Best Place in North America for Buying a Fuji 6x9

[Filson Back]

Any wisdom on this is appreciated: I'm considering buying Fuji Professional 6x9. I'm on a color photography kick and the richness and rendering of MF film appeals. I'd love to buy one of the many fine examples available on Ebay from Japan but it seems such a long way to travel with greater risk of knocking the rangefinder out of alignment. If anyone knows of a good US source let me know. KEH is out, B&H is out.

 

[Calzone]

I happen to buy my GL690 and GM670 from Japan. Not sure if you are interested in Texas Leicas. Really no worries other than a longer wait into the U.S. All the interchangable lenses are single coated except the 100/3.5 AE which is multicoated.

I happen to have found a 100/3.5 AE with a dead selenium cell for no money. I ended up buying an inexpensive regular 100/3.5 that I bought as a donor lens for the barrel, and had Frank Marshman basically build me a custom lens so that I have a manual focus non AE multicoated 100/3.5.

In all my dealings with Japanese sellers there really is no reason not to buy from them. Honor and honesty is a big part of their culture, and there is only a little bit longer wait for shipping.

For the older Fuji's I highly recommend using Frank Marshman, understand that he is retired, but he still takes on some work.

All the best.

Cal

 

[Chubberino]

Just get it from Japan.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

My North America experience with buying from Japan is - it comes very well packaged and delivery from Japan is often twice faster than delivery from nearby States. I have items delivered in three days from Japan numerous times. From paying to getting pickup note from local post office. And it is still normal shipping cost. No extra.

Paying by PayPal, they are dispatching it immediately, it is leaving Japan within six or so hours and accepted by Canadian customs, Canada Post next day morning, third day morning it is delivered to local post office and on same day afternoon I'm getting pickup note in the mail box.

 

[Huss]

My experience from buying two of these from Japan is they were claimed to be mint, perfect etc (I bought the second one to replace the first one. Thinking that using a different seller would result in a different experience)
Both had haze and fungus. And denied it even when I sent pics of the fungus! I ended up buying in North America.
p.s. I bought a perfect Xpan from Japan, so some sellers are good. Just remember these Fuji were pro cameras that were often used hard and put away wet..

 

[Filson Back]

Thanks for your thoughts all. Overall the examples on Ebay from Japan mostly look great and the sellers have solid feedback -- it's really a distance thing, the more it travels the greater the chance of issues. That said maybe give the rapid trip it's ok.

 

[f16sunshine]

Place a want to buy add here in the rff classified.
I bought and sold my last one here on the forum.
In the 6 years between those two events I was able to make a lot of nice images... now someone else is doing so.
There may be someone ready to sell now. It's free to list a wtb ad so nothing to lose in trying.

All of these cameras are second hand at this point... getting a first hand account of the cameras performance/issues is key to a successful purchase.

 

[Skiff]

Any wisdom on this is appreciated: I'm considering buying Fuji Professional 6x9. I'm on a color photography kick and the richness and rendering of MF film appeals. I'd love to buy one of the many fine examples available on Ebay from Japan but it seems such a long way to travel with greater risk of knocking the rangefinder out of alignment. If anyone knows of a good US source let me know. KEH is out, B&H is out.

You also may have a look at trustworty European sources. I've used some of them in the past and have been very satiesfied. No problems at all.
Some sources for example are
http://www.ffordes.co.uk/
https://cameraventures.com/
http://team-foto.de/index.php?language=de
http://photohaus.de/

 

[J enea]

I bought one from KEH a few years ago and one recently from Japan. Both were as described and more importantly, both had a posted return exchange option if needed. That made me pay a little more for my camera luckily neither needed that option.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Buy from Japan. Their EMS is quick and efficient; I've had completely satisfactory results from Japanese sellers. No issue for a lens or perhaps a 35mm body, but might be expensive for a Texas Leica.

 

[wjlapier]

I wouldn't hesitate buying from a Japanese seller. Ask questions about concerns you might have that way there is a "paper" trail in the messages on eBay. That said, I did have to return a Leica M6 once. Seller was very apologetic and quickly agreed to accept the camera and once received the camera quickly refunded me the money. But other than that, I've never had a problem buying cameras ( and Shimano Stella reels ) from Japan.

 

[frperdurabo]

Joining the chorus of those saying "buy from Japan."

Before doing so I'd check the local Craigslist, as you might get lucky. The shipping charges are higher from Japan, but it's rare to find more than 1-2 from North American sellers, which you can select for on eBay. These were a cult item even when new and never sold in huge quantities. It's about finding one in the condition you want at a price you want to pay.

95% of the film gear I own came from Japan - never had a problem with shipping damage.

I LOVE 6x9, but went the Mamiya Press route. Have zero regrets, because as the Soviet general Marshal Zhukov observed, "quantity has a quality all its own."

 

[Trigeek]

Another route would be to buy from Japan but use a service that makes sure you get a good camera. I have used Bellamy Hunt from Japan Camera Hunters (http://www.japancamerahunter.com/) in the past and was very pleased with the condition of the camera. You pay for his services, but he makes sure you get the quality. You could contact Bellamy, let him know what you are looking for and the price range you are willing to pay. See what he comes up with.

That said, I have never had a problem buying cameras from Japan or Korea. I just make sure they have a high rating from at least 100 customers.

 

[taomei]

I just found this thread and wanted to ask people who might know - where would you get the RF calibrated / serviced if I found out that it seems to be front-focusing ever-so-slightly on the 180mm / 5.6?

Any places in the USA that still services these? Or would it have to be a self-repair (I don't have any optical benches that would allow me to check for lens focus).

 

[Huss]

Give these guys a call

http://www.stevecamera.com/contact.html

 

[BLKRCAT]

shame I sold mine a couple weeks ago.

 

[aizan]

the only reservation i'd have about buying from japan is that the translations aren't so great. there's lots of grey area between "mint" and "ex+++++" and things that really are mint.

 

[Huss]

the only reservation i'd have about buying from japan is that the translations aren't so great. there's lots of grey area between "mint" and "ex+++++" and things that really are mint.

Yup, as I mentioned my two mint/perfect GW690 IIIs had fungus and haze.

I did get a perfect Fuji TX-1 in a different transaction with a third seller, but my ebay Japan interactions have me batting at .333
So for me, I would not do it again unless I used a service like Bellamy/Japan Camera Hunter who will verify properly the condition of the camera before you get it. Problem is, that comes at a fee (understandable).

 

[taomei]

Thanks for the suggestion! I hope these old mechanical cameras and leaf shutters stay serviceable for a long time!

 

[David Murphy]

I've had some problems with Japanese eBay sellers in regards to the misrepresented condition of lenses and cameras (the usual: stick iris blades, slow shutter speeds). Overall it's been fairly positive however, but some sellers are better than others for certain.