Fujica Half1963

History

Fuji entered the half-frame camera market in the early 1960s, following Olympus's pioneering Pen series (introduced 1959). The Olympus Pen had demonstrated the commercial appeal of doubling frame count per roll at a time when film remained a significant recurring cost. Several Japanese manufacturers launched half-frame models to compete.

The Fujica Half debuted in 1963 and directly competed with Olympus's own Pen EE (1961) — which also featured programmed selenium automation — and the Canon Demi. Fuji's marketing emphasised the Fujinon lens's optical quality and the camera's compact dimensions.

The Half 1.9 variant (1964) added a faster f/1.9 aperture for better low-light performance. Both models were discontinued by 1965 as Fuji shifted its camera strategy toward new product lines. The half-frame market itself contracted in the late 1960s as 35mm film prices dropped and the appeal of double shot counts diminished.

The Fujica Half is now relatively uncommon compared to the Olympus Pen series, making clean examples moderately collectible.

Why It Matters

The Fujica Half represents Fuji's contribution to the half-frame revolution of the early 1960s. Its Fujinon 28/2.8 lens is well-regarded, and the programmed selenium system — battery-free by nature — means that cameras with functional selenium cells remain fully automatic today without any battery intervention. The diptych potential of side-by-side half-frame pairs and the doubled shot count make the format beloved by contemporary film photographers.

Lenses & Accessories

Fixed Fujinon 28mm f/2.8 (f/1.9 on the Half 1.9 variant), non-interchangeable. Accessories: close-up supplementary lens for portrait distances, push-on lens filters, standard hot-shoe and PC-socket flash units. No zoom or interchangeable lenses available.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Used by Japanese consumers and enthusiasts in the early 1960s as a compact, economical camera for travel and everyday photography.
• Collected today by half-frame enthusiasts alongside Olympus Pen, Canon Demi, and Ricoh Half 35 cameras.
• Popular in contemporary film communities for its diptych format potential and Fujinon optical quality.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Fujica Half

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