Looking for the best Fujifilm compact film cameras to shoot 35mm film? Look no further. Fujifilm made some of the most beloved cult cameras out there and In this list our professional photographer and camera expert has picked 5 of best ones.
While many of Fuji’s film cameras have long been forgotten’ there is one category of camera that makes every photographer drool: Their compact cameras. Of course these are not in production anymore and many have achieved cult status, so if you see something from this best Fujifilm compact film cameras list, get it quick because they are getting rare by the day.
5 Best Fujifilm compact film cameras
| Name | Film | Lens | Get it here: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Fujifilm Natura S | 35mm | 24mm f1.9 | Check on ebay |
| 2. Fujifilm Natura Classica | 35mm | 28-56mm f/2.8-5.4 | Check on ebay |
| 3. Fujifilm Klasse S | 35mm | 38mm f2.8 | Check on ebay |
| 4. Fujifilm Klasse W | 35mm | 28mm f2.8 | Check on ebay |
| 5. Fujifilm Cardia Mini Tiara | 35mm | 28mm f3.5 | Check on ebay |
Now that we’ve seen the list of the best Fujifilm compact film cameras above let’s look at what makes each deserve a spot on this list with sample images when available.
1. Fujifilm Natura S
One of the best Fujifilm compact film cameras balancing form, function and price
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ One of the smallest and fastest wide angles ✔️ NP Mode ✔️ Great low light capability | ❌ NP mode always on ❌ No aperture controls ❌ Uninspired design |
Let’s start this list of the best Fujifilm compact film cameras with the Natura S. Physically the camera looks like an early digital point and shoot. But once you look at the back you have a viewfinder and a simple screen that displays the settings.
What’s really to note here is the ultra fast 24mm f1.9, one of the fastest you can find on a small compact 35mm camera. Fuji made this camera to be used with the Natura 1600 film, designed to give you a “natural” look, but his film is getting hard to come b
You can of course use any 35mm film with this. Drop in a ISO1600 film and the NP mode kicks in. This is the mode that makes this camera special. What it does in the background is turn off the flash and push the exposure two stops.
Since There’s a fast f1.9 lens in there and with ISO1600 that leaves you with natural looking low light pictures. The drawback here is that the NP mode cannot be turned off, it kicks in when high ISO film is loaded. There is no control dials really so it is very much an automatic camera (You can’t even change the aperture) and is beginner friendly.
So if you are looking for a camera that will put the simple joy of photography in your life this might be it. Lastly this was a camera only released in Japan making the menus only in Japanese.
But this only takes a few tries for you to get the hang of it.
Fujifilm Natura S Sample images
Below are some sample images from the Natura S camera:
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Sleek ✔️ Small and pocketable ✔️ Sharp lens | ❌ None |
Next up is the Fujifilm Natura Classica. Liek the name implies it’s made for the Natura film but any film will do. This is one sleek camera compared to the S and has a recognizable design to it that you can spot form a mile away.
Unlike the Natura S this has a 28-56mm f/2.8-5.4 zoom lens. It is a slower f2.8 lens and has that NP mode too. This one however will kick in at ISO800 rather than 1600.
While this is still designed as an automatic compact, the exposures are often spot on especially at night. Of course at the longer end of the zoom it’s hard to have a good image in MP mode but if you leave it on the wide angle end, it’s wonderful.
Fujifilm Natura Classica Sample images
Below are images shot with the Natura classica camera:
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Insanely beautiful ✔️ Rangefinder-like ✔️ Manual controls | ❌ Getting rare |
Let’s get a bit more serious in our list of the best Fujifilm compact film cameras. The Klasse line is in many was the anti Natura. Not in terms of how good they are but in their philosophy. These cameras are really built with manual controls in mind vs the more automatic Natura series. They also look sleek but in a workhorse kind of way.
It looks serious with the rangefinder style design and in many ways it is. It has a very sharp 38mm f2.8 lens, great for portraits, street photography and every day photography. There’s dials on top to select your aperture In the front you can select you exposure compensation.
On top is also a little dial where you can select settings like your flash and more importantly if you are into street photography, your focus distance . Fuji supposedly only made 8000 of these so they can be rare and it’s only been released in Japan. It’s a shame because it is one of the most advanced point and shoot 35mm cameras ever made.
Fujifilm Klasse S Sample images
Below are images shot with the Klasse S
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Like the Klasse S but wider ✔️ Not as rare ✔️ Manual controls | ❌ None |
It is essentially just like the Klasse S but with a wide angle lens. Unlike the longer lens of the Klasse S this has a 28mm f2.8 lens. If you are into street photography the Fujifilm Klasse W is hard to bea since Ricohs are getting more and more expensive. This is one of the best alternatives if you want to shoot like Daido Moriama.
The controls and the ability to select the focusing distance are really important even if you could shoot completely automatic with this camera. Physically it is almost identical to its brother with a longer lens. It’s small enough to slip in your pocket and unlike the S version, it is not as hard to find in the wild.
Fujifilm Klasse W Sample images
Below are some images taken with the Klasse W
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Closes like a box ✔️ Small but sharp lens ✔️ Wide angle | ❌ Somewhat slow at f3.5 |
Boy do they have a thing for names. Anyways, the Cardia is one of the smallest 35mm film cameras you can get. It is incredibly sleek and compact and you would be forgiven to think this shoots APSC film and not 35mm film.
It is not as fast as the previous options but it sports a 28mm f3.5 lens. What you lose in speed you however gain in size. This fits the palm of your hands and won’t make a bulge in your pocket. Speaking of which this camera has a window that protects the lens while in your pocket and don’t be fooled by the size, the lens is VERY sharp.
While the camera is mostly and automatic camera you do have the option if need be to set the focusing distance if you want to shoot from 0.35m to infinity. Great for street photography if you consider the wide angle that this has.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this article about the best Fujifilm compact film cameras. They made some of the best and many of them now have cult status. If you want one the of the widest and fastest compact film camera that is the Natura S. But if you need a zoom then that is the Natura Classica. If you must have controls on your camera then either the Klasse S with the 38mm or Klasse W with the 28mm. Lastly if you just want something small, sleek and automatic then the Fujifilm Cardia.