Canon EOS 500N – lightweight 35mm SLR that’s perfect today.

November 6, 2021November 6, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

When looking for a simple and lightweight 35mm single-lens reflex film camera look no further than this hard-working Canon. Released in 1996 and is still a very capable camera to this day. Mine has the Canon Zoom EF 35-80mm f4-5.6 III attached and everything is in top working condition.

One of the advantages of this camera is its ease of use and as the title suggests is light in weight. With two CR123 batteries installed and with the lens attached (lens cap too) it weighs just 546 grams with is super easy to carry around as the primary or secondary camera while on a photo walk.

The camera is capable of full manual shooting as the lens can be taken off autofocus and exposures both aperture and shutter speed set by the user. It also features 10 creative and programmed exposure modes including macro.

I’ve added it to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com if you’re interested in purchasing it.

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.

Happy SUNday! – Classic Asahi Pentax K1000

October 31, 2021October 31, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Happy day all, thanks for stopping by! Today I have a very nice early model Asahi Pentax K1000 from the late 1970s. One of the longest-running 35mm SLRs ever made. I find it rather compact compared to other cameras from the same period so it’s a little hard for me to get a good comfortable hold on the body. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good camera but I tend to like a bigger body especially on the right side where I usually grip the camera. Its simple design and rugged reliability are its claim to fame (low cost too).

I’ve just listed this in my online camera shop yesterday and it just sold to a client in Finland! My Etsy Shop (www.ccstudio2380.com) has a tremendous worldwide appeal which I’m most appreciative of. It’s fun to think that cameras that have been a part of my collection can end up finding a new home almost anywhere on Earth (that’s the best part of online selling). I had a vintage Japanese-made auxiliary viewfinder from the 1950s end up going back to Japan last week from my eBay site – cool!

Here is the Asahi Pentax K1000

Includes a gorgeous Asahi Optical Company SMC Pentax-M f2 50mm lens and instruction booklet from 1981.

Engraved Asahi Opt. Co. on the right rear top plate.

An early serial number indicated it was made in Japan. Interestingly the lens has been made in Taiwan.

Awesome Yashica collectible!

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hello and Happy Wednesday! I’ve just added a really hard-to-find Yashica collectible in my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – pop on over and check it out.

It’s in very nice condition showing no signs of use. It’s from around 1966 or so when Yashica introduced the Electro 35 camera. A mat like this would be typically used by a camera dealer to place on a countertop to show and protect the camera he was showing to a customer. It’s about 16.25 by 10.50 inches. The raised gold letters look as bright and shiny as new.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

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, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

wordless (almost) wednesday

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica Flex AS-II made in November 1954

Thanks for stopping by and have a classic day!

Can a DSLR from 2007 be considered a classic camera?

October 17, 2021October 17, 2021Chris and Carol 5 Comments

I’ll answer that straight away – yes. I believe the design of the Canon EOS 40D and its cousins are in a way timeless. By today’s standards 10.1-megapixels isn’t a lot but when you get down to it it’s enough for sharp images on your computer. Most people never print their images so if you’ve got a sharp monitor you’re good.

EOS 40D

The Spirit of Photography.
Welcome to the next generation of digital SLR photography-the Canon EOS 40D. The EOS 40D combines Canon’s tremendous know-how in both the digital and photographic worlds, creating a camera that not only does everything one would expect of a traditional digital SLR, but one that incorporates staggering leaps forward in technological innovation. With new features like Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a more powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch LCD monitor and more, the EOS 40D elevates digital photography to new heights, enhancing the shooting experience, and delivering images one could only expect from a Canon.

Canon’s lineup from a Spring 2009 sales brochure.

The Canon EOS 40D is a fun camera to use even to this day. Simple. compact but built to a higher standard than the Canon EOS Rebel line. It uses any EF or EF-S lens and when paired with a modern EF-S IS lens it’s a joy to use even when shooting focal lengths up through 200-300mm.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/support-dslr/eos-40d/eos-40d

I have this wonderful set (yep, mint condition) for sale in my online camera shop. It’s been fully tested, it’s super clean, and has only 5K shutter actuations!

Thanks for stopping by!

Minolta Maxxum 7000i aka Dynax and a-7000i

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hello all! The next camera from my collection is headed to my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Everything was still Made in Japan with this model.

Everything has been tested with a fresh Panasonic 2CR5 battery and all is good. The flash “talks” to the camera controls making nearly automatic flash photography simple and easy. The Minolta bag is like new and so is the camera – only a few scuffs here and there on the outside finish. It’s super clean inside and out (just like all of my cameras). The AF Minolta 50mm f1.7 lens is optically clean, clear, and sharp. Two Minolta camera straps are included as is the front and rear lens caps and body cap. The eyepiece, hot-shoe cover, and 2 expansion cards are also included. What I like is just how simple this camera can be to operate in full automatic mode or go old school and go full on manual.

The Minolta 35 – updated info from Paul Sokk

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all. I wanted to share my good friend Paul Sokk’s outstanding website that mainly deals with TLR cameras made by Yashica, Paul has added a comprehensive outline and history about the early years of Minolta and concentrating his research on the Minolta 35. Here is the link to his Minolta pages. http://www.yashicatlr.com/Minolta35.html

I hope you take the time to pop on over to Paul’s site as you’ll be drawn in with his excellent facts, advertisements, charts, and of course, pictures of each model and any known varieties and types. Let me just say his works are always well researched and presented in a clear telling of the entire lineup of cameras and lenses.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Sigma Minolta 100-300mm Zoom

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I discovered this wonderful lens locally as it was for sale by the original owner. This one was mated to a Minolta Maxxum 7000i 35mm SLR film camera (1988).

Awesome auto-focus telephoto zoom lens with a Minolta mount.

It’s a large lens with a wide zoom range – not heavy so it’s a joy to use.

I have this lens in my online camera shop and I’ll be listing the Minolta Maxxum 7000i shortly.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Tamron AF 28-300mm Aspherical Zoom Lens

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Testing my Tamron lens on my Canon EOS 40D.

Its got everything except image stabilization which I need whenever I get above 175mm or so and or have a slow shutter speed (less than 1/125th or so (it’s an age thing).

Here’s some test shots taken with this lens and mounted on my Canon EOS 40D. The 40D is a 10.1 megapixel DSLR from 2007.

I purposely shot these wide open (f/6.3) at 300mm because that’s where a lens like this will show its weaknesses. They aren’t as sharp as I’d like but they aren’t horrible either. Everything was shot using the self timer to trip the shutter and of course the camera was mounted on a tripod. This lens will perform better at f/11 and a bit shy of 300mm I would think. That will be my next test. Stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening!

New members in my digital “family” – chasing modern classics.

October 3, 2021October 4, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A couple of 10.1 megapixel cameras from Canon. On the left the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi and on the right the Canon EOS 40D.

Collecting digital cameras from the mid to late 2000s can be a fun activity as these cameras are being replaced by modern mirrorless digital cameras. I would consider the Rebel as an entry level DSLR and the 40D as a true almost pro-level DSLR. The good news is that these cameras use the common Canon EF lenses.

Do you have a favorite digital camera from the 2000s? Are these worthy enough to be called modern classics? Let us know in comments section. Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

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