Fuji GW690: new to me soon; accessories?

Curt

Curt

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Jan 22, 2007
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Hello and pardon the questions if they exist elsewhere. I've searched long and hard for a GW690 (1) lens shade / hood and a manual specifically for the GW690, not the II or III.

I bought the camera for a backup to my GA645zi for travel; city and some landscape. Some handheld, some tripod when necessary.

Any recommendations for a light meter? Small basic one. I have spot meters, incident meters but a simple smaller model would be best for travel. Anyone clip them in the hot shoe?

Thank you,
Curt
 
I may have solved the lens hood question. I read here on the forum just now that a hood isn't necessary because the optics are well recessed into the barrel and the EBC is excellent. That may be why I can't find one!

A manual would be helpful though.

On another accessory topic, has anyone seen or heard of a 35mm insert to convert the camera to a panorama. Apparently there is a mask the fits between the inside rails. Just interested.
 
If you're worried about the lack of hood, pick up a screw-in ventilated hood from eBay (67mm-diameter thread). As for light meter, a Sekonic L-208 or Gossen Digisix would fit the bill nicely (don't know about the Gossen but the Sekonic comes with a detachable accessory shoe mount).
 
the Voigtlander VC-II is a nice little meter to mount on the accessory shoe.

how much panoramic photography do you want to do? You can always crop 120.

I have the GW690III and its hood is permanently attached, slides forward. I like to use lenshoods as much as I can, so I would suggest finding one, and a lenscap that fits over the hood.

Have fun with the camera! It's a great tool.
 
Thank you both!
I'll check out the meters. I currently use a Zone VI Spot meter I got from Fred Picker and a Pocket Spot from Metered Light. I don't take them overseas.

I read on a post here about the recess design of the lens but I also see that Fuji made a hood and soft cover specifically for this camera. It could take some time to find them. I'm a believer in lens hoods. I'll look for a sub for now. The pull out hood on models II and III are convenient.

I see the GW690 as a very basic camera with superior optics! I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks!
 
Before you travel with the GW, load it with film and bring the camera outside in the sun to make sure there are no light leaks. You may need new light seal foams. And to load easier, I often take a turn on the take up spool and then insert spool into take up chamber -- I find it faster and less frustrating.
 
Look out for the "Sekonic Twinmate L-208", mounting for camerahotshoe is included or for the "Gossen Digisix", mounting for camerahotshoe must be ordered extra.
Have fun with your GW!
 
I had the same question re. lightmeters when I bought my GW690 II - I decided on the Sekonic L308s as the l208 and Digisix had some problems. Just do a google search on these meters. The L308 seems to be loved by all and does flash to boot (not that I use flash in that manner....).

It doesn't fit on top of the camera, but it still is small. Just a thought.
 
Hello and thank you for the comments. The camera arrived and I have loaded and exposed four rolls of film. No light leaks, focus is on, everything works and it's clean. There is one item that I did not forsee. Upon close inspection I found a screw missing from the bottom cover. Then I noticed that the counter was at 018. I missed that one after looking at a great many of these cameras. I was concentrating on mold, rust, mechanical, lens, and other damage. So there is no way to tell how many activations were made. I'm four four days into the 14 day return period but the camera is clean and functions really like new. Also it was $318,00 so what do you think about it?

This camera is not not going to be my main camera in life. It came from Japan as anyone could guess. The seller seems like a straight shooter and has a 100% feedback rating. It's ine of those situations where a person feels deceived but doesn't want to make a federal case out of it and on the other hand doesn't want it to go un-noted.

I'm sure many have been down this path before.

As for the camera I like it and the problems of controls and ergonomics noted by some are not a problem for me. The rangefinder is smaller and removing the film and take up in a tight space is a bit harder but that's about it. It came with a Hoya UV filter so the lens is spotless.

Now for a travel tripod. I have a shoulder bag, Maxpedition, that has a main compartment 4" x 13" x 10". A 12" long tripod would fit. There are three, a Dolica, Sirui, and a Davis and Sanford. I'm thinking about getting the Davis and Sanford Traverse. Anyone have one?
 
Update: the seller refunded $150.00 making the purchase $168.00. I'm keeping the camera even though the counter was certainly rolled back. The seller claims he didn't see it so we'll leave it at that.
 
I think that's a fair outcome. If the camera is working OK the chances are it will continue. Your counter could have gone round the clock! Mine (GSW690) is at 985 and going strong. I'll have to use it some more and see if I can get it to click over to 001.
 
ChrisN said:
I think that's a fair outcome. If the camera is working OK the chances are it will continue. Your counter could have gone round the clock!
Click to expand...

That, for one. And if it has to be taken apart, it does assemble at 000, unless you manually set it to the past or some fantasy value. And then there is the possibility that the counter had been disabled (many people do that, as the counter is a magnitude more noisy than the shutter itself), and was only re-enabled for the sale.
 
ruby.monkey said:
The counter is virtually silent. The noise is pretty much all from the shutter.
Click to expand...

Well, does it count, then? The shutter itself is barely audible (even compared to a Leica), while the counter (unless disabled) should be as noisy as a loud SLR. Chances are that it might have been disabled at roll 14, and left at that...
 
IIRC the ping isn't originated in the shutter nor the counter themselves, but a linkage. That as far I know.
The counter is liked directly to the shutter buttons. Press them, even if not releasing the shutter, and the counter will rotate.
I discovered that after I toyed with the camera around and the counter increased.

With the refund the price is quite good. Tripod wise I can't give advice as I haven't got one, and despite being nicely handholdable some situations call f or it.
 
Prest_400 said:
IIRC the ping isn't originated in the shutter nor the counter themselves, but a linkage. That as far I know.
Click to expand...

Right. But disabling (and silencing) the linkage will render the counter useless, so these are a functional group.
 
I decided to not worry about the counter, it's an old, otherwise clean, camera that works great and had a spotless lens. The counter works and yes there is a ka-ping sound. It actually reminds of a toy camera sound.

I bought a Davis and Sanford Traverse tripod from B&H Photo for $109.00. Free shipping, I bought some film there too. About the tripod, I'm traveling to the UK and need a tripod for a few locations. The Traverse is a few inches short for an eye level view. To solve that I purchased a 5" extension from B&H. The D&S has a stainless steel hook at the bottom for weight. I specifically bought the tripod to fit in a Maxpedition Versapack. The tripod is 12" long folded. The legs fold back over the head like the Feisol traveler tripod. It fits perfectly in the center of the pack. The tripod came with a ball head and a really decent cover bag.

My main camera will be a Fuji GA645zi. That camera is possibly the best camera I've had.

That's my update! Thank you for the great discussion!
 
The counter is easily accessed. Remove the screws holding the bottom plate. Then a couple of more screwws to get the counter out. You can then roll it to whatever number you want.

If you put the camera back together without the counter mechanism in place, the camera works fine. And the PING noise is still there. I think there is a spring-loaded rod between the shutter release button and the shutter itself. Pushing the shutter release basically unlatches the spring-loaded rod that then fires the shutter.

Given the noise, if there was a simple solution that didn't disable the camera, it would be common knowledge.

Enjoy the camera. I wouldn't worry about the counter one way or another.
 
Curt said:
I may have solved the lens hood question. I read here on the forum just now that a hood isn't necessary because the optics are well recessed into the barrel and the EBC is excellent. That may be why I can't find one!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't believe such a logic knowing that the LATER version GW690II has a built-in lens hood... :)
or, is the GW690 lens more recessed than the 690II ??
 
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