Fujica Compact Deluxe (1967–1970)
The Fujica Compact Deluxe was Fujifilm's last and most unusual 35mm rangefinder, produced from 1967 to 1970. It was essentially a facelift of the earlier Fujica Compact D, with the same chassis and features. The new look is more modern and minimal: satin chrome, black leatherette and a late-60s Japanese typeface on the faceplate.
The standout feature is the rear focusing wheel - a thumbwheel on the camera back that lets you focus without taking your left hand off the body. The idea is borrowed from Voigtländer cameras like the Prominent and Vitessa L. It's rare on Japanese cameras because it was expensive and complicated to manufacture. Focus, film winding and exposure were all meant to be handled by the right hand, leaving the left hand free to support the camera. The film advance lever sits recessed under the bottom, and the rear door hinges on the left side, opposite the usual practice. The viewfinder is bright, with a yellow RF spot, fixed frame guidelines, parallax compensation marks and f/stop indicators.
The lens is a six-element Fujinon 45mm f/1.8 in a four-group double-Gauss design. It's the same optic used on the Fujica V2, though the Compact Deluxe lacks the V2's moving parallax-correcting framelines. The Citizen MXV leaf shutter is described as virtually silent. Exposure is shutter-priority AE with full manual override. In auto mode the selected aperture shows in a small window on the top plate and in the viewfinder. The camera runs on a Mallory MS 76 or Eveready S 76 silver oxide battery, which is the modern SR44/357 and is widely and cheaply available. Buy silver oxide, not alkaline. The camera weighs 1.4 lbs.
At $99 in 1967, it wasn't cheap. Fuji's halfhearted marketing and the arrival of their first SLR, the ST701, in 1971 kept the production run short. The combination of one-handed operation, the sharp Fujinon lens and the silent shutter makes it a good street camera. phhoto.wordpress.com noted the camera's reputation as an undiscovered gem.
Today it's hard to find. One collector reported it took five months to locate a working copy, and both units they acquired needed some attention before they could shoot. Working examples are out there but they're not common, and when they appear, they tend to be untested. It's one of Fujica's best fixed-lens rangefinders, and it's undeservedly forgotten.
Known Specs
- Lens: Fujinon 45mm f/1.8, six-element four-group double-Gauss, 52mm filter thread
- Shutter: Citizen MXV leaf shutter
- Exposure: Shutter priority AE plus full manual
- Battery: Mallory MS 76 or Eveready S 76 (SR44/357 silver oxide)
- Focus: Rear thumbwheel, distance dial on top plate
- Weight: 1.4 lbs
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