A Yashica TL Electro-X ITS, purchased new in 1973 in Okinawa, Japan. I’m the second owner.I keep it in new condition, mostly on display.The original Yashica TL Electro X is on the left, and the enhanced ITS is on the right. It’s mostly a marketing move rather than any real changes.Sales brochure from 1973.This brochure features the famous Auto Yashinon 55mm f1.2 lens made for Yashica by Tomioka Optical.
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
Old meets new. New F-1 with my original FD 24mm f2.8 SSC lens and a Speedlite 533G set.
I’ve wanted to use this flash with my F-1s for years but could never find a good, working flash complete with all its bits and the original box. So far it’s a perfect pairing. The date code on the flash head is Y0701 (7/84). I bought the lens in 1978, when I purchased my first F-1.
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
My 1978 Canon limited edition OD F-1. No, it’s not a military model. It wasn’t made for the Japanese military either.
So, why did Canon produce a one-off? They say, in their brochure, that it was made to celebrate (my words) the love of the wilderness and being outside in nature. Since it was made for only a few months in early 1978 and then never again, time has hidden the true reason they made this rare gem.
A good friend and fellow Canon collector in the UK sent me this rather hard-to-find Japanese instruction book for this model. It’s not made specifically for it, but released and updated at the same time to coincide with this OD F-1.
Pictured with its correct Japanese edition instruction book.One of my favorite kits.
It’s been reported that less than 3k of these were made. How many have survived? It’s a fun camera to add to your collection.
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
Playing with ChatGPT this afternoon. Thought I’d feature my Asahi Pentax 6×7 medium format camera in a different light. The original.
The original.Enhancement A.Enhancement B.The real camera.
So, do you use AI to slightly enhance some of your original images? I’ve found ChatGPT to be quite creative when closely supervised. Like anything, it can be abused.
You can’t take my picture. You got the lens cap on.
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
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
My very early 1971 (maybe as early as March) Canon F-1 box. These original F-1 boxes are difficult to come by, but I was extremely lucky to add this one to my collection recently. As a side note, I graduated from high school in 1971.
Earliest F-1 box.This set included the camera body and lens, with a lens hood and case. I have all the proper bits.Looks almost pristine.On one side of the box is a list of available accessories (accessories obtainable).Shown here with Canon’s part or model numbers. I think it was super smart of them to include this information on the box, as most buyers purchased additional items at the time of sale or shortly afterward.One of my early sets.
If you’re chasing classic camera gear, finding 55-year-old boxes in excellent condition is very difficult but not impossible. Happy hunting!
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
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
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
This is the first time I’ve seen a Canon camera box (any model) with a tax-free sticker. Apparently, it was placed by Canon. These tax-free cameras were not sold in U.S. military exchange stores in Japan. They were for sale at duty-free shops scattered around the country. So, no <E.P> markings on the camera.
Here is one of my Canon F-1s with an <E.P> mark. It’s an early model from August 1971.
Early original Canon F-1 with the <E.P> mark.The mark is affixed to the leatherette on the lower right of the film back.
The <E.P> mark indicates that the item was an exempt purchase at a U.S. military exchange store overseas, mainly in Japan. It’s not to be confused with Canon cameras and lenses that are marked ‘U.S. Navy’.
Canon 400mm lens with U.S Navy markings. The lens is from 1985.U.S. Navy marked Canon F-1n (late model). The camera is from 1981, the last year of the original F-1.Canon OD F-1. This limited-edition olive-drab-painted camera was made by Canon in early 1978 and was sold only in Japan. It was not made for any military organization.
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
The Canon 30D is an 8.2MP APS-C crop sensor camera released in 2006. The T90 is a sophisticated 35mm SLR from 1986. The EOS 5D Mark II was released in 2008. It features a full-frame 21.1MP sensor.
As always, my camera shop, CC Design Studios, is at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. I feature an interesting mix of mostly Canon gear.
I enjoy collecting cameras with their original boxes. For me, it’s a bit like Christmas whenever I get to open a previously unused camera from decades ago.Three interesting cameras from Canon.A gem. Only opened to take pictures of it. It’s for sale in my shop now.
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
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 