Tag TLR

Heavyweights 1954-1955

Chris and Carol 3 Comments

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On the left is the Fujicaflex Automat by the Fuji Photo Film Company – Fuji’s first and only twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera. On the right is the Yashica Flex S (aka Yashicaflex S) by Yashima Kogaku Seiki Company.

Yashima (later to be known as Yashica) went on to build TLRs until 1986 producing thousands encompassing over thirty models.

The Fujicaflex was under development by Fuji since around 1948 and the direction they took was to build a high-quality camera geared to the serious amateur and semi-professional photographer. By all accounts, it was a bust in the marketplace (way too expensive) as Fuji never attempted to follow it up with a second model and ending production in just about a year.

The Fujicaflex is noticeably larger than the Yashica Flex S – the Fuji weighs 1,323 grams and the Yashica comes in at 1,117 grams. Both cameras were weighed with a roll of 120 film loaded.

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The Yashica Flex S was the first ever TLR with an attached exposure meter. I imagine you could say built-in as the meter’s cells were located behind the nameplate flap and were connected to the meter on the camera’s left side via wires. The non-coupled selenium cell meter was built by Sekonic and was marked “Sekonic CB-1”.

We’ll continue to feature the Fujicaflex in upcoming posts and hopefully soon we’ll be able to post some images taken with it. I’ve got a roll of Fujichrome Velvia 100 in it now.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out some of our unique photo gear in our shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Chris

Yashica 44 LM – Up close in the studio

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Yashica 44 LM 127 roll film medium format film camera – 1960

Studio Camera: Fujifilm X-A10 hybrid with Canon FD 24mm f/ 2.8 wide angle lens with Canon Close-Up Lens 240 (see below). The front of the lens was about 3 inches from the Yashica. No cropping or other post production. A poor man’s Fujifilm-X.

ISO 400 on Acros film simulation mode at f/ 16 at 1/30 sec.

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Canon FD 24mm f/ 2.8 wide angle lens with Canon Close-Up Lens 240.

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Great combination for getting close.

Last two images shot with Fujifilm FinePix S9900W.

Chris

Be sure to stop by our online store at https://www.ccstudio2380.com

Please respect that all content, including photos and text are property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Copyright © 2015-2017 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Yashica 44 LM – 1960

Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Yashica’s “pint sized” twin-lens reflex 127 film camera from 1960. Instead of producing typical 6x6cm negatives from a full sized TLR on 120 film, the Yashica 44 LM produces negatives and slides in the 4x4cm format from 127 film. A smaller negative means a slightly smaller camera. This model comes with a built-in selenium photo cell light meter (also known as an exposure meter). It reads reflected light from the subject – no batteries needed! After 57 years, this camera’s meter works just fine and is accurate too!

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Anyone who follows our blog on a regular basis knows that we’re a pushover when it comes to a pretty Yashica and if it’s in its original box – well so much the better. Fujifilm FinePix S9900W.

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The boxes normally don’t hold up this well after nearly 6 decades – this one has been stored properly and looks pretty close to new. The colors are bright and the box is solid. The studio camera for this shot was my Fujifilm FinePix S9900W.

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The star of the blog! The Yashica 44 LM from 1960. Mint new and in unused condition. Everything works just fine. The light meter is spot on and the shutter is accurate, The lenses are clean, clear and sharp. This shot was with our new Samsung Galaxy S8+ camera.

This camera is finished in dark gray on the metalwork and that contrasts nicely with the dove gray leatherette of the body.

Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to check out our online store at https://www.ccstudio2380.com for some great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers!

Some of our fine art images can also be found at https://society6.com/ccstudio2380

Our gallery can also be found at https://500px.com/yashicachris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text are property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Copyright © 2015-2017 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Yashima Flex – 1954

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Yashica’s first twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera to bear the company name – Yashica was Yashima at its founding. The Yashica name wasn’t adopted for the company until 1958.

This Yashima Flex is as close to its original condition as one could hope for. It’s fully functional and a joy to use.

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A beauty from the craftspeople at Yashima – Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Thanks for stopping by! If you’re interested in purchasing classic cameras, please visit our e-commerce store at https://www.ccstudio2380.com

You can visit our gallery of photographs at https://500px.com/yashicachris

Some of our art prints can be found at https://society6.com/ccstudio2380

We’re also active buyers of classic photogear – contact us at chriscarol@ccstudio2380.com

Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text are property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Copyright © 2015-2017 Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Chris Whelan
All rights reserved.

Fujicaflex Automat – Fuji Photo Film’s 1st TLR – 1954

Chris and Carol 6 Comments

Vintage camera wish list item 101.

The Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fujicaflex 

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Designed to incorporate the best features that were available in the medium format twin-lens reflex camera market, the Fujicaflex debuted in 1954 – at a very premium price, we might add. While surfing today, we stumbled upon this wonderful site from Fujifilm Europe. You can check it out here

It’s nice to see a large corporation like Fujifilm blog about some of the really cool cameras that helped make their company great. In another blog, they go on to talk about the amazing Fujipet from 1957.

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For more about this wonderful camera, take a trip here too to see Mr. Yoshinobu Koyasu’s camera collection… it is not to be missed!

It’s certainly interesting to read (Fujifilm Europe’s blog) – the older posts that pay tribute to the cameras of their roots are so interesting.

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My Fujicaflex acquired in 2018 from a collector in Thailand. Finally!

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Please stop by my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

 

Yashica Flex AS-II by Yashima Optical

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One of the original group of 6 cameras that Yashica (Yashima Optical Industries Company, Ltd.) made in the early to mid 1950s. This AS-II was introduced in 1954 and featured a built-in (well, attached) light meter. They’re solid cameras these early Yashica TLRs, and in our opinion, had some underrated features as well as great lenses. The light meter was made by Sekonic by the way.

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Yashica Flex AS-II with built-in light meter (just visible on the camera’s left side). The light meter’s cells were located under the nameplate and were exposed by lifting up the nameplate flap.

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The AS-II featured Yashimar lenses that were made by Tomioka Optical for Yashica. A Copal shutter with a blazing fast 1/200 top speed!

If you’re in the market for a vintage Yashica TLR then the AS-II should be on your list. Be advised that most will not have a working light meter – if you get one with one it’s a bonus. They are a bit hard to find – 63 year old cameras don’t often look this good or work perfectly. We were lucky as we were able to purchase this one from a collector in the US for a reasonable price.

Taken on the US Post Office steps in downtown Fernandina Beach, Florida. The post office dates to 1911.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S4

Chris

Yashica EM TLR test roll – 2011

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Some recently found images from a roll of Kodak E100VS Ektachrome Professional color slide film taken with my Yashica EM. Shot and processed around 2011 or so. Scanned (today) with my Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II scanner.

I normally shoot Fujicolor PRO400H color negative film and Acros 100 black & white… I can see why. I wasn’t happy with these images when I first saw them and that’s why I probably just chucked them in a drawer.

My post production (no PS or LR) after the scans helped some but the color was way off. In fairness, it could have been the processing as I used a basic online company vice ‘The Darkroom’.

The transparencies weren’t cut properly by the lab so some of the square images are not square. I don’t crop my 6x6cm images after scanning as they’re meant to be square (adds to the composition challenge in the viewing hood).

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Amelia Island’s courthouse.

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Clock Tower

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My father-in-laws motor home.

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Front yard river birch planted from a 1 gallon pot 15 years ago.

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Backyard dry streambed with maidenhair ferns.

All of the images were exposed using the Yashica’s exposure meter. Since slide film has a narrow exposure latitude, it was a good test of the Yashica’s nearly 50 year old built-in meter.

Yashica-Mat 120 Film Camera Set – 1960

Chris and Carol 9 Comments
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Pretty close to the way it looked when it was unboxed back in 1960. This one was part of a short production run of only a handful of cameras. It was for sale at US Military Exchanges (stores) in Japan as it is marked *EP* which meant an exempt purchase. No taxes paid but it could not be purchased or sold on the Japanese domestic market.

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It was Yashica’s first crank film advance TLR and it also featured auto cocking of the shutter. First released in April 1957.

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The quality of the images taken with a Yashica-Mat are outstanding – Yashica used high-quality Yashinon f/ 3.5 80mm lenses made for them by Tomioka Optical of Tokyo.

They are a joy to use and it’s a great camera to get into medium format photography with. It produces large 6 x 6 cm negatives or slides.

Thanks for your visit! Please visit our camera shop for some interesting vintage photo gear at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Chris and Carol  ^.^