Yashima YashicaMat – 1957

May 6, 2022May 6, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashicamat, Yashica-Mat, YashicaMat – they’re all the same camera, and as was typical for Yashima (later Yashica) they had a difficult time staying consistent when it came to the way they named their cameras. At this point in time, Yashima had only been around since 1953 so I’ll cut them some slack. By 1958, Yashima became Yashica as the company adopted the name of its cameras.

So here is a super early sales brochure (Spring 1957) for the new YashicaMat 120 roll film twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera, the YashicaMat.

High-res scans are posted below from my own brochure.

Front cover.

What I find interesting is that the camera that’s depicted is the very first version of the model with a 75mm Lumaxar f3.5 taking lens (bottom lens) that were only available for a very short time before being replaced by the lens described in the brochure – 80mm Lumaxar f3.5 lens. There’s no written history to definitively know why the change was made so quickly or why they switched at all. It’s possible Tomioka Optical had difficulty providing enough 75mm lenses to meet the production demands of Yashima.

Inside centerspread. Look closely and you can just barely see 75mm on the bottom portion of the lens retaining ring (bottom lens). Both lenses say Lumaxar with the viewing lens (top lens) the clearest of the two.

Back cover scan below.

Back cover. Yashima’s camera line-up as of early 1957 (newest models).

If you look closely at this back cover you can see Yashima’s full corporate name – Yashima Optical Industries, Company, Limited, and their headquarters were located in Shibuya in Tokyo. The factory was in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, and later Shimosuwa.

Thanks for stopping by and if you chase down a nice Yashica-Mat that you like be sure to check out my good friend Paul Sokk’s excellent TLR site at http://www.yashicatlr.com to learn more about the camera that you’re about to purchase. – Chris

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, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

Yashica’s Yashica-Mat TLR

May 3, 2022May 3, 2022Chris and Carol 1 Comment

This one is from 1968. It features an 80mm f3.5 Yashinon taking lens (bottom) and an 80mm f3.2 viewing lens (top) with a Copal MXV shutter. This was Yashima-Yashica’s first crank film advance TLR introduced in 1957.

An early sales brochure from 1957 or 1958.

For more about this amazing camera please visit my friend Paul Sokk’s site at http://www.yashicatlr.com/66ModelsPage5.html#yashicamat

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow me on Instagram @ccphotographyai – Chris

Canon Model 7 Set from 1962

April 29, 2022April 29, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve decided it’s time to part with one of my favorite 35mm rangefinders – my Canon Model 7. It took quite a while to find this gem but it’s time to move on and let another collector enjoy it. Maybe someone with more free time will take it out for a photo walk. It’s 100% fully working even down to the meter.

The camera is nearly flawless with just the slightest signs of previous use.

It comes with the original instruction booklet in Japanese and I’ve added an English version too. The lens catalog and the products guide are both printed in Japanese and contain some great bits of info and have never seen before (by me) lens and accessories.

It’s available now in my online camera shop (hosted by Etsy) at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – thanks for stopping by! – Chris

wordless wednesday

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Crazy hard to find Yashica J-3

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica J-3 with Auto Yashinon 5cm f2 lens (and Yashica’s ‘Sailor Boy’).

One of the hardest cameras in Yashica’s line-up by far is the J-3 in pro-black with a matching all-black lens. Released in 1962 in limited quantities this was Yashica’s first-ever all-black 35mm SLR. As best as I’ve been able to find out, Yashica never advertised the black model or even acknowledged it in any brochure or catalog. I currently have two and I sold the one pictured here in this post a few years back (I kept the lens, hood, and cap).

Both of my cameras are in fully working condition right down to the meters. The meters aren’t accurate but they’re not TTL meters anyway so no big deal. Currently, there are two black J-3 cameras for sale on eBay but neither one is in collector condition from what I can see.

That’s my classic camera fix for today. Thanks for stopping by and if you happen to have one of these classics consider yourself lucky. – Chris

A gem from Canon – 1972

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Canon F-1 was released in 1971 and represented Canon’s first professional level 35mm single-lens reflex camera. This beautiful set is from 1972 and features a Canon FD 50mm f1.4 lens.

Complete kit including the correct first edition instruction booklet.

Chrome nose Canon lenses are my favorite.

Early models do not have the film reminder slot on the rear of the film door. Early serial numbers in the 1xxxxx range are your assurances that it’s an early model.

Chasing an early model Canon F-1 has become a bit harder as these cameras are now over 50 years old. Finding one with an original chrome-nosed Canon lens is even harder but certainly worth the effort. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

In the Shop – Canon New F-1 Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Edition

April 18, 2022April 18, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

This wonderful set sold to another collector a while back but I wish I still had it in my collection! Oh well, it’s time to look for another one. – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

New in my shop today is this awesome Canon New F-1 with AE Finder FN, Canon FD 50mm f1.8 Lens and the Official 35mm Camera of the 1984 Olympic Games Lens Cap (plus all boxes, straps, caps, instruction booklets, warranty cards).

This is the first time that this set has been offered for sale and it’s in nearly perfect cosmetic condition and in 100% fully working (tested) condition.

The best Canon SLR to come out of the early 1980s – by far!

DSCF9467

The Canon New F-1 with AE Finder FN is a professional camera that combines a balance between the electronic and mechanical worlds – its electromechanical hybrid shutter provides greater overall accuracy and a wider range of shutter speeds. If the battery fails, you can continue shooting at any of the high speeds or B, all of which are mechanically controlled. A new Energizer battery has been installed and…

View original post 194 more words

Yashica’s Model A TLR – a camera you should collect

April 12, 2022April 12, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all… if you’re looking to get into medium-format film photography may I suggest you look for the Yashica Model A as a good starting point. The camera is super simple to operate and is very affordable compared to other Yashica models. The better price doesn’t get you an inferior camera though as the Model A uses high-quality Yashica lenses made by Tomioka Optical of Tokyo. Here’s an example of a Model A. This one was made in 1966 and is in mint condition.

Here’s a link to the instruction booklet. http://www.yashicatlr.com/PDFs%20User%20Manuals%20(new)/Yashica%20A%20(LoRes).pdf

The right side has a large focusing knob in feet and meters and a smaller film advance knob (upper left).

This camera’s left side features an accessory shoe.

A red viewing window indicates which exposure you’re on.

Film loading is simple as is unloading. The camera uses easy to find 120 roll film. I like using film from Fujifilm.

Both the viewing lens (top) and the taking lens are Yashikor f3.5 80mm made by Tomioka Optical. The shutter is made by Copal and features speeds from B (Bulb) to 1/300. The shutter is cocked by moving the lever (with a green dot) downward after advancing the film. The shutter release is the silver button on the lower left of the faceplate. The aperture is set by the silver lever to the right of the taking lens.

Instruction booklet from the first version of the camera (1956).

Why I love the Yashica-A. It’s simple to use and simple to operate and with less fussy features it’s likely to operate for decades to come and it’s easy to chase down on the online auction and buying sites (eBay, Etsy, Mercari). What’s the downside? Like any camera that’s over five decades old, fungus and mold on the lenses are the biggest issues. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to get at the lenses and give them a good cleaning as long as the fungus hasn’t etched the glass lens elements. I find my Yashica-A’s lens is just as good a picture taker as my much more feature-laden Yashica-Mat EM with a Yashinon lens. For much more on everything related to Yashica TLRs, stop by my good friend Paul Sokk’s site at http://www.yashicatlr.com – Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Yashica LM – a different view

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My Yashica LM as seen on my Burke & James Press 4 x 5 camera’s focusing screen.

The Yashica LM has a “built-in” exposure meter that’s attached to the camera’s left side. It’s a selenium cell meter so no batteries are required but after 60 years most have stopped working. This one still works! For more about all Yashica TLRs, visit my good friend Paul Sokk’s site at http://www.yashicatlr.com/66ModelsPage4.html#yashicalm

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Happy SUNday!

March 27, 2022March 27, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Teac A-4300SX reel-to-reel stereo tape recorder.

My Teac A-4300SX from 1977 is close to being used again after sitting for at least 20 years! I just need to lubricate a couple of rollers and check the drive belt(s) inside. I know that it powers up so that’s a good start. I purchased it while I was stationed in Japan in the late 1970s at the Yokosuka Base Navy Exchange (Building A-33). Every WestPac Sailor knows A-33!

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag Made in Japan

Yashima YashicaMat – 1957

Yashica’s Yashica-Mat TLR

Canon Model 7 Set from 1962

wordless wednesday

Crazy hard to find Yashica J-3

A gem from Canon – 1972

In the Shop – Canon New F-1 Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Edition

New in my shop today is this awesome Canon New F-1 with AE Finder FN, Canon FD 50mm f1.8 Lens and the Official 35mm Camera of the 1984 Olympic Games Lens Cap (plus all boxes, straps, caps, instruction booklets, warranty cards).

Yashica’s Model A TLR – a camera you should collect

Yashica LM – a different view

Happy SUNday!