I’ve owned the Fujica 35 Automagic for many years, but have only shot two rolls of film through it, well two that I actually loaded properly! The first attempt I didn’t realize the film had not caught on the take up spool until shooting 24 frames! The second was rather disappointing as the AGFA Optima 125 was well past it’s best, very desaturated and grainy, but I really enjoyed the camera.

I love the simple design and the user experience. It was released by Fuji in 1958 and as it has always been in it’s leather case so the selenium meter is still active (and accurate). This is a definite tip if you are looking to buy a camera with selenium meter - only buy one if it has a case.

It is a fairly simple 35mm compact with scale focusing and a nice light meter bar in the viewfinder to let you know if the exposure is within the parameters.

After the less than satisfactory first roll a few years ago, I fancied taking it out again for a play. For some strange reason I opted for expired film again! Probably as I had just acquired a load of it, and thought the AGFA Maxi 100 was a good idea as it was the sunniest spring in living memory!

As a rule I do not edit my film photographs as I like the rawness of the medium, but on this occasion there was no choice. The expired AGFA had suffered from age - I have had really good results from the XRG200 film, but that must have been store better than this roll.

I actually like the results post editing - the grain is still there, but not intrusive, and the contrast and saturation are much improved to achieve what I was hoping the images would look. I am still intrigued to see how the lens would perform with a fresh roll of Kodak Gold though.

I have wandered the streets of Gloucester many times, but never stumble upon this lovely little park before. I love how the blue of the sky is rendered, and the framing of the grand old building by the trees. It was a very hot day, so the shade was very welcoming!

The blues work really nicely in this set and there was not any real colour shift due to the age of the film. I did have to shoot it at box speed as the ISO range on the camera is limited, otherwise I would have set it to ISO50.

What caught my attention with this shot is not only the fact there is a shipping container in a field in the middle of nowhere, but why it needs a solar panel!

This was one of those - reason for keeping a camera in the car - shots as you never know when you will see something. The light was perfectly hitting the VW, and the dark woodland behind makes it stand out. My favourite shot from the roll.

I know the images are far from perfect, but from an almost Seventy year old point & shoot they are good enough.

The Fujica has really won me over, and I would really like to try again with some fresh film one day.

Fujica 35 Automagic + expired film…

What does £5 on eBay get you…