It’s the little things that count.

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

When collecting vintage and classic film cameras sometimes it’s the little things that add the most to a collection. Chasing down those little extras that the camera manufacturers packaged along with their cameras and lenses.

At first glance, these two items look similar from the front.

The Yashica ‘Sailor Boy’ logo first appeared in 1962. These cloths were available in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Viewed from behind it’s clear that these cloths were made by the same third-party manufacturer. It’s nice to see that Yashica was in the same league with Nikon for a while at least.

I haven’t seen cloths like these with another manufacturer’s logo (yet). Have any of you? Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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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.

3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

July 23, 2023July 27, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Yashica Minimatic-S. A fully automatic (no autofocus) 35mm rangefinder was released in February 1963. The camera set both the aperture and shutter speed.

Yashica M. Released in June 1960. 35mm rangefinder with a sharp and fast Yashinon f1.9 lens. The “M” was also known as the 35M and 35 Model M.

Yashica Half 17. Capable of shooting up to 72 images on a roll of 36-exposure 35mm film.

Each camera uses selenium cell light meters to assist with setting the proper exposure. If you can find working examples of these classics you’ll enjoy a whole new level of vintage film shooting as the Yashinon lenses are sharp, colorful, and contrasty. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Nikon F 35mm SLR Camera with Photomic-T Finder from 1967

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It’s one of those camera profiles that even non-camera people will recognize (old movies, vintage print advertisements) instantly. The original Nikon F with a metered (light meter) viewfinder head.

Nikon F set from late 1967 with matching instruction booklets (and cap).

Nikon F Photomic-T with Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f1.4 lens. It’s been used but not abused through the years – notice the brassing around the ASA dial on top.

Original advertisement for the Nikon F from 1960. It’s shown here without the metered viewfinder (Photomic).

Actress Katharine Ross with her Nikon and motor drive.

I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot with my new to me Nikon but it’s in the queue. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Yashica Electro 35 – 1966

June 18, 2023June 18, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica’s first electronically controlled camera (aperture priority) jump-started Yashica’s role in electronic photography.

This one is from 1968 and features the <E.P> mark on the cold shoe indicating that it was likely sold at a US military exchange store and was tax exempt or “Exempt Purchase”.

Super sharp and fast Yashinon-DX 45mm f/1.7 lens.

It’s a very handsome camera representing the best of Yashica’s design team for that period. The Yashica TL Electro X wouldn’t have been developed without this groundbreaking camera.

The later enhanced version (gold contacts).

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Yashica-Tomioka Macro Lens

June 12, 2023June 12, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

This beautiful lens is now available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

One of our favorite lenses in the Yashica family. A rather fast f/ 2.8 60mm macro lens made by Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd. of Tokyo for Yashica. 5 elements in 4 groups… it’s capable of life-size (1:1) macro photography. As Yashica describes this lens… “By far the most effective lens for close-ups, copying and macrophotography, as well as general photographic work. Features a new optical glass element, and is fully compensated for all aberrations. Designed to ensure maximum brightness and extremely sharp results. Particularly effective for close-ups of moving subjects (??) and macrophotography without using bellows.” Not sure about the moving subjects part as the depth of field is very shallow.

Weighs in at around 400 grams and can focus down to 0.235 meters. Filter size is 58mm and of course it has the versatile M42 screw-in mount (Praktica).

003 Macro Yashinon 60mm f/ 2.8 lens built by Tomioka Optical for…

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Yashica 44 – Yashica’s first mini-TLR

June 2, 2023June 2, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

They never called them that back in the day, they were just smaller than a regular TLR. A full-sized TLR shot 6×6 cm images on 120 or 220 roll films. This Yashica shot 4×4 cm images on 127 roll films.

Complete set from 1958. My set even includes a roll of exposed 127 film from the 1960s!

Dove gray leatherette on gray metal. 1958 saw the birth of the Yashica name as the company name. Prior to that, they were known as Yashima.

Tomioka made Yashikor 60mm f/3.5 taking and viewing lenses.

We continue to dive deep into our Yashica collection and are offering this gem for sale in our camera shop CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. You won’t find a better fully working model of this camera anywhere. Yes, 127 film is available through many online camera and film dealers so here is an opportunity to shoot with this classic.

Includes a very rare sales brochure for this exact model. How neat is that!

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Rare Black Yashica J-3 Set – available!

May 29, 2023May 29, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

As Carol and I continue to downsize our camera collection, we’ve decided the time is right to pass along one of our Yashica J-3s in the limited ‘Pro-black’ finish along with a matching black Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 lens (made by Tomioka Optical). This black version was made in a limited quantity for a short period in 1963. It was also Yashica’s first black SLR!

Yashica J-3 in ‘Pro-black’ with a matching all-black lens.

These are extremely difficult to find for sale anywhere and the few that have come up for sale are non-working cameras. This one is fully working – even the CdS light meter is active with an LR-44 (A76) 1.5V battery installed. The shutter is accurate and the lens is a gem. The image below was taken using this Yashinon lens mounted with an adapter on my Fujifilm X-T2.

Photographed with the Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 lens mounted on my Fujifilm X-T2 using a FotodioX M42 to FX adapter. The Yashica lens has 6 elements in 4 groups and was designed and built by Tomioka Optical.

If you’re interested I’ve listed this beautiful camera set in my camera shop which is hosted by Etsy. Visit CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com for more images and details about the camera. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Black Beauty from Yashica

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Yashica J-3 was the first numbered model of the ‘J’ Series of cameras and was released in late 1962. The black version was never mentioned in any brochure that I own or have seen either in English or Japanese. A small number were made but finding a mint and working model is quite difficult – but worth the chase!

J-3 in all black and classic silvered chrome.

Studio Camera – Fujifilm X-T2

Lens – Yashica Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 (the original lens for the J-3)

Adapter – FotodioX M42-FX

Film Simulation – (Top) Acros, (Bottom) Velvia Vivid

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Another Nikon ‘Plastic Fantastic’ – One Touch 200

May 9, 2023May 9, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris –
Another neat Nikon from my collection. The Nikon One Touch 200 is a plastic fantastic from 1991 with a sharp Nikon 35mm lens and smart flash capabilities. It focuses from 2.1 feet to infinity (and beyond). This one is still new in the box and one of the last Nikons of this type to be ‘Made in Japan’. It’s available in my online camera shop CC Design Studios at www.ccstudio2380.com

The Nikon One Touch 200 features a sharp glass Nikon 35mm f3.5 lens (3 elements/3 groups).

It’s not often that you can still find a new camera from 1991.

I have a few other Nikons from my collection in my shop right now – check them out at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Nikon N6006 35mm SLR with AF Nikkor zoom lens.

Nikon One Touch Zoom 90 35mm compact point & shoot with a sharp zoom lens.

Nikon One Touch 100 35mm point & shoot camera set.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Happy SUNday! – rare Yashica collectible

April 30, 2023April 30, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’m always on the chase for unique Yashica collectible items especially if it’s one of the ‘Yashica Sailor Boys’ – in this case, it’s the rare football version of the little guy. It’s made by Modern Plastics of Japan but in this case, I’m not sure of exactly when (later than 1962). He rarely comes up at auction and in this case, he’s also in excellent condition.

The ‘Sailor Boy’ in football gear. The number 35 is in reference to a 35mm camera as part of a promotion.

The guy on the left was made to promote the release of the Yashica 5 Star Auto Focus 35mm camera and the guy on the right is the original 1962 version.

1981 promo for the Yashica 5 Star Auto Focus 35mm camera. The ‘Sailor Boy’ has been reimagined as Wee Willie Winkie telling the world about his new camera (no, really LOL).

Yashica in Katakana characters on his hat.

Hope I’m the winning bidder but I’m afraid he’s so rare that vinyl figurine and toy collectors will bid past my budget. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

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It’s the little things that count.

3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

Nikon F 35mm SLR Camera with Photomic-T Finder from 1967

Yashica Electro 35 – 1966

Yashica-Tomioka Macro Lens

Yashica 44 – Yashica’s first mini-TLR

Rare Black Yashica J-3 Set – available!

Black Beauty from Yashica

Another Nikon ‘Plastic Fantastic’ – One Touch 200

Happy SUNday! – rare Yashica collectible