With an aluminium and plastic body, this camera taking 6×6cm pictures on 120 film is often considered a "toy camera" probably due to the toylike appearance and the meniscus lens. It was made by the Fuji from 1957 to 1963 and was released for sale exclusively in Japan, marketed as a camera for the whole family. It is said that it was designed by Nishimura Masaki (西村雅貴), former head of Kōnan, and Tanaka Yoshio (田中芳郎), professor at the Tokyo University of Arts.[1]
A leaflet advertising the camera had factual information in Japanese only, and the following text in English only:
- With the Fujipet Camera you can the pictures very easily just as you manipulate your knife and fork. So you are a good photographer from the instant when you have bought the Fujipet Camera. The Fujipet Camera enjoys great popularity among children, mothers and all the members of the family and affords happiness in all homes.
There is also a Fujipet EE and a Fujipet 35.
 
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| Fujipet EE. Pictures by Jay Tepper. (Image rights). |
Notes[]
- ↑ Page on the Fujica Mini at Mediajoy's Guide to Classic Cameras (also in in Japanese).
Bibliography[]
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 1486–7 and 1489.
Links[]
In English:
- Fujipet website by Sean, with lots of information, links and example images
- Fujipet and Fujipet EE (with original boxes), lot no.682 of auction no.4 (22 November 2003) by Westlicht Photographica Auction
- Page on the Fujica Mini (also in in Japanese) at Mediajoy's Guide to Classic Cameras, giving the name of the designers of the Fujipet
In Japanese:
- Camera page with a Fujipet by paul67
In Japanese:
- Fujipet EE in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Fujipet at Nagoya's Camera Club
- Fujipet EE in the second page of the Yamada Camera Museum