Fuji GW670 MkIII

[Poppers]

Any reason not to buy the Fuji GW 670 MKIII? I want a portable 6x7 camera for travel and shots of my son. I've been using a borrowed RB67 which I love but want something quicker to shoot and easier to carry.

Money no object i may have gone for the GF670 or a Mamiya 7 however they are a bit much for me at the moment. Currently have a Nikon F4 and Leica M6 but use the M6 more than anything really.

Apologies if this has been asked before.

Regards
Pop

 

[lam]

Reasons to buy MKIII:
Better VF, better RF patch, arguably better/younger build, go for a fair price now.

Reasons to not buy MKIII:
The MKII exists for roughly half the cost, see above positives and turn into slight negative.

Both have amazing lenses and produce really nice negatives.

 

[DamenS]

Unless you REALLY want 6x7, I'd consider getting the GW 690 (or II or III) - it is no larger, but the negative is (though you have to change rolls after 8 shots on 120 film). You may be able to find these cheaper as they were more common, and you can always crop down from a larger negative - you can't do the reverse.

 

[rhl-oregon]

Consider a GF670? Folds up! No lighter than the G690 I have, but its bulk is nice and flat for transport.

 

[Poppers]

Defiantly after 6x7 thanks. I'd love the gf670 folder but they are too pricey new and rarely seen used in the uk and when they are they're still expensive.

 

[bastian a.]

A Plaubel Makina 67 or 670 would be a good alternative but I think it is nearly as expensive as a used GF670/Bessa III.

 

[Poppers]

yeah the Plaubels I have seen have been expensive.

 

[kuzano]

Plaubels have issue

Plaubels have issue

yeah the Plaubels I have seen have been expensive.

Almost everything I have heard about the Plaubels refer to a "known" issue. That of the wire between the front and rear sections of the body for the meter are often not working, and have also heard no repair is available.

So much for people paying more for a wonderfu camera with a fault. Please post if this is not true, but, that more than price has kept me OFF the Plaubels.

 

[kuzano]

Wonderful MF camera......

Wonderful MF camera......

Any reason not to buy the Fuji GW 670 MKIII? I want a portable 6x7 camera for travel and shots of my son. I've been using a borrowed RB67 which I love but want something quicker to shoot and easier to carry.

Money no object i may have gone for the GF670 or a Mamiya 7 however they are a bit much for me at the moment. Currently have a Nikon F4 and Leica M6 but use the M6 more than anything really.

Apologies if this has been asked before.

Regards
Pop

Have used and owned many Fuji "Texas Leica" rangefinders including almost all models in Interchangeable and fixed lenses. Great reliability considering no electronics, purely mechanical with extreme great flare coating and sharp glass. (
The EBC coating is in all GW models.

My favorite is the 6X8 model which was Japan consumption only, although you find them often on eBay. Tons of these big Fuji's are arriving from Japen via eBay all the time.

Only real consistent complaint I hear (and it doesn't bother me because I remove the problem) is a complaint about shutter noise.

IT'S NOT the shutter. The shutter is very quiet. It's the frame (actually roll) counter that makes the noise. I remove it. Shutter count is not important. I've been told by Frank Marshman, as well as Fuji Techs to disregard the insanely conservative shutter count checkout and clean at 5.000 actuations. Both have told me that the shutters are far more durable than one might imagine. I had one go to 154,000 shutter count.

The GW and GSW (90mm and 65mm) models I, II, and III, while physically different are all built in 670, 680, and 690 on the same size frames, and weight essentially the same acccordingly. 670=10 frames on 120, 680=9 frames on 120, and 690=8 frames.

They all shoot double that on 220, but all 220 emulsions are essentially NLA.

Here is a link to a friends GSW690III, which I bought from him after he took it cross coutry.

I've eaten a huge number of times at the Kent Diner when it was alive and well and serving Gas and the greatest burgers found on the Left side of the nation. It's now defunct but still standing about 80 miles from where I live.

Heres the link:

http://www.pbase.com/neonhighways/inbox

 

[sevo]

Almost everything I have heard about the Plaubels refer to a "known" issue. That of the wire between the front and rear sections of the body for the meter are often not working, and have also heard no repair is available.

That is wrong. Full original factory service is available from Plaubel here in Frankfurt. Due to dwindling demand, repair now concentrates there, there are no more third party repairers elsewhere, at least none that can do anything that involves original spares, like the release cable.

 

[kuzano]

My error my apologies.

My error my apologies.

That is wrong. Full original factory service is available from Plaubel here in Frankfurt. Due to dwindling demand, repair now concentrates there, there are no more third party repairers elsewhere, at least none that can do anything that involves original spares, like the release cable.

Glad to hear it. I stand corrected and thank you. Any comment on the frequency of the repair needed on the Plaubel metering wiring?

 

[sevo]

Glad to hear it. I stand corrected and thank you. Any comment on the frequency of the repair needed on the Plaubel metering wiring?

The insulation on the meter wiring seems to be the first thing to go, it is the one thing that may decay due to age by itself - I've seen it on mint-looking shelf queens.

The meter knob, release cable and transport gear failures are wear/use related, I've only seen them on cameras that already showed significant traces of (paint) wear.

 

[shiro_kuro]

Nippon Camera Clinic in New York will also fix the Plauble Makina ... It's wicked expensive to have them fixed ... My experience is as sevo described above .
I see really nice Makina 67's in Japan go for about $1000.00 with everything working ...I have a the 67W that looks like new with the meter not working and the 670 needed the meter and transport gears repaired /replaced which was about $700.00 if I remember correctly ..... my favorite cameras

 

[Poppers]

.

Heres the link:

http://www.pbase.com/neonhighways/inbox[/QUOTE]

wonderful images.

 

[kuzano]

Thank You

Thank You

The insulation on the meter wiring seems to be the first thing to go, it is the one thing that may decay due to age by itself - I've seen it on mint-looking shelf queens.

The meter knob, release cable and transport gear failures are wear/use related, I've only seen them on cameras that already showed significant traces of (paint) wear.

Thanks for that information. I would love ro try a Plaubel, but it always seems just a bit out of my price bracket, although every once in a while, budget allowing I just go nuts and spend more than I would like for some things. :bang:

 

[kuzano]

But remember....

But remember....

.

Heres the link:

http://www.pbase.com/neonhighways/inbox

wonderful images.[/QUOTE]

Those images are the 690 and the wide angle 65mm lens. The GSW690III.

I still opt for the GW680III or GSW680III for a couple of reasons. 9 shots, and the aspect ratio matches one of the newer digital aspect ratio of 4:3.

I've never shot 6X7, so can't speak to that preference. Does not seem to be a format that matches anything in digital aspect ratios if planning to scan to digital. Is that even an issue?

One further thing about using the longer aspect ratio on the 690 (6X9) is stitching two 6X9's for one 6X12 or near 6x17 panorama which I have done.

I like Panorama's and tow frames from the 690 scanned and stitched are impressive, and a tone of money cheaper than a dedicated 612 or 617.

I realize I am jumping around on the 690/690, but it would depend on the need. Why not both? If you go to the II version, you are talking about $500, perhaps slightly less, camera's

 

[Poppers]

I've been shooting the RB67 and really like the format. I just want something quicker to shoot and easier to haul.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Another vote for the Fuji 6x7 and 6x9 series, I have used several over the years and much prefer it to the not-built-as-well Mamiya 6 and 7 series (although both the Fuji and Mamiya have very sharp lenses). With the fast B&W 120 film you really can shoot them like Leicas.

I like the design and looks of the last "III" Fuji models, the original interchangeable lens Fuji was pretty nice too but I think the newer lenses are overall better.

One thing to look for are tiny micro-cracks in the plastic shell over the metal body (of the II and III models). They make no structural difference but indicate that the camera may have been dinged and lower the resale value quite a bit.

 

[Paul Jonathan]

Only real consistent complaint I hear (and it doesn't bother me because I remove the problem) is a complaint about shutter noise.

IT'S NOT the shutter. The shutter is very quiet. It's the frame (actually roll) counter that makes the noise. I remove it. Shutter count is not important. I've been told by Frank Marshman, as well as Fuji Techs to disregard the insanely conservative shutter count checkout and clean at 5.000 actuations. Both have told me that the shutters are far more durable than one might imagine. I had one go to 154,000 shutter count.

Kuzano, do you have any instructions about how one would go about removing the roll counter? I'd love for my GW690 II to quiet down a little, now that its finally here.

 

[kuzano]

Link to a youtube sound comparision.....

Link to a youtube sound comparision.....

Kuzano, do you have any instructions about how one would go about removing the roll counter? I'd love for my GW690 II to quiet down a little, now that its finally here.

The video doesn't really give a very good comparison of the sound change w/ and w/o the counter. But the first post is answered about removal and is what I have done. The video is on a first model GW, and the II should be the same.

There is a bit more of a following "KLACK" sound with the counter in place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYui8VBkqcQ