On a cloudy day, the red bridge stands out – the fish swim and the water flows.
At the Japan Pavilion, Disney’s World Showcase, Epcot.
A “Disney Duck” waits for a treat.
And a “Hidden Mickey” brings a smile.
Have a wonderful Monday!
Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170
Chris & Carol
Fuji Photo Film Company’s Pet 35 was introduced in 1959. As best as we can tell, the Pet was only available in the home market. Few nice examples exist today and even fewer with their original leather case.
Here’s an example of a very popular camera for Fuji during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
A Pet 35 leather case in all of its 1950s glory!
The Pet 35 fits snugly into its leather case – the front does not detach so it always flops around (and weakens the crease).
One of the coolest logos around.
If you run across a nice Fuji Pet 35 don’t pass it by. They are very much a real 35mm camera with excellent qualities – a glass lens with selectable apertures and adjustable focus. We haven’t run a roll of film through it yet but it’s on our list.
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W
Chris
The Yashica ‘J’ series of 35mm SLR film cameras. Top body is the J-7, next is the J-4, then the J-5 and finally the first one in the series the J-3. These were heavyweight cameras in their day…the best (for the most part) that Yashica produced from their factory in Nagano Prefecture (Shimosuwa).
Produced in 1962 to around 1967 to early 1968. The black body J-3 was Yashica’s first 35mm SLR ‘Pro Black’ camera. They were released in the following order… J-3, J-5, J-4 and J-7. These cameras feature lots of brass and glass. They also represent Yashica’s first SLRs with built-in exposure meters. TTL exposure metering was just around the corner for Yashica after the release of the J-7 in the form of the TL Super.
The J-5 was super popular in the mid 1960s.
Another tough one in the series to find complete and in mint condition.
One of the harder ones in the series to find in mint condition.
A J-3 all set for just about anything.
Thanks for your visit.
Chris
Yashica’s advertising figurine the ‘Sailor Boy’ first appeared in 1962 – closely associated with the launch of Yashica’s J-3 35mm single-lens reflex camera. It was made for Yashica by Modern Plastics of Japan and was produced in a variety of sizes – from a 20cm shop and dealer display model down to this little 10cm guy.
This one ⇓ came to our collection from Germany and man was he a dirty guy!
Covered with a coat of nicotine and grime, he looked like he was in a bar room fight! But he has a good casting and the paint looks good. Notice how grungy his hat is.
Since he was covered with a thin film of nicotine he was sticky!
Looks like he has a black eye!
After some restoration work in the studio, he’s looking ⇓ much better and brighter.
Nice and shiny! Still a hint of a black smudge near his right eye.
His hat is white again. If you look to collect one, be sure to look closely at the hat. Often the casting will be a bit porous there and show some pitting. This one is nice and smooth.
The manufacturer’s marks on the bottom. The round spot was meant to insert a small magnet so as to keep him in his place.
Made in Japan by Modern Plastics for Yashica. He’s never been given an official name from Yashica so we’ve always called him ‘Sailor Boy’ for obvious reasons. Some of the figurines will have ‘Yashica’ in katakana characters on the hat. We don’t have one like that – yet.
The 20cm shop model with the J-3. The eyelashes are different on the larger models otherwise they’re the same.
Not our collection! Wish it was! There is one missing – a 10 cm ‘Sailor Boy’ with green shoes otherwise this collection is complete. Notice the large doll on the back left does not have Yashica on his hat but does have green shoes. The one with the camera was released for the launch of the Yashica Electro 35 and as best as I can tell he’s modeled after Wee Willie Winkie from the Scottish nursery rhyme. These are on display at a Tokyo store that specializes in collectible figurines and dolls.
Thanks for your visit! And yes, we take donations of unwanted ‘Sailor Boys’!!! JK
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W
Chris
From 1959, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. follow-up to their widely popular Fujipet 120 film camera. The Pet 35 took advantage of the growing popularity of 35mm photography – plus it’s a great way to sell more film!
The Pet 35 was way more sophisticated than the Fujipet – but retained the funky charm and quirkiness of the original. Since the Pet 35 is not a common camera, we’ve presented a visual tour of our almost mint condition Pet 35.
Original set as found. We have the leather case too.
The lens is a Fujinar-K 3 element glass lens – 45mm with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 with closest focussing to 0.5 meters.
The lever to the right of the lens cocks the shutter and the left lever trips the Copal B leaf shutter.
The Copal shutter features speeds of B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/200 of a second.
In keeping with the funky design – two oversized knobs that left no doubt on how to operate them.
The body is dark gray on this Pet 35.
Outer ring is the focus adjustment, next is the shutter speed selector and finally the aperture settings.
The original Pet 35 lens cap.
Nicely detailed and finished.
Early 1960s Fuji Film Neopan SS – ASA 100. How about film for only ¥190!
Original selling price was ¥3,400 – the leather case sold for ¥700 and a soft case was available for ¥350
Original sales brochure specs.
The viewfinder is bright and clear – and big for such a small camera.
ASA reminder scale and film back release.
The Pet 35 is far from being a ‘toy camera’ as its build quality is quite high. No foam or yarn light seals to fail – the metal film door fit tightly into the body to seal out light.
Gotta love the Fuji Film stickers inside!
Thanks so much for your visit – we hope that you enjoyed our tour of this fantastic Fuji!
Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W
Chris & Carol ^.^
Pure Power! That’s how the sales rep from Sansui pitched it to us at the U.S. Navy Exchange in Yokosuka, Japan in 1978. It is a monster!
Here’s a peek inside –
Sadly we don’t own it anymore – a casualty of downsizing our home. It could rock in its day and rattle the windows! They sell on eBay now for solid money.
Direct coupled amp – pure thunder! ^.^
Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170
Chris
Canon’s A Series of cameras were among the best in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Often overlooked, the Canon AE-1 Program (it was also available in a pro black body) was a fun and accurate SLR during its heyday. Of course the Canon A-1 and the AE-1 were the most popular of all.
The AE-1 Program, like all of the Canon A Series of bodies, used the Canon FD lenses – here with the popular and super lightweight 50mm f/1.8 lens.
AE-1 Program in pro black and Olympic Edition.
If you get a chance to pick one of these up for a fair price we think you’ll be surprised at how well the auto exposure modes do under challenging lighting situations. It’s not built as robustly as the A-1 but can be had for much less.
The AE-1 P makes a nice addition to any Canon collection and certainly would look good in any collection of early Japanese SLRs.
Thanks for stopping by!
Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170
Chris
Probably not many of these floating around in the U.S. – this was in our collection of ‘all things Canon’ for awhile but has since moved on to another collector. We thought it deserved a spot on the blog if only because few people know of its existence.
The Canon T50 is one of the simplest cameras (35mm SLR) that Canon ever produced. It accepted all Canon FD lenses, took 2 AA batteries, had a power winder built-in and had programmed automation!
Cool logo!
Simple Simon! Shutter button, function dial, hot shoe and rewind lever.
Nice bright graphics!
Bold hand grip and clean design.
If you want a simple, and we mean simple, 35mm SLR film camera to play around with, then the T50 and its cousin the T70 are just the ticket. Both take all of Canon’s FD lenses – and that’s worth the price of admission any day!
Camera: Sony Cyber-shot W170
Chris
The Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic playing with his toys. It took a long while to chase down some of these Pentamatic thingys – still some items to find. Ah, the chase!
Chris
Yashica Pentamatic S with its no name clip-on light meter.
S fitted with its light meter, lens hood and the standard 5.8cm f/1.7 lens that came with the Pentamatic II.
Pentamatic S
Standard lens for the Pentamatic II here fitted to the S – Auto Yashinon f/1.7 5.8cm made by Tomioka Optical.
The Yashica Pentamatic S was available in 1961 and came with the Auto Yashinon f/1.8 5.5cm lens.
Chris
