Canon ‘Super Set’

November 20, 2023November 20, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve decided to part with some of the more important cameras in my collection and this set certainly qualifies.

None better… Canon F-1 ‘Super Set’. Canon F-1 body (1978), Canon FD 55mm f1.2 Chrome Nose lens (1972), Canon Motor Drive MF with Grip MF, and finally a Canon Servo EE Finder. Everything is part of my collection and everything is working as designed. A tribute to Canon’s designers and engineers.
I’ll be listing this set soon in my camera shop at www.ccstudio2380.com

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 Nexia Cameras – 3200 ixZ

September 18, 2023November 5, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

When it was released in 2000 it listed for about $400 USD.

Like it was carved out of a block of stainless steel –

Brand new Fujifilm Nexia 3200 ixZ MRC APS film camera from 2000. Just before the digital camera revolution took hold, Fujifilm designed these super sharp and compact cameras with loads of features. This one features a sharp Super EBC Fujinon 23 to 70mm Zoom (7 elements/7 groups) f4.8 lens which has better specs than the popular Fujifilm Tiara.
It’s available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com along with 4 other Nexia models all still new in the box and in mint condition.
Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

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

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Fujica GW690 Professional

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Fujica GW690 Professional 6x9cm Camera
Fully Tested and Working Perfectly

This is the famous “Texas Leica” camera
from the late 1970s. It’s super simple
to use and produces some of the sharpest
and most detailed images imaginable.

*This is from my personal collection
and I’ve used this camera many times over
the years. It works perfectly.

It takes 120 roll films which are still made today.
It requires no batteries.
It has a leaf shutter in the lens – simple and accurate.
It’s available in my camera shop at www.ccstudio2380.com
Thanks, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Yashica 35 M

June 11, 2023July 11, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

M for mysterious? Maybe not mysterious but missing. It’s not a camera that gets a lot of attention as it was dwarfed by the more popular Minister line. It was one of the first Yashica rangefinder cameras made with a built-in light meter (exposure meter) released at about the same time as the first Minister with the f/2.8 lens.

The exposure meter is located just behind the light gathering window (upper left). That’s what Yashica calls it in the instruction booklet. The meter is a selenium cell that is powered by light so no worries about needing a battery. BTW, the serial number on the booklet camera indicates it was made in January 1960. It’s been reported that the camera was released in June 1960. That’s a big gap even by Yashica’s standards.

The serial number on mine is M2101662 which decodes to October 1962.

The lens is what differentiates this model from the earlier Minister model. The Model M is fitted with a faster Yashinon f/1.9 4.5cm lens and a Copal SVL shutter with speeds from Bulb to 1/500.

In this image, the exposure meter indicates an ‘LVS’ setting of 14 at ASA 200. To set the proper exposure you’d simply turn the outer ring on the lens to match the LVS number and the camera would be properly set (see below).

LVS set to 12 would set the shutter to fire at 1/125 and the aperture at f/5.6.

It’s a fun camera to use as it’s about as old school as you can get. The lens is clean and clear, and the light meter works. It’s available in my camera shop CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com which is hosted by Etsy. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Yashica’s Early 35mm SLRs

May 28, 2023June 4, 2023Chris and Carol 3 Comments

My good friend Paul Sokk from Australia (www.yashicatlr.com) has compiled a great database of almost all of Yashica’s cameras and by decoding serial numbers we’ve been able to come up with a list of manufacturing dates. So, by using these serial numbers here is a general list of when the following models were first and last made.

Penta J Aug 1961 to Aug 1965

Reflex 35 Mar 1962 to Jan 1964

J-3 Nov 1962 to Sep 1964

J-5 Mar 1964 to Jun 1965

J-P Aug 1964 to Sep 1966

J-4 Mar 1965 to Jun 1965

J-7 Nov 1966 to Dec 1967

Yashica’s little oddball model. I believe it was only manufactured to be sold by Montgomery Ward as the Wards SLR 500. For Wards, Yashica fitted it with a Tominon C 5cm f/2 lens vice the lens shown here. A true budget model for around $160 US.

The Pnnta J was the first modern style SLR from Yashica with the universal M42 screw mount for a wide variety of lenses. It was the first model after the Pentamatic S. The J-3 was the first model that had a coupled CdS light meter built into the camera’s left shoulder.

From the 1964 Wards catalog. It’s easy to see that the Wards slr 500 is mostly made from the Yashica J-P with the film advance lever used from the Penta J.

One final note. The serial numbers tell when the camera was produced, not when a camera was released for sale to the public. I believe this list represents the most accurate timeline of these early models from Yashica. Many thanks to Paul for his efforts to compile the most accurate data to date. There is no one better.

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

A less expensive street camera – Konica Kanpai

November 25, 2022November 25, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Candid street photography can be super satisfying but it can also be stressful if you’re not an outgoing person or you’re in a less than favorable shooting location (busy street, lots of people). I’m basically very shy so approaching strangers is a challenge for me. There’s no one camera that’s best suited for taking candid pics but a few have earned a reputation as good street cams. One that comes to mind is the Yashica T3 (Kyocera T Scope).

The Konica Kanpa! (Kanpai). 35mm “Party Camera” with a voice-activated shutter.

I believe the “scope” on the Konica is a bit bigger.

Slide the microphone switch upwards to adjust the sensitivity of the built-in mic.

It features a sharp 34mm Konica 3element/3 group glass lens.

Designed to be used in a group setting for automatically tripping the electronic shutter when someone or everyone yells “Kanpai” (Cheers) or whatever you want to yell out – cheese works too. When used in a street setting the camera can conveniently sit in your lap or just hang around your neck and frame your shot with the top-mounted finder. I guess you could just yell “Hi!” at everyone without touching the shutter button and then capture their reaction (I’m not that brave).

As I continue to pass along interesting bits of my camera collection I’ve added this unique camera to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. It might make the perfect Christmas gift for that hard to buy for person on your holiday shopping list. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Happy SUNday!

August 28, 2022August 28, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A little peek into my camera collection cabinet…

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Happy SUNday! – cameras no longer in my collection

June 19, 2022June 19, 2022Chris and Carol 5 Comments

All of these were either sold or listed in my camera shop back in July 2018. Part of the fun of collecting is getting to pass along cameras that you’ve enjoyed owning.