New toy: Fujica Half 1.9

[Luddite Frank]

I was prowling a local flea-market over the weekend, and brought home a Fuji half-frame scale-focus 35mm camera.

Cute little thing, reads "Fujica Half 1.9" on the front of the body, and has a Fujinon 1:1.9 f=3.3cm lens.

Aside from being dusty, it appears to be in good condition, except:

1) Shutter does not fire (button depresses all the way, but with no result)

2) Advance lever swings-out about 10 degrees, but will not wind / cock the shutter. I've opened the back and tried advancing the wind-spool and the sprocket with my thumb, to no effect. ( Spool / sprocket show no motion when advance lever is manipulated.)


Anybody have any experience with this camera, and could say whether "they always jammed", or what have you ?

Thanks !

Luddite Frank

 

[btgc]

As far I have read, FH's tend to gum up. If shutter works after slightly cleaning blades (I suppose it has not rear element over shutter leafs) then you know cure.

Just to note - my Yashica 72-E worked after cleaning leafs from film chamber though after single roll gummed again, so I had to remove shutter from camera, take leafs apart and clean them individually.

If shutter is stuck it can not release and thus wind lever is blocked, too.

Hope you'll get it fixed as this compacts are nice to use. I could not find if 1.9 version also has full manual controls like 2.8 version, probably yes.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Thanks for your help, btgc !

Your diagnosis was correct - the shutter was gummy, and had partially tripped, not enough to open the leaves, but enough to block the film-advance.

The front lens mounting unscrewed rather easily, so I summoned some courage, and removed the shutter-set ring, and wiped-off the shutter blades with some benzine on a cotton-swab.

It now works nicely, from B to 1/8 through to 1/500.

I am looking forward to running a roll of film through it.

Thanks for your help !

Regards,

LF

As far I have read, FH's tend to gum up. If shutter works after slightly cleaning blades (I suppose it has not rear element over shutter leafs) then you know cure.

Just to note - my Yashica 72-E worked after cleaning leafs from film chamber though after single roll gummed again, so I had to remove shutter from camera, take leafs apart and clean them individually.

If shutter is stuck it can not release and thus wind lever is blocked, too.

Hope you'll get it fixed as this compacts are nice to use. I could not find if 1.9 version also has full manual controls like 2.8 version, probably yes.

 

[btgc]

It now works nicely, from B to 1/8 through to 1/500.

you are welcome, and later give us know if remedy helped in long term. Before loading next roll I'd visually check if speeds run as smoothly as immediately after clean up.

 

[zuikologist]

I have one of these, though not used for a long time. It is a well built and specified machine.

http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/half/halformat3s.html

 

[Red Robin]

STUCK Fujica 'drive'

STUCK Fujica 'drive'

Made the flea market rounds today. The prize for the day is a Fujica Drive in 2.8. Looks & feels like a typical 'built-to-last 'camera of it's day. This sucker feels SOLID! I've only owned it for 3 1/2 hours but now believe it's only problem , the sutter won't fire , may have a very fixable remidiy. Clean the blades with lighter fluid. Wish I had close up pictures though.