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The FX-3 was a very popular, 35mm single lens reflex camera, released by Yashica in 1979, and built by Cosina. It has a vertical metal-bladed mechanical focal plane shutter with speeds up to 1/1000, a exposure meter working only in manual mode with a LED reading in the viewfinder. For its time, the FX-3 was extremely small and lightweight, with an plastic body over a metal chassis. The FX-3 will accept all the manual-focus Yashica / Contax lenses. It was only sold in black, though there was also an FX-7 model that came in a chrome finish.

In 1984 the FX-3 was replaced by the FX-3 Super, that added a vestigial grip to the body, a flash-ready indicator in the finder, and moved the meter switch to the shutter release button. It was only sold in black finish. Kyocera (which had acquired Yashica in 1983) released the FX-7 Super in 1985, exactly the same camera in chrome finish.

In 1986 the Super was in turn succeeded by the FX-3 Super 2000 with a shutter speed range extended to 1/2000, and a ISO range from 25 to 3200 ISO instead of 12 to 1600.

These bodies are said to be reliable and lightweight, made of a metal structure with plastic covers. The quality and durability of the leatherette covering has been much criticized on the earlier FX-3 and FX-3 Super, but these are easily replaced. Later Super 2000 models were sourced from China, and some components were changed to lower costs.

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