Monday, March 23, 2009

1965 Canon Canonet QL 17

my favorite...The Canon Canonet QL 17 (1965), rangefinder focusing, 45mm f1.7 lens, aperture range f1.7 to f16, shutter speeds from 1 to 1/500, aperture shown in viewfinder, quick loading feature. Unlike its sibling the QL25, QL17’s (and its other sibling the QL19) light meter only works in auto mode. Everything works well. I have use it with films. Purchased it for about US$20.

Konica Auto S2

Konica IIIA



A bit about the Konica IIIA from Camerapedia

While the nomenclature of Konica's next pair of cameras suggests that neither differed from the III more than, say, the IIA differed from the II, they are improved so dramatically as to be considered separately, perhaps as a misnamed IV and V.

The major change is to the finder, greatly enlarged and with projecting framelines that adjust not only for parallax but also for varying frame angle.

This larger finder necessitates a higher top cover, such that the rewind crank of the III would foul it if not radically redesigned. The crank is therefore stepped.

When viewed from the front, the Konica IIIA (April 1958) has three finder windows, of which the viewfinder is fairly large even by today's standards. The three are for the rangefinder, projected brightlines, and viewfinder (and rangefinder) respectively.

The finder has 1.0× magnification, such that the photographer can easily look through it with right eye while keeping the left eye open. The lens is a 48mm f/2 Hexanon, with LV system; filter size 35.5mm. Dimensions are 133×81×65mm; weight 800g. In July 1958 came the option of a 50mm f/1.8 Hexanon (70mm deep, weight 820g).[37]

A bit about my Konica IIIA

I got mine from my regular junk camera supplier with its original leather case but lack its original lens cap. The lens cap rejoin the camera 2 months later. So far its one of my two strokes machine, the other is my two strokes motorbike. The focusing ring, appperture and speed selector are a bit stiff but they are working anyway. The lens is decorated with fungus here and there, but it still took considerable bright picture.

More on the Konica IIIA from Dante Stella's website

Minolta Hi-Matic F

Minolta Hi-Matic E

Minolta Hi-Matic 9

Minolta Hi-Matic 7S

Friday, March 13, 2009

1965 Yashica Lynx 14





Meet Yashica Lynx 14 with an awesome 45mm/f1.4 lens! This is the second camera that I bought from the thrift market at jalan Surabaya and the third in my junk camera collection. The shutter was jammed so I brought it to "Chaing" the camera clinic at Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. They repaired it and everything were working, including its erratic lightmeter needle.

I took it for a photo hunt with my friends photographing old chinese temple and the surroundings in Petak Sembilan, Central Jakarta, Indonesia and soon after a roll of cheap chinese made black and white film, the shutter jammed again. I took it back to Chaing and they repaired it again and everything is working again now.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Yashica Electro 35 GSN/GTN

Following the acquisition of the Yashica Electro 35 GS, the 35mm rangefinder bug would soon hit me hard and I start looking for another. These three are the direct heirs to the Yashica Electro 35 GS with the addition of a flash hot-shoe. Everything in these three camera works and I have use them with films.


This one was made in Japan


This one was made in Hong Kong


This black version was made in Japan too. People said it is rarer than the silver one but so far I have manage to found three of these black beauties and all are in good conditions!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Yashica Electro 35 GS


Meet Yashica Electro 35 GS....the camera which start the Junk Camera saga....


Yashica Electro 35 GS (1970-1973) 35mm rangefinder with Color-Yashinon DX 45mm f1.7 lens. Camera and lens made in Japan. Aperture priority automatic exposure with stepless shutter speeds from 1/500 to 30 seconds. Flash mount with no hot shoe. Originally used a 5.6 volt PX 32 mercury battery. I used a combination of 1 (one) 3 volt CR123A battery and 2 (two) 1.5 volt LR44 battery. There is a yellow arrow shaped light indicator for under exposure and a red arrow shaped light indicator for over exposure. Apart from the dead red arrow shaped light indicator, everything else works well. I have use it with films. Purchased it for about US$5.


This camera are featured here
and here