Fujica AX-3 and serendipity

Vonder · Apr 20, 2008

I often look at eBay to see if there are cameras I'm curious about which are selling for very little. As I pay off some credit card debt incurred from my semi-pro photography business, I'm often looking at lesser brand cameras and today I scored a Fujica AX-3 for $25.

Anyone here use this camera? Thoughts, tips?

I was then just in a used camera store this afternoon and came across a Fujica 135mm f2.8 lens in near perfect condition -for $12. Yes, twelve dollars. I couldn't believe it and bought it right off.

Did I find a diamond in the rough, or a rough diamond?

magic823 · Apr 20, 2008

I collect the M42 series of Fujica. The Fuji lenses are great. Some of them are going for more than sold for new. The Ax-3 uses a propriatory lens mount, so none of the M42 Fuji lenses will work without an adapter.

jgjbowen · Apr 20, 2008

I have owned (still possess) 4 or 5 AX-3 bodies. Purchased the first one brand new in 1981 and the electronic shutter bit the dust in late 80's. I have purchased the rest on Ebay. One was New/Old Stock. It lasted for less than a single roll of film before the electronic shutter bit the dust. The other 3 have working shutters, but have various light leaks from the 25+ year old seals. Rather than continue to pump good $$ after bad, I switched to Nikon FM3A bodies and Nikon lenses. I've never looked back...

Vonder · Apr 21, 2008

Ugh!

jgjbowen said:
I have owned (still possess) 4 or 5 AX-3 bodies. Purchased the first one brand new in 1981 and the electronic shutter bit the dust in late 80's. I have purchased the rest on Ebay. One was New/Old Stock. It lasted for less than a single roll of film before the electronic shutter bit the dust. The other 3 have working shutters, but have various light leaks from the 25+ year old seals. Rather than continue to pump good $$ after bad, I switched to Nikon FM3A bodies and Nikon lenses. I've never looked back...

I hope mine lasts longer than that. Light leaks are easy to fix but electronic parts are not.

BobbyR · Apr 21, 2008

magic823 said:
I collect the M42 series of Fujica. The Fuji lenses are great. Some of them are going for more than sold for new. The Ax-3 uses a propriatory lens mount, so none of the M42 Fuji lenses will work without an adapter.

I just bought an AX-3 with the 50 f1.2 lens, have not used it yet, and I also got the screw to bayonet adapter for ten bucks, separately.
I am going to get a st 705w when one is available, so I will have to get a bayonet to screw adapter.
I tried to get a Fujica 54-270 zoom but gave up too early on the bidding; I regret that greatly now.
Bobby

Vonder · Apr 23, 2008

Camera came today, and...

Well, it's not perfect. Cosmeticaly it looks very nice, but when I put a battery in it the shutter refused to open. Knowing it has sat idle a long time, I took a chance and gave it a few thumps, and lo and behold, it sprang to life. I'm thinking the 28-or-so year old shutter lubricants have gone sticky.

Seems like a nice camera though, so now the quest begins for someone to CLA it. I found one shop in CA that does it, but for over a hundred dollars, far more than it's worth to me. I have contacted Garry's but don't hold out much hope there. Fujica isn't in his list of cameras so he may not touch them at all.

Vonder · Apr 24, 2008

Wolfeye said:
Well, it's not perfect. Cosmeticaly it looks very nice, but when I put a battery in it the shutter refused to open. Knowing it has sat idle a long time, I took a chance and gave it a few thumps, and lo and behold, it sprang to life. I'm thinking the 28-or-so year old shutter lubricants have gone sticky.

Seems like a nice camera though, so now the quest begins for someone to CLA it. I found one shop in CA that does it, but for over a hundred dollars, far more than it's worth to me. I have contacted Garry's but don't hold out much hope there. Fujica isn't in his list of cameras so he may not touch them at all.

Well, after further investigation, I think the battery was the culprit. Brand new Duracell purchased yesterday, should be 6v but was only 5.7v, and a good-voltage battery seems to have the camera working fine.

BobbyR · Apr 24, 2008

I found a ST705 W on ebay, hope I get it.
These are actually for my brother who is a bit unhappy with his Minolta XG M, but only wants a mostly manual exposure setting camera so he did not want my Ricohs.

Does either make of camera have advantage over the other as far as quality of lenses?
It seems people speak highly of both.

Vonder · Apr 24, 2008

Fujica versus Minolta?

BobbyR said:
I found a ST705 W on ebay, hope I get it.
These are actually for my brother who is a bit unhappy with his Minolta XG M, but only wants a mostly manual exposure setting camera so he did not want my Ricohs.

Does either make of camera have advantage over the other as far as quality of lenses?
It seems people speak highly of both.

I can speak a bit about Minolta, as my most extensive manual focus collection is Minolta. Minolta made more lenses than Fujica did (for their AX mount) but the earlier Fujicas like the ST705 (I think, not 100% sure) use M42 screwmount, which means there are a gazillion lenses out there. Some good, great, bad.

Among the Minolta lenses there are legends - the 24mm f2.8 regularly sells for $200 on eBay. I have a 35-70mm f3.5 macro lens that is quite sweet. Plenty of other good glass out there.

Fujica AX-3 and serendipity

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