Fujica find

Found this ST801 at a yard sale this morning for $10. Great condition and everything works. The only bug was a sticky film door latch but a couple of drops of lube fixed that. It does need new seals, of course, but that is no big deal. The 1.4 lens is clean and working fine.



I'd never used one of these before. It's a very nice M42 camera with big bright viewfinder and the meter uses a modern battery (PX28). The meter display is via LEDs like on a Nikon FM only more of them. My only nit-pick is the meter shuts off the moment you lift your finger from the shutter release so you can't easily change shutter speeds while the meter is on. So, it wants you to set shutter speed first and then adjust the aperture for exposure. I prefer being able to adjust either one while looking at the meter like on an FM. Still, I am impressed with the camera and I can see why it is popular.

You got a really good deal, EBC multicoating was as good or better than Pentax Super MC.

Congrats on your "new" camera.
Let us know how you get on with your new seals etc.

One of the best M42 cameras.
I love the LED display. Makes you feel part of a 70s science fiction movie.

For last generation screw mount lenses you usually have all the standard M42 lenses for use with stop down metering from old, classic M42 cameras, AND then the particular brands special lenses that can do aperture reading and compensation.

The Fujinon lenses are some of the best, if not the best of that race.
Both with regards to optics and longevity.

Other than nifty fifties the rest of the Fuji lens program is pretty rare though.

I lusted after that in 1973. I could only afford the 'stop-down' meter ST-701 with 1.8 lens as my only lens. Amazing sharp lens.
I don't have the Fuji 701 anymore, but 40 years later I came back to Fuji. All my 8x10 lenses are Fujinon.
Sometimes I wonder what I was missing by not having ever used any of the other Fujinon M42 lenses besides the 50/1.8.

Helge said:

Other than nifty fifties the rest of the Fuji lens program is pretty rare though.

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Yes, I've discovered that. Since getting the camera I've been researching the lens situation and any other than the slower 50s, the 135/3.5 and the 43-75mm are rare and quite pricey. I'm lucky it came with the 50/1.4 which is pretty hard to find in itself. It's a beauty too.

I discovered that Vivitar made a TX mount adapter for this model and so did Tamron. Both with the open aperture metering tab. I found an eBay lot of 3 Fuji ST TX mounts and bought them because I have a nice TX Vivitar 135/2.8 that is sharp and TX lenses are plentiful and cheap and some are probably pretty good, I figure. Tamron primes are very good too in my experience and I already have their 28/2.5.

Not the same as EBC Fujinons, I'm sure, but finding bargains in those lenses will take time.

BobD said:

Yes, I've discovered that. Since getting the camera I've been researching the lens situation and any other than the slower 50s, the 135/3.5 and the 43-75mm are rare and quite pricey. I'm lucky it came with the 50/1.4 which is pretty hard to find in itself. It's a beauty too.

I discovered that Vivitar made a TX mount adapter for this model and so did Tamron. Both with the open aperture metering tab. I found an eBay lot of 3 Fuji ST TX mounts and bought them because I have a nice TX Vivitar 135/2.8 that is sharp and TX lenses are plentiful and cheap and some are probably pretty good, I figure. Tamron primes are very good too in my experience and I already have their 28/2.5.

Not the same as EBC Fujinons, I'm sure, but finding bargains in those lenses will take time.

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The 55mm 1.6 Fujinon is brilliant too.

The 43 - 75 zoom is very good optically. But really belongs with an AZ - 1 looks wise.
I have one, an it is one of the few zooms of the seventies that is actually definitely as good as a prime, and not too slow.
First zoom kit lens too.
Pretty small range though. Not useless but close.
It’ll live in the 50 region most if the time anyway.
Paltry close focus and weighty.
Good looking and nice mechanically.

I really like the one I have. It came with a 43-72mm zoom which is really convenient for a walking around camera.

A page from a vintage Fujica manual. As I recall these lenses were not common, even back in the 1970s. One would have had to order them through the mail from one of the big shops and they were pretty expensive. Maybe you can track down some of these lenses.
I'm also noticing that beautiful gold color to the EBC coating, that brings back fond memories of my camera. Most of my 8x10 Fujinon lenses are the single coated versions, not EBC.

I found this Fuji promo piece on EBC coating:

The specs on your new camera are impressive. Silicon photocell meter, 1/2000 top shutter speed, bright viewfinder. Sounds like my Leicaflex, which is probably much bigger and heavier.