Hong Kong streets – 1979

August 10, 2021August 10, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Both of these images were captured with my Canon F-1 on Kodak Kodachrome slide film – handheld at 2-3 seconds. The colors are not the best but sometimes Kodachrome behaves badly at night at long exposures (well, that’s my excuse anyway). I don’t remember where in Hong Kong these were taken except the second image must have been near Fleet Landing if I recall correctly.

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, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

It’s just a box

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

Chasing boxes — sounds pretty lame and it is in the big picture of collecting classic and vintage cameras but a camera box from the early 1960s can be either a rat or a gem after all these years. They’re just colorful cardboard with some stickers here and there after all and cardboard doesn’t do well if stored improperly. Moisture, bugs, sunlight, heat, pollution and crushing are just a few of the nasty things that can degrade 40, 50, and 60 year-old cardboard.

So, knowing all of the things that are stacked against finding a collectible camera box I’m happy to say that this one is a pleasant surprise. It’s far from perfect but it’s still very nice (no not so funny smells either).

My best guess is that this box was made in late 1962 based on the serial number of the camera that’s written on the bottom of the box.

Originally the area that’s blacked out said 50mm f1.4 lens but a previous owner carelessly modified the box when the body was separated from the lens when sold.

Here’s the camera that came with the box (a nice bonus). The box is nice because the camera is in near mint condition and is fully functional. The Canon Model 7 accepts LTM screw-in lenses from Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Leica, and a bunch of others. The bayonet part around the opening was designed to accept Canon’s ‘dream lens’ the 50mm f/0.95 which you can discover more about it at https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/s43.html

So there you have it… another aspect to collecting classic film cameras, collecting the boxes that went with them. Most people dispose of the camera box right after they took their new camera out of the box (I’m guilty) and some left the original box at the camera shop when they took their camera home (not guilty).

A scan from a *Canon Product Catalog* from March 1967 (the Canon 7S had already been released). Note the ‘dream lens’ is affixed in this catalog’s image.

Chasing the Canon Model 7

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Being a fan of most of Canon’s cameras and lenses it was only a matter of time before I started chasing after the Model 7. Although this model was released while the world was catching the SLR craze, it stood out as one of the best rangefinders Canon had produced up to that point. It also served notice to Nikon and Leica that Canon was a serious competitor capable of building outstanding cameras and lenses. Here’s my Canon 7.

Super bright and accurate view-rangefinder (Leica M challenger).

Dual range selenium cell light meter that’s still very much active and hopefully still accurate.

I haven’t decided on a lens for it yet but I’m looking for a nice 50mm f1.4 lens that would have a serial number in the range of this body. From what I can tell, this camera left the factory with a lens in the range of 114000 to 116000. The chase is on!

I’ll post additional updates on this camera as I get the original box and case “in the studio” for some glamour shots. I’m also chasing after the appropriate instruction booklet for it in either English or Japanese (or both), a brochure, and of course, the proper lens. For now, my trusty Nikkor fits nicely.

New in the Shop – Fuji Discovery 90

August 4, 2021August 4, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

New in my camera shop is this beautiful Fuji point & shoot 35mm compact film camera set in new, never used condition. These still new in the box cameras from the 1990s are getting harder to find and this one is from our “vast” collection of these types of cameras.

Some of its impressive specs:

Fujinon 34mm f/8 glass lens with 3 elements in 3 groups
* 1/40 to 1/600th Shutter
* Built-in Auto Flash
* Drop-in Film Loading
* Uses DX Coded Film
* Automatic Film Rewinding
* Self-timer
* Macro Mode
* Auto Focus
* Red-Eye Reduction

It’s available for purchase in my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Contax RTS by Fujifilm X-A10

July 29, 2021July 29, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I haven’t used my Fujifilm X-A10 mirrorless camera in a bit so tonight I thought I would dust it off (only an expression as I keep my gear clean) and try some new settings. The lens is a Super EBC XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OIS II model which I believe is considered a kit lens. I did buy the body and lens separate though. It’s about the most inexpensive way to experience the Fujifilm X Series without breaking the bank. You can check it out in greater detail here.

My subject of the day is my recently acquired Contax RTS with it’s sexy new leather half-case from TP Original, color is “volcano”.

PROVIA film simulation mode, shallow depth of field, 5600K studio lighting.

Shallow depth of field (again) focused on the from of the Yashica lens. Black & White film simulation mode, 5600K studio lighting.

I use the Fujifilm mostly for testing vintage lenses by using the appropriate adapters to mount the lens to the mirrorless camera body.

Here’s my Canon FD 28mm f3.5 lens mounted to the Fujifilm X-A10 using an adapter from Fotodiox.

Since I take lots of images for my listings in my camera shop I believe I’ll go back to using this camera and take a break from the camera I normally use. (Fujifilm FinePix S9900W)

Final image. This time I focused on the CONTAX logo and the shallow depth of field throws off the focus on the front of the lens and the RTS. Maybe only the “TAX” is in true focus.

If you’re looking for a simple and potentially inexpensive mirrorless body than I highly recommend this camera from Fujifilm.

Studio Fun – A couple of first’s from Yashica

July 17, 2021July 17, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

On the left, the Yashica ’35’ released in 1958 was Yashica’s first 35mm rangefinder (fixed lens) camera and on the right the Pentamatic ’35’ which was Yashica’s first 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. The Pentamatic was designed in 1959 and released by the Spring of 1960. Up to this point Yashica was know for building high-quality value priced twin-lens reflex (TLR) cameras. These two handsome examples are proudly displayed in my collection. The good news if you’re chasing these classics are that the rangefinder model is readily available online with many excellent examples for sale. The Pentamatic is not hard to find but chasing down a solid working model is a bit harder.

Yashica’s first 35mm camera – 1958

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

63 years of dirt. Here’s the before image of my recently acquired Yashica 35 by Yashima. It was made in April 1958 which makes it one of the earliest known examples of this historic camera. Sharp eyed viewers will also notice that the lens says Yasinon vice the name that was eventually used, Yashinon.

Nice and clean now. This one was assembled in April 1958 at Yashima’s Shimosuwa factory on the shores of Lake Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

This one features the Yasinon (vice Yashinon) f/1.9 lens. It’s one of the earliest known examples still in the wild.

Canon S.L.R. Series Brochure – Japan 1979

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I wanted to share this gorgeous sales brochure from Canon dated 11/79. The cover (above) is one of the best images that I’ve seen on a Canon brochure from that period. Amazing shot! Awesome cameras and lenses.

**The back cover with a nice list with prices of available Canon FD lenses.**

**The Canon F-1 and available accessories with prices.**

I purchased this brochure directly from a collector in Japan. I hadn’t seen this brochure in an English version previously so I was happy to add it to my collection. Missing is the AE-1 Program and AT-1 as well as any of the cameras in the new T Series.

My first post…

July 10, 2021July 10, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

First Look!

JULY 31, 2015 CHRIS AND CAROL

The exciting first look (in print) of the Pentamatic…

First official appearance of the Pentamatic occurs in the May 1960 issue of Modern Photography magazine. In the June 1960 issues of Modern Photography, U. S. Camera and Popular Photography, the first full-page ads appeared for the Pentamatic ’35’ reflex camera. The actual release date in the United States has almost always been considered by many to be March of 1960.

As of yet, I haven’t found evidence in print to support the March date. I do know that the Pentamatic was shown at the 36th annual ‘Master Photo DeaIers & Finishers Association’ trade show (MPDFA) held in St. Louis from March 21-25, 1960. I don’t know if the Pentamatic was released in Japan at an earlier date. From the progression of the serial numbers, by March 1960, about 1,500 cameras had been produced since production began in December 1959 at the Yashica Suwa factory. I doubt that there were enough cameras by March to support any widespread release in Japan or in Asia at that time. By June 1960, about 6,000 cameras had been built. There may have been enough to ship to the world markets starting in April and May. At their peak of production (summer 1960), it looks like Yashica was rolling out about 1,200 to 1,400 cameras each month.

Have a “Camera Holiday” in Japan. May 1960 magazine ad.