The Fujica STX-1 was introduced in the late 1979 and produced for only a few short years. It's a totally manual camera but does have a built in meter, which still seems to be working fairly well. The odd thing about this camera is that it has a top shutter speed of 1/750, most cameras that I know of typically had top shutter speeds of 1/500 or 1/1000, so this one is a bit of an odd duck. Really it has everything I like to see in a SLR. Simple design, operates without batteries (except for the light meter), and solidly built.
Fujica SLR's really aren't all that well known, and I couldn't find all that much information on them. Based on what I gathered from miscellaneous sources of questionable accuracy on the internet, it sounds like Fuji shot themselves in the foot with the lens mount. The X-mount lenses used by this camera were introduced in 1980 which replaced the m42 screw-mount found on older Fujica cameras, which would have angered anyone who was already invested in Fujica system. Then Fuji apparently discontinued the X-mount only five years later. So I can see why these cameras really aren't that well remembered today.
Thanks to the fact that Fujicas aren't really that well known I bought this set for only $10 on ebay. Not bad for a working camera in great condition complete with a 28mm 2.8 lens, 50mm 1.7, a 135mm 2.8 and to cap it all off a nice little soft release as well. All in all it was one of the better impulse buys I've made. It would be a great cheap set to give to someone taking a photography course.
I decided to make another trip to the historic Woodland Cemetery here in Dayton to put the camera through it's paces.
Edward Deeds is one of the famous residents of Woodland. Deeds was an inventor and engineer who worked with a number of other Dayton notables such as Charles Kettering and Orville Wright. He was involved in a number of projects and groups over the years, including the development of the US Aviation program during the first World War.
According to Woodlawn's website John Alexander Collins' grave marker is the tallest in the cemetery. It includes this copper inlay of a locamotive. Collins started up the C H and D railroad in the mid 1800's.
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Civil war section.
There is apparently a tradition of leaving coins on the Wright Brother's markers, but I really haven't found anything explaining what it is or the meaning behind it.
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Shot late fall 2011
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