New Canon Page from Paul Sokk

May 20, 2023Chris and Carol 4 Comments

My good friend Paul Sokk from Australia has done it again! He’s uploaded an amazing and detailed history of Canon rangefinder cameras that’s second to none.

You can check it out at http://leica-copies-japan.com/Canon.html

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Not always as they appear…

April 16, 2023April 16, 2023Chris and Carol 3 Comments

I recently took delivery of what appeared to be a well-kept Canon A-1 35mm SLR from 1983. It was reported by the seller as in good condition but untested. The lens was specifically listed as clean and clear. As you can see from the pictures the lens is far from “clean and clear”.

It looks great and from my experience with this model when they look this good they generally have no issues.

Canon NFD 50mm f1.8 lens as seen from behind. BTW, the date code (Y1116) to the right of the red dot indicates that this lens was made in November 1984.

Opening the aperture blades to f1.8 and shining a bright LED light reveals the hidden issues with the lens – haze and overall edge cloudiness.

I knew the camera was untested (I asked the seller and they said that they didn’t have a battery) so I knew that going in. BTW, the 6v A544 batteries that power the A-1 are quite common and available in stores and online. After checking out the camera with a fresh battery I discovered that the light meter display wasn’t working. The shutter speeds sounded accurate but without knowing if the meter was responding I wouldn’t have been able to trust the camera in full auto mode. The camera also had the infamous Canon “squeal” that happens whenever the mirror assembly’s lubrication dries out over time and from sitting unused for long periods. The squeal is not caused by the shutter as some people believe.

Obviously looks can and often are deceiving and in this case, I could have taken a hit. Fortunately, I was able to return the camera. At this moment I’m waiting to receive my refund.

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.

Happy SUNday!

December 4, 2022December 4, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Canon A-1 camera boxes – 1980 Winter Olympics and 1984 Summer Olympics.

Silly things to collect but fun just the same! Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

wordless wednesday

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

spools

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Camera and Lens – Canon EOS R with Canon RF 70-200mm f4 L IS USM at 91mm.

Thanks for stopping by! – 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

Carol’s new Canon AE-1, Japan 1978

November 9, 2021November 9, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

When Carol and I lived in Yokohama, Japan back in the late 1970s we were happily acquiring our first bits of Canon gear. Here Carol gets her Canon AE-1 in pro-black complete with a power winder, ever-ready leather case, and 50mm f1.4 lens. She enjoyed using the camera with its case attached as the case covered the body with the winder attached. Fun times! Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

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

Happy SUNday! – chasing compact P&S digitals.

November 7, 2021November 7, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

If you’re a regular reader of my blog you’ll no doubt know that I like these compact (little) point-and-shoot digital cameras. I find them easy to tote as most will slip nicely into a pant or jacket pocket. Before smartphones were a thing with their high-resolution cameras I’d often carry a pocket digital and shoot with it alongside my primary (big) film SLR. I find shooting with two distinct formats fun and challenging. I also like the fact that with these compacts it’s easy to get both extreme low and high angles that would be difficult with a bulky SLR.

Today’s featured camera is this awesome Canon PowerShot A480 10-megapixel ultracompact with a sharp Canon 3.3x zoom lens. It has 10 shooting modes plus 30fps movie capabilities and one of the best parts it takes just two easy-to-find AA batteries. There is a separate button battery for the date/time feature (CR 2016) but heck that only needs replacing once every ten years or so (which I just did).

With the lens retracted the camera is about the size of a deck of playing cards.

Super sharp Canon power zoom 37-122mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Up to 6x digital zoom.

It’s from Canon so you know the design and function are top-notch.

Just in time for Christmas I’ve added this little gem to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Canon Snappy LX

May 9, 2021May 9, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Canon Snappy LX 35mm Film Camera – New in Unopened Box

The Canon Snappy LX is a fully automatic compact point and shoot film camera that’s simple to operate. It features a large bright viewfinder, built-in flash, and a fixed focus Canon 35mm f/4.5 lens (3 elements/3 groups). The lens cover release acts as an on/off switch, and the built-in flash allows for day and night-time photography, capturing clear photos with good color rendition. Uses (2) AA batteries (not included). Takes standard color negative and slide film capable of 24 or 36 exposures. Automatic film advance and automatic rewinding. DX coded for automatic setting of film speeds. It’s rare to find an unopened film camera from this period so it’s a perfect addition to your collection. I’ll mail it via USPS Priority Mail with tracking and insurance FOR FREE in the USA!

$65.00

Here’s a chance to buy this still new in its original factory box Canon camera directly from my blog at a great price over my Etsy camera shop. PayPal is a secure way to get exactly what you want without a bunch of fees or hassle. I’ll mail this virtually worldwide but please contact me for a shipping quote for purchases outside the US. Thanks a bunch! – Chris

Modern Marvel – Canon’s little digital IXY

January 19, 2021January 19, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

2003 seems like a lifetime ago with what all that’s happened since then. In the field of electronics, specifically digital photography, the changes and advancements have been monumental.

Take this groundbreaking digital camera from Canon. Released towards the end of 2003, the Canon IXY Digital L as it was known in Japan (Canon PowerShot SD10 Digital ELPH here in the US) listed at an amazingly high price of $349! For that amount of money you got a sharp fixed 6.4mm f/2.8 Canon lens and 4.1 megapixels. The images were recorded on a standard SD card (only the second Canon digital to do that) hence the US name ‘SD10’.

Canon’s ultracompact digital beauty.

This tiny camera was offered in four colors – this one is Piano Black.

Bright and sharp 1.5 inch LCD screen. Here’s an example of a near macro shot of my keyboard.

Every version of this camera carries the same model number – PC1060. A pocket-friendly 3/4 inch profile with the lens retracted.

What surprises me the most about this camera is the quality of the images. It’s amazing what 4 MP can do with a tiny CCD sensor and high-quality Canon optics. Here’s a few samples below.

A high-contrast scene was still rendered correctly albeit with a rather slow autofocus.

The Canon 6.4mm lens gives a nice 39mm equivalent in 35mm.

Talk about a dusty keyboard! Close-up shot with auto flash. Not bad for such a tiny camera.

If you like collecting older digital cameras then this one is a must. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with the Japanese market model vice the common US model. In markets outside Japan and the US the camera is known as the Digital IXUS i.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

High-Speed Film Eaters from Canon

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The original Canon F-1 35mm SLR film camera was capable of up to 3.5 frames per second (fps) when mated with the Canon Motor Drive MF (shown below left). My F-1 is from 1978 and at that time I didn’t purchase the motor drive. The drive was added within the last 5 or so years. The Canon EOS-1N RS (lower right) is the latest addition to my Canon collection and although I haven’t run a roll of film through it yet I have no reason to doubt that it’s fully operational.

The motor drive on the F-1 is removable thereby saving the extra weight of carrying it around when its not needed. The motor drive on the EOS-1N RS is built-in so there’s no option to save a bit of weight. The EOS weighs in at 1,476 grams which is 3 lbs 4 oz with batteries installed (8 AA) but without film and without a lens.

The Canon EOS-1N RS in all its glory. With its fixed, semi-transparent pellicle mirror the RS is capable of shooting film at up to 10 fps! A fun way to eat through a roll of 36 exposures in under 4 seconds!

Since the pellicle mirror doesn’t move when shooting the 10 fps with quick and accurate autofocus and auto exposure can be achieved. I can’t imagine ever holding the shutter button down to eat up 10 exposures in a second but who knows, it’s nice to think that I’ll someday use it if needed.

The two cameras are about the same width and height but they differ greatly in bulk.

I’m still up in the air as to which EF AF lens I want to get. I do know that as I’ve aged my ability to hold a steady shot has diminished so the lens will have to have image stabilization.

Canon’s EF 24–105mm f/3.5–5.6 IS STM lens is at the top of my wishlist as it falls within what most people would call the normal range for 35mm photography.

$599.99 new. I’ll have to save up a bit to get this one.

Thanks for stopping by. I would recommend looking at the Canon EOS-1N RS or Canon EOS-1V which is a bit newer ( I think 2000). I would say that these cameras represent the best (most sophisticated) film cameras that Canon made just before going digital. The good news is that the EOS-1N RS is not all that expensive via online auction sites, in fact it’s quite a bit less expensive than the EOS-1V which in some cases goes for double the cost of the RS. Have a great day and if you own this camera please drop me a comment about what your impression with the camera has been. – Chris

Be sure to stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com