FT2
Member
One came in the mail today; I paid around 40 dollars for it. Information is frustratingly scarce. This post should help anyone interested in trying to find this dirt cheap alternative to a tri-elmar.
Fuji DL 500 wide date
-Released in 1991.
-Focal lengths: 28mm and 45mm. Not a zoom; two prime lenses. The 28mm is three elements (prob. including a molded aspheric), and the 45mm is five elements (the three 28mm elements, plus an additional two element group)
The F stop for this lens is unknown. My educated guess: 28mm f/4 and 45mm f5.6. In any case, I put a roll of Fomapan 400 in, DX code hacked for 800. I'm running a roll through it right now to see it's sharpness. I imagine it's good (but not blindingly sharp like the Ricoh GR1), probably equivalent to the Canon 28mm f2.8 LTM.
-It has two separate battery compartments: One on the outside for a CR123a, and (frustratingly, an almost hidden internal one, next to the film pressure plate. That spot is for a flat CR 2025 lithium battery to power the dateback. The Fuji DL 500 will not work without a CR 2025 battery. It makes the camera seem "broken" at first before one spends three dollars to "fix" it.
- Crucial +1.5 back light compensation mode, making it usable by serious amateurs.
-This camera is super fast to use, as good as the Fuji Natura. Like the GR1, the camera shuts down on lag by focusing the lens into place when the shutter is pressed half way.
- The Viewfinder is very bright and usable. Parallax marks for .8 meters, but the camera can focus to an unspecified closer length.
-Build is good, close to the the Natura, but still below the Ricoh GR1 (comparing all three side by side, I use all of these cameras)
-No front lens cover, similar to the Konica Big Mini 201. It needs to be kept in a soft pouch, and not just thrown in a bag or pocket.
-Slightly noisy
Fuji DL 500 wide date
-Released in 1991.
-Focal lengths: 28mm and 45mm. Not a zoom; two prime lenses. The 28mm is three elements (prob. including a molded aspheric), and the 45mm is five elements (the three 28mm elements, plus an additional two element group)
The F stop for this lens is unknown. My educated guess: 28mm f/4 and 45mm f5.6. In any case, I put a roll of Fomapan 400 in, DX code hacked for 800. I'm running a roll through it right now to see it's sharpness. I imagine it's good (but not blindingly sharp like the Ricoh GR1), probably equivalent to the Canon 28mm f2.8 LTM.
-It has two separate battery compartments: One on the outside for a CR123a, and (frustratingly, an almost hidden internal one, next to the film pressure plate. That spot is for a flat CR 2025 lithium battery to power the dateback. The Fuji DL 500 will not work without a CR 2025 battery. It makes the camera seem "broken" at first before one spends three dollars to "fix" it.
- Crucial +1.5 back light compensation mode, making it usable by serious amateurs.
-This camera is super fast to use, as good as the Fuji Natura. Like the GR1, the camera shuts down on lag by focusing the lens into place when the shutter is pressed half way.
- The Viewfinder is very bright and usable. Parallax marks for .8 meters, but the camera can focus to an unspecified closer length.
-Build is good, close to the the Natura, but still below the Ricoh GR1 (comparing all three side by side, I use all of these cameras)
-No front lens cover, similar to the Konica Big Mini 201. It needs to be kept in a soft pouch, and not just thrown in a bag or pocket.
-Slightly noisy
Last edited:
micromoogman
Well-known
Lens f-stops are f3,5 and f5,5.