This week we are using one of the great half-frame film cameras that we have in stock: the Fuji TW-3. We love half-frame cameras here at Cameras By Max and this camera is no exception. Here is our full camera review for the Fuji TW-3 complete with a gallery of images.

What features does the Fuji TW-3 have?

The Fuji TW-3, even though it is compact, has a lot of features that make it a very usable camera. Below is a list of all the features of this great camera.

Features of the Fuji TW-3:

• 23mm wide-angle lens and 69mm tele lens
• Fixed f/8 aperture
• Manual zone-focusing slider
• Half-frame camera
• DX coding
• Built-in flash
• Exposure meter
• Pre-winding system
• Continuous shooting mode

The Fuji TW-3 has lots of great qualities that make it a great camera to use.

The photographer has an option to choose either a wide-angle 23mm lens or a tele 69mm lens. When choosing either of these lenses, the camera's viewfinder view changes to match the focal length you are using. This makes composing your images really easy. 

Focusing with the Fuji TW-3 is done using a small slider on the front of the camera. After the front of the camera is rotated to select your lens, you can use the slider to choose the focus. This is simple zone focusing that allows you to focus from 4 metres to infinity when using the tele lens and from 0.5 metres to infinity when using the wide-angle lens.

The camera's shutter can be fired on a normal single-shot mode or on a continuous mode, allowing you to take lots of photos in quick succession. The continuous shooting mode would be useful for sports photography and motion. 

For these images with the Fuji TW-3, we used Kodak Portra 400 35mm film. Kodak Portra 400 is a popular choice among photographers who shoot portraits or want life-like colours in their images. 

Unfortunately the roll of film we used was expired (we didn't know this)! If we were aware that the film was expired, we would have over-exposed the film slightly.

The images came out a little grainy and under-exposed, but we are really happy with the composition and quality of the images. 

Here are our Fuji TW-3 examples:

Overall, we were pleased with the photographs from the Fuji TW-3. And there were plenty of them! As it is a half-frame, you can take up to 72 shots on a 36-exposure roll of film. 

These images would be even better (sharper and less grainy) with a in-date roll of film.

We enjoyed using the Fuji TW-3. The compactness of the camera allowed it to be very pocketable. We used it on a holiday and at some events. 

When we were using the camera, we found that having two focal lengths to choose from was extremely convenient. The choice of wide-angle or tele covered all bases and allowed us to get some shots we wouldn't usually be able to get with a fixed focal length camera.

There were a couple of occasions where we forgot to adjust the focus on the camera, however after using it for a few hours, it became second nature to adjust the focus of the camera. One thing this camera lacks would be the ability to see your chosen focus from the rear of the camera. 

Overall, we liked the Fuji TW-3. It is versatile, easy to use and compact. The camera would be great for beginners, travellers and photographers looking for a compact companion.

What are some similar cameras?

The Fuji TW-3 is rare and often hard to find. Here are some alternative cameras that are very similar:

Still stuck on which film camera to buy?

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