Old Florida

October 29, 2025October 30, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I was going through some photographs I took of the first house I lived in while going to college in 1973. Sandy’s was a converted roadside fruit stand, mostly oranges, and when I lived in it, it still looked like a fruit stand inside. Shot with my Yashica TL Electro-X on Kodak Ektachrome.

Sandy’s right on US1 just north of Stuart, Florida. Just to the right of the drainage ditch is the edge of US1. Cars and trucks were likely doing 60 mph or more by the time they passed my bedroom window (pictured, center).

My fruit stand house. January 1973. Palmetto bugs, wolf spiders, snakes, and an occasional raccoon. No AC, typical Florida living.

It appears that Sandy’s is no longer there. Replaced by endless strip malls.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Comments are always welcome; I’ve learned a great deal from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by. While there, visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios, hosted on 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 © 2015-2025 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Yashica Gems – Friday Fotos!

December 30, 2022December 30, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica TL Electro X ITS (in black) and TL Electro X with Auto Yashinon-DS f/1.7 50mm lens (foreground).

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – 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

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, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

wordless wednesday

July 7, 2021July 7, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Friday Fotos! – Cocoa Beach FD

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021Chris and Carol 1 Comment

For a short time in the Spring of 1972 I was a volunteer firefighter trainee with the Cocoa Beach Fire Department – a professional department that was kind enough to take on a young college student and give me full access to their facilities and training. Here’s a few pics I shot with my new Yashica TL Electro-X 35mm SLR on Kodak Plus-X film that I developed and printed myself (for a school project).

I don’t have his name but he was a friendly firefighter that was more than happy to help with my training (as were all the others in the department).

It looks ancient now but completely open cabs were common back then. Engine 4 getting re-stowed after a run.

One of their newer engines in 1972 which featured a new to them semi-enclosed cab.

Me with my favorite truck. I’m just back from a very long and very hot purpose set fire for training.

A tale of two boxes from Yashica.

May 26, 2021May 26, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

From 1973, a box for the TL Electro-X ITS (Integrated Technology System). The box reflects the efforts of Yashica’s marketing division to create a more sophisticated looking box consistent with the new look to the TL Electro-X.

The original Yashica TL Electro-X box. This one is from mid-1970.

If you’re looking to add the correct box for your Yashica TL Electro-X be sure to match the proper box to the two different cameras. BTW, except for some external appearance differences, the ITS and the original Electro-X cameras are the same. The ITS was only available in an all black body whereas the original was available in both a satin chrome and black body.

If you look closely you’ll see that this box uses green for the “TL” and “35” logo where the true original uses a red “35” logo and a white “TL”. Oddly this variation of the box is from May 1970 which is right in the middle of the other boxes with the red logo. I haven’t decoded if it means anything changed in relationship to the camera or was it just a marketing exercise to see which looked better.

Yashica TL Electro X – one of Yashica’s most popular 35mm SLRs – ever!

April 17, 2021April 17, 2021Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The venerable TL Electro X

Far left is the TL Electro X in silver chrome (it also was available in all black) and on the right the TL Electro X ITS which was only available in pro-black with the gold electron symbol on the pentaprism.

Not to overlook the quality of the lenses from Yashica which were made in-house by Tomioka Optical. Here’s an Auto Yashinon DS-M 50mm f1.4 – super sharp lens (and fast).

If you’re looking to acquire a true classic 35mm SLR that will ease you into film photography, then I highly recommend getting this model Yashica. They were produced in rather large quantities during the late 1960s through the mid-1970s and if you find one that looks as nice as this one (and is a one owner) then the likelihood of getting one in fully working condition goes way up. Avoid online sellers that provide fuzzy pics and vague descriptions – look for sellers that will answer your direct questions as to the functional condition of the camera. The good news is that this Yashica uses a very common battery – I’m using an Energizer A544-6V alkaline (also known as an LR44). The battery provides the correct voltage with no drop-off over time.

BTW, this one was made in the then newest Yashica factory in Hong Kong and is marked “Hong Kong” on the bottom plate vice “Japan” which would be marked on the right side back of the top plate. This one will be leaving my collection soon as I am currently downsizing my camera collection. You can watch for it in my online camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Chasing Classic Cameras – Yashica TL Electro X 1973 Hong Kong Model

March 4, 2021March 4, 2021Chris and Carol 2 Comments

We enjoy collecting and sharing our Yashica cameras with our readers, especially if they tend to be a little hard to find and in such outstanding condition. I say this is hard to find just because not many were made at Yashica’s new factory in Hong Kong during 1973. As the saying goes, this was assembled in Hong Kong from parts made in Japan.

There’s really no difference between the models assembled in Hong Kong from the ones made in Japan that we’ve been able to detect. In our experience the fit and finish is the same with no known issues particular to the HK model. In fact, the HK models that we’ve owned seem to be in excellent condition overall with exceptionally nice satin chrome surfaces that hold up well over the years.

Typically ‘JAPAN’ would be on the top plate next to the serial number but on these models ‘HONG KONG’ is on the bottom.

The serial number is easy to decode. 3 = 1973, 10 = Oct, 01219 = the number built up to this point for that month.

The lens on this beauty is a fast and sharp Auto Yashinon DS-M 50mm f1.4 made for Yashica by the recently acquired Tomioka Optical. All Yashica camera bodies use M42 screw mount lenses up to the C/Y mount cameras made much later.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

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.

Yashica’s Electronic Marvel

March 14, 2020March 14, 2020Chris and Carol 2 Comments

The Yashica TL Electro X was one of Yashica’s most successful 35mm SLR out of a line-up that included many winners but also plenty of losers. The TL Electro X made its debut in the fall of 1968 (October) and was produced until early 1974. Many thousands were made over that span and although we have many examples in our collection, this is the only one that still has its original box.

This one is from May 1969.

The dealer display card states “World’s First SLR With IC Computer”. This example is fully functioning including the built-in electronic TTL exposure meter (TTL – Thru The Lens). I imagine that the ‘TL’ in the name relates to where the meter is located.

The Yashica TL Electro X is a fun camera to use and the metering system is easy to master. They’re readily available through online auction sites and clean, working examples can be found at comfortable prices. Caution is needed if the seller says they’re not sure if it works as the alkaline 6v battery (A544) is available for under $5 so there’s no reason not to test the camera and meter before listing it.

The Auto Yashinon-DX f/1.7 50mm lens that’s standard with most TL Electro X’s is plenty fast enough with medium speed film and I’ve always found it to be sharp enough at all apertures. The body takes M42 screw mount lenses of which there are still plenty to go around.

If you’re looking for a great camera to get into film photography than we highly recommend this model.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit our camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Chris & Carol

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.

Happy SUNday – days long gone

February 9, 2020February 9, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Happy SUNday everyone! I hope your day goes well and it’s sunny and warm.

Cocoa Beach F.D. – Me and my favorite truck 1972. Taken with a Yashica TL Electro X on Kodak Ektachrome.

While attending college at nearby Hydrospace Technical Institute (H.T.I.) which was the oceanographic tech school of the Florida Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) I was able to train as a volunteer firefighter with the Cocoa Beach Fire Department, Florida. It was an extremely enjoyable time in my life – 18 years old, SCUBA diving and surfing almost every day and studying a subject I was interested in. I appreciated the time the professional firefighters took to train us and I think they enjoyed the interaction with those hippie boys from school. By the way, the locals referred to H.T.I. as the “Hippie Training Institute”.

Yashica TL Electro X on Kodak Plus X Pan.

Cocoa Beach P.D. and F.D. hanging out.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day! – Chris

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.

Happy SUNday! – Recent Arrivals

February 2, 2020February 2, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Some new additions to our already crowded Yashica family of cameras.

Our all-time favorite Yashica SLR.

*** Yashica TL Electro X ***

This one is from April 1973 and was made in the newly opened factory in Hong Kong.

Hard to find Yashica Electro AX – second to the last M42 screw mount lens bodies.

This is the only early Yashica SLR with a leatherette insert on the pentaprism. This one was made in November 1973.

Yashica D TLR from late 1966.

Some of these will be appearing in our shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com in the coming weeks as well as some other arrivals.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day! – Chris

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

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag Yashica TL Electro-X

Old Florida

Yashica Gems – Friday Fotos!

wordless wednesday

Friday Fotos! – Cocoa Beach FD

A tale of two boxes from Yashica.

Yashica TL Electro X – one of Yashica’s most popular 35mm SLRs – ever!

Chasing Classic Cameras – Yashica TL Electro X 1973 Hong Kong Model

Yashica’s Electronic Marvel

Happy SUNday – days long gone

Happy SUNday everyone! I hope your day goes well and it’s sunny and warm.

Happy SUNday! – Recent Arrivals

Some new additions to our already crowded Yashica family of cameras.