The Fuji HD-M (Heavy Duty - Motor) is a motorized version of the Fuji HD series of cameras, introduced by Fuji in the late 1970s and produced through the 1980s. The HD-M was launched about 1985 and introduced a built-in motor for film advance and rewind. The camera features a fixed Fujinon 38mm f/2.8, zone focusing, and auto exposure. The camera was designed to be waterproof up to 2 meters in depth, but great care should be taken in regard to the integrity of those seals when buying one of these on the used market.
Similar to the Nikon Action Touch and the Pentax Zoom 90-WR, these cameras are great all-weather camera companions, particularly for hiking and mountaineering. Rubberized grips make holding and using the camera pleasant, while its rugged build make it perfect for outdoor use.
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Fuji HD-M
Nicknamed the "Tough Guy," the Fuji HD-M was part of a rugged, weatherized (and to some degree, waterproof) series of cameras released by Fuji from the late 1970s through the 1980s. It all started with the HD-1, in 1979, which would be succeeded by the HD-S, HD-R (not sure what the "S" and "R" stand for), HD-P ("P" = panoramic) and HD-M (Heavy Duty - Motor).
The cameras are all pretty similar: featuring a fixed, Fujinon 38mm f/2.8 lens, auto exposure, zone or scale focusing, and a built-in flash. The cameras were waterproof, up to about six feet, but it seems their primary use came as rugged construction site cameras, or for use in rough terrain where they could be counted on to hold up in tough conditions - hence the "Tough Guy" nickname.
While the other HD cameras had manual film advance and rewind, the HD-M added a motor to handle both functions. Beyond that, the camera is pretty simple and easy to use, in the most pleasant way. A giant, ribbed ring allows for focusing, gauged entirely off a distance scale on the lens barrel, and with icons in the viewfinder to notify you of which zone you are focusing to. The flash has an on/off switch, thankfully, because when it is on, it always fires. Another knob allows the setting of the ISO. There is a lock for the shutter button and... that is about it.
Overall, we really like the HD-M. While one has to be a bit suspicious of the life left in the motor after all these years and, while you should never trust the integrity of the water seals without giving them some attention and TLC first, the camera manages to feel both rugged and strangely ergonomic all at once. We have featured the Pentax 90-WR as a great point and shoot for winter weather, but if you can track down one of these Fuji HD-series cameras, they would be a great find as well.