Fujica ST801 - opinions?

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 20, 2014

There is a very nice looking, allegedly in good working condition, silver Fujica ST801 that I could pick up for around $25. I have been on a lookout for a cheap but good M42 body for quite some time now - no Spotmatics in the area, except two that regularly pop up at $150-200 - so this one could be it. It's sold locally, but I haven't seen it yet.

From what I have seen online, it looks like ST801 has a nice and bright VF, the lack of which stopped me from buying several other M42 bodies (my primary camera is F3 which sets the bar quite high). Its max speed is 1/2000, which is also nice. Uses modern batteries to meter - another plus. I don't have any Fujinon lenses to utilize its open aperture metering, but stopped-down metering is not a problem.

Anything I should look at, any known problems? Thoughts, suggestions, don't-do-its etc? I am not in a rush - I am perfectly happy and content with Nikon - so I could wait until something better pops up.

Thanks.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 20, 2014

I remember it from the 1970s when a friend of mine had it.It was a good reliable camerabut,e traded it in for a Nikon FM to get a better meter.I believe it's well worth $25.

lxdude · Sep 20, 2014

I had ST801's in the 70's-an early one bought in '74 with the raised FUJICA name on front, and a later one ('78) with the name engraved. I used them constantly until I got Nikon F2's (used) in the early 80's, and still used them sometimes. I still have the older one- the newer one was destroyed in a car fire.
The older one has a very smooth wind stroke of about 180 degrees; the newer has an almost-as-smooth stroke of something like 150 degrees. The newer one has a little different balance-- better, in my opinion, so they must have changed the casting or something. The older one has full-frame meter coverage: the newer one has moderately center-weighted metering. The viewfinder is large and bright, though the screen is non-interchangeable. The shutter is cloth. The eyepiece has the same thread the Nikon F2 uses. The camera is smaller, lighter, and quieter than most other early 70's designs; I think when it came out, the only 35mm SLR to exceed the Fujicas in this regard was the Olympus OM-1.

What really sold me over other cameras in the same price range was the meter and the lenses. Fuji was first with silicon cell metering instead of CdS, and the LED readout is still the best I have seen on a manual camera. It has 7 LEDs- three stops over and three stops under the central one, so you know how far out the reading is, and relative brightness between two adjacent LEDs indicates to quarter-stops (central bright, next dim= 1/4 stop from nominal; both equal brightness= half stop; etc.) The meter is still dead accurate and works like new on my 40 year old relic.
I had heard that the EBC Fujinon lenses were excellent, and they were multicoated, which, after seeing the Super-Multi-Coated Pentax lens results, I wanted. Only Pentax and Fuji were claiming to have multicoated lenses at the time. Those old Fujinon lenses are in demand- they are great performers, though I hear the 24mm was not up to the performance of the others.
My old camera has only had seals replaced (twice). The slow speed mechanisms gets sluggish if I don't use it for a while, though exercising it loosens it up just fine. I ought to get it CLA'd but I seldom use it. When I do, it still works fine.

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 20, 2014

Thanks Ralph!

lxdude, that was more info than I was hoping to get and thank you a lot on the effort to type it all down. I should probably go and check it out because I like what you had to say about the camera (this one is of the later kind, with the brand engraved). There are several EBC Fujinon 55/1.8 lenses offered locally for less than outrageous amounts of money, so I might check those too.
Suddenly, after more than a year and a half, I feel the itch to get those lenses out again, especially CZJ 25/4 Flektogon, Jupiter-37-A MC (135/3.5) and Jupiter-6-2 180/2.8. The latter weighs about as much as my whole Nikon kit

Les Sarile · Sep 20, 2014

If it is fully functional, I would consider that a steal at $25 as I have been actively looking for one myself as I am interested in seeing what they reviewed as an "unusually bright viewfinder".

If you like the F3's finder - which is a low magnification, then the ST801's high magnification finder may not be to your liking.

lxdude · Sep 20, 2014

OldBodyOldSoul said:
There are several EBC Fujinon 55/1.8 lenses offered locally for less than outrageous amounts of money, so I might check those too.

The 55/1.8 is an excellent lens! It was my first, and it was all I had for about three years. I was never disappointed. It even performed well wide open. I used it reversed and/or on extension tubes before I could afford the 55/3.5 macro, and I got some great slides.

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 20, 2014

I have yet to see a viewfinder that is too bright, so "unusually bright viewfinder" sounds very promising.

When it comes to magnification - yeah, I didn't think about that and the difference is quite big (0.96x vs 0.75x on F3HP). I can't find info on Leicaflex SL's finder as I liked that one even more than the F3's but, if I remember correctly, its magnification should be closer to that of Fujica than Nikon.

Either way, I have contacted the seller and, hopefully, I will get to see it.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 20, 2014

I have one I got as a free rear lens cap when I bought a nice M42 lens. It's shutter was jammed but a light touch on the aluminum bar on the halfway jammed shutter had it snap close to normal and it's worked ever since. Decent build. I've never added a battery so cannot comment on the meter. $25 is not a bad price but there are so many M42 mount cameras that with patience you can get one for very cheap or free. I also have a Praktica and Mamiya M42 bodies that somehow found there way into my collection that I do not ever remember paying for...

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 20, 2014

You do not identify where you live but KEH has a load of great screw mount Pentax bodies for as little as $11:

Dead Link Removed

Jerry Thirsty · Sep 20, 2014

Swapping back and forth between my F3 (DE-2 finder, not HP, with Nikkor 50/1.4 AIS lens) and ST801 (Fujinon M42 non-EBC 50/1.4 lens), I'd say the Fujica is almost as bright as the F3. However the F3 has better eye relief and greater coverage. I find that I have to scrunch the Fujica up to my face pretty good to see the edges of the view. The Fujica is noticeably brighter than my Mamiya 1000 DTL and Yashica TL Electro X, and slightly brighter than the Spotmatic F and SP500. A Pentax MX with adapter might be slightly brighter (possibly on par with the F3, although the difference in magnification makes it hard to judge).

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 20, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
You do not identify where you live but KEH has a load of great screw mount Pentax bodies for as little as $11:

Dead Link Removed

I lived in the US for a long time so, yeah, I know how great you have it there with KEH and huge market. I am across the pond now and in a country where post office and customs are not to be totally trusted and who make buying from KEH a financially unreasonable choice.
On the plus side, Europe is full with German and USSR gear, but Zenit and Praktica are not my cup of tea - at least not when I am choosing my only M42 body.

Edit. Forgot to thank you, Richard.

Jerry Thirsty · Sep 20, 2014

One other comment: If you want to use the wide-open metering system on the ST801, and go looking for Fujinon lenses that have the tab on the back that interfaces with the camera, be aware that lots of these lenses have had the tab filed off by numbskulls wanting to adapt them for digital cameras.

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 20, 2014

Thanks Jerry, that gives me some idea on what to expect when I actually see the camera.
Which should happen on Monday, it seems.

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 20, 2014

Jerry Thirsty said:
One other comment: If you want to use the wide-open metering system on the ST801, and go looking for Fujinon lenses that have the tab on the back that interfaces with the camera, be aware that lots of these lenses have had the tab filed off by numbskulls wanting to adapt them for digital cameras.

Ok, now that's a good advice. Thanks!

GarageBoy · Sep 22, 2014

My dad filed off the tabs long ago when he found a M42 to Nikon adapter
So many nice lenses from Fuji - 135 2.5 and 85 F4 Soft Focus

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 22, 2014

Got it!

Just got home with a new camera, my first M42 body since that awful Zenit E that I loved so much as a kid because it was my only one (with a Helios-44 bolted to it). Well, I am not counting the brand-spanking-new-looking Zenit TTL that dropped in my lap three years ago, because its finder is as dark as they go, and then some. I will give it to someone I don't like.

So, Fujica ST801... It is in a very clean condition with only a few small marks here and there, seals are very good, the meter is working... I think 1/4 and slower speeds are somewhat off, but I don't care as I won't be demanding when shooting with it - for those situations I have my Nikons. I will have to put the Helios-44 on it and a fifty on F3 to assess the difference in finders, but first impression is very good - I don't think it's as bright as F3's or as big as Leicaflex SL's, but it's very nice and it certainly won't hinder shooting in any way.

Fujica ST801: http://imgur.com/qHE4qsu

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 22, 2014

If $25 does not break your bank buy it!

narsuitus · Sep 22, 2014

I own, use, and love the Fujica ST705, which is probably similar to the ST801. I use my ST705 and a Pentax Spotmatic as backups for my Nikon F2 cameras. Just in case it helps, here are my notes on the Fujica ST705.

Pros:
1. Solid weight and feel
2. Small size
3. Battery independent; only needs battery for built-in light meter
4. Beautiful looking; reminds me of my old Nikon F2 black body with standard viewfinder.
5. Large selection of M42 screw mount lenses available from Fuji and other manufactures
6. Fujinon screw mount lenses click into position like a bayonet mount
7. Manual focus ring same as Nikon
8. Aperture ring same as Nikon
9. Handles and feels like a Nikon
10. Low price

Cons:
1. Light meter battery position detracts from beauty of camera back; should have been placed on the bottom or on the side by the rewind crank
2. Hot shoe detracts from beauty; looks like an add on
3. Hot shoe slightly smaller; hard to insert some accessories
4. Right neck strap holder loose
5. Hot shoe is not located in line with the lens
6. Light seals near door hinge deteriorate
7. Filter size is 49mm; need 49 to 52mm step ring to attach my filters

https://flic.kr/p/8UaHwZ
https://flic.kr/p/8UdX6A

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 23, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
If $25 does not break your bank buy it!

And I did, that's what I tried to say with my last post but, apparently, wasn't clear enough.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 23, 2014

Congrats then. Enjoy!

Xmas · Sep 23, 2014

Jerry Thirsty said:
... be aware that lots of these lenses have had the tab filed off by numbskulls wanting to adapt them for digital cameras.

Well the tab also fouls on most other screw thread film SLRs (like my Cosina CSL), so lots of lenses have been filed as they are real nice lenses. Screw lenses are in increasing demand.

It would only have needed a small offset to clear so Fuji may have not really wanted to sell lenses.

Steve Roberts · Sep 23, 2014

I bought a more lowly model in the range - the ST605n - for peanuts as it was very grubby and the hot shoe was broken. I cleaned it, replaced all the seals, mirror foam, etc and cannibalised a hot shoe from a spares body and on running a transparency film through it I was amazed by the results. It's compact and light and I like the ergonomics (though I don't like the cheap-feeling floppy end of the film advance lever) and in many ways it's as good as the Pentax MX, though whether it would stand up to hard use in the same way I don't know.

Steve

lxdude · Sep 23, 2014

narsuitus said:
I own, use, and love the Fujica ST705, which is probably similar to the ST801.

It is. The ST801 has the LED indication instead of a needle, and a 1/2000 shutter speed. I think that's all. And the ST705W takes a winder.

7. Manual focus ring same as Nikon
8. Aperture ring same as Nikon
9. Handles and feels like a Nikon

I have Nikon, Pentax, Fujica, and Bronica, and on all of them the focus and f/stop rings move the same direction. Very nice. The Bronica lenses even bayonet on the same direction as the Nikons.

Interesting that the EBC Fujinon lenses have color-coded DoF scales like Nikon, and the DoF button works just like the Nikons.

lxdude · Sep 23, 2014

Jerry Thirsty said:
One other comment: If you want to use the wide-open metering system on the ST801, and go looking for Fujinon lenses that have the tab on the back that interfaces with the camera, be aware that lots of these lenses have had the tab filed off by numbskulls wanting to adapt them for digital cameras.

Though with the LEDs the meter can be easily read stopped down, so it's not so much of a hassle. I am so used to pressing the DoF button while holding the shutter button down halfway when using non EBC Fujinon lenses, that I don't even notice it. It's easy to do, which helps a lot. And I like that the DoF button locks if desired with a slight turn while pressing it.

lxdude · Sep 23, 2014

OldBodyOldSoul said:
I think 1/4 and slower speeds are somewhat off, but I don't care as I won't be demanding when shooting with it

Probably the grease is thickened in the mechanism. The slow speed gear train cams have 3 positions and one range for 1/30, 1/15, and 1/8, and a second range for 1/4, 1/2, and 1 second. Just exercise it, and it should come up to speed. It's not difficult to relube the little cams by taking off the bottom cover- I keep saying I'm gonna do it one of these decades. But all speeds come up accurate with a little exercise, so I haven't gotten to it yet.
BTW, on mine I was always able to time a two second exposure by setting the shutter dial to B and using the self timer. A little Nikon F2-esque, that.

Fujica ST801 - opinions?

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