Fujica ST601
The Fujica ST601 was introduced in 1976 and produced for a very short time before being replaced by the Fujica ST605 in the same year.
The ST601 was the first of the 600 model cameras, and the new base model in the Fujica M42 lens mount ST series.
It looks very like, but differs a little from, a late (3rd) version ST701 by having a reduced shutter speed range, down a stop at 1/2nd at the low end, with an odd 1/700th top speed, a lesser top film speed at 1600 ASA (as opposed to 3200 ASA), and was a few grams heavier than the ST701.
The changes made to the ST605 were new circuitry that was no longer dependant on mercury cells, the top film speed increased from 1600 back to 3200 ASA, and the new model shed a little weight in the amount of 45 grams.
Specifications
- Lens mount: Praktica M42 screw.
- Viewfinder/Focus: Pentaprism eye-level viewfinder with 0.96 x magnification; 92% field of view (with f/2.2 55mm lens); micro-prism, centre split image and ground glass focusing. DOF preview available via stop down metering.
- Shutter: Mechanical cloth focal-plane shutter. B + 1/2nd - 1/700th sec. Self-timer.
- Meter: Stopped-down TTL centre weighted averaging metering via two Silicon photo-cell receptors coupled to a FET (Field Effect Transistor) circuit.
- Exposure: Manual match needle metering, with indicator visible in viewfinder.
- Film Speed: 20 to 1600 ASA.
- Flash: X sync hot shoe at 1/60.
- Film Advance: Single-stroke lever with 140° winding angle.
- Size: 133 x 86 x 88mm (W x H x D) with lens.
- Weight: 610g body alone.
- Battery: Two 1.35V 625 type mercury batteries.
Commentary
The 30th April 2005 edition of British photography magazine "Amateur Photographer" featured a retrospective of the Fujica ST range of SLRs. Photographer and journalist Ivor Matanle speculated that the ST601 "seems likely to have been a stop-gap to bring a little bit of marketing excitement before the first of the new 05 series appeared" and "it may be that the 05 series was delayed for a few months by production problems".
