Unicorn Camera

Modification parts
DIY Yashica Electro 35cc camera lens 35mm F1.8 to Nikon Z mount

A few days ago, I shared sample images taken with the Yashica Electro 35CC 35mm F1.8 under both daylight and nighttime conditions. Many people noticed not only its image quality, but also the distinctive “swallow-shaped” bokeh highlights that appear in out-of-focus areas—one of the most recognizable characteristics of this lens.
Beyond its rendering, the lens itself has a very appealing design. It carries a classic film-era aesthetic, with a compact and refined form factor. When paired with modern retro-styled digital cameras, it creates a strong visual identity—combining vintage design language with practical image performance. For many photographers, this is exactly the balance they’re looking for: classic look and solid image quality in one.
This time, through a newly designed aluminum alloy conversion kit, we’ve brought this classic 35mm F1.8 lens into the Nikon Z system. This is not a simple adapter solution, but a precisely engineered structural integration that ensures a seamless, tight fit between the lens and the camera body—allowing this film-era optic to function naturally in the digital age.
When mounted on the Nikon ZF, you’ll immediately notice a different shooting rhythm compared to modern lenses. The view feels more direct, and the image rendering more pure. That subtle “old-era character” naturally brings to mind the shooting experience of Nikon’s film days—less processed, yet deeply authentic.
The conversion kit is built from full aluminum alloy, balancing strength and tactile quality. Tight manufacturing tolerances ensure a stable, wobble-free mount, while maintaining full compatibility with the Nikon Z fl**ge distance. Most importantly, it preserves the original optical structure, allowing the lens to perform as closely as possible to its original design. The overall setup remains compact and well-balanced, without compromising handling.
What truly makes this lens special, however, is its rendering.
At F1.8 wide open, it doesn’t aim for extreme sharpness. Instead, it delivers a balanced look—soft yet defined. Highlights show a gentle diffusion, creating a natural glow that works beautifully for portraits and night photography. The center remains clean and sharp, while the edges transition smoothly, giving the image depth and a sense of space rather than a flat, uniformly sharp look.
In terms of color, it leans toward a warm, natural palette. There’s none of the overly contrasty, highly saturated look often found in modern lenses. Instead, it feels closer to film-era color rendering—especially suitable for street photography, documentary work, and everyday moments.
The out-of-focus rendering is equally appealing. Rather than pursuing ultra-creamy bokeh, it retains a subtle structure, which adds atmosphere in more complex scenes and feels closer to how we naturally perceive depth. At night, point light sources exhibit a slight glow and diffusion, along with those signature highlight shapes—details that many photographers seek for a vintage aesthetic.
This is not a lens built for specifications.
It’s a tool for expression—a way to bring emotion into your images. Ideal for street photography, documentary work, night scenes, and for creators who are constantly searching for that elusive “film look.”
If you’ve grown used to the perfection and precision of modern lenses, this one might offer something refreshingly different.

Modified Rollei Tessar 40mm F3.5 Leica M Mount – Black & White Rendering

Taken from the classic Rollei 35 camera, this Rollei Tessar 40mm F3.5 lens has been carefully converted through precise mechanical modification to work with the Leica M mount.
It is also one of my personal favorite lenses.
This lens features the classic Tessar four-element, three-group optical design.
Despite its extremely compact size, it still retains the traditional characteristics of German lenses — clean, restrained, and stable rendering.
Its sharpness and contrast are impressive, and even at wide open aperture, the edges of the image field remain well controlled without noticeable collapse.
When used for black-and-white photography, even straight-out-of-camera JPG images can produce a look reminiscent of vintage black-and-white photographs.
Under bright outdoor sunlight, stopping down to a smaller aperture produces very distinct and clean sunstar effects.
When shooting indoors in places such as cafés, the transition between light and shadow is natural and smooth.
Highlights remain controlled without blowing out, while shadow areas still retain clear details.
When photographing rows of chairs, the texture of different materials becomes very apparent.
Outdoor metal chairs show clean and delicate reflections, with crisp edge highlights.
Plastic materials display soft and natural surface sheen, with clear detail but without excessive sharpness.
In black-and-white portrait photography, skin tones appear soft with delicate gray tonal transitions, giving the image a visual atmosphere reminiscent of classic film photography.
When photographing the sky, the layers of clouds are clearly separated.
Highlights remain bright and clean, while shadow areas retain detail, allowing the clouds to show a natural sense of volume.
In high-contrast, low-key scenes, pedestrians’ shadows are clearly projected onto the ground, forming strong graphical shapes that add visual impact to the image.
Under backlit conditions, the outlines of people are clearly defined by the light, creating clean and powerful rim lighting that emphasizes the subject’s silhouette.