Classic Cameras Friday! Asahi Pentax ME-F ~ 1981

Hello there! This friday a very good machine, a fave of mine, the Asahi Pentax ME-F, the first mass produced auto-focus camera, here some facts: First mass-produced autofocus 35mm SLR $994 with 35mm-70mm f2.8 zoom in 1981 ($2384 in 2010 dollars) The Pentax ME-F was the first mass-produced autofocus 35mm SLR–as long as you had …

Classic Cameras Friday! Olympus 35RC ~ 1970

Hello, and Happy Friday! Another Master piece, the Olympus 35RC, have a Canon Canonet like this one, need some work, will do and post photos later, enjoy! One of the smallest 35mm automatic/manual rangefinders $100 with f2.8 lens in 1970 ($562 in 2010 dollars) To quote the Olympus corporate history site: “Known as ‘Richard,’ the …

Classic Cameras Friday! Topcon Auto 100 – 1964

Hello there! Happy friday! time to hit the weekend, here is an very cool entry, the first camera offering Through the Lens Metering, the Topcon Auto 100, here some facts: First SLR with automatic through-the-lens metering $160 with f2 lens in 1965 ($1108 in 2010 dollars) The Topcon RE Super, introduced in 1963, was the …

Classic Cameras Friday! Revere Eye-Matic EE127 – 1959

Hello there; It’s Friday, time for some Classic Camera. Today I want to show you the Revere Eye-Matic EE 127 from 1959, here some facts: Second inexpensive auto-exposure still camera $139.50 in 1959 ($1045 in 2010 dollars) This was the second of the auto-exposure cameras introduced in 1959. Revere, like Bell & Howell, had perfected …

Classic Cameras Friday! Asahi Pentax Spotmatic ~ 1964

Hello there; I am back with our Classic Cameras Friday, today I will show you a nice SLR, the Pentax Spotmatic, have one in version F, enjoy! First Pentax with through-the-lens metering $299.50 with f1.4 lens in 1965 ($2073 in 2010 dollars) Pentax showed a prototype through-the-lens (TTL) metering SLR in 1960 that really did …

Classic Cameras Friday! Univex Mercury 1938

Hello readers, This time, a very unique machine, the Univex Mercury, a half frame camera made right here in the United States, take a look at the facts: Early half-frame circular-shutter 35mm US-made camera $25 in 1939 ($392 in 2010 dollars) The Mercury is notable for the semi-circular housing that holds its large, circular shutter. …

Classic Cameras Friday! Polaroid Model 95 ~ 1948

Hello guys, Is Friday already and here I am with the delivery for today, the Polaroid Model 95 from 1948, here some facts, enjoy: First instant-picture camera $89.75 in 1948 ($812 in 2010 dollars) This is the first Polaroid, Model 95, and the first of those, as it has the spring-post viewfinder, later replaced with …

Classic Cameras Friday! Kodak Ektra – 1941

The Great Kodak Ektra – 1941, here some facts: Kodak world-class rangefinder made in the USA $373.50 with 50mm f1.9 lens in 1941 ($5540 in 2010 dollars) Kodak’s best-known quality 35mm rangefinders were the Retinas, first introduced in 1937. They were made in Germany by a division that Kodak had acquired with the purchase of …

Classic Cameras Friday! Zeiss Ikon Contax S – 1949

Hello there! Busy week, got relatives in town and time is running like Water over the Niagara Falls. Here is my selection for this friday: the Zeiss Ikon Contax S ~ 1949, a superb piece of photographic technology. Now some facts: First SLR with pentaprism First with 42mm screw mount $475 with f2 lens in 1950 …