FUJICA 110 CAMERAS


Fuji was quick to jump on the 110 bandwagon.  They had never gotten on board the 16mm  wagon -- which was a huge mistake for Fuji, which is a film manufacturer as well as a camera manufacturer.  This time Fuji saw the new 110 camera and film market as a way to rewrite history.  And they re-wrote it with a vengeance, coming out with numerous 110 models, with high quality features, and innovative designs.  For example, in 1976, they were the first company to stick a zoom lens on a 110 camera!  Some models had unusually fast lenses, such as f2.8!  Many of their 110 cameras used a slightly wider 20mm lens than is typical on 110 cameras.  This allowed for more depth of field (important with fixed-focus lenses), and was great for groups shots and scenics.  Other models had telephoto, in addition to the normal lens, and many models had built-in hot-shoes -- and Fuji made various, compact, flash units to fit.  They even had models with automatic exposure (controlling the aperture and shutter speed), built-in rangefinder, and automatic film advance.   

Most of Fuji's 110 cameras do not use the 110 film perforations to cock the shutter.  This mean that these cameras can be reloaded with 16mm film (in 110 cassettes, of course) -- if a small change is made to the camera or the cassette.  The 16mm film can be perforated or unperforated, but if it's perforated the perforation will appear in the mage.  Specifically, some of these Fujica cameras have a tiny "cassette sensor" along the edge of the film plane.  If a small notch is cut into the edge of the cassette to avoid pushing the sensor in, the camera will operate normally.  Other models have a much larger cassette sensor/tab in the bottom of the film take-up chamber.  If this sensor is filed or cut off, the camera will work.    


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