Fujifilm Klasse Review: Excellent Lens, Frustrating Compromises

Background & Key Features

Fujifilm released the Klasse in 2001 as their entry into the premium compact market, competing directly with the Contax T2 and Ricoh GR1. It was an ambitious attempt to offer aperture priority control and manual focus in a compact body at a more accessible price point. The camera was also distributed as the Rollei AFM 35 in Europe and the US, which is why you'll see it under both names. Discontinued by 2004 due to poor sales—turns out photographers weren't willing to tolerate the quirks, even for the excellent lens.

The aluminum/magnesium alloy body houses a Super EBC Fujinon 38mm f/2.6 lens that's genuinely excellent. Notable features include passive contrast-detection autofocus (0.4m to infinity—impressively close), center-weighted CdS metering (EV 4-16), aperture priority mode (f/2.6-f/16), manual focus dial with preset distances, exposure compensation (+2 to -2 EV), and DX film speed reading (ISO 50-3200). At 250g and 123×63.5×37mm, it's pocketable but not tiny—more substantial than a point-and-shoot, less refined than a Contax.

The Klasse spawned two improved successors that fixed nearly everything wrong with the original: the Klasse S (2007, 38mm f/2.8) and Klasse W (2007, 28mm f/2.8). If you're considering a Klasse, you should probably just save up for the S.

The Film Look, Made Accessible

While cameras like the Fujifilm Klasse deliver authentic film aesthetics, they come with significant barriers—$600-900 for working cameras, $15-20 per roll, and weeks of development time. Daydream bridges this gap by modeling genuine film physics on your phone—authentic highlight rolloff, organic grain, and non-linear color response. We're not trying to replace film photography (we love it too much), but we offer an accessible way to capture that film look for everyday moments. Use Daydream for free, no subscription or ads, while keeping your Klasse for when real film is worth the wait.

Design & Handling

The Klasse feels solid at 250g, with an aluminum/magnesium alloy body that's well-constructed but not luxurious. The metal construction is nice, though it's not going to compete with the Contax T2's titanium for premium feel. The rectangular form lacks a proper grip, and the smooth finish provides little traction—your fingers just kind of rest on flat surfaces hoping for the best.

The viewfinder is bright and clear with framelines, parallax marks, and LED indicators that do their job. It displays shutter speed in large numbers, which is helpful, but shows no aperture information, which is baffling for a camera with aperture priority. You have to remember what you set on the top dial. Glass wearers will appreciate the protruding eyepiece frame, at least.

The top dial switches the camera on and controls aperture selection—this part is actually convenient and logical. The exposure compensation dial on the camera front is easy to adjust without looking, which is smart design. The mode dial on the back accesses flash modes, bracketing, manual focus, bulb mode, self-timer, and film sensitivity—lots of features packed in, but the interface isn't intuitive. You'll be consulting the manual more than you'd like.

Here's the killer issue: the shutter button has noticeable lag. Press the button and the camera thinks for a moment before firing, like it's considering whether it really wants to take the photo. This lag is instantly noticeable and makes the Klasse feel sluggish compared to any modern camera or even other premium compacts. Half-pressing to lock focus works, but that delay between pressing and firing will frustrate you constantly.

How the Fujifilm Klasse Shoots: Street Photography and Travel Photography Performance

Metering & exposure behavior

The center-weighted CdS metering (EV 4-16) is consistently accurate, nailing exposure in 90%+ of situations. The meter exposes for highlights while leaving detail in shadows—excellent for color negative film. The 1/2s-1/290s shutter range handles most situations, though 1/290s at wide aperture limits bright daylight shooting. Exposure compensation (+2 to -2 EV) requires pressing two buttons simultaneously. Settings reset when you power off—frustrating for street photography.

Focusing experience

The passive contrast-detection autofocus is accurate when it locks, but noticeably slow compared to any other premium compact. The camera uses an AF assist light constantly, which makes stealth shooting impossible—everyone will know you're taking photos. There's significant shutter lag between pressing the button and the camera actually firing, which means you'll miss decisive moments regularly.

Here's the most frustrating part: even when you set focus manually using the dial, the lens still extends at shutter release—completely defeating the purpose of manual focus for speed. You preset your focus distance thinking you'll be ready to shoot quickly, but nope, the lens still has to physically move before the shutter fires. It's baffling design.

The 0.4m minimum focus distance is genuinely exceptional for a compact—you can get close for portraits and detail shots that other cameras can't match. The manual focus dial has preset distances (AF, infinity, 10m, 7m, 5m, 3m, 2m, 1.5m, 1m, 0.7m, 0.4m), which is brilliant for zone focusing in theory. But that lens extension delay ruins it in practice.

Lens character & image quality

Here's why people tolerate all the frustrations: the Super EBC Fujinon 38mm f/2.6 lens is genuinely exceptional. The center sharpness rivals interchangeable lenses and cameras costing twice as much—this is professional-grade glass in a compact body. Wide open at f/2.6, the lens is sharp with good contrast and minimal aberrations. Stop down to f/5.6-f/8 and it delivers razor-sharp edge-to-edge images that'll make you forget about the slow autofocus for a moment.

Color rendition is excellent with slightly cool tones that give images a clean, modern look. On Kodak Ektar 100, colors are vibrant without being oversaturated. On Portra 400, skin tones are beautiful with smooth gradation that flatters portraits. Black and white film reveals stunning tonal separation—shoot Tri-X and you'll get rich midtones and deep blacks.

The lens maintains sharpness across the frame with minimal distortion, which is impressive for a compact. Flare resistance is good, though not Zeiss T* level. Bokeh at f/2.6 is smooth and creamy at close distances, with unique triangular-shaped highlights from the aperture blades. The 0.4m close focus combined with f/2.6 creates dramatic subject separation that you simply can't get with most compacts.

The f/2.6 maximum aperture is faster than the Contax T2's f/2.8, which matters in low light—that extra third of a stop helps. The flash triggers automatically at 1/45s and produces balanced results, though you'll probably want to disable auto-flash for most shooting.

Film pairings that sing

• •Portra 400 for versatile shooting with beautiful skin tones
• •Kodak Ektar 100 for vibrant colors and maximum sharpness
• •Ilford Delta 3200 for black and white in low light
• •Fujifilm Provia 100F for slide film with rich saturation

Best Uses: Travel Photography, Portrait Photography, and More

Best at: Travel photography (compact, excellent lens), portrait photography (0.4m close focus, smooth bokeh), urban photography (38mm focal length), detail photography

Struggles with: Street photography (slow autofocus, shutter lag), fast action (focusing delay), bright daylight at f/2.6 (1/290s max shutter), convenience (settings reset)

If this is you → pick this body:

• •"I want aperture priority on a budget and can tolerate slow AF" → Fujifilm Klasse
• •"I want the best Klasse with faster AF and more features" → Fujifilm Klasse S
• •"I want 28mm wide angle" → Fujifilm Klasse W

Fujifilm Klasse vs Contax T2, Klasse S, and Olympus Mju II

The Contax T2 offers titanium build, genuinely faster autofocus, and more responsive operation for $800-1,200 versus the Klasse's $600-900. The T2 shoots faster and feels more premium, but the Klasse has a faster f/2.6 lens (versus f/2.8) and closer minimum focus (0.4m vs 0.7m), which matters for portraits and close-up work.

The Klasse S fixes nearly every flaw of the original—faster 1/500s shutter (versus 1/290s), manual ISO control, setting memory that doesn't reset on power-off, improved ergonomics—for $1,200-1,400. It's the camera the original should have been. If you're considering a Klasse, just save the extra money and get the S.

The Olympus Mju II provides a sharp 35mm f/2.8 lens with weatherproofing for $250-350, but no manual controls whatsoever. It's faster to operate, more reliable, and costs a fraction of the price. For most people, this is the smarter choice.

Choose the original Klasse only if you genuinely can't afford the Klasse S and need aperture priority control. Choose the Klasse S for the best Klasse experience without the frustrations. Choose the T2 for faster operation and premium titanium build. Choose the Mju II for simple reliability at a fraction of the price. The original Klasse occupies an awkward middle ground—too expensive for what it offers, too flawed compared to the S, too slow compared to everything else.

* Prices as of December 2025. Original Klasse prices reflect cult status tempered by known flaws.

Is the Fujifilm Klasse Worth It in 2025?

As of December 2025, the original Klasse sells for $600-900, up from $500 a few years ago. This price is hard to justify. The Klasse delivers exceptional image quality and aperture priority control rare in compacts. But slow autofocus, settings that reset on power-off, and awkward ergonomics frustrate. The Klasse S fixes nearly every flaw for $1,200-1,400—a significant premium, but worth it if you're already spending $600-900.

Worth it only if you want aperture priority, can't afford the Klasse S, and tolerate slow autofocus. Not worth it for street photographers or anyone expecting point-and-shoot convenience. Alternatives: Klasse S for the best experience; Contax T2 for faster operation; Olympus Mju II for simple reliability at $250-350. The original Klasse is a camera you'll appreciate for its images but curse while shooting.

Film's Future, Your Pocket

Cameras like the Fujifilm Klasse represent the artistry and physics that make film photography special—that sharp Fujinon rendering, the smooth bokeh, the aperture priority control. At Daydream, we've spent years studying these exact characteristics to bring authentic film emulation to mobile photography. We're not replacing film; we're making it accessible for those moments when loading a roll isn't practical. Our app is free, with no subscription or ads, because we believe more people should experience what film photography offers. Whether you shoot with a Klasse, a phone running Daydream, or both—you're part of keeping the film aesthetic alive.