They never called them that back in the day, they were just smaller than a regular TLR. A full-sized TLR shot 6×6 cm images on 120 or 220 roll films. This Yashica shot 4×4 cm images on 127 roll films.
Complete set from 1958. My set even includes a roll of exposed 127 film from the 1960s!Dove gray leatherette on gray metal. 1958 saw the birth of the Yashica name as the company name. Prior to that, they were known as Yashima.Tomioka made Yashikor 60mm f/3.5 taking and viewing lenses.
We continue to dive deep into our Yashica collection and are offering this gem for sale in our camera shop CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. You won’t find a better fully working model of this camera anywhere. Yes, 127 film is available through many online camera and film dealers so here is an opportunity to shoot with this classic.
Includes a very rare sales brochure for this exact model. How neat is that!
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
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.
As Carol and I continue to downsize our camera collection, we’ve decided the time is right to pass along one of our Yashica J-3s in the limited ‘Pro-black’ finish along with a matching black Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 lens (made by Tomioka Optical). This black version was made in a limited quantity for a short period in 1963. It was also Yashica’s first black SLR!
Yashica J-3 in ‘Pro-black’ with a matching all-black lens.
These are extremely difficult to find for sale anywhere and the few that have come up for sale are non-working cameras. This one is fully working – even the CdS light meter is active with an LR-44 (A76) 1.5V battery installed. The shutter is accurate and the lens is a gem. The image below was taken using this Yashinon lens mounted with an adapter on my Fujifilm X-T2.
Photographed with the Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 lens mounted on my Fujifilm X-T2 using a FotodioX M42 to FX adapter. The Yashica lens has 6 elements in 4 groups and was designed and built by Tomioka Optical.Now available!
If you’re interested I’ve listed this beautiful camera set in my camera shop which is hosted by Etsy. Visit CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com for more images and details about the camera. 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
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.
My good friend Paul Sokk from Australia (www.yashicatlr.com) has compiled a great database of almost all of Yashica’s cameras and by decoding serial numbers we’ve been able to come up with a list of manufacturing dates. So, by using these serial numbers here is a general list of when the following models were first and last made.
Penta J Aug 1961 to Aug 1965
Reflex 35 Mar 1962 to Jan 1964
J-3 Nov 1962 to Sep 1964
J-5 Mar 1964 to Jun 1965
J-P Aug 1964 to Sep 1966
J-4 Mar 1965 to Jun 1965
J-7 Nov 1966 to Dec 1967
Yashica’s little oddball model. I believe it was only manufactured to be sold by Montgomery Ward as the Wards SLR 500. For Wards, Yashica fitted it with a Tominon C 5cm f/2 lens vice the lens shown here. A true budget model for around $160 US.
The Pnnta J was the first modern style SLR from Yashica with the universal M42 screw mount for a wide variety of lenses. It was the first model after the Pentamatic S. The J-3 was the first model that had a coupled CdS light meter built into the camera’s left shoulder.
Yashica cousins.From the 1964 Wards catalog. It’s easy to see that the Wards slr 500 is mostly made from the Yashica J-P with the film advance lever used from the Penta J.
One final note. The serial numbers tell when the camera was produced, not when a camera was released for sale to the public. I believe this list represents the most accurate timeline of these early models from Yashica. Many thanks to Paul for his efforts to compile the most accurate data to date. There is no one better.
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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.
The Yashica J-3 was the first numbered model of the ‘J’ Series of cameras and was released in late 1962. The black version was never mentioned in any brochure that I own or have seen either in English or Japanese. A small number were made but finding a mint and working model is quite difficult – but worth the chase!
Early sales brochure.J-3 in all black and classic silvered chrome.
Studio Camera – Fujifilm X-T2
Lens – Yashica Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 (the original lens for the J-3)
Adapter – FotodioX M42-FX
Film Simulation – (Top) Acros, (Bottom) Velvia Vivid
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
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.
An old favorite of mine. This one was made by the good folks at the Yashima factory in Shimosuwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan in about mid-1957. The serial number, 119xxx puts it in the early first stages after a slight upgrade to the original design from late 1956. This one has a built-in exposure meter on the camera’s left side and the “light gathering window” is located under the nameplate. The shutter and focus are spot on and the meter appears accurate.
LM = ‘Light Meter’Yashica LM was made by Yashima.
These images were taken using my new overhead studio light and my Fujifilm X-T2. Simple setup with excellent results. 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
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.
I’m always on the chase for unique Yashica collectible items especially if it’s one of the ‘Yashica Sailor Boys’ – in this case, it’s the rare football version of the little guy. It’s made by Modern Plastics of Japan but in this case, I’m not sure of exactly when (later than 1962). He rarely comes up at auction and in this case, he’s also in excellent condition.
The ‘Sailor Boy’ in football gear. The number 35 is in reference to a 35mm camera as part of a promotion.The guy on the left was made to promote the release of the Yashica 5 Star Auto Focus 35mm camera and the guy on the right is the original 1962 version.1981 promo for the Yashica 5 Star Auto Focus 35mm camera. The ‘Sailor Boy’ has been reimagined as Wee Willie Winkie telling the world about his new camera (no, really LOL).Yashica in Katakana characters on his hat.
Hope I’m the winning bidder but I’m afraid he’s so rare that vinyl figurine and toy collectors will bid past my budget. Have a great day and 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
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.
As received from a collector in Singapore. He’ll get a bit of cleaning soon although he’s not that grungy now.
This was a dealer display model – about 8 inches tall. The green shoe version was not as common as the red shoe variety. Not sure why some were made with green shoes… preferred dealer? The green shoe guys also had a slightly different eyelash style, little to no red on the cheeks, and a star painted on the left eye vice a white dot. Made in Japan by Modern Plastics in 1962
My original dealer display model with the more common red shoes. The Yashica sticker on his hat alternates from ‘YASHICA’ and ヤシア (Yashica in katakana) to nothing.The 4-inch version is shown here with ‘YASHICA’ in katakana characters.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! – 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
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.
I enjoy finding ads that not only have great content but a date of publication too – throw in prices and it’s a winner!
Yashica-Mat and the Yashica Model LM plus all four models that were offered in late 1957.
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
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.
From around 1970. It’s an interesting ad since it used real people and not models – or were they?
The Electro-35 CC was released in 1970 so it’s possible this was when this ad was run.
It’s a great ad for the collection!
Thanks for stopping by, Chris
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
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.
I’ve added some really neat cameras in my Etsy-supported camera shop, CC Design Studios. As always, I have an eclectic mix of classic cameras and gear all fully tested and ready for your adventures. A few examples are shown below.
The Polaroid OneStep was recently acquired from another collector who has had it since new. Although I haven’t run a fresh pack of film through it it’s been checked and I see no reason why it wouldn’t enjoy another active life. The new Polaroid company makes all types of film packs for this model which uses the popular Polaroid 600 film (color and black & white). The Nikon L35AF was Nikon’s first autofocus compact 35mm camera in 1983 and one of its most successful in a long line of similar models (One Touch). This one has been thoroughly tested and I’ve shot two rolls of fresh Fujicolor through it. The pictures came out great – I see why this camera has such a good reputation.
How about a couple of super nice Canons? My awesome Canon A-1 1980 Winter Olympics Edition 35mm SLR will come to you as clean as new and fully serviced and tested! The A-1 is a joy to use and with a host of Canon accessories available, it’s the perfect 35mm system camera. This one has been in my collection for years and I’ve decided to pass it along as I just can’t keep all of the cameras I own (or can I?). If you’re looking for a sharp DSLR then you’ll love my Canon EOS 7D with its Canon battery grip it’s the kind of heavyweight DSLR to handle your toughest photographic challenges. Like everything I have in my shop, the 7D is fully tested and ready for you (it was my personal camera for years). It looks and operates like new and includes its original box, instruction booklets, charger, and batteries.
The Olympus SP-800UZ is a wildly capable 14-megapixel bridge camera with an amazing 30x wide-angle optical zoom lens. Its CCD sensor produces film-like images in stunning clarity. How about a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 28-840mm! Full wide-angle to super telephoto and with super macro ability to within 1 cm of the lens!
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.
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 