Fuji GSW690II problem..

[nfenton]

I finally picked up a Fuji GSW690II but I am having a problem, I have run five rolls through it so far and the third one I shot (4 rolls of Kodak VC 1 roll of Fuji Slide), when I pulled it from the camera, the roll was not tight at all, the film was almost falling off the spool. I'm pretty certain the film is ruined now, but what would cause this??

 

[d_ross]

ive had this problem, make sure when you load the film it starts off tight on the take-up spool and use kodak spools for kodak film and fuji for fuji etc. should solve your problem

 

[nfenton]

ive had this problem, make sure when you load the film it starts off tight on the take-up spool and use kodak spools for kodak film and fuji for fuji etc. should solve your problem

Okay, I'll keep that in mind. I used to own a hasselblad, so I am not new to loading medium format, I was just really surprised when I noticed that the spool was loose. I am hoping this is not a problem, instead just a mistake I made that can easily be corrected.

 

[david b]

were the bottom pins pushed all the way up?

 

[d_ross]

Its not a problem, its only an issue that arrises if you a, use the wrong spools or b, dont start the film tight on the takeup spool. Since making sure of both these, especially making sure it starts tight I have never had this happen again.

 

[nfenton]

Its not a problem, its only an issue that arrises if you a, use the wrong spools or b, dont start the film tight on the takeup spool. Since making sure of both these, especially making sure it starts tight I have never had this happen again.

I didn't realise that fuji and kodak spools were different. I have used Kodak and Fuji during a single shoot in my Hasselblad before with no problems. I also think this is why I didn't think about winding the film tight, the Hasselblad has that little lip where you feed the film through, while the Fuji sits loose until you begin tightening the spool.

I'm 99.99% sure now that this is only human error. I lost some film, but I can reshoot easily, just need to remember how to load the film correctly next time. :bang:

 

[d_ross]

Its a great camera I think, with a really good lens. Good luck with it.

 

[d_ross]

BTW, Ive had three fuji' RF's over the years two 645's and now the GSW690 and all have had this issue at some point. so it's not your camera. you just have to try to remember it when loading. I think there actually is a slight physical difference between Kodak and Fuji spools that exagerates the issue when going from one to the other.

 

[kuzano]

Spoken to in most Fuji manuals

Spoken to in most Fuji manuals

I have had a number of Fuji 645 rangefinders and currently have a very nice G690bl.

I concur with the comments about keeping pressure on the film roll as you begin the wind on for the first frame. I can't speak to the GW690II, but I do know that I have seen references to holding pressure on the roll across the film gate as you load the camera. I simply keep a thumb on the film roll as I do the first two lever winds after lining up the start line at the beginning of the film gate. Then I slide my thumb off the roll and close the door sharply. I am pretty sure I saw this in the GA645Zi manual and the GS645S Pro manual.

I don't know from special fuji spools. I have always just used what came with 120 roll film. Nothing unique. the only proprietary Kodak spool I recall is the very different (thinner) spool that came with 626 film (a Kodak product). Actual 120 roll film, as purchased in the market works fine in all my Fuji's.

I do know that before I learned this straightforward load process, I had a few rolls bunch up so bad, I thought I was going to damage the camera on the last few frames. It's also a reason I don't attempt 220 in my Fuji's, although that may be my own paranoia.