Any reason not to get a Fuji GW690III

ChrisP

ChrisP

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Any reason other than weight not to get a Fuji GW690III? Any big downsides to it?

Also who services and what does a CLA usually cost? Will fuji take them or is there any Fuji expert (the John Hermanson of Fuji if you will).

Whats a good price for one in decent condition? Anything I should being looking at in particular when purchasing one?

Also just to double check. Does the epson 4490 scan 6x9 film? I assume it does but I want to make sure I don't miss out on any expenses I should factor in.

Thanks,
Chris
 
No, Yes, Varies, Yes.....

No, Yes, Varies, Yes.....

ChrisP said:
Any reason other than weight not to get a Fuji GW690III? Any big downsides to it?

Also who services and what does a CLA usually cost? Will fuji take them or is there any Fuji expert (the John Hermanson of Fuji if you will).

Whats a good price for one in decent condition? Anything I should being looking at in particular when purchasing one?

Also just to double check. Does the epson 4490 scan 6x9 film? I assume it does but I want to make sure I don't miss out on any expenses I should factor in.

Thanks,
Chris
Click to expand...

No, except no meter (which I prefer). I don't know why everybody thinks this is such a heavy camera. Bad press and haters. The III is not nearly as heavy at the early interchangeable model, and I carry two of those. One for my 100 lens and one for my 65.

My Fuji's... small and large (645 and 690) including my GSW690III are all serviced by Frank Marshman, Camera Wiz in Virginia. He can get new parts from Fuji, as he did with my GA645Zi about a year ago.

Price.... Hmmm. Time is your friend on that one. The inventory in the used market is very good, with high and low spots. You can buy an excellent plus III for $700-800. You can buy a user for $600 approx. Check KEH. They always have a good range from Ugly (which usually aren't) and probably have the biggest inventory outside of eBay. I find their prices quite competitive.

Lastly. Yes the 4490 has medium format capability. The film holders are CRAP!!!!!!!!. Same with the holders on the V500 and all the Epson scanners in general. Look at the Betterscanning film holders.

Anything else??

We can talk and talk and talk. You won't be fully informed until you load one and go shooting and then processing. Be sure to be sitting down when you open your first envelope of transparencies.

By the way, be sure you talk to someone about the "tricks" on properly loading any horizontal transport 6X9 medium format camera. You'll blow a couple of rolls and experience spacing problems until you learn how to load the film tight when closing the back door (keeping pressure on the takeup lever to keep the slack out of the film roll.)

Oh, pardon me... you didn't ask for that last part😱
 
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Chris.. you've got two threads basically the same with lots of suggestions.. I'd suggest you take the suggestions and run searches on the individual cameras mentioned. There's no short cuts for doing your own homework. Relying on our opinions won't make a good decision for your own style or use.

Good luck with your MF RF search, there's lots to choose from with many, many differences good and bad.
 
Hold out for a clean one without cracks in the plastic. The plastic isn't supposed to crack with age or any of that bull**** (it just means they dropped it!)

$6-700 best bang for the buck in a modern hi-rez camera.
 
Because there is also a II available for several hundred less? I have a II and a III, and much prefer the feel of the II.

Other reasons I can think of...You really enjoy low light hand held shooting without a flash? I'm talking situations where you'd normally need to get to f/2 or wider to get a reasonable shutter on 35mm.

Third reason.....You'll feel bad when your friends see your prints and they get that little sad face because they can't hit that level of quality with their latest & greatest camera? 😀
 
If you get to handle it before purchase, make sure the hood is operating smoothly. If it's out of round it can bind and cause problems. I like the iii with it's molded plastic case. The lens on these things will blow your mind. My last ii was $600 here on the classified with a roll count under 100. It's nearly new looking and a total cream puff. I bought another from KEH for $470 last winter in Bargain condition. Works the same, looks a bit rougher. I'm hoping to trade one for a wide (GSW) version. 🙂

You just gotta go for it and see for yourself.
 
The proof is in the images...

The proof is in the images...

I purchased my GSW690III... like new with box and all documents from a fellow named Don Metz. When I spoke with him, he gave me a link to his "neon highways" images on Pbase. The images convinced me. I paid $900 and also received about 25 rolls of Velvia fresh dated.

Here is the link... images made on a cross country journey and around Oregon. The Kent diner image shows a little gas station diner where my family always stopped for gas and hamburgers on trips to my grandparents when I was a wee sprite.

http://www.pbase.com/neonhighways/inbox
 
kuzano said:
I purchased my GSW690III... like new with box and all documents from a fellow named Don Metz. When I spoke with him, he gave me a link to his "neon highways" images on Pbase. The images convinced me.
Click to expand...

the images are nice, but I find that being at web resolution never really tends to never show off the true destructive power of the Fuji 690's image quality. A few times I've ended up mailing prints to people who still need some convincing. Always works.
 
Hmmm... ????

Hmmm... ????

Sjixxxy said:
the images are nice, but I find that being at web resolution never really tends to never show off the true destructive power of the Fuji 690's image quality. A few times I've ended up mailing prints to people who still need some convincing. Always works.
Click to expand...

"Destructive" as in blow your mind with the great Image Quality, OR "Destructive" as in showing the Fuji image quality to be inferior?

You puzzle me on that one. Years of shooting Bronica, Mamiya, Pentax, and Fuji, leave me in the Fujica/Fuji camp, in all the various bodies and formats. Sorry, no... not comparing Hasselblad here. Bang for the buck is my decider.
 
kuzano said:
"Destructive" as in blow your mind with the great Image Quality, OR "Destructive" as in showing the Fuji image quality to be inferior?

You puzzle me on that one. Years of shooting Bronica, Mamiya, Pentax, and Fuji, leave me in the Fujica/Fuji camp, in all the various bodies and formats. Sorry, no... not comparing Hasselblad here. Bang for the buck is my decider.
Click to expand...

Blow your mind type, in comparison to the 35mm and digital prints many people have only ever seen.
 
For someone brought up on 1980's SLRs the lack of a built-in meter is annoying but IMO it's not a big enough downside to not get the camera given its positive qualities.

Nitpick #1: I'm not a huge fan of the strange "shark-skin-like" surface finish of the plastic or the "soft" rubber focusing ring, both of which seem to attract more dust than usual (or at least make it more visible)

Nitpick #2: the filter threads on mine are kind of loose even though they are in perfect condition - it's as if the major diameter is a fraction of a mm too big. Once the filter is screwed all the way on it's fine, though

Nitpick #3: the shutter sound is not pleasant (a surprisingly loud and echo-ey "clang") but I am told most of this comes from tripping the frame counter - in any case it's not what you might expect from a leaf shutter!

FWIW I paid $800 or so for mine from KEH in EX+ condition and it is really nice.

Good luck with your choice!
Scott
 
ssmc said:
Nitpick #3: the shutter sound is not pleasant (a surprisingly loud and echo-ey "clang") but I am told most of this comes from tripping the frame counter - in any case it's not what you might expect from a leaf shutter!

Good luck with your choice!
Scott
Click to expand...

My gut, and the cameras guts, tell me this is passed down internet lore.

The shutter in the lens on my GW680iii is triggered by a metal shuttle that slides across from right to left (when looking from the back of the camera) when released by depressing the shutter. The counter, or its activation independent of the shuttle, is not responsible for the 'clang'.

Taking the plates off takes little effort for cleaning the viewfinder. Or resetting the counter. So save the cash and don't pay extra for 'LOW ACTUATIONS!'

And from looking at the insides, the things are seriously built to last.
 
MikeL said:
My gut, and the cameras guts, tell me this is passed down internet lore.

The shutter in the lens on my GW680iii is triggered by a metal shuttle that slides across from right to left (when looking from the back of the camera) when released by depressing the shutter. The counter, or its activation independent of the shuttle, is not responsible for the 'clang'.

Taking the plates off takes little effort for cleaning the viewfinder. Or resetting the counter. So save the cash and don't pay extra for 'LOW ACTUATIONS!'

And from looking at the insides, the things are seriously built to last.
Click to expand...

Cool - thanks for the info on the source of the shutter sound!

Scott
 
Nice photos ... but

Nice photos ... but

Kuzano,

I've seen these photos a lot, and they are very nice, but whether it's pbase or small 800pixel long originals he uploaded, they don't really show image quality better than a p&s or 35mm. They're just too low resolution.

Any enlarging of the pbase "original" shows pixellated lettering on the signs.

It's probably a great image and negative, but the guy's pbase gallery will never convey that the image quality is better than a small format or p&s digital in the current format.


kuzano said:
I purchased my GSW690III... like new with box and all documents from a fellow named Don Metz. When I spoke with him, he gave me a link to his "neon highways" images on Pbase. The images convinced me. I paid $900 and also received about 25 rolls of Velvia fresh dated.

Here is the link... images made on a cross country journey and around Oregon. The Kent diner image shows a little gas station diner where my family always stopped for gas and hamburgers on trips to my grandparents when I was a wee sprite.

http://www.pbase.com/neonhighways/inbox
Click to expand...
 
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