Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
|
|
on Apr 11, 2021 12:27:28 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2021 12:42:00 GMT by bobblehat
Inspired by Biggles3 topic of the last "true" Yashica Camera .... yashica.boards.net/thread/1062/kyocera-yashica-final-cameraI was wondering which camera was the first to show the Kyocera name or Logo after they bought the Yashica Company in 1983? Was it the FX-3 Super (not Super 2000) or FX-7 Super variant .... or was it the T AF? Was there another camera released before these two that had the Kyocera name or Logo actually on the camera body?   |
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 1,370 (301 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
|
|
on Apr 11, 2021 15:22:10 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2021 15:22:56 GMT by lumiworx
In terms of the Fx-3 or FX-7 series, it doesn't appear that the original versions had a Kyocera logo from a few quick searches online. The FX-3 Super, FX-7 Super ( I have one on the way) and both of their Super 2000 models do have them. The production dates I have for the FX and T models that have the logo... Yashica FX-3 Super - 1984/08 to 1987 Yashica FX-7 Super - 1985/06 to 1986 Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 - 1986/09 to ?? I know there was an FX-7 Super 2000, but it's not in my list (yet), and I have no production dates, but I'd presume they'd match those of the FX-3 2000 models Yashica T - 1984 to 1986 (w/ no 'Month' data) I haven't looked at all of them but I'll assume all the later 'T' versions had the logo too. My T AF-D model certainly has one. |
|
Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
|
|
on Apr 11, 2021 15:33:55 GMT
Posted: Apr 11, 2021 15:33:55 GMT
Thanks Lumiworx ...... looks like it could be one or the other then, depending on month released .... FX-3 Super or T-AF.
By the way, are your production dates "global" release dates or JP, USA or other?
It would be great if someone had any old photo mags with adverts in (like Amateur Photographer in the UK) from that 1983-1984 era to see what Yashica were announcing and if there were any pictures with the Kyocera name/logo on the camera body.
|
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 1,370 (301 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
|
|
on Apr 11, 2021 16:33:26 GMT
Posted: Apr 11, 2021 16:33:26 GMT
The dates I have that contain both start and end dates were compiled by, and provided by, Kyocera to a US distributor/dealer. I don't have any details to suggest they were region-specific, but I've assumed that they might be a mix, although they certainly may have been geared toward the US market, given who they went to. I don't have any context on the reason for their original request (for a news/magazine story, expo brochures, etc.), so there's no other clues to infer anything from. There's no possibility to ask for clarification either... I've had no luck in later contacting the recipient.
|
|
Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
|
|
on Apr 11, 2021 19:21:12 GMT
Posted: Apr 11, 2021 19:21:12 GMT
Thanks Lumiworx. On this side of the pond, we often relied on what was shown at Photokina in the Autumn as a guide to release dates, as often nearly full or full production models were demonstrated. The downside was, that it is/was - (Covid interruption) held biennially rather than annually like PMA etc.
|
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 1,370 (301 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
|
|
on Apr 12, 2021 13:09:42 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 12, 2021 13:17:29 GMT by lumiworx
All the dates I'm aware of, from every source I've compiled from, are production dates. There are only a few announcement or other historically significant dates that I've kept track of with the intent to include them in the company timeline I compiled. Browsing through the camera list, there are start dates throughout the year, so I presume they produced different models in time chunked batches, and not in ' model years' like US auto manufacturers do, where one model runs continuosly for 10 1/2 to 11 months before changeover begins to the next year's model. The Photokina announcements would only take place in October, and although I don't have any details on how continuous production was once a particular model started, only a small percentage of production start dates are in the late fall or winter seasons. |
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 770 (71 liked)
Join date: August 2016
Status:
|
|
on Apr 12, 2021 15:59:37 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 12, 2021 16:00:57 GMT by xkaes
The Samurai cameras started out with just "Yashica", at some point became "Yashica Kyocera", and later just "Kyocera". The first Samurai was in 1988. When the changes were made, I don't know. They may differ from model to model (there were four), market, etc..
|
|
Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
|
|
on Apr 12, 2021 17:31:08 GMT
Posted: Apr 12, 2021 17:31:08 GMT
The Samurai cameras started out with just "Yashica", at some point became "Yashica Kyocera", and later just "Kyocera". The first Samurai was in 1988. When the changes were made, I don't know. They may differ from model to model (there were four), market, etc.. Thanks for that .... yes, quite a few models (in general, in several formats) did not show Kyocera name or logo immediately after the Kyocera "Take-over". The challenge for me is to find the first one that did  So far we have the two candidates above (1984) ... but other forum members might know better! |
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 770 (71 liked)
Join date: August 2016
Status:
|
|
on Apr 12, 2021 18:22:42 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 12, 2021 18:23:03 GMT by xkaes
A footnote -- I've never seen a Samurai with the Kyocera LOGO -- just the name. There might be some out there, though. Who knows, maybe the Kyocera name, and/or LOGO, was on the box -- but the cameras are hard enough to find, let alone the box!
|
|
Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
|
|
on Apr 12, 2021 20:07:02 GMT
Posted: Apr 12, 2021 20:07:02 GMT
|
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 1,370 (301 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
|
|
on Apr 13, 2021 18:29:45 GMT
Posted: Apr 13, 2021 18:29:45 GMT
Browsing upcoming auctions and sales, I also noted something on a Zoomate 150EF that brought another question tied into first occurances on Kyocera branding... the change on Compact/PnS cameras that show Kyocera branding on the lens ring with no mention of Yashica, even if the camera's body itself might be co-branded in some way with both Yashica and Kyocera. I'm thinking this looks a bit like Kyocera is positioning the ex-Tomioka division to soon be outside of Yashica's 'sphere' in the company as it transforms it into Kyocera Optec, which was announced in 1991, according to Kyocera's page on the optics division's history. You'll notice on that same page that Kyocera is trying to enhance it's own history by appropriating Tomioka's historical beginnings in 1949... far removed from their own ceramics history and formation, and long before acquiring Yashica. |
|
Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
|
|
on Apr 13, 2021 18:57:47 GMT
Posted: Apr 13, 2021 18:57:47 GMT
Yes, the change of lens ring markings pose an interesting but different question to the camera branding changing from Yashica to Yashica/Kyocera. I'll have to have a look at that one too!  |
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 770 (71 liked)
Join date: August 2016
Status:
|
|
on Apr 14, 2021 0:33:47 GMT
Posted: Apr 14, 2021 0:33:47 GMT
I'm sorry Xkaes ... I wonder if we are somehow talking at cross purposes? I can see many Samurai cameras with the Kyocera name AND Logo?  
As Spock would say, "Interesting". I'm not a 3.0X or 4.0X user, and none of the four Z's I have are marked with the "Kyocera" name or logo on the front -- as yours are. No doubt they are out there, as I assumed. They sure spent (wasted?) a lot of time re-labeling their cameras -- and other products.
|
|
Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
|
|
on Apr 14, 2021 9:05:25 GMT
Posted: Apr 14, 2021 9:05:25 GMT
.......... They sure spent (wasted?) a lot of time re-labeling their cameras -- and other products.
Agreed! I'd love to see photos of your Z's with no Kyocera markings, as I think I have only ever seen one Z and no Z2's without the Kyocera markings. |
|
