The Fujica GW690 Professional from Fuji Photo Film Company – November 1978. It’s a rather hefty medium format 120/220 roll film camera capable of producing images at an amazingly large 6 x 9 cm.
Loaded with Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros.
Its original list price was ¥143,500. The camera features a non-interchangeable EBC Fujinon 90mm f/3.5 lens (5 elements in 5 groups) and a Seiko #0 leaf shutter with settings for T, 1-1/500 second. It weighs “just” 1,430 grams. No batteries needed as there is no built-in exposure meter. Simply focus the easy to use rangefinder, meter via a handheld meter (or phone app), set your aperture and shutter speed and you’re good to go. By the way, this beast produces 8 super sharp images so you can eat through a roll of 120 film in a hurry.
A very rare, no let me say, ultra rare Zunow camera and lens set is for sale via an online auction in Japan. The Zunow was made in extremely limited numbers in 1959 and few remain this complete in the present collector world. Yashica’s first 35mm SLR was designed in early to mid-1959 shortly after Yashica acquired Nicca camera in 1958. The Yashica Pentamatic ’35’ started production in December 1959 with the first units reaching the US market in the Spring of 1960. The Pentamatic and the Zunow share some similar DNA as Yashica purchased lenses from Zunow (mostly cine lenses) and they were for a time dual branded.
Not often seen together original box, lens cap, case with strap, camera body and lens.Beautiful together.Here’s a snip of a completed auction for just the brochure.Here’s my first Pentamatic ’35’ with a super-rare Tominon and Yashica branded wide-angle lens.
Looking at the Zunow and the Pentamatic it’s not hard to let your imagination run wild that maybe Zunow, Nicca, and Yashica all shared some design features with one another over a drink or two at a local bar on the outskirts of Tokyo.
This could be another sales brochure or brochure and instruction booklet combination.Zunow and Yashica branded box for an 8mm cine camera lens.An advertisement for a rare dual offering from a well-known Japanese camera dealer a few years back.
I decided to look for another 127 camera seeing as I had the FCK127 when up popped this blog post on Casual Photophile. Then this post appeared up on another blog I read. That was it, I wanted Purma Special and luckily I am in England so they are fairly cheap. I put a minimum […]
For a short time in the Spring of 1972 I was a volunteer firefighter trainee with the Cocoa Beach Fire Department – a professional department that was kind enough to take on a young college student and give me full access to their facilities and training. Here’s a few pics I shot with my new Yashica TL Electro-X 35mm SLR on Kodak Plus-X film that I developed and printed myself (for a school project).
I don’t have his name but he was a friendly firefighter that was more than happy to help with my training (as were all the others in the department).It looks ancient now but completely open cabs were common back then. Engine 4 getting re-stowed after a run.One of their newer engines in 1972 which featured a new to them semi-enclosed cab.Me with my favorite truck. I’m just back from a very long and very hot purpose set fire for training.Lots of gauges.Always training.Mean Mack!
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.
Certainly a classic worthy of a chase. Beautiful lines, excellent features, awesome accessories – oh, and a wide selection of quality Mamiya-Sekor lenses.
This is an early model of the M645 – probably 1975 or so.
Interchangeable lenses, backs, finders, focusing screens, winders and probably a few bits I overlooked.
If you’re looking to explore medium-format photography and you want a camera that can be as creative as you and be used like a 35mm SLR, then the M645 is the way to go. Look for clean and damage free examples that haven’t been beaten to near death by a professional wedding or studio photog (no offense to those pros but I wouldn’t want their cameras).
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.
Kinda hard to find lens from the late 1950s or maybe even the mid-1960s. This one was mounted on a Miranda SLR so it had an M44 T-mount that I removed.
Although the lens barrel looks like heck the glass is nearly flawless with only a very few dust specs inside. Since I purchased this from a photographer in New Mexico the dry climate has prevented any mold or fungus growth.
I have a T-mount to M42 adapter coming so I can hardly wait to give this little gem a try on my Fujifilm X-A10.
The serial number is No. 51496E which offers a clue as to who made the lens. I believe it was made by Sankor who also made lenses for darn near everybody under at least a dozen brands. If it’s the same maker, Sankor makes a very well respected line of cine lenses.
It’s not the prettiest lens in my collection but after nearly 60 years of use the glass is nearly flawless.The serial number with the ‘E’ suffix is a clue to the original manufacturer.
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.
Hello all! I’ve been super busy these past few weeks gathering some of my camera bits and bobs from my collection to add to my camera shop hosted by Etsy at http://www.ccstudio2380.com
Here’s a small sample of what I have on sale –
I ship nearly worldwide and my items all come from a smoke and pet free home.
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.
Canon EOS-1N RS SLR. (RS = Rapid Speed). One of the best late model film cameras made by Canon. The later model EOS-1v was released in 2000 and was at the time the best a professional could get their hands on. In the current used markets the 1v goes for 2 to 3 times the cost of a little used 1N RS. The specs between the two cameras are not that different to justify the extra cost. About the best thing a 1v has going for it is that it’s anywhere from 5 to 8 years newer so maybe it could last longer. I don’t buy that argument as both are built to exceed professional standards for reliability and durability. One could argue that the EOS-1v may have been used harder by professionals than the EOS-1N RS.
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.
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
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.
Fujifilm = Fuji Fun! Here’s a simple but fun to use point and shoot 35mm film camera from Fuji Photo Film Company – 1993. It’s hard to imagine that this camera is now over 25-years-old and it’s never been used.
It features a Fujinon f8 34mm lens with 3 elements in 3 groups. The shutter operates from 1/40 to 1/600 of a second. Built-in automatic flash and of course, red-eye reduction.
The Discovery line from Fuji was very popular with a ton of models produced in the early 1990s. The Discovery 90 Date listed for ¥18,500 in 1993 (about $160 USD).
It has some pretty nice features for such an easy to use camera. That’s the original film that came with the set – it’s expired but still usable.
I replaced the original CR2025 battery with a fresh one and reset the date.
These “Plastic Fantastic” cameras are a joy to use and with its Fujinon 34mm lens produced some quality images especially loaded with Fujicolor film.
Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic Sunday! – 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.
The Fujica GW690 Professional from Fuji Photo Film Company – November 1978. It’s a rather hefty medium format 120/220 roll film camera capable of producing images at an amazingly large 6 x 9 cm.
Loaded with Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros. 
Original sales brochure – 1978. 
Released in 1985, the now Fuji GW690II in…
