Chinon 35FA II

The Chinon 35FA II is an automatic camera for snapshots. It was produced by the Japanese manufacturer Chinon. A similar model with largely the same range of functions is the Chinon 35FA Super. There is also a variant with a data back for imprinting the shooting time in a corner of the pictures.

The compact camera comes with a fixed 35mm lens. This focal length is suitable for many applications. The largest aperture on this model is f/3.5. The glass lens is built up of three elements. The minimum distance to the subject for sharp images must be 1.2 meters. The distance is automatically set by the camera.

In general, most settings are selected automatically by the camera electronics. The exposure meter is designed for films with a sensitivity of ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400 and ISO 1000. Shutter speed and aperture are selected by the camera electronics and cannot be determined by the photographer.

There is a built-in flash for taking pictures in low-light conditions. According to the manual, the flash’s power reaches up to 3.4 meters at ISO 100. Of course, a tripod thread on the bottom should not be missing. There is also a self-timer for group pictures and selfies.

According to the manual, the camera weighs 315 grams and measures 13.3 x 6.9 x 4.7 cm. Two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*) are responsible for the power supply. Here, of course, you can resort to rechargeable batteries.

Films for the Chinon 35FA II

The Chinon 35FA II is designed for the 35mm format. The film is automatically transported on after each photo. The application is therefore very simple. When the end of the film is reached, usually after 36 pictures, the film is also automatically transported back into the cartridge. Now it can be removed and taken to the developing lab. Before this, the camera must not be opened under any circumstances, otherwise the images may be lost due to the incident light. The pictures are taken in rectangular 3:2 format.

Possible films for this model that can still be purchased today are the Kodak Ultramax 400* and the Ilford Delta 100*. Both films deliver reliable results and can also convince in professional test reports. Other suitable films are also offered by Foma, Rollei and Adox, among others.

The development process for color film is the C-41 process. This process is offered by most professional photo labs. Thus, something the large drugstore chains in Germany offer the development of color films.

The Chinon 35FA II is no longer in production. The prices for the camera differ depending on its condition.