Here’s a camera you don’t see often – maybe never – Fuji Photo Film Japan’s Fuji K-28. A waterproof and dust/dirtproof 35mm compact camera. Designed for rugged use like on a jobsite or in the rain. All of the controls are sealed against the elements via tight fitting rubber gaskets and secure latching systems.
The camera gets its power from 2 AA LR6 alkaline manganese batteries. Here’s an interesting note from Fujifilm Japan:
Apologies and Requests
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By the way, when the capacity of the batteries is not complete (for example, when new alkaline batteries are used with used alkaline batteries) in part of “construction camera” we sell at this time. It is extremely rare that hydrogen gas is sometimes released from the battery, the gas mixes with the air inside the camera, and it turned out that there was a possibility that the back cover of the camera could come off with a sound when using the strobe . December 8, 2000 – We would like to thank our customers for their continued patronage and appreciate their continued patronage.
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd
Besides being a way cool looking camera, this Fuji is more than capable where it counts. A sealed Fujinon f3.9 28mm lens with adjustable focusing and auto exposure with a set 1/100th of a second shutter. ISO auto set for film rated from ISO 100-400.
The Fujinon lens has 5 elements in 5 groups – closest focusing is 0.75m and the front glass is 4mm thick. The camera weighs in at 423g and 467g with batteries.
The focus scale is only in meters. The flash must be turned on via the well marked lever (center), film advance is manual by the lever on the camera’s right side and the shutter can be locked to prevent accidental exposures. The film rewind lever (left) gets tucked away to prevent damage and to help seal the top of the camera.
Looks great in B&W!
Nice lines.
When the K-28 was released in June of 1991, the yen to dollar exchange rate was 138 JPY to the USD. So it listed for around $215 but was not for sale outside of Japan.
The K-28 certainly will hold a spot in our Fuji collection as it is basically brand new and in mint condition. The box, although a silly thing, is important to our collection as we like to collect camera sets as complete as possible. Besides, who wouldn’t want a bulldozer on their camera box!
If you find something incorrect in our post, please feel free to let us know what it is and we’ll gladly correct it.
Thanks for stopping by!
Studio Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W
Chris
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 
quite spectacular! i really like the idea of using barrier tape in the design (and yes, the bulldozer is cool, too :))
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Thanks! Can’t wait to give it a go!
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That is fantastic, Chris !
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Thank you for your kind words! I appreciate it very much.
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Hi Chris, got one of these, but not that manual. I always thought it was an ASA 100, are you saying I can use it with 400? Also, is it submersible? Thanks!
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Hi Nimi, My owner’s manual is in Japanese but my translate app confirms ISO 100-400. Nowhere does it state that it is submersible to any depth but it does state that it is water, dust, dirt, sand and mud proof when closed properly and when the seals are free of grit and in good condition. They do show it being run under tap water to rinse off sand from under the lens. Thanks for your question.
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Thanks so much. I’ll try some 400 this weekend, see how she goes.
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They’re cool looking cameras! Best of luck!
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The old Canon “A” line that I loved ran on AA batteries. They weren’t the world’s finest batteries — not even the lithium batteries — but I loved that you could buy them ANYWHERE … and after I while, i switched entirely to rechargeable batteries. None of the cameras use AAs andymore, but I still use all rechargeable batteries for everything. It turned out to be a great investment. We’re never out of batteries and we don’t pollute the environment with dead batteries. Kind of a win-win.
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There’s something to be said for the simple things in photography – my desk has AA, CR2025, CR2032, CR123A, CR2, A544 and the list goes on and on and that’s for the cameras that are waiting to be sold!
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I ordered a like new one with box and instructions yesterday. It will be fun to try and figure the instructions. Does anyone know what the Japanese word is on the top of the camera.
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Hi Neal,
Yes it says “Construction Camera K 28”. A Google translation app on your phone will easily translate the instructions for you. An important note, always make sure that the seals are in great shape before getting it wet.
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Thanks so much for your report on the Fuji Construction Camera. I just got mine today and your information is all that I can find on the web.
I have a couple of points/questions.
Even thought it is 28mm, the viewfinder field looks the same as some of my 35mm equivalent lens views. I guess I’ll test it to see the actual.
You mentioned a fixed shutter speed of 1/100. Any idea of the f/stop range it uses?
I used the Google translate app on my iPhone to look over the instructions. The translations are quite interesting.
Again, thanks for posting the overview.
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Hi, Neal! I’m glad to hear that your K-28 arrived. Have fun with it. I can’t say that I know the range of f stops available at the fixed 1/100. I can’t seem to find that info either.
Chris
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I’ve been getting great photos with it now. I found the viewfinder includes most of the 28mm lens field of view if you put your eye as close as possible and ignore the framing lines.
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That’s great to hear! Do you have any of the pics posted? I’d like to see them.
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Here is my K-28 album on Flickr. I will be adding more in the near future and I post from 2 different shoots daily and my K-28 rolls around about once or twice a week.
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When I added the link, I got the photo above and when I clicked on the photo, I got a bad link notification. If you get the same, just check out Neal Wellons or Neal3K on Flickr and you can find my K-28 album.
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Reblogged this on Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris and commented:
Here is another look at this unique and not often seen camera.
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When living in Japan you could easily see these and similar cameras in use on construction sites, usually to do with road works at night. I think there is a requirement that a board with the depth dug and work carried out be photographed in the trench before filling in the hole. The flash was a requirement. A few makers made dedicated cameras like this, and some went further to allow for use when snorkeling (but not scuba diving). I used such a camera on filming shoots and my friends were amazed when I just washed the camera under running water. Happy shooting !
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Thanks for your comments. I imagine quite a few of these bounced around in the cabs of work trucks as you observed them being used by road work crews. I haven’t used mine but to shoot one roll of film to test it out. It’s a fun camera to use and it got a few strange looks when I was out and about.
Where in Japan did you live? We lived in Honmoku, Naka-ku, Yokohama and loved it there.
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Each single construction site seemed to have one or more of these cameras. I was in Tokyo. There are digital equivalents on sale these days
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