Can you handhold the GSW690?

S

Spluff

Saras
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Hello All,

I need another MF Camera in my life, and I was looking at the GSW690III. It's been a few years since I have seen one, and remember it being somewhat larger than a regular RF!

Quick question then; how feasible is it to use handheld? I would be using it whilst travelling around Europe - and for those who have experience of both, ergonomically, would a TLR be that much better (I have a Rolleiflex). I appreciate they are two very different cameras; I'm just trying to get a sense of practicality (using a tripod is often not feasible)

Thanks in advance!
 
perfectly easy to handhold , I have the normal one (without S), and have no problem. if you're worried about shake with longer shutter times, just put asa400 in it, or higher :)
 
The main limitation isn't the size/shape/weight of the body, it's that the maximum aperture of the lens is f/5.6, so in indoor available light situations you'll run into shutter speed trouble pretty quickly. The GW (90mm f/3.5 rather than 65mm f/5.6) gives you a little more latitude in that respect than the GSW.
 
Spluff, I've used both cameras extensively. You can very easily handhold the Fuji. i've dragged them around the Alps too. As much as i like the big negative for enlargements, the Rollei is much more pleasant and discreet to travel with. At times that is a big consideration.
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Deardorff38, thanks for the insight. I think it is that visceral thrill of seeing a large transparency on a light box that excites me (I guess we have to get our highs somewhere - and seriously makes me wonder why anyone would want to do digital!)

But equally, you are right, there is something about travelling with a Rolleiflex!

Also thanks to all who gave me their valuable insight on handholding - I guess I need to be aware of the f5.6, although I don't tend to shoot much indoors (thanks for heads up Oren Grad).
 
Spluff..... on the other hand the decision is sometimes based on desired outcome. On my last trip i was going to Villnoss in the Dolomites and had this rectangular image in mind.....so i bought a Fuji GW680 for the trip and sold it afterwards. The 20x24" print is magic.
My current solution to the conundrum is the rather svelte Plaubel Makina 670.
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Deardorff38 said:
Spluff..... on the other hand the decision is sometimes based on desired outcome. On my last trip i was going to Villnoss in the Dolomites and had this rectangular image in mind.....so i bought a Fuji GW680 for the trip and sold it afterwards. The 20x24" print is magic.
My current solution to the conundrum the small-sized Plaubel 670.
Click to expand...

Just ... wow! I feel I could almost be there!

The Plaubel - lovely, but the prices are ridiculous, over £2k. I had a Mamiya 6 once, didn't really take to it, so I sold it. Kind of regret it now.
 
Spluff said:
Just ... I had a Mamiya 6 once, didn't really take to it, so I sold it. Kind of regret it now.
Click to expand...

Spluff, I used the Mamiya 6 for about 5 years, after seeing a show in Cody Wy by Adam Jahiel "The Last Cowboy." The 16" and 20" square prints were beautiful

It handled like pocket-sized point and shoot after the Fujis....I loved the ergonomics and got some very fine results from it. Ultimately, i became concerned about the aging electronics. The 50mm lens was especially fine. If they made a (modern) mechanical version, i be using it.
 
Agree with everyone, very hand holdable but watch f5.6. With 100 speed film that can start getting into fairly low shutter speeds relatively quickly. If you are steady the leaf shutter will let you shoot pretty slowly too though. KEH has 5 of them right now.

Shawn
 
shawn said:
Agree with everyone, very hand holdable but watch f5.6. With 100 speed film that can start getting into fairly low shutter speeds relatively quickly. If you are steady the leaf shutter will let you shoot pretty slowly too though. KEH has 5 of them right now.

Shawn
Click to expand...

Thanks Shawn, noted on the shutter speed. Unfortunately, I'm in the UK - rather poorly served for 2nd hand cameras compared to the US and Japan.
 
KEH will ship to UK;

I used to handhold a RB67. Therefore a Texas Leica should be ok.

Problem is very big to travel.
 
Ronald M said:
KEH will ship to UK;

I used to handhold a RB67. Therefore a Texas Leica should be ok.

Problem is very big to travel.
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Thanks Ronald. In the UK, the postal service has cottoned on to buying from abroad, and so I have to add 20% for sales tax, plus their handling fee. In the good old days (being when George Bush Jr was around) the dollar to pound conversion and no sales tax meant I bought a tonne of stuff from the US or HK. And in those days I could buy from Stephen as well - but with distributors also becoming restrictive about selling outside of the designated territories, you'd be surprised how hard it is to get the good stuff in the UK now.

Also, noted on travelling with the GSW - I do need to think where I would use that over the Rolleiflex.

RB67 - awesome camera, my father's personal favourite!
 
Spluff.... another photo for context for you: the Fuji is a lot bigger

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I have had a GW690 (90mm f3.5 lens) as my sole MF camera since 2014. On the last years I got a Rolleicord that needs a CLA and a Holga, if those count on the stable.

Absolutely yes, and I do it the whole time. I think the GW690 gets a bad rap for size, bearing in mind it is 6x9. The largest of the "standard" Medium Formats. My decision back at the time I got it was towards a "Titan" camera that I could still handhold, and the other option was a Pentax 67. However, the latter was more expensive for older specimens and heavier. The Fuji weighs roughly 1.5kg, which a heavy 35mm SLR such a Nikon F5-6 can easily match. The volume is quite noticeable and in that I agree that it has a bit of a clownish appearance. People are amused at the size of the camera and to be honest I don't use it too much around crowds. The 90mm version is quite good for environmental portraits.
HP5 and Portra 400, you can shoot most of the day.

The talk about slides reminds me that I should shoot them more, as I got a few packs of frozen Provia 100F. Take a look at 4x5" (which is a format 2x 6x9) color film prices and 6x9 will feel quite a nice option price wise.

I would wish for a Mamiya 6 or GF670, that I thought as well back in 2014. These seem perfect compact options, but, for the price of one of those you can get 3 different MF cameras that cover other formats and specialties.
 
I did night pictures with a FujicaG690 once, HP5@1600, no tripod - came out fine. And it is heavier than than a GSW... so you should be fine, just watch your speed.
 
The 6x9 Fujis were originally reportage cameras. They're made for handholding. :D

You can reliably get down to EV8 with ISO 400 film in the GSW.
 
Wonderful cameras, but if you want to get all of the resolving power that the optics and film are capable of, hold it very steady. Used in faster-moving situations like snapshots, I thought much of the advantage of the larger format versus 6x4.5 was lost.

For whatever reason, my GSW III seemed to amuse people, maybe it looked like a toy or a movie prop to them?
 
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