Fujifilm's affordable Fujica SLR — the ST705w, LED metering, 1/1500 mechanical shutter, M42 mount, 1978.
The Fujica ST705w is a 35mm film SLR made by Fuji Photo Film under the Fujica name, introduced in 1978 as a variant of the ST705 in the affordable ST screw-mount range. It carried the LED-metered design of the ST705 with the w suffix denoting the later revision. It uses the M42 screw lens mount for compatibility with universal screw-thread lenses.
In specification terms, the ST705w is a single-lens reflex for 35mm film using the M42 42mm screw mount. It has a mechanical horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with a top speed of 1/1500. Metering is through-the-lens using silicon photodiodes, shown by LEDs in the viewfinder for manual exposure setting. The shutter is mechanical and fires without a battery, while the battery powers the LED meter.
The ST705w suits beginners, students and general users who want an affordable mechanical M42 SLR with an LED meter and a faster top shutter speed than the base ST705. Its mechanical shutter keeps working with a dead battery, and access to the wide pool of screw-mount lenses makes it flexible for everyday and travel work. It is a straightforward manual camera.
On the used market, expect perished foam light seals and mirror-damper foam and budget for a reseal. The meter was designed for a mercury cell, so confirm the LED display responds and check exposure accuracy with a modern battery. Test the mechanical shutter across its range, noting the 1/1500 top speed, for capping, inspect the prism for haze or desilvering, and check the film advance, rewind and focusing screen. The M42 mount widens lens choice for buyers.