Tag Film

Fuji Panorama Cardia – a plastic fantastic from 1991

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One of the first dedicated 35 mm panorama compact cameras from Fuji Photo Film Company. It was available only in Japan and was released in December 1991. Actually a sophisticated camera a notch or two above being just a point and shoot – debateable.

There’s so little information about this wonderful camera on the web, I hope this post helps a bit for those interested in this format and camera.

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It’s not as basic as it seems. This camera was released for the Japanese domestic market in December 1991 and listed for 15,800 JPY (about $123 USD).

It’s a dedicated panorama format 35 mm film camera (13 x 36 mm actual image size). The panorama setting is not adjustable.

1. Opens and closes the lens cover and when closed locks the shutter button.

2. Flash on/off switch.

3. Fujinon 28 mm f8 glass lens – 3 elements in 3 groups. The fixed focus lens focuses from 1.5 m to infinity switchable to landscape mode.

4. CdS light receiver.

5. Two position ISO selector switch.

6. Landscape Mode Switch “Far-view Mode Lever”.

7. Albada bright frame finder.

8. Shutter release button.

9. Manual strobe/flash.

The aperture is “automatically” adjusted for lower light levels and the camera will give a low-light warning in the viewfinder. It’s been reported by a Japanese blogger that the aperture was capable of f4 to f16 but that is not backed up by data from Fujifilm that I can find.

The shutter is fixed to fire at 1/100th of a second.

I’ve scanned a few pages from the instruction pamphlet (below).

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Take notice of the clearly marked “CdS light receiver” vice exposure meter. It could be just a difference in the machine translation from what was meant in the original Japanese text.

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Specifications from Fuji confirms that the lens is a Fujinon f8 28 mm wide angle with glass optics – 3 elements in 3 groups (you’ll find that info in line 4).

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Unboxing a classic.

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This camera set is available in my Etsy studio shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by! – 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

 

In the Shop – Fun with Fuji

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I’ve added these hard to find classic Fuji cameras in my camera shop recently. These are all considered to be still “new in the box” and in factory mint condition. Here’s your chance to add these totally unused (but tested) 35mm film cameras from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

These are available at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

new fuji ads

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Full descriptions and additional pictures can be found at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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Timeless Tuesday – Hippie Strap

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Here’s a bit of throwback photo gear from my collection – it’s time to pass it along. This one is very lightly used and was actually on display with one of my 1970s Yashicas. It’s about 1.5 inches wide and about 36 to 40 inches long as it is adjusted now so it’s a nice long camera strap that’s perfect as a neck or shoulder strap.

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It has nice leather accents and the metal clips are shiny and bright.

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Great colors and an awesome vintage pattern.

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It holds two film canisters (film cans if you’re going old school) and the underside is a soft suede-like material.

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It’s available in my studio shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – lots of other neat items in the shop at 10% off too! – 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Yashica – A New Horizon 1975

Chris and Carol 1 Comment

From the rarely seen sales brochure ‘Yashica A New Horizon’ published in early 1975.

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This booklet was sent to all US camera dealers with a cover letter addressing Yashica’s future plans for distributing their line of cameras and photo equipment directly to dealers in the United States. In all of my years of collecting Yashica related items, this is the first time I’ve seen this publication. It’s a perfect 8.5 x 11 inches, in full color, printed on heavy stock glossy paper with 14-pages filled with photographs never used outside of this book.

Here is the cover letter that accompanied the brochure. It provides some insight into the heart of Yashica and at this point in time, brings to light their attempts to turn the company around and emerge from bankruptcy in a much better place.

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The letter is typed on bond paper (with watermark) and was signed by Mr. Kenji Sakuma so I don’t believe it is simply a photocopy casually dashed off to dealers. It shows how important this new program was to Yashica.

My good friend Paul Sokk (https://www.yashicatlr.com) pointed out the gender-specific remark “In the very near future, one of our salesmen, under the direction…”. When read using today’s optics it would appear as though it was out of place and implied that there would be no women calling on you Mr. Camera Dealer. Considering that this is from Japan and written in 1975 I believe it was simply stating the obvious – there probably weren’t females in these positions at this point in time and it would be many decades before the glass ceiling would be broken (struggles exist even to this day). Of course, the term salesmen could also be interpreted as a generic term for the position as the term sales person had not yet come into use.

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A view of the back cover which was released without the usual printing data or date.

The Yashica Line as represented in early 1975. Noticeably missing is the TL Electro X ITS model with its distinctive gold electron logo on the pentaprism.

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The Yashica line as presented in the brochure. The TL Electro X and TL-E are represented in the SLR category but no TL Electro X ITS which I find very odd.

As always, thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to share anything that may enhance this post or correct any inaccuracies. – 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Yashica L AF vs. Kyocera T Scope

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In case you missed this post the first time around here’s another look at these two exceptional cameras by Yashica-Kyocera.

Chris and Carol's avatarChasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Round 1 – The Introduction

The Yashica-Kyocera L AF from 1986 and the Kyocera T Scope (Japanese name, T3 elsewhere). The L AF was assembled in Hong Kong with parts made in Japan and the T Scope was made in Japan.

Key feature – waterproof (more like weatherproof) – not a dive camera.

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DSCF7805 logo N.A. Scope = “New Angle Scope”

The scope is just like a waist-level finder – pretty cool actually.

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ky and laf logo Cousins

I’ll be doing a side by side field test of these two cameras shortly. Is the T3 really worth the extra money over the Yashica? The T Scope features a Carl Zeiss T* Series Tessar f/2.8 35mm lens against the Yashica (Tomioka?) f/3.5 32mm lens. I have a hunch that the Yashica’s lens was also made by Zeiss at the Tomioka factory in Tokyo. We’ll see if the vaunted T* coating makes a noticeable difference.

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night rider

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Honda Hawk – 1980

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Camera: Kodak EK4 Instant

Scanner: CanoScan 9000F Mark II

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my camera studio at http://www.ccstudio2380.com for some great cameras! – 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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

In the Shop – New Arrivals!

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New in the studio shop this week at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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Beautiful Canon New FD 70-150mm Zoom Lens with original Canon caps. Fully tested on my Fujifilm X-A10 mirrorless digital camera. Flawless operation from this sharp compact Canon zoom. Easily adapts to a wide variety of digital bodies as well as the primary lens for such classics as the Canon F-1, AE-1, A-1, T70 and any FD mount body. Priced right!

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Ikelite Aquashot waterproof 35mm disposable film camera case for Fujifilm and Kodak cameras. Includes all of the original boxes, instruction booklets and electronic strobe!

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Complete Ikelite dive system camera equipment.

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New in an open box is this hard to find Fujifilm Instax Mini 50S in Piano Black. This popular Fuji still sells for big bucks new and used but I’ve got mine priced very fairly – two brand new Panasonic CR-2 batteries included as well as the original unopened strap and unopened close-up lens attachment. Check it out!

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SOLD – Thank You! SeaLife Reefmaster RC automatic exposure 35mm film camera and armored underwater housing good to 164 feet! Like new, super clean, and in mint condition. Includes the 3X Macro Lens and Color Compensating Filter, and a roll of Fujicolor. It takes (2) AA batteries. Works great above and below the water.

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Very nice (and rugged) Atan nylon lens case. It’s been used but not abused. Padded inside with a drawstring closure it’s the perfect case for people on the go. Includes a super long shoulder strap. About 6.5 inches tall so it will hold a short telephoto and smaller lens.

Plus everything in the studio shop is on sale at 10% off my already low prices. I ship worldwide but if I’ve missed your country just contact me for a quote.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Studio Camera: Fujifilm X-A10

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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Tuesday 2’s

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Yashica’s first two TLRs – 1953 1954

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Twenty years of Yashica development – 1950s 1970s

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Studio Cameras:     (Top) Samsung Galaxy S4      (Bottom) Sony DSC W-170

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

BTW, my camera shop is always open at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – lots of specials!

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.

Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.