Fujifilm Klasse W2007

History

Fujifilm introduced the Klasse line in 2003 with the original Klasse, followed by the Klasse S (2004) carrying a 38mm f/2.8 lens. A wide-angle variant, the Klasse W, appeared approximately in 2007, addressing demand from photographers who wanted Klasse-quality optics with a wider field of view — territory the Fuji Tiara had occupied a decade earlier in the Cardia range.

The Klasse W was produced concurrently with the Klasse S in the closing years of Fujifilm's film compact manufacturing. Both were discontinued around 2009 as the market for film cameras contracted sharply. The Klasse W's later introduction and shorter production run make it somewhat harder to find than the Klasse S on the used market.

Why It Matters

The Klasse W occupies a specific niche: a 28mm compact with a physical aperture ring and aperture-priority AE, a feature combination that no other manufacturer was offering in this era at comparable optical quality. The closest competition from the 35mm compact world — the Nikon 28Ti, Ricoh GR21 — either lacks aperture-priority or uses a different control philosophy.

The Super EBC Fujinon 28/2.8 is fast enough to be useful in lower light conditions without flash, where the f/3.5 Tiara lens requires more light. For photographers whose primary use cases are street and travel, the Klasse W is the more versatile instrument of the two.

Used prices sit higher than the Klasse S, reflecting the shorter production run and greater scarcity on the secondary market.

Lenses & Accessories

Fixed lens — no interchangeable options. Accessories carry over from the Klasse S:

• Filter thread — ~43mm screw filters; confirm thread size before ordering
• Lens cap — push-on or screw type; easily misplaced, aftermarket replacements available
• Case — original Fujifilm soft pouch or generic compact pouches

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Sought by contemporary film photographers wanting a wide-angle premium compact with tactile aperture control — a combination rare in the 35mm compact world.
• Used by street and documentary photographers in Japan through the late 2000s.
• Increasingly collected alongside the Klasse S as both become scarcer; the W commands a premium over the S on the secondary market.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Fujifilm Klasse