If you have been reading my posts over the last 16 years, you’ll probably see a pattern of my fondness for M-42 (Praktica, Screw Mount, Pentax screw-mount, etc.) cameras. A lot of them were manufactured by many companies in the 1960s and 70s, and they ultimately died out as the Pentax K-mount supplanted it. The biggest drawback against the M-42 mount was that it took time to attach a lens, and the mount did not lend itself to electronic contacts or more complex automation of the cameras. However, since so many M-42 camera bodies and lenses were produced, the prices tend to stay lower, compared to K-mount cameras as well as the offerings from Nikon, Canon, Olympus, and Minolta. While Pentax Spotmatics are what people usually associate with the M-42 mount, there are other cameras that used the mount, and many of them are quite good, if not especially innovative. Such is the case with the Chinon CS.
Chinon is a Japanese company that started in the city of Chino in 1948. Initially, the company produced only parts for lenses, but by 1956, it released a lens for 8mm movie cameras, followed by the world’s first 8mm zoom lens. Subsequently, they manufactured 8mm movie cameras, and the company at the time was known as Sanshin Optical Industrial Ltd. The company started making 35mm cameras in 1971, and in 1973, changed its name to Chinon Industries. Chinon manufactured M-42 mount SLRs which were re-branded for other companies, such as Argus, GAF, Photo-Quelle, and Prinz. The Chinonflex TTL was introduced in 1966, followed by the Chinonflex in 1969. The Chinon CS appeared in 1978, and it features:
• TTL match-needle metering - CdS cell, center-weighted, stop-down, center-needle indicator in viewfinder.
• shutter speeds 1 sec - 1/1000 sec, + B.
• Depth of Field Preview
• Copal Square vertically-traveling metal shutter
• X-sync hot shoe as well as PC sockets for external flash, x-sync at 1/125 sec
• ISO range of 25-800
• 15 sec. Self-timer
• M-42 mount
• power - PX625 1.3V Mercury cell
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| Pretty standard layout, easy to use! |
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| Simplicity is a creative asset. |
So, while there is nothing that really stands out in the camera, everything is there that you need to take photos with full control of the exposure. The only wrinkle is that like almost every other camera manufactured at the time, it requires a PX625 mercury cell for the meter. In other words it’s a fairly ordinary, but well-built 35mm M-42 mount SLR. It doesn’t have the name recognition of Pentax or Praktica, but it can hold its own with any M-42 camera body made by anyone else at the time. I can say that had I owned this camera in 1978, I would have been won over very easily to its attributes, seeing that I owned an Exa 2a at the time.
I picked this particular Chinon CS body up on eBay for $30, and I already had a matching Chinon 55 mm f/1.7 lens waiting for it. I used a PX625A alkaline cell, and then realized that to get a meter reading correct, I needed to dial down the ISO to one stop. So, for example, I was using ISO 400 film, I set the ASA (ISO) dial to 200, thereby compensating for the over-voltage of the cell.
I loaded a roll of Holga 400 film (i.e., Foma 400), and took the Chinon CS out on some local trips to test it out. The camera handles well; after all, it is "ordinary" and the stop-down metering button on the right side of the lens mount returns to its off position after the shutter is released. The metering is center-weighted, and I had no issues with this 42 year-old SLR. The shutter has a satisfying "clunk" that is typical for the Copal Square shutters.
I think that this camera encompasses the status quo in mid-1970s 35mm SLRs. Nothing plastic, everything manual, and sturdily built. You can easily build your camera kit with cameras like this, as M-42 lenses are generally plentiful and relatively inexpensive, and mostly primes. There are many other Chinon SLR models besides the CS, and a switchover to K-mount lenses occurred around 1981. You can get an idea of the various models on the Camera-Wiki site.
Some sample shots from the first roll:
I have had a Chinon CS in my camera collection for several years. Until recently, I have used it as a "display Camera" inside a lighted glass case. I recently tired of shooting (and repairing) some much older Box, Folding, and range finder cameras. so, I decided to investigate this rather good looking black SLR. I slowly became impressed with build quality and feel. Thanks to Mike Butkus, several others and yourself I have become very interested and much better informed regarding this camera. It has a fresh roll of ASA 400 35mm color film in it now. I may comment again after I finish my "first impression" of this camera.
ReplyDeleteI have acquired a small collection of these underrated cameras over the years.
ReplyDeleteChinon CS, Chinon Cx, Chinon CE Memotron, Prinzflex M1. The M1 is the oldest from 1972
essentially the same model as the CX. Other variations were the Chinon M1, and the Prinzflex CX. The build quality of all these models is superb, easily as well made as a Canon FTB or Minolta SRT and much tougher than anything from Practica. Also, the Chinon M42 lenses are excellent optically too. Most of these cameras are getting on for 50 years old now and all mine function perfectly. Chinon kept faith with the M42 mount right up until the dawn of the eighties where they succumbed and made all their subsequent models adopting the pentax k mount. Again, Chinon produced some brilliant but very underappreciated models like the CE-4,CM-4,CE-4S,CG-5 and CE5. Again,the k mount Chinon multi Coated lenses were easily as good as offerings from Canon, Pentax, Olympus or Minolta, not to mention Nikon.If you get the chance to aquire one of these old chinons ( there are still many decent ones out there) then grab it. I think for the low prices they command, you simply cannot do better in terms of value if you are on a budget,I would definitely recommend them.