I'm positive on Frank....
I'm positive on Frank....
I think you know my feeling on Frank. Frank has repaired or CLA'd numerous Fujica rangefinders, both 645 and 690 for over 15 years for me. He's probably 35-40 years in the biz.
Dante Stellas great web site sold me on the Fujica's. I had been shooting MF for a number of years with other MFR camera's and have not owned anything but Fujica MF since starting.
Frank has done three new bellows and his fix on the weak shutter linkage on the GS645.
Frank and I have a similar "bit odd" sense of humor. We get along quite well. Turnaround with Frank and prices have always been good. The only delay I ever found with Frank was when he had to find a new source of bellows for the GS645. He buys them six or a dozen at a time. One supplier quit making them a few years ago.
Here is Franks "NEW" contact info after moving the location of his operation last year. I've sent one G690bl to Frank with a two week turnaround recently, and have one to send him now.
Contact info:
Phone: 540-867-9671
Email:
camerawiz@msn.com
Address for shipping: Mr. Frank Marshman
1495 Needmore Lane
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802
Frank is better on eMail than he used to be, but I always call him and leave a message. He get's back soon. If you do eMail, just send a phone number and ask him to call you. He will, situation allowing.
NOW ON THE DARK SLIDE...
The best camera to have a malfunctioning dark slide is the G690.. the first model... primarily because there is no interlock between the dark slide and the lens release.
I say forget the dark slide. I don't think it's an easy repair. Furthermore the camera functions perfectly without the dark slide. The question you must first ask is, "Are you really planning to do mid roll LENS changes on a roll that delivers 8 images???" Really? I don't use 220 film, but that's a personal choice.
I have four lenses... both the AE100 (metered and working perfectly thanks to repair by Frank), one 100mm f3.5, one 150mm portrait lens, and a 65mm wide angle. I don't use the 65 often, as it's far to wide for my liking. Too wide, too much subject in the VF.
Except for the uniqueness of the dark slide, I have NOT done a midroll lens change for years. My experience in having owned a number of these bodies is that about 50% of them have slow return or non functioning dark slides. So What?.
I keep two bodies around, and If i am going to shoot two focal lengths, I drag two bodies along.
Remember 220 is almost gone except for eBay expired. So the 8 image limit pretty much precludes the need for midroll changes.
However, the car I drive has a broken air conditioner and a driver side window that doesn't work. Again, so what. I get where I want to go.
Just my thoughts on fixing or using dark slides on the big Fujica rangefinders. In fact, I have had G690, G690bl and GL690 bodies where I have never tried to use the dark slide. When I sell them, I just say the DS does not work, or I don't know because I've never tried it. It's a routine and non issue malfunction.
