Yashica-Tomioka Macro Lens

June 12, 2023June 12, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

This beautiful lens is now available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

One of our favorite lenses in the Yashica family. A rather fast f/ 2.8 60mm macro lens made by Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd. of Tokyo for Yashica. 5 elements in 4 groups… it’s capable of life-size (1:1) macro photography. As Yashica describes this lens… “By far the most effective lens for close-ups, copying and macrophotography, as well as general photographic work. Features a new optical glass element, and is fully compensated for all aberrations. Designed to ensure maximum brightness and extremely sharp results. Particularly effective for close-ups of moving subjects (??) and macrophotography without using bellows.” Not sure about the moving subjects part as the depth of field is very shallow.

Weighs in at around 400 grams and can focus down to 0.235 meters. Filter size is 58mm and of course it has the versatile M42 screw-in mount (Praktica).

003 Macro Yashinon 60mm f/ 2.8 lens built by Tomioka Optical for…

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Yashica-Tomioka Brothers

June 11, 2023June 14, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Same lens. On the left is the specially made all-black Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2 lens for Yashica’s first black SLR the J-3. On the right is a Tominon C. 5cm f/2 lens specifically for the Wards SLR 500 and 600 cameras from 1964 and 1965. Both cameras were made by Yashica. The lens was only produced for use on the Wards branded cameras and was produced in rather limited numbers. Of course, Yashica had a close business relationship with Tomioka Optical throughout the 1950s and 1960s (as did other camera manufacturers) finally acquiring it in 1968.

Beautifully sharp lenses from the early 1960s. Thanks, Yashica and Tomioka.

The all-black J-3 just doesn’t look right with the silver aluminum lens barrel.

The Yashica certainly looks elegant compared to its Tomioka brother.

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.

Yashica 35 M

June 11, 2023July 11, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

M for mysterious? Maybe not mysterious but missing. It’s not a camera that gets a lot of attention as it was dwarfed by the more popular Minister line. It was one of the first Yashica rangefinder cameras made with a built-in light meter (exposure meter) released at about the same time as the first Minister with the f/2.8 lens.

The exposure meter is located just behind the light gathering window (upper left). That’s what Yashica calls it in the instruction booklet. The meter is a selenium cell that is powered by light so no worries about needing a battery. BTW, the serial number on the booklet camera indicates it was made in January 1960. It’s been reported that the camera was released in June 1960. That’s a big gap even by Yashica’s standards.

The serial number on mine is M2101662 which decodes to October 1962.

The lens is what differentiates this model from the earlier Minister model. The Model M is fitted with a faster Yashinon f/1.9 4.5cm lens and a Copal SVL shutter with speeds from Bulb to 1/500.

In this image, the exposure meter indicates an ‘LVS’ setting of 14 at ASA 200. To set the proper exposure you’d simply turn the outer ring on the lens to match the LVS number and the camera would be properly set (see below).

LVS set to 12 would set the shutter to fire at 1/125 and the aperture at f/5.6.

It’s a fun camera to use as it’s about as old school as you can get. The lens is clean and clear, and the light meter works. It’s available in my camera shop CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com which is hosted by Etsy. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Yashica 44 – Yashica’s first mini-TLR

June 2, 2023June 2, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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

Rare Black Yashica J-3 Set – available!

May 29, 2023May 29, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

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.

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

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Yashica’s Early 35mm SLRs

May 28, 2023June 4, 2023Chris and Carol 3 Comments

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.

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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Black Beauty from Yashica

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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!

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

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Yashica LM – 1957

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

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.

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

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Happy SUNday! – rare Yashica collectible

April 30, 2023April 30, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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

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Happy SUNday! – another addition to the trove of Yashica collectibles

April 9, 2023April 9, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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