ChrisP
Grain Lover
Just found out this beast exists. Looks like an interesting camera and the mk1 version seems to be very cheap. Anyone used one these things before? Anyone drop one of these on their toe before? I'd love to hear some impressions!
Jamie123
Veteran
I've never used it but I've held one before. It's truly a beast. I wouldn't want to buy it. Movements are limited and if you go by the GX680 images on flickr it seems like the lenses give a quite harsh and clinical look. And it runs on rechargeable batteries which I imagine to be very old now. If those fail you're left with a heavy paperweight.
I think the money, even if it's not a lot, is better invested in a 4x5 camera. Depending on which one you chose it will be ligher, have more movements and be much more versatile as you can use all sorts of roll backs and 4x5 film.
kuzano
Veteran
If you want 6X8, Fuji has another option...
If you want 6X8, Fuji has another option...
The Fuji Rangefinder was built in 680 format for Japan home market distribution. You can often find them for sale as the GW680xxxwhatever II or III. Often sold for prices similar to very nice 690's GW or GSW. They do show up in the US from time to time. Usually in good, low count condition.
The big Fuji rangefinders were used quite often with short rolls (4 exposures to the roll) for tourist photography, and are now appearing in big numbers out of Japan on eBay. The 680 gave an additional image. The beauty of these cameras used for short roll photography is that the shutter count is half of a regular roll of 120. That's because the shutter count is based on numbers of rolls through the camera, not actual shutter actuations.
I've looked at the GX680s and heard that the achilles heel is the battery system that runs the camera. Not sure if the bellows offering perspective control is worth the trouble. I think it's one of the ".... well, I had one of those once.... " cameras. However, I expect the image quality is par with all of Fuji's glass. Also looks like a "..... Damn, now I gotta hire a Sherpa...." camera.
If you want 6X8, Fuji has another option...
The Fuji Rangefinder was built in 680 format for Japan home market distribution. You can often find them for sale as the GW680xxxwhatever II or III. Often sold for prices similar to very nice 690's GW or GSW. They do show up in the US from time to time. Usually in good, low count condition.
The big Fuji rangefinders were used quite often with short rolls (4 exposures to the roll) for tourist photography, and are now appearing in big numbers out of Japan on eBay. The 680 gave an additional image. The beauty of these cameras used for short roll photography is that the shutter count is half of a regular roll of 120. That's because the shutter count is based on numbers of rolls through the camera, not actual shutter actuations.
I've looked at the GX680s and heard that the achilles heel is the battery system that runs the camera. Not sure if the bellows offering perspective control is worth the trouble. I think it's one of the ".... well, I had one of those once.... " cameras. However, I expect the image quality is par with all of Fuji's glass. Also looks like a "..... Damn, now I gotta hire a Sherpa...." camera.
VictorM.
Well-known
I used one when they first came out in the late 80's. The lenses are very sharp and the film is held flatter than in any other mf camera system, giving amazingly sharp images. They are BIG for a medium format slr and really are better used on a tripod.
Some photographers found them 'plasticky' looking/feeling at the time. The rechargeable battery packs are an issue but can be replaced by an adapter using AA cells.
Most of my clients resisted the small format and I moved on to 4X5 and 8X10 studio cameras.
Some photographers found them 'plasticky' looking/feeling at the time. The rechargeable battery packs are an issue but can be replaced by an adapter using AA cells.
Most of my clients resisted the small format and I moved on to 4X5 and 8X10 studio cameras.
DamenS
Well-known
I owned a version two and 4 lenses for a while. It is a great camera except for two things: It's size and weight is INCREDIBLE - I had the special strap for it but would never consider hand holding it. It truly is a massive camera. The other thing which concerned me was the reliance on proprietary batteries/electronics in general. Electronics wouldn't have concerned me as much in a cheaper medium format camera, but ...
PS - The EBC lenses are brilliant, as Fuji lenses always are. In the end I decided that, since it would be difficult to handhold anyway I may as well get a Large Format camera (and I then got a Fuji 690 rangefinder as well).
PS - The EBC lenses are brilliant, as Fuji lenses always are. In the end I decided that, since it would be difficult to handhold anyway I may as well get a Large Format camera (and I then got a Fuji 690 rangefinder as well).
ph.otographer.com
Newbie
Gx680 experiences
Gx680 experiences
I've used it and own one. GX680 I variant, with several lenses and backs. You can get a polaroid back as well and really go to town getting the right shot before you slot in your film. Developing 120 commercially can be tricky, there are a number of places that handle send out service and or if you're in a big city there's usually at least one place left that does it.
The lens variety is considerable, from 50mm, 60mm, 80mm, 100mm, a few in between like 125, 180, a 250 and then a 300. There are two 'zooms' that are fairly rare, as can be the 50mm.
I bought the AA holder from a GX680 III and it looks like it had been ever so gently filed by the previous owner, likely to work with an earlier version like mine, which it does flawlessly. The rechargable batteries associated with the camera are pretty much toast these days, so you need the AA holder to be able to work. My gen 1 series also works with gen 3 backs with no problem, so I've got two 120 backs and typically keep b&w in one and color in the other. Coupled with the polariod, it's an easy to get just the right shot. It's also easy to get the other battery used by the camera (in the film backs) at your local camera store, and i'm still on my first replacement pair (one per back.)
I'm also a big guy, over 6 feet, and while yes it's heavy, it's managable. I had a tripod on my recent trek to a state park with lots of caverns and stairs, and while I was dragging after 3 or 4 hours, it was still workable. That might be a bit much for some folks tho. It's not light.
The film shot on this page was taken with the GX680, I would not at all classify it as clinical or harsh. http://ph.otographer.com/landscape-photography I'd chalk that comment about such shots on flickr to bad filters in post processing.
It's a camera that is great fun to shoot with. If you're considering taking the plunge, I highly recommend it.
Gx680 experiences
I've used it and own one. GX680 I variant, with several lenses and backs. You can get a polaroid back as well and really go to town getting the right shot before you slot in your film. Developing 120 commercially can be tricky, there are a number of places that handle send out service and or if you're in a big city there's usually at least one place left that does it.
The lens variety is considerable, from 50mm, 60mm, 80mm, 100mm, a few in between like 125, 180, a 250 and then a 300. There are two 'zooms' that are fairly rare, as can be the 50mm.
I bought the AA holder from a GX680 III and it looks like it had been ever so gently filed by the previous owner, likely to work with an earlier version like mine, which it does flawlessly. The rechargable batteries associated with the camera are pretty much toast these days, so you need the AA holder to be able to work. My gen 1 series also works with gen 3 backs with no problem, so I've got two 120 backs and typically keep b&w in one and color in the other. Coupled with the polariod, it's an easy to get just the right shot. It's also easy to get the other battery used by the camera (in the film backs) at your local camera store, and i'm still on my first replacement pair (one per back.)
I'm also a big guy, over 6 feet, and while yes it's heavy, it's managable. I had a tripod on my recent trek to a state park with lots of caverns and stairs, and while I was dragging after 3 or 4 hours, it was still workable. That might be a bit much for some folks tho. It's not light.
The film shot on this page was taken with the GX680, I would not at all classify it as clinical or harsh. http://ph.otographer.com/landscape-photography I'd chalk that comment about such shots on flickr to bad filters in post processing.
It's a camera that is great fun to shoot with. If you're considering taking the plunge, I highly recommend it.