Fuji cameras” collection –

May 19, 2017May 19, 2017Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Plastic Fantastic from the Fuji Photo Film Company.

Smart Shot Deluxe Sep 1994

DL-7 Apr 1987

Discovery 90 Date Jun 1994

Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W

Chris

Fuji Photo Film – Fuji Pet 35

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017Chris and Carol 9 Comments

From 1959, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. follow-up to their widely popular Fujipet 120 film camera. The Pet 35 took advantage of the growing popularity of 35mm photography – plus it’s a great way to sell more film!

The Pet 35 was way more sophisticated than the Fujipet – but retained the funky charm and quirkiness of the original. Since the Pet 35 is not a common camera, we’ve presented a visual tour of our almost mint condition Pet 35.

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Original set as found. We have the leather case too.

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The lens is a Fujinar-K 3 element glass lens – 45mm with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 with closest focussing to 0.5 meters.

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The lever to the right of the lens cocks the shutter and the left lever trips the Copal B leaf shutter.

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The Copal shutter features speeds of B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/200 of a second.

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In keeping with the funky design – two oversized knobs that left no doubt on how to operate them.

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The body is dark gray on this Pet 35.

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Outer ring is the focus adjustment, next is the shutter speed selector and finally the aperture settings.

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The original Pet 35 lens cap.

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Nicely detailed and finished.

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Early 1960s Fuji Film Neopan SS – ASA 100. How about film for only ¥190!

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Original selling price was ¥3,400 – the leather case sold for ¥700 and a soft case was available for ¥350

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Original sales brochure specs.

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The viewfinder is bright and clear – and big for such a small camera.

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ASA reminder scale and film back release.

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The Pet 35 is far from being a ‘toy camera’ as its build quality is quite high. No foam or yarn light seals to fail – the metal film door fit tightly into the body to seal out light.

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Gotta love the Fuji Film stickers inside!

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Thanks so much for your visit – we hope that you enjoyed our tour of this fantastic Fuji!

Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W

Chris & Carol ^.^

Canon AE-1 Program – An alternative to the more costly A-1

May 4, 2017May 4, 2017Chris and Carol 3 Comments

Canon’s A Series of cameras were among the best in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Often overlooked, the Canon AE-1 Program (it was also available in a pro black body) was a fun and accurate SLR during its heyday. Of course the Canon A-1 and the AE-1 were the most popular of all.

The AE-1 Program, like all of the Canon A Series of bodies, used the Canon FD lenses – here with the popular and super lightweight 50mm f/1.8 lens.

AE-1 Program in pro black and Olympic Edition.

If you get a chance to pick one of these up for a fair price we think you’ll be surprised at how well the auto exposure modes do under challenging lighting situations. It’s not built as robustly as the A-1 but can be had for much less.

The AE-1 P makes a nice addition to any Canon collection and certainly would look good in any collection of early Japanese SLRs.

Thanks for stopping by!

Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170

Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag 35mm

The Curious Case of the Yashica ‘Olympic’* Camera

No, not those* Olympics.

Happy FUNday!

The end of a long work week (for some) and the start of a busy and fun weekend (for some). We hope to get out and about this weekend for some picture taking as we’ve got two cameras loaded with film and ready to go.

Hercules and Cacus – Piazza della Signoria, Florence

First Look… Yashica Pentamatic II – Finally!!!

Yashica TL Electro X – Pro Black

Yashica Penta J and the J-P

St. Augustine Florida Lighthouse

Part of our “We don’t collect Fuji cameras” collection –

Fuji Photo Film – Fuji Pet 35

Canon AE-1 Program – An alternative to the more costly A-1

*No, not those Olympics.

The end of a long work week (for some) and the start of a busy and fun weekend (for some). We hope to get out and about this weekend for some picture taking as we’ve got two cameras loaded with film and ready to go.

No, not those* Olympics.