In my eyes, which have witnessed countless sceneries and been weathered by the passage of time, the old Fujifilm digital camera left by my father is like a magical key to the past. With a gentle turn, precious images from yesteryears come flooding back, each frame a scroll of time filled with deep affection.

This camera has a simple yet elegant exterior. Its rigid lines exude a unique mechanical beauty. Despite some wear and tear on its body, it has lost none of its charm from the past and instead gained an added sense of historical weight. Every time I pick it up, as my fingers touch the familiar buttons and knobs, I can almost feel the warmth and strength that once belonged to my father. When he was alive, he always handled this camera with great care, as if it were a dear and inseparable old friend.
Recalling my childhood, my father was always by my side with this camera. Whether it was the carefree smile on my face as I played in the garden or the concentrated expression when I built sandcastles by the sea, none of these moments escaped my father’s precise capture with this camera. Each photograph is like a shining pearl, stringing together the beautiful memories of my childhood. I remember once, when I was performing on stage in a school art show, my heart was full of nervousness and excitement. When I caught a glimpse of my father holding the camera in the audience, his firm and encouraging gaze instantly gave me strength. At that moment, the camera lens seemed to transform into his tender look, enfolding me. After the performance, my father excitedly showed me the pictures he had just taken. In the photos, although I looked a bit childish, there was a confident sparkle in my eyes. At that moment, I deeply realized that this camera was not just a tool for recording images but a unique way for my father to express his love.
As I grew older and my interest in photography grew, my father patiently taught me how to use this camera. He would meticulously explain the subtle relationships between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, like a wise mentor leading me into the mysterious realm of photography art. Under my father’s careful guidance, I gradually mastered the basic skills of photography and began to explore the world and record life with this camera. I used it to capture the hazy beauty of the first rays of morning sun penetrating the mist, the traces of time on the mottled walls in old alleys, and the warm and joyous scenes of family members sitting together. Every time I pressed the shutter, it felt like a heart-to-heart conversation with my father across time and space.
However, time passed mercilessly, and my father eventually left me. When I was sorting out his belongings, I saw this camera lying quietly in the corner again. At that moment, tears blurred my eyes, and the camera in my hand seemed unbearably heavy. I knew that from that moment on, this camera would be the only emotional bond between my father and me.
Now, despite the rapid advancements in digital photography technology and the emergence of various advanced cameras, in my heart, the old Fujifilm digital camera left by my father will always hold an irreplaceable position. It is not just a camera but a tangible manifestation of my deep longing for my father. Every time I use it, I seem to see my father’s kind smile and hear his patient teaching voice. It makes me understand that photography is not just about capturing light and shadow but also about the eternal preservation of emotions and memories. In this ever-changing world, the fatherly love and old times carried by this old camera will always shine brightly, becoming the warmest and most precious corner of my heart.
This Fujifilm old digital camera, apart from bearing profound emotions, also has distinct advantages and disadvantages in terms of its performance characteristics.
Advantages
Appearance and Operational Experience: Old Fujifilm digital cameras usually feature a retro design. Elements like the trapezoidal design of the top plate, the classic silver and black color combination, the metal knurled dials, the delicate levers, and the silver shutter button not only make the camera look highly textured but also bring a sense of mechanical beauty and a ritual feel to shooting. During operation, the layout of each button and knob is reasonable, and the hand feel is comfortable. The process of manually adjusting parameters is full of fun, and every operation feels like a deep conversation with the camera.
Color Reproduction: Thanks to Fujifilm’s years of technical accumulation in the field of film, the color simulation ability of its digital cameras is outstanding. It can reproduce a variety of classic film tones, such as Velvia, Provia, Astia, etc., enabling photographers to obtain photos with a rich film-like feel without complex post-processing. This unique color style makes the photos more vivid and emotional, and is deeply loved by photography enthusiasts. For example, when shooting autumn maple leaves, it can vividly and richly render the red of the leaves. When shooting portraits, the skin tone is reproduced naturally and with a sense of texture. Each photo looks like a carefully toned work of art.
Lens Quality: Fujinon lenses are renowned for their high resolution, low chromatic aberration, and high contrast, capable of capturing excellent details and colors with high color fidelity, making the photos more realistic and vivid. Paired with old Fujifilm digital cameras, they can fully utilize the imaging advantages of the camera and produce high-quality photos. For instance, when shooting landscape photos, the texture of distant mountains can be clearly distinguishable, and the details of flower stamens nearby can also be accurately presented.
Portability: Compared with some full-frame cameras, the body and lenses of old Fujifilm digital cameras are usually relatively small and lightweight, especially the APS-C format X series, which is very suitable for street photography and travel photography. This portability makes photographers more flexible during shooting and allows them to record beautiful moments in life anytime and anywhere, meeting the shooting concept of some photographers who pursue low-key and dislike being disturbed. It can be easily placed in a backpack or even a pocket, enabling quick access for shooting when encountering beautiful scenery during a trip.
Firmware Update Support: Fujifilm often releases firmware updates to improve the functions and user experience of old models, which has earned a good reputation in the photography community. For example, old models like the Fujifilm X-T2, after firmware updates, have significantly faster autofocus speeds and support new features such as automatic Face Detection, allowing old cameras to maintain a certain level of practicality and competitiveness even after many years, extending the service life of the camera and enabling users to continuously experience performance improvements.
Disadvantages
Price: Generally speaking, the price of Fujifilm cameras is relatively high among similar products. Especially some mid-to-high-end models and sets equipped with high-performance lenses may be prohibitive for ordinary consumers. To some extent, this restricts the popularity of Fujifilm cameras, making it difficult for some budget-limited photography enthusiasts to afford them. For cameras with the same configuration, Fujifilm may be considerably more expensive than other brands, which is a factor that beginners in photography or those with limited financial means need to consider.
Autofocus Performance: In terms of autofocus speed and accuracy, old Fujifilm digital cameras may be slightly inferior to some brands known for their autofocus performance. Especially in low-light environments or when shooting fast-moving objects, the camera may experience focusing issues such as “focus hunting” and inaccurate focusing, thereby affecting the success rate of shooting. For example, when shooting a sports event and trying to capture the moment when athletes are running and jumping rapidly, focusing problems may cause one to miss the wonderful moments.
Battery Life: The battery capacity of old Fujifilm digital cameras is relatively small. For example, the commonly used NP-W126S battery has a limited number of shots per charge, and the battery life is mediocre. In situations requiring long hours of continuous shooting, it may be necessary to frequently change batteries or use an external power source, which can be inconvenient for some photographers who need to shoot for extended periods. If one spends a whole day traveling and taking a large number of photos, it may be necessary to carry multiple spare batteries, increasing the burden of travel.
Relatively Weak Video Shooting Function: Although the video shooting capabilities of Fujifilm cameras have been continuously improving, compared with some professional video shooting equipment, there are still certain gaps in aspects such as video autofocus, image stabilization, frame rate, and bit rate. For example, some old models of Fujifilm cameras can only shoot 4K videos at 30 frames per second at most and may lack in-body image stabilization, which to some extent limits its application in the field of video shooting. If one wants to shoot high-quality and smooth video footage, especially video with a lot of motion shots, old Fujifilm digital cameras may not be able to meet the requirements.
Limited Lens Selection: Compared with brands like Canon and Nikon, the lens lineup of Fujifilm cameras is relatively less extensive. The variety of available lenses and the range of focal lengths are relatively narrow. This means that when users want to change lenses to meet different shooting needs, their choices are somewhat limited. For example, if one wants to shoot wild animals at a very long distance or large architectural scenes with an ultra-wide angle, it may be difficult to find a suitable original Fujifilm lens. One may need to use lens adapters to use lenses from other brands, but this may affect the overall performance and user experience of the camera.
This old Fujifilm camera is not just a piece of equipment; it is a repository of memories, a symbol of a bygone era, and a testament to the bond between my father and me. It has taught me that the essence of photography lies not only in technical perfection but also in the ability to freeze emotions and tell stories. As I look through the viewfinder, I am reminded that every click is a step back in time, a chance to relive the moments that made me who I am. It makes me cherish the past even more and realize the significance of holding onto tangible memories in this digital age.