It was released in 1961 as the next step in Yashica’s 35mm SLR line development. Actually, it’s still very much a Pentamatic S, but without the self-timer. This was the first Yashica with the popular M42 screw mount. The Penta J was also known as the Reflex 35 J in markets outside the U.S. and Japan.
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
Yashicaflex Rookie by Yashima Optical Industry Company, Limited (Yashica by 1958).
It’s rarely seen outside Japan, where it was an inexpensive medium-format 6x6cm 120 film camera. The only item I’m missing is the inner ‘presentation box.’ The outer shipping box is pictured. It was marketed to the first-time camera user as an uncomplicated camera that even a rookie could use.
It’s pictured with its cousin, the Yashica model A.
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
It’s available now on eBay.The seller sent an offer.
All kidding aside, this is an extremely rare camera built by Zunow Optical in the late 1950s. Only a few production models made it into the marketplace. Mostly non-working examples exist today and few ever come up for sale.
The Yashica Pentamatic ’35’ looks a bit like it. The Pentamatic was released in early 1960 but was designed in 1959 as a joint venture with Nicca and Yashica’s designers.
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
We recently acquired this lens for our Yashica Pentamatic collection. Why is it important? It’s a great find because it’s the first time we’ve encountered a lens with a lower serial number than one pictured in an advertisement (in this case, the first-ever ad for the Pentamatic, June 1960). We know it is total nerd stuff, but that’s what makes collecting fun.
The lens was made for Yashica by Tomioka Optical, which at the time made about 90% of all their lenses (TLR, SLR, RF, and Cine).
The lens serial number decodes 59 = 1959, 10 = OCT, and 0092, the 92nd lens made since production started.
In the second image, the other lens was made in December and was the 1,630th made. Tomioka was busy producing these lenses long before Yashica released the Pentamatic in March 1960. The first Pentamatic bodies were made in January.
The third image shows an early Yashica Tominon Super Yashinon-R f/2.8 3.5cm wide-angle lens SN 350246. The date code was dropped in favor of a simpler code: 35 = 35 mm, and 0246 is the sequence number since the start of production.
The ad shows a lens with a higher production number than the lens we own. 92 indicates it was made in the first batch of 100 lenses.The October lens is on the left and the December lens is on the right. No November lenses were made.From an early batch of wide-angle lenses from Tomioka Optical. This one is number 246.A fast lens from Tomioka. The f/1.2 55mm lens which was made much later in the M42 screw mount.
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
Here are just a few items in my Etsy camera shop from my collection of cameras and photo gear. Visit http://www.ccstudio2380.com to see these items in detail.
Canon and Contax.Asahi Pentax, Canon, Yashica, and Nikon.
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 reader sent me these pictures of his Yashica TL Electro X ITS camera and asked if I knew anything about this version. I hadn’t seen a gold and lizard skin Yashica before (Contax, yes; Yashica, no).
I’ve seen similar lizard skin coverings, but from the image, it’s difficult to tell if it would have been applied at the factory.The serial number indicates it was made in August 1970.The plating quality looks sub-par, but it’s pretty worn again, so it’s difficult to tell.
Here is a genuine gold Contax camera with lizard skin coverings that’s presently for sale on an online auction site (see below).
This one is in new condition, so comparing the two cameras is difficult. Yashica joined Contax in 1975 to create a new line of modern Contax-branded cameras.
I suppose Yashica or one of its distributors might have made this gold TL Electro X version, but if they did, they left off the ‘ITS’ logo (badge) that would have been on the camera’s front just to the left of the lens. See an example of a genuine TL Electro X ITS camera below.
What do you think? Genuine or not? Ultimately, it’s his camera, and if he likes it, then great. Thanks for stopping by, Chris
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
My Yashica Pentamatic collection. The Pentamatic ’35’, Pentamatic II, and the Pentamatic S. Also, the Yashica Penta J and a couple of Yashica Sailor Boys.Nikon F2A, Nicca 3-S, Contax 137 MD Quartz, and a Yashica FX-D Quartz.Nikon FT, Leica IIIg (awaiting new skins), and a Nikon FTn Photomic ‘Apollo’. In the back, a Yashica YT-300 radio.At the bottom are a Contax RX, Asahi Pentax H2, Yashica Flex S, and a Contax RTS.
‘GAS’, Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I do love collecting and occasionally using my classic film cameras. I lean towards Yashica and Contax, although more than a few Nikons have snuck in. By the way, these are Ikea cabinets. They offer high-quality metal and glass display cabinets at a great price. Thanks for stopping by, Chris
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
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 