Yashima Flex – 1954

February 5, 2022February 5, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Before they were known as Yashica they were Yashima and this is one of the first cameras to feature their original name. This is one of the nicest TLRs in my collection and I was thrilled to find it many years ago on an auction site in Japan. The original lenses were marked Tomioka Tri-Lausar and later just Yashinon. Tomioka Optical eventually became part of the Yashica Company.

This is an incredibly difficult camera to find for sale anywhere but a few do show up from time to time. Your best bet is to keep an eye out for one on Buyee (Yahoo Japan Auction) in Japan. Thanks for stopping by! – 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 ‘Stealth’ Camera

February 4, 2022February 4, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I know, sounds like clickbait. By stealth, I’m referring to a camera that few have heard of so it flew under the radar and avoided potential buyers back in 1972, 1973, and 1974. I don’t know how many Yashica sold but I do know it’s a difficult camera to find in working condition that isn’t beat to heck. So, if you’re looking for a challenging chase may I add this camera to your list.

It looks as though the first cameras rolled out in March 1972 and ended around February 1974.

The Yashica Electro AX. It’s a hard one to chase down and still get a working model that isn’t beat to heck.

It’s the same model but pictured with three different lenses. It’s also the only M42 lens mount body with the two leatherette patches on either side of the pentaprism.

The date code on this brochure is either 1974 or July (07) 1974 (lower right numbers).

My Electro AX was made in November 1973. Takes M42 screw-in lenses.

Here’s an earlier post I wrote about this camera https://yashicasailorboy.com/2020/01/31/yashica-electro-ax-yashicas-goofy-automatic-exposure-slr/

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Sears Tower 35 made by Nicca

February 3, 2022February 3, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Catalog pages from a Sears Roebuck camera catalog from 1952.

The Nicca-Tower Type-3 is an excellent camera to add to any camera collection featuring early Japanese 35mm rangefinder cameras. They can be a bit on the higher price range but well worth your time chasing one down. If you’d like to discover more about Nicca cameras please visit my good friend Paul Sokk’s wonderful site at http://www.yashicatlr.com/Nicca.html#type3

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Dreaming of my Fuji…

January 29, 2022January 29, 2022Chris and Carol 2 Comments

The Fujica GW690 (large) medium-format film camera by Fuji. It’s the largest 120/220 roll film camera in my collection and let me tell you, it’s a beast! It boasts an EBC Fujinon f3.5 90mm fixed lens that goes far and above any other film camera I’ve ever used. Check out this unedited image below – the detail that can be captured on a 6x9cm frame of film is amazing.

I love the look of Neopan Acros 100 film and its ability to capture the finest details.

I love the statement – “Light Weight and Compact”. I’m not quite sure that 6x9cm is considered to be a large format camera but who am I to argue with the gang at Fuji Photo Film marketing.

If you’ve never heard about this camera I highly recommend you take a stroll through the various online selling sites and check out this wonderful camera. There are “millions” of them out there so it’s not a difficult camera to chase down. I don’t ever see myself selling this camera as I originally purchased it from Japan at a great price and I love using it (although it’s been a long time). Be sure to check out my previous posts about this camera in the links below. Thanks for stopping by and I hope I’ve encouraged you to take a peek at these online. – Chris

A transistor radio from Yashica – 1960

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

In addition to Yashica’s well-known cameras, they made transistor radios, projector equipment, tape recorders, and even a record player. Not many are still around and even this gem does not work so it’s a bit of a challenge even to find one for sale online. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Friday Fotos!

January 28, 2022January 28, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hyper-rare Yashica Pentamatic II – was only released in Japan for a very short time.

Yashica Model A still in its factory plastic.

Rare Yashica TL Electro X without the gothic ‘Y’ on the pentaprism (early first version).

As you may be able to tell, Yashica produced a wide range of cameras and there’s plenty of rare varieties worth chasing. I only discovered the TL Electro X without the gothic ‘Y’ about two years ago after convincing myself there was nothing new to collect from the Yashica line.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day and evening! – Chris

Yashica 8E Zoom 8mm Movie Camera

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

Yashica 8E Zoom movie camera brochure from November 1960. I like to collect these early Yashica brochures, especially the ones that have a printed date code. Whenever I’m doing research on Yashica’s history having a brochure with a date is invaluable.

The Cover

Closed the brochure is about 195 x 135mm. Yep, that’s one of the ‘Yashica Gals’ drawn on the lower right. There are three different ones and as best as I can tell they were never named by Yashica. They made their appearance around this time across several brochures.

Inside Features

Yashica’s big cine camera with an impressive Yashinon Penta Reflex f1.8 11.5mm to 33mm zoom lens.

Back Cover Pages

The date code is on the extreme lower right – *N11T35* – The 11 is for November and the 35 is the Showa Era in this case Showa 35 (add 25 to the Showa Era = 1960).

Yashica started producing 8mm movie cameras as early as 1956 and was all in by the date of the brochure. Projectors, editors, interchangeable lenses most notably made by Zunow for Yashica, and accessories such as the title pictured above left. Many more brochures to discover from this period.

Yashica macro photography gear in the 1960s

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

Yashica’s first pro-black 35mm SLR.

Yashica J-3 with Yashica extension tubes and right-angle finder (1962).

A few years later here’s a gorgeous Macro Yashinon f2.8 60mm Tomioka lens set (1964).

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

First images with my new Canon lens – Canon RF 70-200mm f4 L IS USM

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

It wasn’t the best situation to try out my new lens for my Canon EOS R but I just had to give it a go.

A splash of color on a rather dull afternoon. 151mm at f6.3 1/200 ISO 5000 (no crop)

Maidenhair ferns. 200mm at f4.0 1/200 ISO 3200 (no crop)

Backyard habitat. 200mm at f4.0 1/200 ISO 2500 (no crop)

Japanese garden. 141mm at f8.0 1/200 ISO 6400 (no crop)

Although this was just a quick test of the lens in less than ideal shooting conditions the lens performed just as I expected. It is after all a quality Canon lens with the latest technology and features. Most of these images were shot through my horribly dirty outside windows so maybe not as sharp as they could be – not to mention the ISOs were a tad higher than what I typically shoot at. I’ve got my fingers crossed for a sunny day as lately it’s been rather gray, windy, wet, and cold – not typical North Florida weather even in the winter.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Is this the last lens I’ll ever buy?

January 25, 2022January 25, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Short answer, yes. Or maybe it would be better to say “it should be”. Canon’s newest RF lenses made for the EOS R series of mirrorless cameras are crazy expensive but as with nearly everything Canon makes it will hold its value for years to come.

The unboxing! My first look – awesome lens. I’ve only wanted one of Canon’s white lenses since 1978!

Canon “L” lenses are weather-sealed against moisture and dust. This RF lens is not an internal zoom lens but that’s what makes it so compact for a 70-200mm zoom. By the way, these Canon lenses are still made in Japan.

Hope the weather takes a turn for the better soon (cold and wet) so I can grab some shots with my new lens. Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for the “exciting” first images. – Chris

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag Made in Japan

Yashima Flex – 1954

Yashica’s ‘Stealth’ Camera

Sears Tower 35 made by Nicca

Dreaming of my Fuji…

A transistor radio from Yashica – 1960

Friday Fotos!

Yashica 8E Zoom 8mm Movie Camera

Yashica macro photography gear in the 1960s

First images with my new Canon lens – Canon RF 70-200mm f4 L IS USM

Is this the last lens I’ll ever buy?