mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Apr 18, 2012 8:44:57 GMT -5
berndt,
I just ckecked the "bible" - 12th edition.
There is only one Fujica Compact 35 described. No picture.
"Fujica Compact 35 - c 1966. 35mm auto exposure camera with selenium meter.
Fujinon f2.8/3.8cm. Shutter speeds: Auto, B, 1/30-1/250. $25-35.
Mickey
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Apr 18, 2012 9:00:45 GMT -5
Mickey, thanks for this information !!! So it seems, that even the "bible" is not complete  My last chance might be the Fuji-Museum here in Tokyo, even I have been there once and the camera corner is not really that large as I remember ... and the staff doesn't know really much about cameras. It's more a showroom than a serious museum. |
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Apr 18, 2012 9:15:04 GMT -5
One somehow accepts that a man with just a few staff making cameras in a small workshop a hundred plus years ago wouldn't necessarily have kept accurate records for every individual camera. On the other hand one would expect a major company making cameras in a big factory would have definite records for each and every serial number.
Perhaps the reverse is actually true!
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Apr 18, 2012 22:54:16 GMT -5
According to " The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras" yours would be the 1970 version. The one camerapedia shows is the first version from 1966. 1966 version had a Fujinon f2.8 38mm, shutter marked Auto, B, 1/30-1/250, coupled to a selenium exposure meter. The 1970 "New Compact 35" had a Fujinon f2.8 38mm. Shutter was Auto and controlled by a selenium exposure meter. I have the 1966 version.
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Apr 19, 2012 5:34:10 GMT -5
Fantastic, Curt. Thanks a lot !!!
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Apr 19, 2012 12:35:31 GMT -5
Berndt, that almost curtails the need to research further.
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on May 11, 2012 2:31:48 GMT -5
I actually know it for 100% now. It has been released in 1969. I took the camera to the Fujifilm headquater here in Tokyo today and had the incredible chance to talk to the engineer, who designed it in person. An elderly gentleman, still working at the museum after his retirement. We had a long and interesting talk about this and other cameras. He was very kind and had an amazing knowledge. He also told me the shutter time in manual mode. Fixed 1/30 sec as on other models as well. He also explained me the reason, why he made it this way. Older flash bulb flashes have been slower than modern flashes and the manual mode was mainly designed for using a flash on those cameras. It was really nice, talking to him and I think, he has also been happy for chance to talk about this stuff |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on May 11, 2012 15:03:26 GMT -5
berndt,
I have a soft spot for Fujica Cameras.
Years ago I bought one for my father who, in the advanced stages of diabetes had very little feeling in his hands. With its cross coupled shutter/aperture, big bright viewfinder, peculiar baseplate location of its film advance lever and its focus wheel on the upper back, seemed to be custom made for him.
They are well made, very attractive cameras.
I have the Fujica 35-ML, my father's camera (1957) and the Fujica 35-EE with non coupled selenium meter (1961)
Mickey
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on May 13, 2012 5:21:59 GMT -5
Mickey,
I checked the Fujica 35-ML in the internet ... beautiful camera ... and the Fujica 35-EE is definitely on the top of my wishlist ... and the Fujica Mini, but I couldn't find both at an acceptable price AND condition yet.
Fujica cameras always know to surpise. All, that I had the chance to try yet, took very sharp pictures.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on May 14, 2012 20:54:47 GMT -5
berndt, There is a weird story connected to the Fujica 35 EE. I was at the art exhibition at the house of a friend of mine when he approached me and said I could have two cameras that he no longer uses. We quibbled when I wanted to pay him. He said he couldn't take money from a friend and I said I must, as a friend, pay for them. He took $10 for both cameras. I felt uneasy. When I checked McKeown's I went back to his house and insisted he take more. The debate ended with him taking another $15 and my conscience feeling better. On one of my previous postings I said I was no good at bargaining. But this proves that I am a master at unbargaining and as my friend said "Some kind of jerk".  Mickey |
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Post by samantha on Apr 4, 2020 23:52:13 GMT -5
Berndt,
Hi, I realise this thread is quite old now! I stumbled across it researching the Fujica Compact 35 I have before I run film through to see if it works. I think I may have the model you have so it was interesting reading this. I struggled to find a manual online and when I did it was for the model where you can control the shutter speed. Interested to know if you found put anything more about this model? Fascinating you spoke to who designed it!
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