Comments on Fuji rangefinders, alternatives in MF?

Comments on Fuji rangefinders, alternatives in MF?

  • Fuji GS645x

    Votes: 41 13.1%

  • Fuji GA645x

    Votes: 54 17.3%

  • Rob a bank, get a Mamiya 7

    Votes: 76 24.4%

  • MF SLR-s are not heavy. It's all in your head!

    Votes: 23 7.4%

  • some TLR

    Votes: 44 14.1%

  • that 1950's folder X is so great (I will ignore these, I think)

    Votes: 14 4.5%

  • It's all madness, just shoot with what you have.

    Votes: 60 19.2%
  • Total voters
    312
Just some thoughts here.

Just some thoughts here.

I've never seen a Fuji GS645 folder with an original bellows that did not have light leaks. The original bellows was a synthetic material that failed frequently. When I find one of these, I try to buy it cheap enough to allow for bellows replacement ($125 to $150-CameraWiz)

I quit buying them when I found out the GS series shutters were all subject to malfunction in extreme cold.... the folder, the GS645S and the GS645W.

OTOH, I had a GA6454Zi with a shutter count of 34,250 and running well up til I sold it. I've had three of the Zi, and consider that camera the best of all the 645s from Fuji.

The dilemma with the rangefinder 645's including the Bronica is the portrait mode vs landscape mode of viewing. Takes a bit of getting use to.

Someone mentioned the Mamiya 645 SLR, which I have had a number of and find them quite durable, with great glass.

But before I would buy another 645 Mamiya, I would buy a Bronica SLR ETRSi.... for two big reasons. Leaf Shutters and there are backs for that MF camera allowing you to shoot panoramic 35mm at 56mm long, and to shoot 35mm film in the conventional landscape mode.

The Bronica ETRS or ETRSi, is lighter and slightly smaller than the Mamiya. The pricing for the Bronica's is low for excellent rated cameras. The glass is exceptional. Have had four of these in the ETR, ETRS and ETRSi models. They can be had within your budget. The unique accessory (35mm film) backs come up on eBay more frequently than one might imagine.

Do not buy the GS645 folder unless it has a documented replacement bellows, and even then, I've been told nothing can be done IF you get one that suffers in extreme cold. In fact, the extreme cold issue should be a consideration on any older leaf shutter lens. Old lube and cold weather do not cooperate well together. (Besides... who shoots in weather as cold as you mention.... Oh... OK, you do.)
 
The Kodak Medalists are big, but have a fixed Ektar lens that istoo good to believe for a 1940's camera. Rangefinder is a bit quirky but will not even misalign when you hit a streetrobber over the head with it. A good one can easily be had under 400 USD.

A Horseman VH-R sometimes is very cheap on eBay. Get a Kodak Ektar lens from a Baby Graflex for it. The Horseman 970 is nice as well.

Or, you can contact fellow RFF-member Ezzie to ask directions in building your own lightweight wide-angle scale focus 6x9. He's done that and the lens was the most expensive part of it.
 
pentax 645, mamiya 645.... I had both.... both great camera (I prefer mamiya)
.. why not hasselblad 500C .. you can find (sometimes) on ebay for 400$ (sometimes less)... if you prefer 645 add a mask.
or koni omega if you prefer 6x7..... (around 2 Kg I think......:()



noone of my solution is really compact.....sorry!!
 
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kuzano said:
I've never seen a Fuji GS645 folder with an original bellows that did not have light leaks. The original bellows was a synthetic material that failed frequently. When I find one of these, I try to buy it cheap enough to allow for bellows replacement ($125 to $150-CameraWiz)

I quit buying them when I found out the GS series shutters were all subject to malfunction in extreme cold.... the folder, the GS645S and the GS645W.

- - -

Do not buy the GS645 folder unless it has a documented replacement bellows, and even then, I've been told nothing can be done IF you get one that suffers in extreme cold. In fact, the extreme cold issue should be a consideration on any older leaf shutter lens. Old lube and cold weather do not cooperate well together. (Besides... who shoots in weather as cold as you mention.... Oh... OK, you do.)
Click to expand...

This sounds bad. The colder days of winter are probably my favourite time to shoot (aesthetically, I mean. Physically it is quite unpleasant as you can imagine).

peipsi1.jpg


Lake Peipus after sundown, something between -25C and -30C. GRD III, cropped.
 
buzzardkid said:
The Kodak Medalists are big, but have a fixed Ektar lens that istoo good to believe for a 1940's camera. Rangefinder is a bit quirky but will not even misalign when you hit a streetrobber over the head with it. A good one can easily be had under 400 USD.

A Horseman VH-R sometimes is very cheap on eBay. Get a Kodak Ektar lens from a Baby Graflex for it. The Horseman 970 is nice as well.

Or, you can contact fellow RFF-member Ezzie to ask directions in building your own lightweight wide-angle scale focus 6x9. He's done that and the lens was the most expensive part of it.
Click to expand...

Having read through the thread again, rolling my own starts to look like a good idea. Food for thought, here. At least I'd know who to blame when I end up with a lemon :D.
 
I've not used the Fuji 645s but I do use the Bronica RF645, Mamiya 7 and the Fuji 6x9s - all good cameras, but I agree the Mamiyas are expensive. The 6x9 Fujis are large for an RF but smaller than many of the MF SLRs being discussed and are quite light for their size. The negs are very large and they are easy to use and very solid.

I'd also suggest looking for a bargain on a Bronica RF645 - there are a few on eBay now for 350-600 GBP - more than you mentioned but a lot less than a Mamiya 7, and the Bronica is a wonderfully compact and light camera for medium format, with compact and excellent lenses.
 
Well, the best match for your specs, but way outside your budget would be the Makina 67 or 67W...
 
I've used the Fuji folder as well as the Mamiyas. My suggestion: get the Mamiya 645. I've used it in cold weather with no problems. The Fuji is great and compact but might not be the best for cold weather. Consider a solid M3 or Barnack for sub zero work.
 
Mamiya 7 hands down. I cant be more happy with mine, I travel a lot and its a pleasure to hold it and shoot with it. Maybe you can find some systems for 600-700usd (I bought mine at Ebay for 700$ with lens in perfect condition).
If bucks are an issue, then the RB67 is a great value for money, but its super heavy not only to carry it but also to hold it while shooting.
good luck.
 
What's the fuss with winter and cold weather ? If you carry your camera under your coat and take it out only when wanting to take a picture, I always works at a temperature close to your body's. I use various MF folders when skiing and carry them in the inner pocket of my anorak all the day long. I also had a Minox 35 with me sometimes and got no issues either.

A fuji GS645S could be used too, but maybe would bulge a little under the coat (a Pentax 67 would be out of question :) ).

Paul
 
polka said:
What's the fuss with winter and cold weather ? If you carry your camera under your coat and take it out only when wanting to take a picture, I always works at a temperature close to your body's. I use various MF folders when skiing and carry them in the inner pocket of my anorak all the day long. I also had a Minox 35 with me sometimes and got no issues either.

A fuji GS645S could be used too, but maybe would bulge a little under the coat (a Pentax 67 would be out of question :) ).

Paul
Click to expand...

I take my time shooting. So, the camera will inevitably cool down to outside temps. Bringing a freezing-temperature camera into a warm place (inside your coat, car with heat on) means instant condensation/frost on and inside the camera, leading to corrosion later. Very bad idea.

I always shoot my cameras "cold" and let them warm up in the bag over several hours. No problems so far. But I currently only use new/modern cameras that don't have 20-yr old lube in their shutters :rolleyes:
 
Ott, I would definitely think of first getting a TLR to get an idea what you can accomplish with larger negatives. TLR lenses are in most cases absolutely first class (if you can live with a 50mm equivalent). I live a bit north from you and use a TLR in all seasons, I've had absolutely no problems in cold weather or rain. A Yashica 124 or a Rolleicord V or even a Rolleiflex T would definitely fit in your budget. Just get one that has been used and serviced. Attic finds from *bay are usually no good.
 
If you were buying in the USA, for $300 you could get a Rapid Omega with a great 90mm lens AND a 58mm lens AND the 58mm finder. You could do a lot worse.
 
Hi Steve

Hi Steve

The Rolleiflex is one MF TLR I'd like to try. I want something non RF like that will intentionally slow me down, like 2 or 3 shots a day/outing max.

What model has the best IQ?


Steve M. said:
I've owned several of the GA645s Fujis. They're basically a plastic camera w/ loud shutters, and all of mine had to have their shutters repaired. No new parts are available for this either. I've also owned a Fuji 6x9 rangefinder and a Mamiya 7. Didn't like them. The Fuji is HUGE. Wow, it's big. The Mamiya felt fragile (the film transport actually is), the rangefinder wouldn't stay aligned, and I didn't care for the image quality of either, although others like them.

Just buy a Rolleiflex or a Bessa II or Bessa RF w/ a Heliar or Skopar lens. By any standards you wish to use, they have the best image quality in MF photography, and are built to a much higher level. Let me tell you what I've seen w/ my own eyes from large prints-the older German medium format lenses will blow away any modern medium format camera except the Bessa III by a considerable margin. I even had to sell my 'blad because it wasn't up to the Rolleiflex Planar I used.
Click to expand...
 
The Fuji II & III 120/220 are big but they are not heavy, I don't think it weighs much more than my Meica M7. I've had a few in the past and have a GSW690 right now. I don't know what is supposed to wear out on these on cameras but I've never had one let me down yet. Very simple robust mechanism. Leaf shutters are very dependable also, and very easy to service. No different than a view camera. $400 a stretch but find one heavily used and you'll be happy. Of course mine is heavily used and I wouldn't let it go for less than $600.
 
Well I have both a GS645S and GS645W and have had to have the 645W repaired for advance problems when I purchased it used. If you treat them nice after that I have had no problems. Also picked up a Koni with the 90, 58, 180 must be the most under appreciated camera out their. It's big and heavy but the lenses are great, I also picked up a Linhof 220 6x7 vertical RF a dream to use but big and awkward to carry around, and any time it needs service you get to pay for the camera all over again.

wbill
 
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