Fujica

The Fujica brand is clearly seen on this 1963 Fujicarex II

Fujica is the name given by Fujifilm of Japan to its line of still-photography and motion picture cameras.

History

The company was founded on January 20, 1934, as Fuji Shashin Film K.K. (富士写真フィルム㈱, later translated as Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), producing several sorts of film. It was an offshoot of Dai-Nippon Celluloid K.K. (大日本セルロイド㈱), founded in 1919. The company's first CEO was Asano Shūichi (浅野修一). The plants were located in the village of Minami-Ashigara (南足柄村, now a city) in the prefecture of Kanagawa (神奈川県), at the foot of Mt. Hakone (箱根山). It is said that the name "Fuji" (富士) was chosen by Asano Shūichi because of Mt. Fuji (富士山), situated not far from Mt. Hakone, but was already registered by a third party, to which the rights were bought for ¥8,000, a large sum at the time.

The company started to produce optical glass during the early 1940s for military use. The dependent company Fuji Shashin Kōki K.K. (富士写真光機㈱, meaning "Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.") was founded in 1944, from the assets of Enomoto Kōgaku Seiki Seisakusho (榎本光学精機製作所), but this was absorbed back into Fuji Shashin Film after 1945. Many other Fuji companies were created after the war, all of them dependent of the main Fuji Shashin Film company and eventually of the Fujifilm Group (富士フィルムグループ). Fuji began producing cameras in 1948 with the Fujica Six. Until the late 1970s, many cameras made by Fuji were called Fujica, a contraction of Fuji and camera (cf Leica, Yashica etc.).

Fujifilm started producing digital cameras in 1988. Fujifilm was the most agile among film makers in adapting to digital imaging. Today they make digital APS-C and medium format mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras and fixed lens compact cameras as well, all under the Fujifilm name.

Camera models

Here is a list of all the Fujica branded still photo cameras that were produced and their date of introduction. Single-8 motion film cameras are not listed.

Fujica 35mm SLR cameras
Name ImgYearMount ShutterMeterModes Dims.Wgt. Notes / Refs.
AX-Multi Program 1985FX 1⁄2–1⁄1000EV 2–18P 135×87×54 mm (5.3×3.4×2.1 in)460 g (16 oz)
STX-2 1985FX B+1⁄2–1⁄1000Si / EV 2–18M 133×87×88 mm (5.2×3.4×3.5 in)625 g (22.0 oz)
AX-5 1980FX B+2–1⁄1000Si / EV 0–18P, A, S, M 135×86×54 mm (5.3×3.4×2.1 in)525 g (18.5 oz)
AX-3 1980FX B+2–1⁄1000Si / EV 0–18A, M 135×86×54 mm (5.3×3.4×2.1 in)520 g (18 oz)
AX-1 1980FX B+1⁄2–1⁄1000Si / EV 2–18A 135×86×54 mm (5.3×3.4×2.1 in)500 g (18 oz) Limited manual shutter speed selection
STX-1 1979FX B+1⁄2–1⁄700Si / EV 2–172⁄3M 133×86×48.5 mm (5.2×3.4×1.9 in)550 g (19 oz) Updated ST605N with X bayonet mount Followed by STX-1N with LED light meter and redesigned battery hatch.
AZ-1 1978M42 B+1⁄2–1⁄1000Si / EV 2–18A, M 133×89×50.3 mm (5.2×3.5×2.0 in)575 g (20.3 oz)
ST-705 1977M42 B+1–1⁄1500Si / EV 1–18M 133×86×88 mm (5+15⁄64×3+25⁄64×3+15⁄32 in)580 g (20.3 oz)
ST-605 1976M42 B+1⁄2–1⁄700Si / EV 3–18M 133×86×84 mm (5+15⁄64×3+25⁄64×3+5⁄16 in)560 g (19.9 oz)
ST-901 1974M42 B+20–1⁄1000Si / EV -3–18A, M 133×90×91 mm (5+1⁄4×3+9⁄16×3+7⁄12 in)620 g (22 oz)
ST-801 1973M42 B+1–1⁄2000Si / EV 1–19M 133×90×89 mm (5+1⁄4×3+9⁄16×3+1⁄2 in)640 g (22.4 oz)
ST-701 1971M42 B+1–1⁄1000Si / EV 1–18M 135×93×89 mm (5+1⁄3×3+2⁄3×3+1⁄2 in)574 g (20.25 oz)
Fujica 35mm fixed lens cameras
Name ImgYearLens ShutterMeter / BatteryModes Dims.Wgt. Notes / Refs.
Compact Deluxe 1967Fujinon 45 mm f/1.8–22 B, 1–1⁄500CdS / MS76P, M ?640 g (23 oz)
V-2 1964Fujinon 45 mm f/1.8–22 B, 1–1⁄500CdS / ?P, M ??
35 Auto-M 1962Fujinar 47 mm f/2.8–16 B, 1⁄30–1⁄500?S, M ??
Compact 35 196xFujinon 38 mm f/2.8–16 B, 1⁄30–1⁄500?? ??
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Includes normal lens
Flash Fujica II with a FUJINON 38mm/F2.8 lens
35mm/F2.2 lens (exchangeable)
Fujica STX-1N
Fujica ST 605N
Fujica ST701
Fujica 35-SE in bespoke underwater housing

Lenses

Interchangeable lenses for 35mm cameras

  • Fuji Photo Film X-FUJINON (F2.2/55mm)
  • Fuji lenses for Leica and Nikon

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fuji AX Multi Program" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1985 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  2. ↑ "Fujica STX-2" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1985 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Four new cameras that are every thing an SLR series should be: Fujica AX-5/AX-3/AX-1/STX-1" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1980 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  4. ↑ "Fujica AX-5" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1980 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  5. ↑ "Fujica AX-3" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1980 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  6. ↑ "Fujica AX-1" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1980 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  7. ↑ "Fujica STX-1" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1979 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fujica dealer pages" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1978 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  9. ↑ "Fujica ST-701" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1971 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  10. ↑ "Fujica Compact Deluxe [catalog]" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1967 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  11. ↑ "Fujica V-2 [catalog]" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1967 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  12. ↑ "Fujica 35 Auto-M Owner's Manual" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 1962 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  13. ↑ "Fujica Compact 35 [catalog]" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.