Fuji GF670 demo model on Photokina

[Ernst Dinkla]

There will be a demo model on the Photokina but distribution (and I guess service) will only be for the Fujifilm version in Japan. It is a cooperation of Fuji and Cosina. Whether Cosina will distribute it around the world isn't written. Wonder if that will be with a Voigtländer Bessa III name on the body (my speculation). Let that lens be a Heliar then and not just in name.

At the bottom of this page:

http://www.fujifilm.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/presse_1129.html?index=200809121522258865

Die professionelle Mittelformat Kamera Fujifilm GF670, die gemeinsam von Fujifilm und Cosina entwickelt wurde, ist ebenfalls auf der Photokina 2008 als Demoversion zu sehen. Die Kamera wird nur in Japan unter der Marke Fujifilm auf den Markt kommen.

Ernst Dinkla

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Thank you.

Although I had been hoping for a production model, not a demonstration version.

My auto translation system translates the penultimate paragraph as:

The professional central format camera Fujifilm GF670, which was developed together by Fujifilm and Cosina, is to be likewise seen on the Photokina 2008 as demo version. The camera will come only into Japan under the label Fujifilm on the market come.

So I guess we'll see it next week, but we can't buy it yet, and even then it looks as if it may be Japan market only so we'll have to make personal imports, or perhaps CameraQuest will import a small stock as he did with the Fuji Natura S a couple of years ago.

 

[oftheherd]

Hopefully that will be just test market, making it available only in Japan. I do understand there is a surprising market for film cameras there though.

 

[Solinar]

Since, FUJI is fronting the yen for the camera, I don't think that we will see a Bessa III. I'm hoping that it is available online through someone like the Matsui Store.

 

[Sorekara]

Although I had been hoping for a production model, not a demonstration version.

One of the camera magazines here (I think Shashin Kogyo but I don't remember for sure) did a feature on this camera a couple of months ago and claimed that it would be released (i.e. in a production version) in Japan this winter, so let's hope that's true and it doesn't lag too far behind Photokina.

 

[rbiemer]

There is an English language version of the press release here:
http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2008/pdf/release/overview_e.pdf
Rob

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I prefer it the way Apple make their product announcements.

Steve Jobs come on stage and shows the new computer or whatever, and often ends by saying that it will be in the shops first thing tomorrow morning.

 

[Ernst Dinkla]

There is an English language version of the press release here:
http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2008/pdf/release/overview_e.pdf
Rob

Slightly different phrasing between the two languages:
English: the camera will be marketed under the FUJIFILM brand in Japan only
German: the camera will only be marketed in Japan under the Fujifilm brand.

The last gave me the impression that Cosina might do us a favour.

Ernst Dinkla

 

[rbiemer]

Slightly different phrasing between the two languages:
English: the camera will be marketed under the FUJIFILM brand in Japan only
German: the camera will only be marketed in Japan under the Fujifilm brand.

The last gave me the impression that Cosina might do us a favour.

Ernst Dinkla

Subtle difference, indeed. Hopefully, Megapearls will be selling the camera.
Rob

 

[KoNickon]

So I infer Cosina is the actual manufacturer? A medium format folder was definitely on my "what do you want from Cosina?" wish list, so it looks like that's come true. Let's hope that this isn't just a limited run, only in Japan item. (Wouldn't a Heliar be great?)

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Cosina have made many cameras over the years for other companies, and most times it's been done subtly without many people being aware that Cosina were manufacturing on behalf of another company.

They are skilled at assembling high quality cameras, such as the Zeiss Ikon ZM.

It happens all the time; some Ford cars are made by Volkswagen, Porsche made some Mercedes at one time, Audi made some Porsches too...

even the latest Alfa Romeo is actually made in a Maserati factory and has an engine from Ferrari.

 

[aizan]

I prefer it the way Apple make their product announcements.

Steve Jobs come on stage and shows the new computer or whatever, and often ends by saying that it will be in the shops first thing tomorrow morning.

me too. at least we know it will have a great viewfinder.

 

[Argenticien]

Slightly different phrasing between the two languages:
English: the camera will be marketed under the FUJIFILM brand in Japan only
German: the camera will only be marketed in Japan under the Fujifilm brand.

The last gave me the impression that Cosina might do us a favour.

Without going too far into Clintonian word-parsing ("It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is"), I'll just say their English phrasing would drive a contracts attorney to distraction with its imprecision. If they were going to use highly precise English, they should have said "marketed only in Japan, under the Fujifilm brand" if they were truly trying to say it would not be sold at all outside Japan. Given that they didn't say that, and given Ernst's translation of the German, I'd agree that the "only" is meant to limit where the Fujifilm brand will be applied, not where the camera will be marketed at all.

BTW:

• In Spanish, they say "la cámara se comercializará sólo en Japón con la marca FUJIFILM" (...marketed only in Japan with the FUJIFILM brand)
• In French, "L’appareil sera commercialisé sous la marque FUJIFILM au Japon seulement" (...marketed under the FUJIFILM brand in Japan only)

So those doesn't really help drive toward convergence!
--Dave

 

[Ernst Dinkla]

There will be a demo model on the Photokina but distribution (and I guess service) will only be for the Fujifilm version in Japan. It is a cooperation of Fuji and Cosina. Whether Cosina will distribute it around the world isn't written. Wonder if that will be with a Voigtländer Bessa III name on the body (my speculation). Let that lens be a Heliar then and not just in name.


Ernst Dinkla

Score of 90% correct in my speculations. Cosina will distribute it around the world. The name Voigtländer Bessa III on top of the body. The Fuji model with GF670. Have some (phone) pictures of the bodies and the specification sheet. 6x6 and 6x7 format.

Ernst Dinkla

Edited: must have overlooked the Heliar namer on the Voigtländer model.

 

[KoNickon]

6x6 also? By means of a mask, I presume -- but this isn't a "red window" camera, is it? Or is there some kind of mechanical way to switch the frames?

Or is the camera to be available in two different versions, 6x6 and 6x7?

 

[ath]

look here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63934&page=2

 

[Ernst Dinkla]

6x6 also? By means of a mask, I presume -- but this isn't a "red window" camera, is it? Or is there some kind of mechanical way to switch the frames?

Or is the camera to be available in two different versions, 6x6 and 6x7?

Text on the sheet next to the display:

The GF670 is a highly portable, folding bellows camera that allows extremely high-quality images to be taken using a high-performance lens unit. The camera is equipped with a unique mechanism for switching between two film formats, 6x7 and 6x6 cm.

The GF670 was jointly developed by Fujifilm Corporation and Cosina Co., Ltd. Fujifilm will be responsible for Japan sales, while Cosina will sell the product outside of Japan as the Voigtländer BESSA III.

Official announcements of the release of the product will be made soon.

Technical specifications.

Folding camera with coupled rangefinder
Film choice 120/220 film
6x7 cm (120-10 exp. / 220-20 exp.)
6x6 cm (120-12 exp. / 220-24 exp.)
80 mm/f3.5 (4 groups 6 elements)
Bright frame-type viewfinder
Automatic parallax compensation
Integral LED exposure metering indications
Electronically controlled lens shutter. 4-1/500 sec, B
Exposure control: SPD Sensor
Center-weighted averaging system
Aperture priority AE and manual switchover
Exposure compensation approx 2EV in 1/3EV steps
Film speed: Manual setting, ISO25-3200 (1/3EV step accuracy)
Manual film wind by winding knob
Mechanical-type counter
120/220 (changeable)
6x7/6x6 (changeable)
CR2 (3v) lithium battery


Ernst Dinkla

(so no red window)

 

[J J Kapsberger]

I bow to Fuji. A new MF camera in this day and age. I shall buy one.

 

[visiondr]

Excellent. Such an announcement can only bring smiles. I hope it works as well as it sounds and sells as well as it works. 😀

 

[peter_n]

Very, very cool. 2009 is going to be a very expensive year.