Contax RTS Serial Number(s)

January 18, 2024January 18, 2024Chris and Carol 3 Comments

In the Contax RTS instruction booklet, the baseplate pictured either has a “real” serial number or one “made up” by the marketing department. RTS models out in the wild don’t have a serial number that is easy to decode (date manufactured), but this one does, at least if you know how to read Yashica serial numbers. I interpret this SN as February 1975 (502), and its number is 166.

The original instruction booklet (dated 06/76) has an 8-digit SN.

My RTS baseplate has serial number 087024, which looks nothing like the serial number in the instructions.

Here is a baseplate from an RTS-Fundus Scientific / Medical camera. I see 091238. I don’t see a date code in there – do you?

Anyway, this is just a quick post to gather my thoughts. Do you own a Contax RTS first model? I’d like to see more serial numbers as a pattern may appear. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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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.

Brothers from different mothers – Contax RTS and Fujifilm X-T2

January 15, 2024January 15, 2024Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Brothers from different mothers – the classic Contax-Yashica RTS (original model) and the Fujifilm X-T2. I find the weight and feel to be the same, and many of the manual controls I use are right on top of the T2. That could be why I was attracted to the Fuji in the first place.
In the world of modern mirrorless digital cameras, the T2 just feels and acts like an old-school SLR.

The Fuji features a sharp Fujinon zoom lens, and the RTS has a fast and sharp f1.7 Yashica lens. I enjoy the aesthetics of both cameras, and I often shoot with the half-cases attached.

Fujifilm got it right when they designed their T2 (and similar models), drawing on the successful designs and functionality from the past.

A better view of the lenses. I chose the Yashica lens over the much more costly Planer lens because, let’s face it, Yashica made both (maybe from a Tomioka design in collaboration with Zeiss). The famous T* coatings may be missing on the Yashica, but I doubt it. The T* mainly was a marketing exercise. Full disclosure – I’d take the Zeiss Planer in a heartbeat if money were no object.

I enjoy using my Fuji; it is my go-to camera whenever I shoot with my classic lens collection or when I need to test a lens before listing it in my Etsy shop or on eBay. It’s fast and easy, and the APS-C sensor has a 1.5 crop factor that “boosts” the focal length of every lens I use. See yesterday’s gorgeous 450mm shot below from my 300mm Nikkor-H lens.

Boeing 777 (likely) at over 30,000 feet over northeast Florida (not cropped).

Thanks for stopping by, Chris. Which is your favorite mirrorless camera? Are you a Canon or Nikon photographer? Has anyone tried the new Nikon Z cameras?

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Happy SUNday! – My most favorite Yashica set

January 7, 2024January 7, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Over the years, I have collected an incredible variety of cameras made by Yashica, from their earliest days (1953) to the last true Yashica models in the late 1980s to early 1990s. I’d have to say that this Yashica Pentamatic set (made in August 1960) is my most impressive find. It’s a one-owner set, and it is in like-new condition. It came with some unexpected goodies (pictured), too.

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

Hallmarks on early Japanese leather camera cases

January 6, 2024January 7, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

1953
After 6 decades of use, this leather case for the Yashima Flex TLR camera stands strong. It is relatively rare to see a Yashima-branded item outside of Japan; this represents the first time Yashima used its name on a case.
I don’t believe Yashima-Yashica made their own leather cases. As a start-up company back in the early 1950s, Yashima and other camera manufacturers likely contracted outside companies to make their leather cases and branded goods so that they could focus on their core activities. Many of these early cases have distinct markings on the bottom, indicating the hallmark of the company that produced it.

From 1953, a beautiful example of a Yashima leather case.

An early example of a hallmark on the bottom of the case.

I have a few additional examples in my collection – time to dig them out and photograph them. Have you seen a Japanese leather case with what appears to be a hallmark? Please, share if you do. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Happy SUNday! – Yashica Sailor Boy

November 5, 2023November 5, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Rare Yashica dealer display ‘Yashica Sailor Boy’ 20cm size with green shoes. Made in 1962 by Modern Plastics Co, Japan. He’s in collector condition and he’s available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

It’s time for another collector to add this rare find to their collection.

The green shoe ‘Sailor Boy’ is a full 8 inches tall. The smaller guy is 4 inches. My camera shop can be found at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Contax RTS ‘Safari Camera Set’

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Not really. I just like the look of my RTS with the brown leather half-case and the green Sigma lens. The Contax RTS is from 1975 – I’m not sure when Sigma made these green body lenses.

Sigma 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 APO Zoom lens in green.

Push-pull zoom with macro capabilities. The matching lens hood is a screw mount.

Here is what Sigma had to say about the lens at its introduction (10 Feb 1986). “The world’s shortest Apochromatic High-Speed Telephoto lens. One-Touch zoom, Helical focusing, which has an advantage for using a polarizing filter. The lens will supply together with an Achromatic Macro Lens for High-Quality close-up photography.” I can’t be 100% certain that my lens is this lens as described but it could be. Further reading hints that ‘APO’ originally meant ‘Advanced Performance Optics’. Either way ‘APO’ indicated that the lens had low dispersion glass.

Since film is so expensive to shoot with I believe I’ll get a FotodioX C/Y to FX adapter to use this lens on my Fujifilm X-T2. I’m interested to know when Sigma first produced green lenses. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Early Yashica Zoom Lens – like new!

August 22, 2023August 23, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica Auto Yashinon Zoom Lens
w/ Yashica Front & Rear Lens Caps,
the Original Factory Box and Case
and Metal Lens Hood.

SN 701123
7 elements/6 groups
55mm filter ring

This is a super sharp early lens in
the Yashica family. Tomioka Optical
made Yashica’s lenses (actually Yashica
acquired Tomioka).

This beautiful lens is now available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com
Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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It’s the little things that count.

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

When collecting vintage and classic film cameras sometimes it’s the little things that add the most to a collection. Chasing down those little extras that the camera manufacturers packaged along with their cameras and lenses.

At first glance, these two items look similar from the front.

The Yashica ‘Sailor Boy’ logo first appeared in 1962. These cloths were available in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Viewed from behind it’s clear that these cloths were made by the same third-party manufacturer. It’s nice to see that Yashica was in the same league with Nikon for a while at least.

I haven’t seen cloths like these with another manufacturer’s logo (yet). Have any of you? Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

July 23, 2023July 27, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Yashica Minimatic-S. A fully automatic (no autofocus) 35mm rangefinder was released in February 1963. The camera set both the aperture and shutter speed.

Yashica M. Released in June 1960. 35mm rangefinder with a sharp and fast Yashinon f1.9 lens. The “M” was also known as the 35M and 35 Model M.

Yashica Half 17. Capable of shooting up to 72 images on a roll of 36-exposure 35mm film.

Each camera uses selenium cell light meters to assist with setting the proper exposure. If you can find working examples of these classics you’ll enjoy a whole new level of vintage film shooting as the Yashinon lenses are sharp, colorful, and contrasty. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Yashica Electro 35 – 1966

June 18, 2023June 18, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Yashica’s first electronically controlled camera (aperture priority) jump-started Yashica’s role in electronic photography.

This one is from 1968 and features the <E.P> mark on the cold shoe indicating that it was likely sold at a US military exchange store and was tax exempt or “Exempt Purchase”.

Super sharp and fast Yashinon-DX 45mm f/1.7 lens.

It’s a very handsome camera representing the best of Yashica’s design team for that period. The Yashica TL Electro X wouldn’t have been developed without this groundbreaking camera.