Tag Blogging

Our little tree.

Chris and Carol 3 Comments

This is the first tree we’ve put up since Christmas 2022. Last year, well, we just weren’t up to it.

Hope everyone is in the spirit for this year’s Christmas. It’s going to be a rocky 2025.

I came across this the other day. I’m not spiritual, but I was raised to have some faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church (decades ago). This struck me as appropriate for the times we’re living in.

Nothing more to say except 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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Not sure about this one.

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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

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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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Contax 137 MD Quartz and a lizard.

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Not a lizard per se, but ‘lizard skin.’ I don’t usually collect cameras covered with anything but factory-applied black leatherette, but I fell hard for this beautiful model from Contax.

Contax 50th Anniversary model (1932-1982).
The 137-MD Quartz is a compact camera, even with its built-in motor drive (which is more like a power winder).
I love the simple, clean lines, and the unique lizard skins set it off.
1980 advertisement.

If you’re looking for a unique camera to add to your collection, this model of the Contax 137-MD Quartz is worth the chase. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

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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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Canon’s ‘mysterious’ green camera.

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

The Canon OD F-1, as it is referred to by Canon here: https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film95.html

“The Canon OD F-1 (released in March 1978) is a color-variation model of the F-1(later model) released in 1976. OD stands for Olive-drab, the camera’s body color, which was reminiscent of the U.S. army and a color popular with young people. Its specifications are the same as the F-1 (later model).” The preceding is a direct quote from Canon’s website.

My Canon OD F-1 with my homemade strap.

I say mysterious only because Cano was tight-lipped about it when it was released in early 1978. No official documentation exists other than that it was made, but no explanation of why it was made and in such limited quantities (estimated between two to three thousand). It’s not a military camera; it wasn’t made for the US Army or the Japanese forces, and other than being olive drab, it bears no markings that differ from a regular black Canon F-1 of the same period. Here is the only known supporting documentation.

The cover page of a flyer that wasn’t published until early 1980 and only released in Japan.
The back page of the flyer. I’m not sure this flyer was published by Canon. When the camera was released, it didn’t include a lens, only the body. The camera depicted has a zoom lens, which wasn’t original to the set.
The set was issued by Canon in early 1978.

Complete sets such as this command appropriate attention and value among collectors.

The set included a special olive drab case.

My fully decked-out OD F-1.

I’ve attached a power winder and what would have been the correct era lens for the body.

I’ll have more about the camera in future posts. 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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

I got my Canon big shot! (finally)

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Of course, the show’s real star is my Canon EOS R mirrorless digital camera at an impressive 30.3 megapixels. Canon’s white lenses are legendary for their performance under the most challenging situations and conditions.

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM super telephoto lens with a Canon Extender EF 1.4x II. Combined, it has a focal length of 420mm.
Also included is a Canon Adapter EF-EOS R to mount EF lenses on the EOS R camera bodies.
Plane spotting at the local municipal airport. EMBRAER EMB-505 PHENOM 300 – 2013 Model
N304QS is ready for takeoff.
2002 DASSAULT-BREGUET MYSTERE FALCON 900
N107GL
At Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport
Canon EOS R
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon Extender EF 1.4x II
420mm
EMBRAER EMB-505 PHENOM 300 – 2013 Model
N304QS
At Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport
Canon EOS R
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon Extender EF 1.4x II
420mm
300mm at the local marina.
Sharp and clear. Handheld at 300mm is a bonus, thanks to the image stabilization built into the lens.

The Canon EOS R is a full-frame mirrorless digital camera that accepts EF and RF lenses. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

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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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

New cameras in my shop – just in time for Xmas!

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I have a few camera sets from my extensive collection just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. Some of these cameras, along with their original boxes, are rare in their mint and new condition. I’ve serviced each one and thoroughly tested them with film where necessary. My Etsy shop is at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

Classic Canon A-1 with a Canon NFD 50mm f/1.8 lens and limited edition 1980 Winter Olympics Lake Placid lens cap.
A Canon FT QL 35mm SLR. This was released just before the Canon F-1 was released in the summer of 1971. The FT is built like a tank and will probably outlast us all.
A favorite! The 1994 Contax RX is pretty close to the perfect film camera. Add a Contax Carl Zeiss T* lens, and you have photographic excellence.
Attention Pentax fans. This is an Asahi Pentax SL from around 1968. It is in perfect condition inside and out and fully serviced. It is ready for film and ready for your next photo walk.
Rare, rare, and more rare. From 1978, a completely new and never used Nikon F2A with its original box and certified Nikon USA 25th Anniversary Edition.
Canon’s Black Beauty is a close cousin to the famous Canon F-1 but with some significant differences. In addition to a fully manual mode, it can shoot automatically in shutter priority mode. You select the shutter speed, and the camera sets the proper aperture. It can electronically time the shutter to up to a 30-second exposure. It’s one of Canon’s best designs from the mid-1970s.
This is a rare Nikon blue canvas messenger bag. It was released in limited quantities as a promotional item around the same time as the F2A and F2AS in the late 1970s. It’s new and never used, making it a perfect gift for a Nikon collector.

Thanks for stopping by and allowing me to shamelessly promote my camera shop! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

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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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

From Blue to Black – not going back.

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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

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with 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

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 © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Canon F-1 ‘Super Set’

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None better. My Canon F-1 ‘Super Set’: a Canon F-1 body (1978), a Canon FD 55mm f1.2 Chrome Nose lens (1972), a Canon Motor Drive MF with Grip MF, and finally, a Canon Servo EE Finder. Everything is part of my collection, and everything works as designed. It is a tribute to Canon’s designers and engineers.

It stands tall. It’s not light—it’s not something you tote around on a photo walk. It’s shown here without the Servo-EE finder. It’s certainly better suited for a studio or at a fixed point at a sporting event.
My original F-1 (body only) was purchased at the US Navy Exchange in Yokohama, Japan, in the summer of 1978. The f/1.2 lens and the motor drive were added much later.

I believe it will stay in my collection until I pass it along to another collector at a much later point. I must get serious about thinning my collection over this next year. I now have some very nice cameras in my Etsy camera shop that you may find interesting. Check it out at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

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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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Limited Edition Nikon F2A Anniversary Model

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It looks like it did when it left Nikon USA back in 1978.
The 25th Anniversary badge has never been attached. This is how I received it from Nikon USA.
Numbered baseplate 25-0749.
It has gorgeous chrome surfaces with no marks anywhere.
Matching serial numbers.
Matching serial number on the DP-11 finder.
Perfect. Never had even one roll of film installed.

If you want to see more and learn, stop by my camera shop on Etsy at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Comments are always welcome, as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by. 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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.