Fuji Half SLR

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The Fuji Half SLR is a design concept elaborated by Fuji in the 1980s,[1] only known from the special issue of Kurashikku Kamera Senka on Fuji cameras.[2]

Description

The Fuji Half SLR is much smaller than the Olympus Pen F, which is one of the few half-frame SLR actually produced. Prior to this, Fuji already explored the concept of a miniature SLR with a Fujica 16mm SLR in the 1960s and a Fujica 8×11mm SLR in the early 1980s. Both the 8×11mm SLR and the Half SLR were inspired by the success of the Pentax Auto 110, but they have a fixed lens and different formats.

The Fuji Half SLR pictured in Mizukawa's article is certainly a mock-up. The absence of a viewfinder window makes for a sleek design, far away from the bloated point-and-shoot models of the 1980s, and closer to the small digicams of the 2000s. The similarity is reinforced by the clear coloured finish — probably silver.

The fixed lens is very slightly offset to the left. The inscription on the mock-up mentions an EBC Fujinon 32mm f/2.8, made by "Fuji Photo Film Japan". There is a focusing ring, with a tab on either side for easier grasping. The viewing system uses porro prisms,[2] and is certainly similar to that of the Olympus Pen F.

The shutter is behind the lens, and is similar to that of the Pentax Auto 110.[2] The exposure is certainly fully programmed, with no manual control. A flash shoe is visible on the left side of the body, as seen by the photographer.

The advance control is not visible on the picture of the mock-up, and presumably consists of a ratchet wheel on the rear, as on the Olympus Pen. There is a rewind crank at the top left. Two small buttons are placed close to the crank, with + and - signs, probably for exposure compensation. The release button and exposure counter are at the right end of the top cover.

The mock-up has a badge or sticker with the FUJI name and logo, of the type used on Fuji cameras from 1984 to 1994 (after FUJICA and before FUJIFILM). The name HALF SLR appears on the top cover. Of course, this does not necessarily imply that the final camera would have been called that way.

Notes

  1. Date: Mizukawa, p.115 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.44, says "around 1980", but the particular logo and FUJI marking was used on Fuji cameras from 1984 to 1994.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mizukawa, p.115 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.44.

Bibliography