I’m back with more cameras, photo gear, lenses, and of course, more images!

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Fernandina Beach (Florida) Historic District.

Contax RX
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens.
Fujifilm Neopan Professional Acros 100II Film.
Straight scans from The Darkroom – no editing. I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Nassau County (Florida) Historic Courthouse on Centre Street.

It is a beautiful and well-balanced camera set. The RX was first released in 1996, towards the end of Contax’s 35mm film era. Yashica was long gone by then.

If you’re in Fernandina, you must have a few pirates along the street. Shown here just outside the Palace Saloon.

Our pirate friend in color. Canon EOS R with Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens.

There you have it. My latest photowalk in our lovely historic district. If you are ever near Amelia Island, you must pop on by for a visit. I highly recommend the Canon EOS R system, lenses, and Contax RX. The Carl Zeiss lenses made for the Contax line are absolutely incredible.

Parting shot.

My limited edition Nikon F2A 25th Anniversary set is in my camera shop. This is the one if you want to purchase a completely new and unused camera from 1978.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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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. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

The best addition to my camera collection in 2023

January 1, 2024January 1, 2024Chris and Carol 2 Comments

The best addition to my camera collection in 2023. I’m a big-time Canon and Yashica collector, so getting into the Nikon brand has been a fun experience. Lots to learn, which has made it a challenge.
Nikon F2A (F2 Photomic A) with a Nikkor 50mm f2 lens. Pictured with the AS-1 Flash Unit Coupler and AR-1 Soft Shutter Release.
The F2 body is from early 1973, and the DP-11 metered viewfinder is from 1978.

Pictured is the Nikon Speedlight SB-16B, which is too big on the AS-1 adapter. When a flash head is this big, it’s best to go with a flash with a handle. The SB-16 features a bounce, swivel tilt head, and forward firing flash below the main flash. When mounted on the F2, the TTL flash feature is unavailable like it would be on the later F3. It’s still an automatic flash with two settings and a manual flash mode.

The Nikkor 50mm f2 is a great lens – you don’t always need a faster lens when shooting with a higher ISO (ASA back then). I find it plenty sharp enough, especially at f4 and 5.6.

Do you have a new favorite Nikon?
Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

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

A pair of classic Nikons.

July 27, 2023August 9, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A pair of classic Nikons ready for their first adventures with me.
On the left is a Nikon F Photomic-T with a Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f1.4 lens with an age-appropriate cap. The camera body is from 1967 and the finder is from 1965. A more appropriate finder for this body would have been the TN. The lens is from 1968. On the right is a Nikon F2A Photomic with the DP-11 finder (that’s what makes it an “A”). The F2 body is a late 1972 to early 1973 model and the finder is from at least 1977. The lens is a Nikkor 50mm f2 from 1978. The strap is NOS that I just happen to like the color scheme on it. The brown half-case on the Photomic-T is a mid-sixties case.
Both meters have been checked and they are accurate – a film test will tell more but on older metered cameras such as these, I shoot color negative film with a wide exposure latitude (Fujifilm 200 and 400).
There you have my entire Nikon collection (almost). I’ve just added the last piece, a gorgeous early F from 1964 which I’ll soon show off. LOL
Thanks for stopping by, Chris
My camera shop is at www.ccstudio2380.com

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Nikon F2A and Canon F-1

July 10, 2023July 10, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Can you say the Canon is a bit more “compact”?
Both camera systems are products of the 1970s and the design esthetic is classic and clean for the era. Side-by-side the differences are obvious. The Nikon’s metered prism (DP-11) is much larger and taller than the eye-level prism on the Canon (which was the standard prism since its introduction in 1971) and the motor drive is taller on the F2A but wider on the F-1. Which is your favorite? Another difference – is that Canon’s exposure (light) meter was built into the body of the camera vice being located in the prism like it is on the Nikon.

Without batteries in the motor drive the Nikon tips the scales at a hefty 1,520 grams.

Same situation for the Canon (no motor drive batteries) but somehow there are over 5 ounces of additional weight in the F-1.

More comparisons of these two popular professional system cameras in greater detail soon. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Finally! (again)

July 9, 2023July 9, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Finally! A recently acquired Nikon F2A with a Nikon MD-2 Motor Drive. It’s actually a very well-used camera set that arrived dirty but working. It cleaned up nicely (I know how to detail a camera). Can’t wait to give it a go but since I’ve sold off all of my AI Nikkor lenses I’ll have to purchase a “new” one. I’m waiting on a new battery magazine for the Nikon MB-1 Battery Pack (it takes two magazines) so that part is untested ATM. The meter looks good and of course, the camera sounds great. It was professionally serviced back in 1992. The seals look good so I should be good to go once I get the lens (AI 50mm f2).

Nikon F2A Photomic. This model features the DP-11 meter head.

I say this again because just the other week I purchased a long-awaited Nikon F Photomic-T 35mm SLR to be the Nikon F in my collection. This model (above) is from late 1972 to around March 1973. The meter head was released in 1977. The motor drive was released in 1973.