The
Fujifilm Fotonex 1000ix MRC Tiara aka Endeavor 1000ix Tiara is said to
be the smallest camera ever built for APS film*(see below). So it is no 35mm
camera, the APS main format is 30.2x16.7mm, a bit bigger than half
format. APS has been released in 1996 and was discontinued in 2011.
* The APS (advanced photo system)
film is 24 mm wide and has three image formats: H for "High
Definition" (30.2 × 16.7 mm), C for "Classic" (25.1 × 16.7 mm) and P
for "Panoramic" (30.2 × 9.5 mm). The "C" and "P" formats are made by
cropping the full image which is always taken on the film. So the
formats are just a code recorded on the film. The "ix" in the camera
name stands for "information exchange", date and camera settings could be written on a magnetic area on the film. MRC stands for "mid roll change". The APS system was a very advanced photo system indeed, but digital cameras made it obsolete.
There was a model 1010 with minor differences and a 2000 model with a
zoom lens. I chose to show this model because it's incredibly small,
much smaller than half format cameras. Its main features are:
23mm F3.5 Super EBC Fujinon lens, 3 element, autofocus with focus lock, min. focus 0,35m (!) Electronic shutter, 1/2-1/500 Size 84x51x26, Weight 135 gr. without battery 50-3200
ISO, automatic coding, self-timer, automatic film advance
and spooling, time/date/settings recording possibility
Camera closed and original leather case.
Camera front open. Sliding the camera open swings up the flash and switches the camera on. The
lens only moves out a little. To close the camera, the flash has to be
pressed down, the lens moves back and the housing can be slid back.
Very easy and fluid handling. Back view. Big shutter release on top. Viewer and battery compartment.
Takes a CR2 battery. The black slider has to be moved to take the
camera apart. LCD screen, indicates full battery, film presence, full
rewound film and no date printing. 4-way setting device. Camera taken apart. The black plastic part on the bottom is the lid of the film compartment.
Camera and a film. Building smaller will not be possible.
This
camera is very easy to use, silde it open and it's ready.
Autofocus is responsive and works well. Putting a film is easy as well,
you drop the film into the compartment and that's it. It has some
manual settings if needed. An annoying feature is auto
flash at start, which is the case with most ultra compacts.
It's
a very good point and shoot camera
with a wide angle lens, good picture quality, superb high quality
finish in an incredibly small and light pocketable body. This camera
made me regret the end of APS film.
