Happy SUNday!

Yashica’s last M42 mount camera. The FFT is seldom seen on online auction sites as it’s a fairly rare camera due to low production. The camera marked the end of a long line of 35mm SLRs made by Yashica that accepted the universal screw mount lenses.

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FFT instruction booklet dated June 1973

The camera was offered with the Auto Yashinon-DS 50mm f1.9 lens.

By the way, I have no idea what the FFT stands for if anything. If you do (or have a wild guess) let me know. The second to the last M42 camera made was the Electro AX. Both died in the spring of 1974.

If you’ve got a nice (working) example of this camera we are interested buyers. You can contact me at ccphotographyai@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

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Copyright © 2015-2019 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
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Yashica J-7 …1966 / update 1

The last in Yashica’s “J” series of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras. These wonderful cameras carried Yashica through the dynamic changes in 35mm photography during that decade.

The J-7 is not a common camera. We don’t have a feel for the amount of sales for this model. The Yashica TL Electro-X was on the horizon – the J-7 was the last of the old technology bodies. Soon thru-the-lens (TTL) metering would turn things around for Yashica.

Here’s a photo essay of this classic and classy camera…

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Yashica J-7 35mm SLR film camera. The last of the ‘Penta J’ series of cameras from Yashica. The J-3, J-4, J-5 and then the J-7. All were well-designed heavyweights… lots of brass and glass. No TTL metering.

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Also of note is that this is the first time that Yashica lists “Yashica Trading Co., Ltd.” at its Jingumae, Shibuya-ku headquarters. The J-7 was the last of the “J” series and the TL-Super was Yashica’s first TTL exposure metered 35mm SLR.

There are two slight variations on the TL-Super. Version 1 is shown here. Look closely at the film advance lever… it is all silver very similar to the J-3. On the Version 2 of the TL-Super the lever is very similar to the later TL-Electro X with part of the lever silver and the rest black plastic.

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CdS light meter sensor “window”.

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Rare complete set with the original box.

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The J-7 is about as hard to find (in nice condition) as the J-4. The J-5 and J-3 being the most common. Each model makes a very fine camera to get into film photography with as most average (working) bodies going for well less than $50. Since the Yashica uses the universal M42 screw-in lens mount, there’s a whole world of outstanding lenses to choose from and not break the bank.

Good luck!

Chris and Carol ^.^