Yashica 300mm Leather Lens Case

June 14, 2022June 14, 2022Chris and Carol 3 Comments

I came across this wonderful lens case the other day and I’d like to pass it along as I don’t have the actual lens that would go with it and the original box. The case itself could easily fit almost any telephoto lens in that focal length. It still looks new.

You can buy it directly here on this post via PayPal or go to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com and purchase it there.

Yashica 300mm Leather Lens Case

As described in this post, it’s complete with the original box, unopened strap, warranty card, and Yashica lens guide. No lens, just the like-new lens case.

$39.00

Shipping is free in the USA! Worldwide shipping is available but please contact me for a quote before purchasing. 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.

Canon’s high-speed film eater – 1995

May 31, 2022May 31, 2022Chris and Carol 2 Comments

If you were looking for a way to eat through a roll of 35mm film back in 1995 Canon had the answer. Capable of continuous shooting at 10 fps, it was billed as the fastest AF SLR at the time.

We take high-speed shooting for granted today with modern mirrorless digital cameras but 27 years ago it wasn’t easy to get quality images that were in focus and at this kind of speed. I’ve never tested it at that speed as I’m content with single frame shooting and with the cost of film and processing I won’t be eating film with it any time soon.

Thanks for stopping by! Do you have a film eater at home that you don’t use? – Chris

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monochrome monday

May 30, 2022May 30, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Or is it black & white?

Cameraphone image converted to monochrome. (Samsung Galaxy S8+)

Kodak Plus-X Pan B&W film – 1972. Cocoa Beach Fire Department (Yashica TL Electro-X).

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Happy SUNday! – Mamiya first pics

May 29, 2022May 29, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My new to me Mamiya C33 has been a joy to use. It’s everything I expected it to be and more. Here are a few pics from my first roll of film (Fujicolor PRO 400H). These are medium resolution scans from the lab and they’ve been kindly enhanced by my good friend Paul Sokk (www.yashicatlr.com) since I don’t have a decent photo editing program. Having said that, these images are presented uncropped in their original 6 x 6 cm format.

My Mamiya C33 (1969) with Mamiya-Sekor f3.5 105mm lenses and Seiko shutter. The top lens is the viewing lens and the bottom is the taking lens. Mamiya “matches” the lenses (maybe from the same batch).

Mamiya TLRs feature the ability to interchange lenses from 55mm to 250mm.

A snip from the Mamiya C33 instruction booklet dated from 1969.

Not an exciting pic but it does show the exposed roll neatly tucked into the upper film chamber. The new roll of 120 film is loaded into the bottom chamber. Of note, the Mamiya C series features a direct and flat film path across the pressure plate.

I’m very happy that the camera is in excellent working condition and that the lenses are crystal clear. All 12 exposures came out so I hadn’t forgotten how to use a light meter. I’ll scan the negatives myself once I get them from the lab and post those scans here. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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Happy SUNday! – me and my Nicca 3-S

May 22, 2022May 22, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I recently rediscovered these images that I had taken with my Nicca 3-S 35mm rangefinder camera a few years back. I say rediscovered because I don’t believe I’ve posted all of the pictures before. They were hiding on a DVD in plain sight.

First, the camera and lens.

Nicca 3-S from 1955.

Super sharp Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-HC f2 5cm lens.

The images are unretouched, just as they were scanned by the photo lab.

Historic District, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida.

I’m quite pleased with the results. All images were taken on Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 800.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day! – Chris

School outing to Kamakura, Japan – 1977

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Late Spring 1977. I believe these steps led up to The Great Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu). I do not know which school the students were from.

Camera & Film – Yashica TL Electro X Kodak Ektachrome 64

This is not my actual first camera but it’s the first 35mm SLR model that I owned and purchased new in early 1972.

I’ve shot quite a few rolls of this back in the 1970s. Kodachrome was a great color slide film but its ASA was only 25 so if you wanted a bit more speed you needed Ektachrome 64 and later High-Speed Ektachrome 200.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Yashica Tominon Lens – a hard one to chase

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Shown here mounted on one of my Yashica Pentamatics – 35mm SLR camera from 1960.

Preset lens, Yashica Pentamatic bayonet mount.

Not many of these dual-branded lenses were made and with no accurate data from Yashica, one can only guess the actual production numbers. Less than 3,000? Maybe slightly more or a lot less. This serial number can tell a bit of the story. The number on this lens is 350309. The ’35’ refers to the lens’s focal length, which is 35mm. the last 4 digits are simply the sequential number of lenses made up to that point. ‘0309’ means that this is the 309th lens made since the start of production (whenever that was). My guess is around mid-1960.

So, if you’re up for a challenge try tracking down this lens on the various online auction sites. You’ll quickly find out that you’ll be looking for quite a while – but it’s worth it in the end. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check me out on Instagram at @ccphotographyai – Chris

Rare Pentamatic ’35’ Brochure from Japan

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Here is another great find – fresh in from a seller in Japan. I believe this may be one of the first dedicated sales brochures for Yashica’s new 35mm SLR film camera. I’m guessing this was released in the Spring of 1960. Unfortunately, Yashica didn’t hide a date code somewhere in the brochure.

This is a scan of the centerfold –

The lower left box translates as “A versatile camera that can be used for practical purposes and hobbies”.

I’ll post additional scans from this brochure soon. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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Rare Pentamatic II Brochure from Japan

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’m always, and I mean always, chasing anything to do with Yashica’s Pentamatic series of 35mm SLR cameras from the early 1960s. I was taken by its simple modern lines the first time I laid eyes on one.

Here is a wonderful Pentamatic II sales brochure (almost a catalog) from Japan that I’m guessing was published around the Summer of 1960 which was when the camera was introduced in Japan. I believe this is the first (and only) full-length brochure for this model.

The front cover introduces us to the Yashica Pentamatic II.

The lens was a new addition to this camera and was likely made for Yashica by Zunow Optical.

The back cover summarizes the features and specs of Yashica’s newest camera and lens set. The address (bottom) is listed as Yashica Co., Ltd., Nihonbashi Muromachi, Tokyo 1-8.

The ‘Yashica Girl’ started appearing on sales brochures around 1958 or so and continued here in this brochure. I don’t know her origins or purpose but she has two co-workers that often appear with her on other brochures. Here is a peek inside (it reads right to left) –

Unfortunately for Yashica, the Pentamatic II was not well received so it had a shortened production run of just over 5,300 units from August 1960 to January 1961 with breaks in production during that time. January 1961 is when Zunow Optical went bankrupt or was absorbed by Yashica (not well documented). Either way that put an end to this unique lens on a Yashica camera. It’s likely though that the lens design transferred over to Tomioka Optical (which was owned by Yashica) and Tomioka may have made this same lens for Mamiya in 1962.

One of my original Pentamatic II cameras with the Auto Yashinon f1.7 5.8cm lens.

One of the hardest cameras to chase down in Yashica’s entire lineup with just over 5,300 made with a vast majority only available in the Japanese domestic market.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Follow me on Instagram @ccphotographyai

Early Yashica Pentamatic ’35’ Brochure

May 11, 2022May 12, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Yashica Pentamatic ’35’ was Yashica’s first single-lens reflex (SLR) camera – introduced in early 1960.

There’s a chance that this was the first brochure released in the U.S. Maybe March 1960.

Take note that besides the standard f1.8 5.5cm lens there were only two other lenses offered. (the brochure has them reversed)

Such a striking design – the first cameras were made in January 1960.

Thanks for stopping by! If you’re looking for an interesting camera to chase down, the Pentamatic is worth a go. – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag Film

Yashica 300mm Leather Lens Case

Canon’s high-speed film eater – 1995

monochrome monday

Happy SUNday! – Mamiya first pics

Happy SUNday! – me and my Nicca 3-S

School outing to Kamakura, Japan – 1977

Yashica Tominon Lens – a hard one to chase

Rare Pentamatic ’35’ Brochure from Japan

Rare Pentamatic II Brochure from Japan

Early Yashica Pentamatic ’35’ Brochure