Yashica Auto Focus Motor – Friday Fotos!

June 12, 2020June 12, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Also known as the Yashica 5-Star Auto Focus Motor – 1981. It featured a sharp 38mm f/ 2.8 lens that was more than likely made by Tomioka.

Yashica Auto Focus Motor

A nice sales brochure (above) from October 1981. The cameras featured in this brochure are the Diary, Flasher, Snap, and the Auto Focus Motor.

Yashica Auto Focus Brochure

Yashica Auto Focus, Auto Focus Motor, and Motor-D. These were technological breakthrough cameras for Yashica in the early 1980s. Of course, at this same time, Canon had the A-1, AE-1, AE-1 Program, and of course the Canon F-1. These cameras from Canon were all SLRs so not a fair comparison but Canon made similar compact rangefinder cameras. It was a tough go for Yashica at this time and a takeover was on the horizon.

Promotional playing cards featuring the Yashica Sailor Boy and the new Auto Focus Motor.

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

BTW, I’ve added some new items in my Etsy shop – check it out at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

SUNday Shopping

May 31, 2020May 31, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hello all! Here are some neat items that I’ve added to my online Etsy Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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Everything in my shop is at a 10% discount with many items shipping for free and I offer nearly worldwide shipping. Is there something on your wish list? Send me a message with what you’re looking for as I may have it in my collection.

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.

New In the Shop – neat stuff!

May 25, 2020May 25, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! Here’s some new and interesting items in our Etsy Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Take advantage of my Memorial Day sale with 15% off.

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Lots more can be found in our shop at http://www.ccstudio.2380.com

Thanks – 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!

May 24, 2020May 24, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica just like many other camera makers used a variety of marketing ideas to promote their line of cameras and company. Yashica employed the services of what I call him ‘Yashica Sailor Boy’ since around 1962.

Yashica marketing used the ‘Yashica Sailor Boy’ and his new camera for a deck of playing cards.

From 1981, with the introduction of the new Yashica Auto Focus Motor (also known as the Yashica 5 Star Auto Focus Motor) 35mm compact point & shoot camera, came this version of their marketing icon. Here the ‘Sailor Boy’ is depicted as the nursery rhyme character ‘Wee Willie Winkie’ telling the world about Yashica’s newest camera.

More about the camera can be found in a previous post.

Here’s another post with a detailed view of the various Yashica cameras in the early 1980s.

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

Be sure to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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.

In the Shop – New Arrivals for May

May 3, 2020May 3, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! I hope you are doing well and staying safe. Here are some items that I’ve listed in my camera shop recently which can be visited by popping over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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Lots more in the shop and a big thank you all for stopping by! – 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.

Camera Manuals & Brochures – excellent reference sources

April 1, 2020April 1, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! Carol and I enjoy collecting classic camera instruction books and sales brochures as it’s a great way to connect with photo gear that has captured our interest over the years. We especially enjoy collecting booklets that are still in mint and like-new condition… but we find ourselves with enough books to open a library so we’ll be offering some of these in our camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com over the next few days (and weeks). If you’re looking to add one of these hard to find items (in new condition) for your collection, now’s the time.

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Thanks for stopping by! These books and brochures are available in our camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com. If they’re something you need and you don’t see it be sure to ask us – we might have just have it! – Chris & Carol

In the Shop – New this Week!

March 30, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

It’s Monday and it’s time to post some new items in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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Everything is on sale for the remainder of March and the first week of April – take 15% off my already value-priced items.

Lots of other great items in the shop too – pop on over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com and see if there’s something you like.

Thanks, Chris

In the Shop – New this Week!

March 17, 2020March 17, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe and happy. It’s best to keep your spirits up during these uncertain times. Here are some new items in the shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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There are lots of neat stuff in the shop so pop on over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com and check them out. Also, if there’s something you’ve been looking for please ask – we may have it and it’s just not listed yet.

Thanks a bunch! – 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.

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.

Fujica GW690 – A big shot from Fuji Photo Film Company

March 8, 2020March 8, 2020Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Fujica GW690 6×9 Professional camera by Fuji Photo Film Company. Mine was made around 1978 and it’s still going strong today. It’s one of the most affordable (and plentiful) larger medium-format film cameras available.

The Fujica is a fixed-lens rangefinder that takes (6) D cell batteries – it could take 6 batteries as it’s big enough but there’s no built-in light meter and the shutter is mechanical so no need for batteries.

3 lbs 2 oz (1,1414 grams) without film.

This is a big, no crazy large camera with a super sharp EBC Fujinon 90mm f/3.5 lens. The lens is made up of 5 elements in 5 groups. The leaf-shutter is a Seiko #0 with B, 1-1/500.

Yashica TL Electro X ITS with a huge Tomioka 55mm f/1.2 and the ‘Beast’.

My TL Electro X ITS with its super-fast Tomioka 55mm f/1.2 lens is big and heavy but not Fujica heavy. The Yashica weighs in at 1,019 grams which is heavy enough. Size and weight do not make a camera great – the size of the negative and the quality of the optics are the foundation of true greatness and this camera delivers

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Direct scan of the 6x9cm negative. No post-production.

Direct scan of the 6x9cm negative. No post-production.

I’m very pleased with the camera and lens and I’m equally pleased with the Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros black and white film. If you’re looking to get into the 6×9 format then I recommend you give the Fuji a try.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

http://www.ccstudio2380.com

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

Yashica Auto Focus Motor – Friday Fotos!

Also known as the Yashica 5-Star Auto Focus Motor – 1981. It featured a sharp 38mm f/ 2.8 lens that was more than likely made by Tomioka.

SUNday Shopping

Hello all! Here are some neat items that I’ve added to my online Etsy Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

New In the Shop – neat stuff!

Hi all! Here’s some new and interesting items in our Etsy Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Happy SUNday!

Yashica just like many other camera makers used a variety of marketing ideas to promote their line of cameras and company. Yashica employed the services of what I call him ‘Yashica Sailor Boy’ since around 1962.

In the Shop – New Arrivals for May

Hi all! I hope you are doing well and staying safe. Here are some items that I’ve listed in my camera shop recently which can be visited by popping over to http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Camera Manuals & Brochures – excellent reference sources

In the Shop – New this Week!

It’s Monday and it’s time to post some new items in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

In the Shop – New this Week!

Hi all! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe and happy. It’s best to keep your spirits up during these uncertain times. Here are some new items in the shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Yashica’s Electronic Marvel

Fujica GW690 – A big shot from Fuji Photo Film Company

The Fujica GW690 6×9 Professional camera by Fuji Photo Film Company. Mine was made around 1978 and it’s still going strong today. It’s one of the most affordable (and plentiful) larger medium-format film cameras available.