Introduction: The ST605N at a Glance
The Fujica ST605N is a 35mm SLR that Fuji built in Japan, and you will find it in our analog cameras range alongside other SLR film cameras. It takes lenses with the Praktica thread mount, and it meters light through the lens with the aperture stopped down. In this guide we cover the body only, without a lens.
Inside, the focusing screen mixes a split image with ground glass, so you can focus either on the central split or on the surrounding glass. For flash and timing, the body has an X contact, a hot shoe and a built-in self-timer, while a single-stroke lever advances the film from one frame to the next.
A film SLR like this one asks you to slow down. You wind the lever, set the speed on the dial, read the meter and then release the shutter.
Design Roots and Historical Background
From the ST605 to the ST605N
Fuji produced the original ST605 in Japan, and it appeared around 1976. Its meter circuit dropped the reliance on mercury cells, so the camera could run on modern 1.5V batteries.
In 1978 the ST605N arrived as a reworked version of that camera. The only change noted is a pointer in the viewfinder that indicates the shutter speed you have set. For the earlier model, see our guide to the Fujica ST605 with 55mm f/2.2.
The ST605 II
A further model, the Fujica ST605 II, followed the original ST605. Camera-wiki describes it as a model for the home market only, which makes it a different camera from the ST605N covered here.
Key Technical Highlights
Shutter and film advance
The shutter is a focal-plane type offering B plus speeds from 1/2 to 1/700 sec. On the dial, 60 is printed in red as the speed for electronic flash. A single-stroke lever advances the film, and the body has a built-in self-timer.
Metering and exposure
Exposure is measured through the lens in stopped-down mode, using a center-weighted averaging pattern. The meter couples film speeds from ASA 25 to 3200 in 1/3 steps. Power comes from two nickel-zinc batteries (Toshiba NZ13) or from 1.5V silver oxide batteries.
Mount, flash and weight
Lenses attach by the Praktica thread mount. For flash there is an X contact and a hot shoe. The manual gives the body weight as 565 g, and it names a FUJINON 55mm F2.2 as the normal lens.
- Focal-plane shutter, B and 1/2 to 1/700 sec
- Praktica thread lens mount
- Stopped-down TTL metering, ASA 25 to 3200
- Split image and ground glass focusing screen
- Self-timer, X contact and hot shoe
Modern-Day Use in 2026
Where the ST605N excels
The ST605N is a body-only camera, so the lens you mount decides the look of your pictures. What the body itself contributes is a split-image focusing aid, shutter speeds from 1/2 to 1/700 sec and a hot shoe for flash.
Use it for:
- Learning how aperture, shutter speed and film speed work together
- Travel frames with a single lens
- Flash photography with a unit on the hot shoe
- Trying out different lenses on the Praktica thread mount
Practical shooting tips
- Set the film speed on the meter to match the roll you loaded, anywhere from ASA 25 to 3200.
- Use the red 60 on the dial when you shoot with electronic flash.
- Focus with the aperture open, then stop down for the reading.
- Fit fresh batteries before you load a roll.
Buying and Maintenance Guide
What to check before buying used
Work through this list with the camera in your hands.
- Light seals around the back door and the mirror box, which can age and crumble
- Shutter operation at every speed, B included
- Meter response when you change the film speed and the shutter speed
- The battery compartment, for corrosion or leaked residue
- The focusing screen and prism, for haze, dust or fungus
- The self-timer, hot shoe and film advance lever
With the back open, hold the body toward a light source and fire the shutter to see whether the blades move cleanly. Then look through the viewfinder for dirt or marks.
Power and batteries
The meter takes two nickel-zinc batteries (Toshiba NZ13) or 1.5V silver oxide batteries. The meter circuit no longer depends on mercury cells.
- Fit fresh cells before testing the meter.
- Take the batteries out if you store the camera for a long time.
- Keep a spare set in your bag.
Basic care and accessories
A few photography accessories keep the body in good shape:
- A body cap for the mount when no lens is fitted
- A padded bag or case to protect the body from knocks
- A blower and microfiber cloth for dust on the exterior and viewfinder
- A flash unit for the hot shoe
What to pay
On European marketplaces such as eBay, working examples are typically listed around €70–€120.
Conclusion: A Dependable Film Body
The Fujica ST605N is a Praktica-thread SLR that pairs a focal-plane shutter running to 1/700 sec with stopped-down TTL metering. Its 1978 update added the viewfinder pointer, and the meter is happy with modern 1.5V cells.
Check the seals, shutter, meter and battery compartment, and compare listings against the €70–€120 range. For more Fuji SLR reading, see our guides to the Fujica STX-1 with 50mm f/1.9 and the Fuji STX-2 with 50mm f/1.9.
FAQs
What lens mount does the Fujica ST605N use? It uses the Praktica thread mount. The manual lists a FUJINON 55mm F2.2 as the normal lens.
What batteries does the ST605N need? The meter runs on two nickel-zinc batteries (Toshiba NZ13) or 1.5V silver oxide batteries.
What shutter speeds does the ST605N offer? The focal-plane shutter provides B and speeds from 1/2 to 1/700 sec, with 60 marked in red for electronic flash.
How does the ST605N differ from the ST605? The ST605N is a 1978 revision of the ST605. The one difference mentioned is a viewfinder pointer that displays the chosen shutter speed.
Where can I find the ST605N manual? The original instruction manual is available as a free PDF download on this page, under the first photo.
Ready to explore cameras like the ST605N? Browse our analog cameras, see the SLR film cameras and the Fujifilm collection at DutchThrift.com.
Sources: the original Fujica ST605N instruction manual; Fujica ST605 on camera-wiki.org, text licensed under GFDL 1.3; price range based on current European eBay listings of complete ST605N bodies.