Chinon CE-4 |
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Manufactured or assembled in Japan from 1979 to (After) 1979.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 3393
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Chinon
The Chinon CE-4, introduced at the 1979 PMA in Chicago, is an automatic camera with aperture priority. Unlike some SLR cameras, it remains practical in semi-automatic mode. The LED display in the viewfinder simultaneously shows the actual shutter speed and recommends the speed from the light meter. The LED blinks until these two points converge for correct exposure. Unfortunately, unlike the CE-4s model, the aperture is not displayed in the viewfinder.
The advantage of the CE-4 series is its use of the Pentax K mount, which replaced the M42 screw mount and still allows for a wide range of lenses at reasonable prices today.
It is indeed a mid-range camera, with strengths such as the Seiko shutter up to 1/1000s, a decent sensitivity range with exposure compensation and memory settings, and weaknesses like the lack of mirror lock-up or aperture control in the viewfinder. Of course, its specifications do not match those of high-end models. Nevertheless, its ergonomic design is adequate and allows for good performance after a few minutes of familiarization.
In conclusion, the Chinon CE-4 is a modest yet comprehensive SLR camera, optimized in terms of functionality and size.
![Chinon CE-4](../../Chinon/images/Chinon_CE-4.jpg )
In France, Chinon SLR cameras are less known and less common than those of other Japanese brands. This might be due to the brand's late arrival in the market and a delay in gaining recognition. However, Chinon regularly released new models from the early 70s until the late 80s, with a very good level of quality, ensuring full compatibility with M42 and later K mount lenses, at a very attractive price.
Years | Lens Mount | Exposure | ||
Chinonflex TTL | ![]() |
c. 1969 | M42 | Semi-automatic |
M-1 | c. 1974 | Semi-automatic | ||
CE Memotron | 1974 | Aperture priority exposure | ||
CX | ![]() |
1974 | Semi-automatic | |
CE-II Memotron | ![]() |
1976 | Aperture priority exposure | |
CXII | ![]() |
1976 | Semi-automatic | |
CM-3 | ![]() |
1977 | ||
CS | ![]() |
c. 1978 | ||
CE-3 Memotron | 1978 | Aperture priority exposure | ||
CE-4 | ![]() |
1979 | K | |
SLR | c. 1979 | M42 | Semi-automatic | |
CM-4 | ![]() |
1981 | K | |
CS-4 | 1981 | M42 | ||
CM-4s | ![]() |
1981 | K | |
CA-4 | 1980 | Aperture priority exposure | ||
CA-4s | ||||
CE-4s | ![]() |
1981 | ||
CE-5 | ![]() |
1982 | ||
CG-5 | c. 1982 | |||
CM-5 | c. 1982 | Semi-automatic | ||
CP-5s | c. 1984 | Aperture priority exposure and Program |
||
DP-5 | c. 1984 | |||
CP-5 | ![]() |
1986 | ||
CP-6 | c. 1986 | |||
CP-X | c. 1986 | |||
CP-7M | ![]() |
1986 | ||
CM-7 | c.1988 | Double automatism |
||
CP-9 AF | ![]() |
1988 | C-AF (compatible K) |
Aperture priority exposure and Program |
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