Fujica STX-1 35 mm SLR camera

This is a review and description of a very popular 35 mm manual focus single lens reflex camera – the Fujica STX-1.

Fujica STX-1 Images

I decided to purchase this camera because I’ve exhausted my initial supply of Miranda cameras, so I returned to buying other brands again.

My Fujica STX-1 Camera

This is a fairly basic 35 mm camera made in the late 1970s as an entry level camera for the Fujica range.

I bought it from eBay UK for £8 + £5.50 and for that received the camera and lens with a soft case and strap.

The camera seems to be fully functioning, and in a clean and tidy state, the only slight issue I found was that a small part of the light seal around the focusing screen had stuck to the bottom edge of the mirror. It only took a couple of seconds to remove that with a pair of tweezers.

If I get to put a film through it, I will need to replace all the light seals because they have all disintegrated to the usual sticky mess that cameras of this vintage have.

Fujica STX-1 Description

The camera itself is of unremarkable spec, but is fairly easy to use.

The exposure system is powered by a couple of SR44 batteries and is of the match needle variety. Although not very sophisticated, I find this system easy to use and uncomplicated. The shutter speed selected is shown in the viewfinder by way of a mechanical flag on the left-hand side, and the exposure meter needle is on the other side.

It’s not possible to see the aperture being used in the viewfinder, but there is a depth of field preview, so in a sense that piece of information is not necessary. Metering is done at full aperture, with the lens being stopped down as the shot is taken by a small lever in the lens mount.

The viewfinder also incorporates the almost standard split rangefinder style focusing aid in the middle, a micro prism ring around that and then a ground glass screen for the rest of the view.

The lens is a lot like the lenses fitted to similar entry level cameras of this era. For example it is very similar to the XR Rikenon S 50 mm f/2.0 fitted to the Ricoh KR-10 being made completely of plastic apart from the actual lens mount which is metal. It is a multi-coated lens, with a reasonable close focus distance of about 2 feet and a maximum aperture of f/2.2.

At the moment, I don’t have a Fujica X mount adapter for my NEX 6, but I might get one to try the lens out. Normally lenses of this vintage are pretty good – that is certainly true of the Rikenon, and my Pentax 50 mm f/1.7 & Minolta 50 mm f/1.7.

Fujica STX-1 Specifications

• Fujica STX1 35mm slr
• Shutter speed 1/2 to 1/700 sec + B
• ISO 25 to 3200
• Self Timer
• Depth of field preview button
• Fujica X mount
• Shutter release lock
• X sync hot shoe
• SR44 batteries
• Match Needle exposure
• 55mm f/2.2 X-Fujinon lens
• Body Ser No: 3523106
• Lens Ser No: 476235
• Manual available on line here

Edit: I have tried this camera out with a roll of Fomapan 200 developed in caffenol, for the results see here.