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Fuji Natura S: Compact AF Film Camera with 24/1.9 Lens!

The smallest full frame 35mm Camera with a f/1.9 or faster lens?  Probably . . . so far I have not been able to find a smaller 35mm full frame film camera with such a fast lens.  Alas, the Fuji Natura S is discontinued and sold out, on its way to quickly becoming a sought after cult camera.

 Trivia: 1) What was the first famous and successful low available light camera?   2) What was the first production faster than f/2 35mm full frame format lens?

The Fuji Natura S is a unique compact fixed lens compact AF 35mm film camera with a sharp multicoated 24/1.9 Fuji EBC lens for available light photography.   The Natura S  is now discontinued, so get them while you still can!  I believe only two full frame 24mm lenses were ever faster, the Canon 24/1.4 and the Sigma 24/1.8!  I have been a fan of Fujinon EBC lenses ever since Fujica's entry into the M42 screw mount 35mm SLR derby with their imaginative Fujica 701, 801, 901 etc.  I assembled an almost complete set of Fujica screw mount lenses for the eventual article.   If you are the proud owner of a Fujinon 1000/8 in screw mount, let me know!

You have your choice of three nifty Natura S colors:  Aqua, Rose, or Lavender!  Or at least that is what Fuji calls the available finishes.  In reality they look more like silver with Aqua, Rose, or Lavender tints.

So far as I know, this camera was never officially exported outside of Japan.  Predictably the instruction booklet is in Japanese.  Luckily the instruction booklet is well illustrated and not that difficult to figure out.

It is very unusual for any compact AF 35mm camera to have a f/2 or faster lens, of ANY focal length.  A fast wider than 35mm lens on a compact AF film camera is even rarer.  Fuji succeeded admirably in giving the 35mm film photographer a unique wide angle compact AF available light camera with the Natura S.

Fuji Natura S Features include:

• Amazingly fast 24/1.9 lens for a compact AF camera.  The lens is huge for the camera body.  When closed, the lens almost touches the film in the film chamber.

• Quiet Operation with electronic leaf shutter, comparable noise  level to a Leica M series to my ears, but of course a different type of sound

• Parallax lines for close ups in viewfinder

• Square in finder indicates approximate focus point

• Green LED on back of viewfinder eyepiece lights up and is easily seen when the camera can achieve focus on the subject.  Take note there is no pre-focus.  The camera focuses after you push the shutter release.  LED blinks when camera not able to focus on subject.

• Easy to see and navigate LED panel on back of camera controls most camera functions. Push in center button, navigate with arrows to make your choices

• Auto OFF function after about five minutes

• Built in lens cover when off, no case or lens cap required

• Autofocusing to .4 Meter

• No lens filter threads for filters, but a home made push on filter system over the lens barrel might be possible

• Built in flash which you can turn off for available light shots

• Red Eye Reduction flash option

• Tiny on camera flash can be redirected with a home made reflector upward for bounce close shots, but likely not powerful enough to provide bounce flash in average size room unless you are using very fast film.

• Film Date capability (on or off)

• Electronic Self Timer

• Meter ISO 50 to 3200

• Battery CR2 included

• DX film speed coding

• Single lug on right side of body for vertical carrying

• Automatic film advance and rewind at end of roll, manual rewind backup button on bottom of camera if battery dies

• Film window to confirm loaded film and ISO

• Tripod Socket

• Size 109.5mm x 58mm x 37mm, 195 grams - or much smaller than a classic compact fixed lens RF with fast lens, smaller than even a Olympus RC rangefinder with 2.8 lens!

Fast Lens / Small Camera

40 Years does make a difference in camera technology.  Take at a look at the same small camera fast lens idea from 1964, the Olympus D2 with half frame format, scale focusing, non coupled meter and 32/1.9 lens.

Trivia: 1) 1924 Ernemann Ermanox 4.5cm x 6cm glass plate camera with 100/2 Ernostar lens made famous by the low light photography of Dr. Erich Salomon   2) 1932 uncoated Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar for the Zeiss Contax I rangefinder

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