One of those cameras I picked up because it looked nice!

The 1958 Fujica 35-ML is a 1958 35mm rangefinder cameras from Japan. It has some unusual features - most prominently the focus wheel situated on the back of the camera, as opposed to the standard position of around the lens itself. Sometimes when a manufacturer breaks from tradition it creates confusion when using the camera, but on this occasion it feels right. In fact feels easier to use then the conventional way of focusing the vast majority of rangefinders. Also a really nice touch is the focus distance scale dial above the thumb wheel which is not only easy to view, but wonderfully engineered.

Another design change is the re-positioning of the rewind crank to the side of the top plate, which is reminds my of the Kiev 5. This declutters the top of the camera adding to the rather nice top view.

One slightly irritating design however, but sometimes useful, is setting your exposure then when you adjust one element - the other automatically adjusts too! I don’t think I have explained that very well at all! So - you set your speed and aperture to your meter reading, then if you wanted more depth of field for example and closed down 2 stops - the shutter speed also adjusts the two stops. This is great, apart from you need two hands to set it in the first place - one to hold each ring - to stop one moving whilst adjusting the other.

Anyway - on to the images. I used fresh Kodak Gold 200 for these…

I am really pleased how they came out, the Fujinon 45mm f2 lens is very good, and focusing was simple with the focus wheel, a big clear viewfinder and bright rangefinder patch. This is looking down one of the Stroud Valleys towards the town. I think the image sums up this area - driving is not for the feint hearted with tiny twisty lanes and steep hills everywhere - as for walking anywhere, you have to be fit!

I was carrying two cameras this day - the other being a Riken 35 with black & white film, as the sun was constantly hiding behind the clouds changing the lighting every few minutes. The Fujica was a lot easier to use than the traditional function layout of the Riken, but both were really enjoyable to shoot. The roll in the Riken is not finished yet, but I did take this shot (above) on both so will be interesting to compare.

A couple of shots on my morning walk across the local recreation grounds - the newly installed football goals and someone’s Banksy inspired graffiti!

As is tradition, I tend to always head to the woods at the end of a film to finish it off, this was no exception. I had failed to zero the film counter when loading so didn’t know how many exposures were left. As it turned out I got a few nice shots.

To sum up, the Fujica 35-ML is a capable, well made rangefinder with some really nice design touches that is easy to use, and produces good quality images. It’s only downside is the faf of setting the exposure, which I found too fiddly out in the field. Yes it would be fine when shooting in consistent light, but it adds another step to the process having to use two hands to set every time.

It does not make it into the ‘keep’ box, but I do like it! Maybe it should go in to the ‘like’ box to be sold in the future when I realize I still have too many cameras! Lol

Fujica 35-ML - a design exercise!

Ugly or cool? Ricoh Myport Zoom Wide

VP Exakta - Shanghai GP3