The User's Review: Vivitar 55 mm 1:2.8 Auto U Mount Lens, With A Unique Aperture Ring

Aperture ring on a lens/zoom evolves over the years, from a ring with aperture values, auto-gear/lock ring to no ring on a current digital lens. However, this Vivitar lens has a unique ring, which can be turned to both sides for auto or manual aperture sizes. The 'auto' here means that the aperture keeps open at 2.8 until the shutter button is pressed and the aperture reduces the size you set during the exposing.

The lens front piece turns during focusing. The lens length extends a little bit when focused to the shortest distance

There are five aperture blades, which do not form a regular-shape hole at the smallest aperture setting.

The User's Review: Konica Shoe-Mount Light Meter, Made in 1950 - 1960?

This Konica meter by Konishiroku is more similar to the newer version of Sekonic meter, but with a different front plate, light sensor cover and fixed shoe position.

The User's Review: Sekonic Shoe-Mount Light Meter, Released in 1950 - 1960?

I got two such shoe-mount light meters made by Sekonic. The features that I like on these meters are: incident or reflected readings, adjustable position of the foot on the meter, and zero screw. 

There are some minor changes between the two meters. I refer them as the newer version (sn 081sss) and older version (sn 025sss)

 On the newer version case, 'Made in Japan' is marked on the back.

 The newer version (left) has a red needle with a mirror background.

 In the two images above, the newer version is on the right. The newer version has labeled 'Made in Japan' on its bottom metal plate and has a strap ring on its foot.

In this image, older and newer versions are on left and right, respectively. 

Konishiroku also produced a Koinca meter, more similar to the newer version of Sekonic here.

The User's Review: Fuji TW-3 Half-Frame 35 mm Compact Camera, Released in 1985

Today, TW-3 is a collector's item because of its rareness. Why it's rare, I believe, this is due to its unique design that caused its low demand in the market and limited production by its manufacture.

The unique design includes:
1. Compact body by the 1980's standard
2. Half frame of 35 mm film
3. 2 sets of lenses: telephoto (69 mm, 1.8) and wideangle (23 mm, 1.8).
4. Sealed battery chamber, meaning that its users can not change the battery by themselves after ~ 1000 shots (= ~ 14 rolls of 36 exp film, I doubt if this is a design by Japanese?)

The front lens cover has three positions to turn: Off 

The front lens cover has three positions to turn: Wideangle lens and auto-lift flash

The front lens cover has three positions to turn: Tele lens

The viewfinder is too small to be comfort for a user like me wearing glasses. At the tele lens, a smaller bright-green frame will show up in the viewfinder to indicate the image edges. 

The battery holder is on the left. Film will be pre-loaded onto the roller above the lens.

At the wideangle lens, the flash is up and the mirror (on the left of the lens) covers the light path from the tele lens.

At the tele lens, the mirror is open and light comes in via the tele lens

Recently I bought a TW-3 with its original package including box, manual and service card. This card is necessary since its users need to locate a service and have the battery changed. The manual had been damaged by water at some point of its history and certain pages stick together. I tried to separate them and ruined some areas. I scanned the English section of the manual and post it below because no such thing can be found in other places online. Hope the scanned materials are helpful to my readers.

With TW-3 and Konica AA-35 side by side, the later is smaller and thinner.

Am I happy to own a TW-3? Yes, because it's rare.
Do I like to use my TW-3? No, because it's unique design.
Should I recommend a TW-3 to you? It's up to you.

The User's Review: Konica UC Zoom Hexanon AR 45 - 100 mm F3.5, released in 1980s?

This zoom lens is one of four Konica UC Hexanon lens family, including 15mm F2.8, 28mm F1.8, and 80 -200 mm F4. The UC has triple meanings: Ultra Compact, Ultra Close-up and Ultra Coating. Like its older sibling Konica 47 - 100 zoom lens, this version with 45 - 100 mm is also rare.

The User's Review: Yashica Fx-3/Fx-7, Fx-3/Fx-7 Super and Fx-3 Super 2000, A Legend Since 1979

I should write my first camera review on Fx-3 since it is my first camera that my dad bought for me from Hong Kong in early 1980s. I used it as my main camera body until mid-2000.

I use these sentences 'the simpler the better, and less is more' to describe my Fx-3. It's a all manual body with an on-board light meter powered by two cell batteries. You can learn how to use it without referring to its manual. The design was so successful that Yashica made several minor improved models (see the table below), and other camera manufactures, as I believe, produced some cameras based on the design of Fx-3. The similar design and interchangeable parts can be found on Vivitar 3800N and V3000S, Promaster 2500 PK, Centon K100 and Kalimar K-90 although these cameras have the Pentax K lens mount. All black of Yashica models is more common than the silver top/bottom plates of Yashica. I prefer the all blacks because wearing is more obvious on the silvers.

	Fx-3/Fx-7	Fx-3 Super/Fx-7 Super	Fx-3 Super 2000
Top & bottom color	Black/Silver	Black/Silver	Black or Silver
Bottom plate material	Brass	Plastic (?)	Plastic
Grip	No	Yes	Yes
Top speed (sec.)	1/1000	1/1000	1/2000
Meter activation switch	Check button under film advance level	Shutter release button half way	Shutter release button half way

I consider the three following reasons for having a Fx-3 or its sibling models: 1. Easy to use; 2. light weight; and 3. low-cost use of high-end lens of Contax and Zeiss.

Fx-3 and its Yashica siblings do not have DOF, PC socket, mirror lock(although the self timer locks the mirror right after triggered) and multiple exposures. There is no switch to shut down the meter lights in the viewfinder. Therefore, the user should take off the batteries before a long-time exposure shoot to avoid the red light exposes your film. The soft 'skin' on Fx-3/Fx-7 and Fx-3/Fx-7 Super is easy to wear off.  My own Fx-3 had a problem with shutter release (film advance stuck) after ~10 yeas use. I had it repaired, but did not use it much since then.

I brought a Fx-3 Supper 2000 kit in Oct. of 2012. The body feels weaker and more plastic. The kit lens is a Yashica ML 50mm f1.9 c with a plastic mount. The lens' focusing ring was stuck and there was too much grease inside.