Fujifilm's alloy pocket compact — the Tiara, fixed 28mm f/3.5, autofocus, 1994.
The Fujifilm Tiara is a fixed-lens 35mm compact from 1994, one of the smallest full-frame 35mm cameras of its time. It was sold under regional names, as the Cardia Mini Tiara in Japan and the DL Super Mini in Europe, all the same camera. Its aluminium-alloy body and wide lens made it a premium pocket compact aimed at photographers who wanted a genuinely small camera with a good lens.
Built for 35mm film, the Tiara has a fixed 28mm f/3.5 Super EBC Fujinon aspherical lens of four elements in four groups. It offers autofocus along with zone and infinity focus options, and includes drop-in film loading. Exposure is automatic, reading DX-coded film from ISO 50 to 1600, and there is a built-in flash with red-eye and night modes. It runs on a single CR2 lithium cell.
The wide 28mm lens and very small alloy body make the Tiara suited to street photography, travel and everyday carry where discretion and pocketability matter. Its wide coverage suits interiors and groups, and the focus options give some control beyond a basic point-and-shoot. It is prized among compact users for combining a wide lens with a small, solid body.
When buying used, confirm autofocus and the zone and infinity settings work, and inspect the 28mm lens for haze, fungus and coating damage. Check the LCD for complete, bleed-free segments, test the flash and its modes, and verify the drop-in loading and film transport run smoothly. Inspect the CR2 battery compartment for corrosion and check that the film-door light seals remain intact.