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

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.

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

Nikon F2A and Canon F-1

July 10, 2023July 10, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Can you say the Canon is a bit more “compact”?
Both camera systems are products of the 1970s and the design esthetic is classic and clean for the era. Side-by-side the differences are obvious. The Nikon’s metered prism (DP-11) is much larger and taller than the eye-level prism on the Canon (which was the standard prism since its introduction in 1971) and the motor drive is taller on the F2A but wider on the F-1. Which is your favorite? Another difference – is that Canon’s exposure (light) meter was built into the body of the camera vice being located in the prism like it is on the Nikon.

Without batteries in the motor drive the Nikon tips the scales at a hefty 1,520 grams.

Same situation for the Canon (no motor drive batteries) but somehow there are over 5 ounces of additional weight in the F-1.

More comparisons of these two popular professional system cameras in greater detail soon. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Finally! (again)

July 9, 2023July 9, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Finally! A recently acquired Nikon F2A with a Nikon MD-2 Motor Drive. It’s actually a very well-used camera set that arrived dirty but working. It cleaned up nicely (I know how to detail a camera). Can’t wait to give it a go but since I’ve sold off all of my AI Nikkor lenses I’ll have to purchase a “new” one. I’m waiting on a new battery magazine for the Nikon MB-1 Battery Pack (it takes two magazines) so that part is untested ATM. The meter looks good and of course, the camera sounds great. It was professionally serviced back in 1992. The seals look good so I should be good to go once I get the lens (AI 50mm f2).

Nikon F2A Photomic. This model features the DP-11 meter head.

I say this again because just the other week I purchased a long-awaited Nikon F Photomic-T 35mm SLR to be the Nikon F in my collection. This model (above) is from late 1972 to around March 1973. The meter head was released in 1977. The motor drive was released in 1973.

Rear camera view of the F2A and MD-2 motor drive.

I’ll be sharing more details and a comparison with the Canon F-1 from the same time period. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Nikon’s Little Gem – L35AF Set from 1983

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Complete set – the original box with matching serial numbers and papers.

Nikon L35AF 35mm compact point & shoot classic from the early 1980s. Nikon’s finest.

Beautiful Nikon L35AF 35mm compact point & shoot camera set. It’s been professionally serviced and film tested – ready for another 40 years of service. It’s available in my camera shop at www.ccstudio2380.com
Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Nikon F 35mm SLR Camera with Photomic-T Finder from 1967

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It’s one of those camera profiles that even non-camera people will recognize (old movies, vintage print advertisements) instantly. The original Nikon F with a metered (light meter) viewfinder head.

Nikon F set from late 1967 with matching instruction booklets (and cap).

Nikon F Photomic-T with Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f1.4 lens. It’s been used but not abused through the years – notice the brassing around the ASA dial on top.

Original advertisement for the Nikon F from 1960. It’s shown here without the metered viewfinder (Photomic).

Actress Katharine Ross with her Nikon and motor drive.

I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot with my new to me Nikon but it’s in the queue. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Tuesday’s Camera – Nikon F

June 27, 2023July 5, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

This one is from late 1971 or early 1972

I love the clean lines and “simple” design. A forever classic. Which is your favorite Nikon? Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out my camera shop CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – it’s hosted by Etsy so shipping is nearly worldwide. – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Yashica Electro 35 – 1966

June 18, 2023June 18, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica’s first electronically controlled camera (aperture priority) jump-started Yashica’s role in electronic photography.

This one is from 1968 and features the <E.P> mark on the cold shoe indicating that it was likely sold at a US military exchange store and was tax exempt or “Exempt Purchase”.

Super sharp and fast Yashinon-DX 45mm f/1.7 lens.

It’s a very handsome camera representing the best of Yashica’s design team for that period. The Yashica TL Electro X wouldn’t have been developed without this groundbreaking camera.

The later enhanced version (gold contacts).

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Yashica-Tomioka Macro Lens

June 12, 2023June 12, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

This beautiful lens is now available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

One of our favorite lenses in the Yashica family. A rather fast f/ 2.8 60mm macro lens made by Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd. of Tokyo for Yashica. 5 elements in 4 groups… it’s capable of life-size (1:1) macro photography. As Yashica describes this lens… “By far the most effective lens for close-ups, copying and macrophotography, as well as general photographic work. Features a new optical glass element, and is fully compensated for all aberrations. Designed to ensure maximum brightness and extremely sharp results. Particularly effective for close-ups of moving subjects (??) and macrophotography without using bellows.” Not sure about the moving subjects part as the depth of field is very shallow.

Weighs in at around 400 grams and can focus down to 0.235 meters. Filter size is 58mm and of course it has the versatile M42 screw-in mount (Praktica).

003 Macro Yashinon 60mm f/ 2.8 lens built by Tomioka Optical for…

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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

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag Film

3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

Fujica GW690 Professional

Nikon F2A and Canon F-1

Finally! (again)

Nikon’s Little Gem – L35AF Set from 1983

Nikon F 35mm SLR Camera with Photomic-T Finder from 1967

Tuesday’s Camera – Nikon F

Yashica Electro 35 – 1966

Yashica-Tomioka Macro Lens

Yashica 35 M