24/7Fernandina paper mill (one of two on the island). It’s not a Chamber of Commerce view.
The top image was taken with my Fujifilm X-T2 and a 300mm Nikkor-H lens. The bottom photo was shot on my Galaxy S8+.
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.
Brothers from different mothers – the classic Contax-Yashica RTS (original model) and the Fujifilm X-T2. I find the weight and feel to be the same, and many of the manual controls I use are right on top of the T2. That could be why I was attracted to the Fuji in the first place. In the world of modern mirrorless digital cameras, the T2 just feels and acts like an old-school SLR.
The Fuji features a sharp Fujinon zoom lens, and the RTS has a fast and sharp f1.7 Yashica lens. I enjoy the aesthetics of both cameras, and I often shoot with the half-cases attached.Fujifilm got it right when they designed their T2 (and similar models), drawing on the successful designs and functionality from the past.A better view of the lenses. I chose the Yashica lens over the much more costly Planer lens because, let’s face it, Yashica made both (maybe from a Tomioka design in collaboration with Zeiss). The famous T* coatings may be missing on the Yashica, but I doubt it. The T* mainly was a marketing exercise. Full disclosure – I’d take the Zeiss Planer in a heartbeat if money were no object.
I enjoy using my Fuji; it is my go-to camera whenever I shoot with my classic lens collection or when I need to test a lens before listing it in my Etsy shop or on eBay. It’s fast and easy, and the APS-C sensor has a 1.5 crop factor that “boosts” the focal length of every lens I use. See yesterday’s gorgeous 450mm shot below from my 300mm Nikkor-H lens.
Boeing 777 (likely) at over 30,000 feet over northeast Florida (not cropped).
Thanks for stopping by, Chris. Which is your favorite mirrorless camera? Are you a Canon or Nikon photographer? Has anyone tried the new Nikon Z cameras?
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.
Amelia Island, Florida. Such natural beauty and then this. Samsung Galaxy S8+ I purposely shot into the sun to catch the reflections in the tidal mud along the Amelia River.
Looking south along the Amelia River at one of the two paper mills on the island (this one since the late 1930s). The other mill is just north of this location and is not in this image.
Amelia Island is stunning – its natural beauty is diverse, and it is almost hard to imagine how pretty it is. Thirteen miles of sandy Atlantic Coast beaches splashed with warm and generally clean seawater. On the west side of the island is this monstrosity. The mills, for the most part, never stop spewing pollution into the air and, more than likely, into the waters. Here is an interesting article written by one of the island’s original families. https://fernandinaobserver.com/general/rayonier-and-container-in-fernandina-a-brief-history-and-reflection/
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.
The “easy” way to get a nearly 500mm lens. With a modern mirrorless digital camera, an inexpensive adapter, and a classic lens initially made in the film era, you have a super telephoto lens you may already own.
A Nikkor-H Auto 300mm f4.5 telephoto lens from around 1970 mated to my 2016 Fujifilm X-T2 mirrorless digital camera via a Fotodiox NIK-FX lens adapter.
The Fotodiox adapter I’m using here was purchased directly from them for under $30 (no affiliation). I use Fotodiox because they have an easy-to-navigate site that makes buying easy. Any third-party lens adapter maker will do so shop around. Some adapters can be expensive, so know what you want and need before overbuying.
Autofocus. In my situation here, my camera lens combination can no longer use autofocus, and any type of image stabilization is also lost (unless your mirrorless camera has built-in IBIS). So it’s back to old-school photography – manually focusing the camera and adjusting the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed to get the correct exposure – the fun stuff!
It wasn’t the best day for shooting with a long telephoto lens as the sun was obscured by a thick layer of cirrus clouds – not much color going on. The long focal length of this lens compresses distant objects creating an exciting look. This row of townhomes at the beach was quite distant from my vantage point, and close objects were not in focus (shallow depth of field).Check your camera collection – maybe there’s new life for your old lenses and a new perspective for your next photo outing.
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.
Fujifilm X-T2 FotodioX Nik-FX Adapter Nikkor-H Auto 300mm f4.5 Lens Nippon Kogaku Japan – 1970 35mm Equivalent 450mm
Classic glass meets new.FotodioX NIK-FX Adapter on Fujifilm X-T2.Looks new.35mm equivalent is a 450mm telephoto. Seen here as an out of the camera JPEG image. ISO 1600, 1/1900, f5.6.
I enjoyed my first outing with this massive lens on my T2 but without any type of image stabilization I had to bump the ISO and shoot at a high shutter speed to get the images in focus (no tripod).
The neighbor’s chimney top as seen from my studio at 450mm. It was a rather dull day with high cirrus cloudiness blocking any chance of brighter colors. Hopefully, the sun will shine brighter tomorrow so I can get out and about again.
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.
Fujifilm X-T2 TTArtisan AF 27mm f2.8 Auto Focus Lens Limited Edition Yellow-Orange APS-C 35mm Equivalent is 41mm
Sharp, colorful, compact, fun, inexpensive, especially compared to the Fujifilm equivalent. The orange ring is the lens hood.
APS-C AF 27mm f2.8 lens.Not subtle. The orange thingy is a lens hood.First image. f5.6, 1/20, ISO 1600, 27mm (41mm full-frame equivalent). Velvia Vivid film simulation.Velvia Vivid film simulation. Overcast day here in North Florida.FUJIFILM XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR Lens – $399.00 at B&H. Yes, the Fuji is a lot more lens, but to be quite frank, Fujifilm lenses are way too expensive to start filling my camera bag with them.I love color!
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.
Over the years, I have collected an incredible variety of cameras made by Yashica, from their earliest days (1953) to the last true Yashica models in the late 1980s to early 1990s. I’d have to say that this Yashica Pentamatic set (made in August 1960) is my most impressive find. It’s a one-owner set, and it is in like-new condition. It came with some unexpected goodies (pictured), too.
A gem of a camera set from 1960.
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.
1953 After 6 decades of use, this leather case for the Yashima Flex TLR camera stands strong. It is relatively rare to see a Yashima-branded item outside of Japan; this represents the first time Yashima used its name on a case. I don’t believe Yashima-Yashica made their own leather cases. As a start-up company back in the early 1950s, Yashima and other camera manufacturers likely contracted outside companies to make their leather cases and branded goods so that they could focus on their core activities. Many of these early cases have distinct markings on the bottom, indicating the hallmark of the company that produced it.
From 1953, a beautiful example of a Yashima leather case.An early example of a hallmark on the bottom of the case.Another hallmark.
I have a few additional examples in my collection – time to dig them out and photograph them. Have you seen a Japanese leather case with what appears to be a hallmark? Please, share if you do. 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.
There is still plenty of conjecture about the exact meaning of the two letters that appear in a diamond design on Japanese-made photo gear made in the 1950s and 1960s and gradually disappearing in the mid to late 1970s. Some suggest that it meant “Exchange Purchase” since the mark often appeared on cameras sold in military exchanges throughout Japan during that period. The catch is that not all of the cameras sold in the exchange stores had that mark – probably only 30% or less, depending on the decade and store. Stereo equipment was also marked as was binoculars. Expensive jewelry and watches didn’t have the mark. So what gives, and exactly who ordered the symbols to be placed on, at times, random items within these few categories.
Here is a never-before-seen (by me) mark on the presentation box of a <E.P> marked Nikon S2 35mm rangefinder camera from the 1950s. The camera bears the mark, and so does the box. It’s too bad the box doesn’t have an affixed price sticker. It would have been interesting to see which exchange it sold in and for how much.
Look closely at the image of this Nikon box pictured below. In the upper right-hand corner is a price sticker. The sticker has quite a bit of good information, but it also leaves out some vital info. The “Japan Tax Exempt” and dollar amount printed on the sticker are such a tease. The camera was from the early 1970s, so it could have had the <E.P> mark, but not necessarily. From memory of my time living in Japan and shopping at the Navy Exchanges in Yokosuka and Yokohama, I don’t ever recall seeing a price sticker with “Tax Exempt” printed on it since everything sold in the exchange was tax-free and therefore tax exempt. If it wasn’t sold at the exchange and in fact sold at a duty-free or tax-free shop in Japan, why would it be priced in USD and not yen?
Intriguing find.My 1955 Nicca 3-S with a <E.P> mark on the rewind knob (typical placement of the mark).
No record exists that explains precisely what the “E & P” stood for or why the program existed and, for that matter, who instituted and administrated the process. I believe the mark was primarily intended to deter the black market reselling of photo gear to Japanese civilians by military personnel since the cameras were tax-free in the military stores and were more than likely also priced lower than the same camera “out in town” in a Japanese camera shop. It’s likely “EP” stood for “Exempt Purchase” or “Exempt Product” and not “Exchange Purchase” for the reasons I stated in this post. Do you have additional information about the program? Do you fondly remember purchasing a great camera at the exchange, please share it.
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.
Yashica’s first through-the-lens (TTL) light metering single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. Two CdS resistors measure the average degree of light entering through the lens and directed to the focusing ground glass. The TL-Super started a bunch of great things at Yashica.
In addition, the TL-Super was the first Yashica SLR with a fixed accessory shoe (flash hot shoe) mounted to the top of the pentaprism (woohoo)!
Shown with a sharp and fast Auto Yashinon-DX 50mm f1.4 lens.It’s a great first-time film user camera if you can find a nice example.
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.
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 