Fujica Compact Deluxe 35

[bmattock]

I've been trying to get my hands on a working copy of a Fujica 35 ML for some time now - been through several described as 'mint, works great' on eBoy, only to find that the shutters make a snapping noise, all right, but they don't actually open. And they don't respond to my usual lighter-fluid repair technique, either. Never manage to actually bring one back to life.

But I got my hands on a similar camera, the Fujica Compact Deluxe, and I'm delighted with it. Nice bright viewfinder, shutter actually works, it does not require mercury batteries, and a nice Fujinon 1.8/45mm lens. Details can be found here:

http://www.toptown.com/nowhere/kypfer/fujica2.htm

Anyway. Took a roll of film last week when my sister was in town from Minot, ND. I'm pleased. And it's gotta funky cool bottom-wind and the lens focus is on the BACK of the camera! Otherwise, it is about the same size/shape as my Olympus 35 RD.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[captainslack]

Why not Minot? Freezin' the reason!! 😀

 

[jlw]

I've been trying to get my hands on a working copy of a Fujica 35 ML for some time now - been through several described as 'mint, works great' on eBoy, only to find that the shutters make a snapping noise, all right, but they don't actually open. And they don't respond to my usual lighter-fluid repair technique, either. Never manage to actually bring one back to life.

But I got my hands on a similar camera, the Fujica Compact Deluxe, and I'm delighted with it. Nice bright viewfinder, shutter actually works, it does not require mercury batteries, and a nice Fujinon 1.8/45mm lens. Details can be found here:

http://www.toptown.com/nowhere/kypfer/fujica2.htm

Anyway. Took a roll of film last week when my sister was in town from Minot, ND. I'm pleased. And it's gotta funky cool bottom-wind and the lens focus is on the BACK of the camera! Otherwise, it is about the same size/shape as my Olympus 35 RD.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

In my college days I had a Fujica 35 SE, with a selenium match-needle meter but the same bottom wind lever and thumbwheel focusing, which I still think was a really convenient feature.

One thing I thought was peculiar about that camera: As you focus, the rangefinder patch stays stationary, and the viewfinder image moves side to side. As a result, for parallax compensation, the framelines only have to move vertically, not diagonally.

Clever, but I found it a little disorienting to view through the finder as I focused, watching the whole scene sway from side to side like that. Does yours do the same?