Fujica AX100

Fujica AX100

Data assembled by Muddy Orihara and Con Koutsomitis and used by their kind permission:

Year: 1973 - 1978

Lens: Fujinon lens 1.1 / 13-13mm (Filter thread: 40.5mm)

Viewfinder info: exposure indicator light(under, over)

Focus method: none (fix-focus)

Exposure: cdsEE, individual exposure window (requires H-D mercury cell)

Film speed setting: ASA25, 50, 100, 200

Frame rates: 18fps

Shutter angle: 230°

Optional parts:
 * Underwater case "FUJICA MARINEPACK8 AX100" (alias "Marine 8")
 * close-up TV lens

Dimensions: 48mm x 98.5mm x 151.5mm

Weight: 315g

Retail Price:
 * Silver model: 22600yen
 * Black model: 23600yen

Reported as produced by Kohka. Source 1 Source 2

Price(s) on eBay:
 * cameras without underwater-housing
 * eBay France:
 * EUR 41,50 (+ EUR 2,76 shipping) in 03/2006
 * eBay Germany:
 * EUR 1,00 (+ EUR 10,00 shipping) in 12/2005
 * EUR 5,05 (+ EUR 5,00 shipping) in 01/2006
 * EUR 3,00 (+ EUR 4,50 shipping) with bag and manual in 03/2006
 * EUR 26,50 (+ EUR 4,50 shipping) with bag and manual in 03/2006
 * EUR 1,00 (+ EUR 5,00 shipping) with bag in 05/2006
 * EUR 2,60 (+ EUR 3,90 shipping) with bag and manual in 01/2007
 * EUR 5,90 (+ EUR 2,50 shipping) with bag and manual in 02/2007
 * EUR 3,00 (+ EUR 4,80 shipping) with bag and manual in 01/2008
 * EUR 6,65 (+ EUR 3,85 shipping) with bag, filters and manual in 02/2008
 * EUR 1,00 (+ EUR 5,50 shipping) with bag and closeup TV lens in 02/2012
 * EUR 16,50 (+ EUR 3,80 shipping) with bag, manual, a Single8-cart and closeup TV lens in 06/2012
 * eBay Netherlands:
 * EUR 1,75 (+ EUR 8,00 shipping) in 05/2006
 * eBay Austria:
 * EUR 19,90 (+ EUR ?? shipping) in 06/2006 (new camera from 1976, still in box and with a display stand for photoshop windows)
 * EUR 1,51 (+ EUR ?? shipping) with bag and manual in 01/2007
 * cameras with underwater-housing
 * eBay Germany:
 * EUR 43,01 (+ EUR 7,00 shipping) in 03/2006
 * EUR 51,00 (+ EUR 7,00 shipping) in 07/2006
 * EUR 22,50 (+ EUR 5,99 shipping) in 08/2018
 * only the underwater-housing
 * eBay Germany:
 * EUR 34,28 (+ EUR 5,00 shipping) in 03/2006
 * EUR 9,38 (+ EUR 5,00 shipping) in 05/2013

http://www.mondofoto.com/cameras/Fuji_AX100-Marine-8_a.jpg http://www.mondofoto.com/cameras/Fujica_Marine--8-AX100_a.jpg

Comments
This is a Single8-camera!

Fuji also sold an underwater-housing for this camera. It was called "Marine 8", like the underwater housing for the Fujica P2.

There are two versions of this camera: A black one (only sold in Japan) and a silver-black one (mainly sold outside Japan). Besides the different colours, the cameras seem to have the same features.

More info can be found here

Reviews
It's a pretty basic camera, I wouldn't pay more than $10 for the camera itself, however it has 2 attributes that I really like: 1. It's thin, rectangular and lightweight design makes it good for mounting to things like a car, motorcycle or skateboard. You can mount it horizontally and then rotate and crop your image in post. Also good not to worry about it breaking since it's cheap and easy to find. 2. The underwater housing is actually really useful. The "wings"/"fins" have holes in them for securing small movie lights and the back cover actually has a port so you can look through the viewfinder.

If you're going to buy this camera I'd recommend holding out for one that comes with the housing. It's worth paying a little more for, and in my opinion that's the only reason to use it. The lens is actually not bad if you get a good 2k transfer, and although you'd have to convert the footage from 18 to 24 fps, things appear to move slower underwater anyway. Only negative is the lack of manual exposure or exposure compensation.