Review: Fujifilm DL Super Mini

The Ricoh GR is one of the first cameras that come to mind when you think of a high end premium camera with a wide angle 28mm lens. It has been a favourite of street photographers for decades thanks to its compact size, quality wide lens and speed of operation thanks to its SNAP-Focus. But when you are willing to accept a little less controls, there is another contender at smaller size and price tag - the Fujifilm DL Super Mini.

How I got it

This was yet another lucky flea market find. As usual I keep my eyes open for for cameras and camera-sized pouches on my visits, and while most of the time the smaller pouches only hold less desirable digital cameras from the late 90s, this time it had a analog gem from the same era in it. The battery was dead, but at 2€ it was a risk I was willing to take. The camera looked like it has been used quite a bit, but after it got a new battery it sprung right back into action. 

Small, black and elegant - the DL Super Mini in its Bag

Technical Overview

Fujifilm not only wanted a camera that can take good photos, they also wanted it to look stylish. And they certainly succeeded in that. Backed in a subtitle black velvet bag, a slim box - some dubbed it the sardine can - with an aluminum finish, the lens covered by a sliding door with the words FUJIFILM embossed in glossy text - its not only about taking photos, its about looking good while doing that.

Behind the sliding door is also one of the biggest appeals of this camera - its excellent Fujinon EBC 28mm f3.5 lens. Thanks to two aspherical elements and Fuji's Super-EBC coating it produces sharp and contrast image with very little flare even against strong lights. The lens is so renowned that some even convert it for rangefinder usage.

When it comes to controls the camera is a bit of a mixed bag. One one hand, it gives you just enough controls to not feel to limited by the camera. But on the other hand, unnecessary things get their own control (looking at you, Panorama Mode) and important things have to be done again and again. For me, the Tiara falls more into the "just enough" categorie. And to be fair, it does have some pretty nifty ideas.

One of the ways were the camera excels over other compact P&S is the focusing modes. The Fuji offers four of them:

• Autofocus (Standard)
  Just as the name says, your standard autofocus like any other compact P&S has
• Landscape 
  Great for the traveling type - with one button you set the camera to infinity AND disable the flash. Simple and useful.
• Snapshot
  The camera ensures that Subjects between 1,5 and 3m are in sharp focus - with the 28mm lens that covers most street photography uses. 
• Manual Focus
  Rare to so on a P&S, let alone on one as compact as this one. It allows you manually set the focus from 0,35m to infinity in 17 steps

Rare to see in such compact cameras - manual focusing

As great as this sound, its sadly not perfect - it takes a bit more time to set the settings in a way they are kept between shots, and even then once the camera turns off - after being idle for some time or once the slider is closed - the settings are gone. Argh, they were this close. 

The exposure modes are another nice touch on Fuji side, besides the standard flash and no flash option you also get backlight compensation as well as a night portrait mode with long shutter speeds up to 1/2 second as well as flash.

The panorama mode as usual got its own control, despite being as useless as it could be. If that only has been a dedicated flash toggle - they have been on the verge of greatness here.

The beautiful Super EBC Fujinion 28mm f/3,5

Out shooting

While lacking any ergonomic grooves or ridges to make it easier to hold, the Fuji is still quite comfortable even on longer walks, thanks to its incredible low weight and small size - you hardly notice it in your hand at all. The embossed Text on the slider is not only there to look good, it also gives your finger some traction it flip it open easily. 

The buttons are very responsive - an issue I had on some cameras where it feels like there is some input lag when you press a button is non existing here. I never pressed a button and nothing happened. That does make the issue that the flash is on as default a little more manageable - you can press the Flash button twice after tuning the camera on without looking and you will be in "Flash Off" mode

Loading is quite easy thanks to the Drop in Loading system (that's what the DL in the name is from). It just does take a bit as the camera winds the film fully on the camera when you load it, and after each shot the film is advanced into the film can. 

What I like

The two things I like most about this camera are also its main selling point - the great Fujinion lens and its very compact size. I mostly used it as a travel camera on motorcycle trips and for that it was great. Compact enough to fit in my jacket picket, quick enough to take a snapshot on a short stop, and the landscape mode made sure that I got exposure and focus right. 

Olympus mju-1 (Stylus) vs. Fuji DL Super Mini

Even compared to other considered small cameras like the Olympus mju/Stylus, the Fuji DL Super Mini has an edge on it in almost any direction. With the legendary Olympus XA it is even closer - but the Fuji has the advantage in height and width.

Olympus XA vs. Fuji DL Super Mini

While not a huge fan of the controls itself, the fact that there are that many at all in such a compact camera is a huge win for me - it elevates the camera from something that does look good to something that I actually enjoy using. 

What I dislike

What Fuji did great with the hardware controls - if we ignore the useless panorama slider - the "software" is the frustrating part. If it would keep the settings when tuning the camera off it would be perfect, the way it is now its a bit frustrating - you have to remember to make the changes every time you turn the camera on.  If only the camera would do that for you.

Focus speed is not great, but I don't feel its bad enough - especially with the focus modes - to put it in the dislike section. Noise on the other hand is on the limit - its not as bad as the Yashica T3 but it is certainly no silent camera.

Conclusion

So, should you get a DL Super Mini instead of a GR1? It depends if the limitations are an issue for you and how cheap you can get it. Compared to a GR1 there are certainly quite a few features missing, but - at least for now - the GR1 costs almost twice as much used. And with the hype going its not going to change anytime soon. 

For me, the small size and great optics make it a trusted companion when I need something tiny. 

Photos

A few favourite photos – you can find the rest of my Fujifilm DL Super Mini photos on flickr.

Technical Specifications

Camera name	Fujifilm DL Super Mini
Manufacturer	Fujifilm
Camera type	Fixed lens autofocus compact P&S
Format	35mm Film (24×36)
Lens	Fuji EBC Fujinon 28 mm f/3,5
Focussing	Eletronic Rangefinder
Battery	1x CR2 Lithium
Dimensions	10 x 6 x 3,2 cm
Weight	153 g (empty)

Links

Fujifilm DL Super Mini Manual @ 35mmc.com