Canon’s best compact 35mm SLR.

April 16, 2026April 16, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Carol’s new Canon AE-1, Japan 1978

Many photographers may disagree with my comment that the AE-1 was Canon’s best compact 35mm SLR. It was, at the time it was released, a hyper-popular camera and broke numerous sales records for the industry and made Canon a boatload of money. Some might say the A-1 was the best, but it was a bit more expensive, and although it was much more capable, it may have been too smart for casual users.

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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.

wordless wednesday

April 15, 2026April 15, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Nikon Nikkor Auto-S 50mm f1.4 Lens from 1970.

April 14, 2026April 14, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Mounted on my Fujifilm X-T2.

Testing a classic Nikkor lens for a new listing in my Etsy camera shop. I’m very pleased with the results.

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Happy SUNday!

April 12, 2026April 14, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A few images from a 54-year-old Canon lens. I mounted the lens on my modern Canon EOS R mirrorless camera via an adapter.

Canon FD 55mm f1.2 lens from August 1972.

Excellent shallow depth of field. My backyard NWF habitat.

Affectionately known as a chrome nose lens.

This famous early Canon lens is super fast at f1.2. It’s also not a lens for the faint of heart. It weighs 19 oz (540 grams).

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New arrivals in my camera shop this week.

April 3, 2026April 3, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! Lots of new items in my Etsy Camera Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

I have hundreds (maybe thousands) of neat items in my extensive collection. Contact me if there’s something you’re looking for. I may have it!

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Friday Fotos! – on my desk

April 3, 2026April 3, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Taken with my 2011 Fujifilm FinePix S4000A 14MP bridge camera.

Super macro mode. The Sea Witch is always watching.

Macro mode. My cup from the mid-1980s from my time at the U.S. Navy weather facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

The bridge camera with 14 MP and a 30x super-telephoto lens.

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Canon F-1 from 1976

April 2, 2026April 2, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Happy to say that my most recent F-1 purchase from Japan did not disappoint. It’s hard to imagine a camera from January 1976 can still be this nice.

I see these early F-1s as little bits of Canon art – few cameras can match the design, elegance, and toughness of these gems.

The Canon patch was included with a bunch of early 1970s Canon brochures. I believe it was made at the same time the F-1 was released.

My 1978 limited edition Canon F-1 in OD paint. Only 3,000 (or fewer) were made and only for the Japanese domestic market.

I believe the seller undervalued his camera by quite a bit. He did describe it as *Top Mint*, which is accurate. It’s unfortunate that more sellers don’t realize that when you call a camera mint, this is it.

It’s one of the best 35mm SLR cameras ever made.

Brochure from the late 1970, just before the F-1’s March 1971 release.

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wordless wednesday

April 1, 2026April 1, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Wow, what a rare Canon!

March 31, 2026March 31, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I never knew this existed.
The Canon EF in a commemorative edition for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. It was never offered for sale, and only a few were built for Canon’s own use. Photo: Joseph DeLora.