Fujifilm's 1998 metal-bodied flagship compact — 1.5MP CCD, SmartMedia, basis of the first Leica Digilux
The Fujifilm MX-700 was announced in February 1998 and was for a time the flagship of Fujifilm's digital compacts. It was sold as the FinePix 700 in Japan and the MX-700 elsewhere. The same design was rebadged as the original Leica Digilux and sold as the JVC GC-5S; Japan also received limited black and gold editions of 5,000 units each.
A 1.5-megapixel 1/2-inch CCD delivered images up to 1280x1024 pixels through a fixed, non-zooming Fujinon lens equivalent to 35mm with an f/3.2 maximum aperture. Shutter speeds ran from 1/4 to 1/1000 second, images were stored on SmartMedia cards, and a 2-inch TFT screen handled framing and playback. Twin RISC processors stored a shot within about five seconds, and power came from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery at a time when most rivals used four AAs.
The sturdy vertical metal body and Leica connection make this one of the more collectable late-1990s digicams. It suits collectors and anyone curious about early consumer digital photography; resolution and speed limit it to casual use today.
The proprietary lithium-ion battery is decades old, so confirm the camera powers up and holds charge, and factor in the cost of a replacement cell and charger. SmartMedia cards are discontinued and capacity-limited, so a working card should be included or sourced. Check the 2-inch TFT for bleed and the metal shell for dents that can pinch the card slot.