Classic Pentax M42 & K Mount SLRs:

Fujica ST-605

by Karen Nakamura

Overview and Personal Comments

The Fujica ST605 was released by the Fuji Photo Film company in 1977. It was a well designed, compact M42 (Pentax/Praktica) screw mount single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It wasn't particularly innovative -- the only unusual feature is the top speed of 1/700 sec, but it was solid and dependable. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting quirks

The Fujica has stop-down, match-needle exposure metering. You push the button on the right side of the lens mount, which 1) stops down the viewing lens to the aperture you've selected and 2) turns on the metering circuitry. There's a little needle on the right side of the viewfinder that goes from high (too much light, stop down) to low (too little light, open up). What I like about match-needle exposure metering (as opposed to match-diode) is that you can tell exactly how much light you need to add or lose. What I also like about the Fujica is that when you engage the meter, you automagically get Depth of Field (DoF) preview, something that even some expensive contemporary cameras don't have.

Although photography teachers like to recommend the Pentax K1000 and its clones for their students, I think they'd be better off recommending early screwmount cameras. The lenses are excellent and in good supply, the metering is still spot on, and best of all, prices are still reasonable. The Pentax K bayonet mount is excellent, but I still have a soft spot for the screw mounts.

The Fujica takes two SR44 batteries, which are widely available in any drugstore. This fact alone makes them a good replacement for a Pentax Spotmatic, which uses hard-to-find batteries. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

 

 


Technical Details

Camera Name
Fujica ST605
Manufacturer
Fuji Photo Film
Place of Manufacture

Japan

Date of Manufacture
1977
Focusing System

Single-lens reflex with pentaprism eye-level viewfinder
92% viewfinder coverage

Lens use helicoid focusing

Lens Mount

Pentax/Praktica screwmount (M42)

Shutter

Focal plane shutter
1 sec ~ 1/700
X-sync = 1/60

Metering System

CdS TTL metering (stopped down only)

Flash

Hotshoe, PC connection

Film type / speeds

135 type (35mm standard film)
ASA 25 - 3200

Battery type
2 x SR44 1.5v silver-oxide batteries
Dimensions and weight

Retail price

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My Pentax Screw Mount Lens Collection

(35mm, 50mm, 55mm, 135mm)
with some for sale!

 

 


About Fuji Photo Film Co.

 


On the Net

Praktica/Pentax M42 Screwmount

Lenses:

 


Copyright © 2002-11 by Karen Nakamura. All rights reserved. This page and its images may not be reduplicated in any form. Use in ebay auctions strictly prohibited, violaters will be reported. Please do not jeopardize your feedback ratings by engaging in copyright violations, it is a violation of Federal and International Copyright law as well as ebay terms of service.
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