Fuji GW690II film advance

[williams473]

Hi all,

For those more technical than me - I suspect it may be "user error" but I seem to be getting fairly inconsistent spacing between frames on my GW690 - I just started using the camera a few months ago, so it could just be getting used to the length of stroke (1 + some) needed to advance a frame. On my last couple rolls I never quite had overlapping frames, but close, and not on every frame. Course in 6x9 there's only 7 places where frames are adjacent on a 120 roll! Most are fine, so I suspect the camera cocked the shutter for me and I didn't quite fully complete the advancement, and just need to be more vigilent in the future. Any veteran users of this camera notice this is a characteristic of the camera, or is it just me as I suspect? I'm used to using a wide variety of film cameras, so just wanted to be sure this isn't something that going to sabotage a job someday...thanks!

Matt

 

[Vickko]

Yeah, I think treat it like a dual stroke Leica M3, and go right to the end of the travel.

 

[dfatty]

I have a GW690II and always have nice spacing between frames. I treat it as needing two full strokes and never had an issue.

 

[kuzano]

Tight upon loading...

Tight upon loading...

This is a very common problem on the Fuji 6X9 range finders, and for that matter all 6X7 or 6X9 that transport film horizontally over that long frame opening.

The first solution to improper frame spacing (and mid roll jams) is making sure the film is tight when the door is closed. Drop the door and latch it on a loose feed and the frame spacing will be all over the place, plus you'll have film flatness issues.

The early big Fujica's made this a special point in all their manuals for the 690 models. Don't know if they dropped this on the fixed lens, but it's still an issue. Load the film, keep a finger on the feed roll and a thumb on the wind-on lever as you gingerly close and latch the door. (in other words, keep tension on the film until the camera is closed) Then do your two advances to the first frame. This may help.

Frankly, I have never had a frame spacing issue on any big Fuji's including a Fujifilm GSW690III, once I learned this lesson... Cost me a few rolls on mid roll jams and frames spacing. I never had an overlap on framing, but it was inexact until I learned this lesson.

Another "RTFM" lesson from Kuzano... if it was covered in the manual?

 

[williams473]

Thanks for the advice all - yes I did actually read about the technique of keeping tension on the advance crank while closing the door - thanks for the reminder - I may have neglected that on that roll. It's also possible I am just getting into shooting and forgetting to make a point to fully advance both strokes. Thanks!

Matt

 

[KenR]

The spacing that I get with my GSW690 is not quite even, but I have never had any overlap. I don't go out of my way to keep tension on the film, but I will see if that improves things a bit. Depite its little faults, it still is a great camera.

 

[kuzano]

Have never had overlap either.

Have never had overlap either.

The spacing that I get with my GSW690 is not quite even, but I have never had any overlap. I don't go out of my way to keep tension on the film, but I will see if that improves things a bit. Depite its little faults, it still is a great camera.

I have never had overlap, but before I started paying particular attention to film loading, film spacing ranged from 1/16 to 1/4 inch.

My current setup is the 65mm lens, a standard 100, the metered AE100, and the hard to find TS150 which is classed as a portrait lens. All on a GL690 body. The metered lens is quite accurate on the metering with a little attention paid manually to exposure compensation. I baby it, because it is the only interchangeable lens that offered the EBC coating on the early system. The GSW690III was a great camera.

The fellow I bought it from posted this series of images on his Pbase account:

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

Don traveled with the GSW690III he sold me and took these images. One in particular has fond memories for me. When I was in school and we would go see my grandparents about twice/three times a year, we would stop, gas up and have hamburgers (best ever) at the Kent Diner. It's still standing, about 80 miles from my current home.

Don's gallery here is a testament to the big Fuji Rangefinder lenses and the wonderful EBC coating.