Fuji GF670/ Bessa 667 review

I hope these are not too big for the forum....


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I did buy the camera through Dirk at Japan Exposures, Dirk just asked me to jot down some observations about the camera.
 
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Film for all of them was Neopan 400 developed in paRodinal at 20 degree’s C for 11 mins.
 
Nice to see. These are the first real shots from a user I've seen and they make me wish all the more that I could afford one.

Still, in a humorous irony, in today's mail was the Voightlander Bessa I today that I picked since there was no way I'll be able to afford a III anytime soon. A nice light 6x9 with a scale focusing triplet. I'll have to put some FP4+ through it in the morning.

William
 
Another image that has been added to the review.

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I've another 9 roll's to develop from this afternoon's walkabout.

If I could add to the review one point, it would be, for me, the camera is bloody fantastic!!
 
Andrew,

Thank you for your comments. The lack off comments here actually surprised me, I was starting to think that people were ignoring me or worse, thinking that I'm making money out off this with Dirk at Japan Exposures (I'm not....). I've actually went out of my way to shoot more film (all new uploaded images were shot on Friday, the previous ones on Monday) so that people could see what this camera can do.

The scooter here cost around $1,000 depending on manufacturer with the Chinese models being cheaper than the like os Honda. In the province it’s the most common form of transport but my wife won't let me have one, I keep falling off them. :)

I use paRodinal, the home made developer from Paracetamol. I use it because its about the best I can get locally, a local photographer makes it for me so I don't have the exact formula, he tell's me its his own recipe and not one off the ones that is available on the net. My other choices are XTOL, D76 and HC110. D76 and XTOL are readily available in the only Pro lab left in the country, HC110 is only available infrequently.
I have a stock of HC110 and D76 but prefer the tones, the sharpness and the grain I get with paRodinal. However I'll be importing some chemicals soon (not much is available in the Philippines) to try a few other developers.

Buko juice is the water from coconuts, young coconuts with some of the soft flesh of the coconut shredded into the juice. Very sweet!



Mike
 
Mike, thanks for the review and the interesting pictures. I notice your pictures have quite deep DOF, did you have to use slow shutter speeds and how hand-holdable is the camera at low speeds?
 
The shots were all taken between 3pm and 5pm so there was no shortage of light. All probably around f11 or f16. The camera is very hand holdable at slow speed's, ⅛ of a second isn't a problem, ¼ of a second might be pushing your luck though.
 
I read the review a few days ago but I did not find time to respond yet. It is good to read this first hand review, not a dumb lab test but a test of real use, with real pictures. Very nice pictures indeed. If the camera was not so expensive, I would buy one right away.
I will therefore keep on using my Fuji GW670III and GS645S.

Thanks for the review and the wonderful photos,

Frank

www.flickr.com/photos/asialover
 
Nice pics, but nothing that screams MF to me. Maybe its because something was lost in scans. BUt so far - I have no wish for that camera based on the pics I have seen. Smae could be taken with 35 mm Leica. My 1930's Weltas seem to do as well. Keep in mind - I'm talking about technical aspect, not artistic one - I do like the pics.
Maybe I just expected more from a camera that costs so much?
 
Its funny how people perceive things differently. I'd like a digital Rangefinder but find the cost of the two offerings available too much. To me, these cameras are just lumps of consumer electronics yet a camera like the Fuji GF670/Bessa 667 to me isn't just a lump of electronics (although it does have an electronic shutter).

I'd consider buying a new, maybe even an A La Carte MP but I'd never consider paying that for an M8.

For me it was a couple of grand well spent, I'm extremely happy with the results and the way the camera feels and operates so well agree to disagree...... :)
 
mgd711, I've enjoyed your reviews and assume many more are reading and anticipating information to help with their purchase decisions. Could you diagram the viewfinder, or provide a link, I can't find the manual posted by Voigtlander or Fuji on the web.

How would you characterize the light meter, 20% center weight? Accurate, over/under?. Does the viewfinder have an indication, dotted line circle or shading, of the coverage?

Are the shutter speeds and f-stops visible in the viewfinder? I assume, in aperture mode, when I rotate the aperture ring the SS will change and both shown in the finder. Also when compensated, say +1 exposure, is that indicated in the finder?

I'm still confused about the focus, I have a Bessa II and understand coupled rangefinder focus as related to moving lenses, and wonder if the focus is apparent in the view finder in your GF670, I understand the Bessa is the same. Or do I transfer a rangefinder distance from the viewer to the lens and then shoot? My only rangefinder is the Bessa II and the focus is very nice.

There are other modern folders with light meters, and that convenience is driving my decision. I have a good light meter, spot incident etc. I want a 66 or 67 folder, I find my 69 negatives too large, i.e. less shots, and the 645 too small. I could pick up a small light meter, but in the end I am familiar with internal electronics and prefer the convenience.
 
Hi MGD, where di you get your Fuji GF670? I am also living in Manila and was wondering.. How does it compare with Bronica and Leica M6?
Cheers
G
 
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