Fujica G690 questions

[bob338]

i am going to look at a fujica g960 with a 100mm lens on it tomorrow for $200.
any insight into what to look out for or any advice on this camera would be appreciated.
also, is $200 a fair price for one?

thanks.

bob

 

[aizan]

that's a steal if it's in decent condition. if you plan on using other lenses, make sure to check the darkslide. chances are it won't fully retract.

 

[Abbazz]

that's a steal if it's in decent condition. if you plan on using other lenses, make sure to check the darkslide. chances are it won't fully retract.

Welcome to the dark slide... and its problems. Seriously, the GL690 is a very reliable camera, even though some samples sold used have been beaten to death in their previous life. This has always been a professional camera after all, and professionals are known to use a lot their equipment. If the dark slide is not functioning, you can still use the camera, only you won't be able to change lenses mid-roll.

I second Aizan, $200 is a great price, even if you have to pay for a CLA. Please note that, contrary to many other rangefinder cameras, the GL690's rangefinder is very tolerant to shocks and vibrations, meaning that it rarely needs adjusting. As a 30+ years old camera, expect your GL690 to need some cleaning and lubricating though.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[bmattock]

Agreed, good price. The other lenses for it are not cheap, though. So consider it more along the lines of a fixed-lens rangefinder, unless you know where you can find more lenses for it.

EDIT: A common problem with the G690 is the shutter locking up even though it is cocked. Symptoms are, you wind, wind, shoot (two strokes for the winder), then wind, wind, and press the shutter - nothing happens. You also cannot wind again at this point. Occasionally, you may be able to 'force' the shutter to fire by attempting to wind WHILE holding down the shutter release - obviously not optimal when that happens. The camera has a switch on the back for 'S' and 'R'. S is for sheet film (I guess) and you can test fire the camera body with it selected. R is for when you have a roll of film in it. If you select R and have no film in it, you cannot test the shutter, it just winds forever and never cocks the shutter or locks the winder.

In order to properly test this camera, you MUST put a roll of film through it. Have it processed, too, if you can. Check for film spacing.

It can be repaired if it has the problem I described, but a complete CLA for mine set me back three hundred as I recall. Worth it for such a great camera/lens combo, but keep this in mind.

 

[raid]

It's worth $400-$600 with a 100mm lens. For $200, this is a steal. The lens is razor sharp [whatever that means], but it is very sharp. I have 20x30 prints that show great amounts of details.

 

[Wouter]

It's a great camera and easy to work on the rangefinder and lens elements. You can easily take off the top cover and clean the range-viewfinder components. The optical parts of the lens are also quite easy to get to (but require partial disassembly), unless you have the 100mmAE version, which would be great because it gives you 6x9 autoexposure !
I once stumbled upon the 55mm lens for this system, which is so rare nobody had never even seen it. The 150 and 180 lenses are great portrait lenses, the 65 (look for the 5.6 version) is superb as well. You'll need the viewfinders with the 65 and 180.
Good luck !

 

[Wouter]

Ah yes, I should have the repair manual. If you need it, I'll try to find it.

 

[bob338]

thanks for all of the replies. i am going to see it tomorrow, hopefully no one beats me to it. i'm excited about this, i've an]lways wanted to use a MF camera.

i'll post pictures if i end up buying it.

bob

 

[david b]

What is the return policy? I know of the camera you are going to look at. It looks rough.

 

[bob338]

What is the return policy? I know of the camera you are going to look at. It looks rough.

it's on craigslist. that's why i have to check it out before i buy it...

 

[kuzano]

Good Price. The lens in good condition worth $200

Good Price. The lens in good condition worth $200

That may be a stretch in some peoples minds, but you can buy very nice EARLY G690bl bodies w/100mm lens for $400 to $500.

The camera in my pic here (center back) Sold on a Buy It Now on eBay recently, after being up for only one hour ($475). However, the fellow who bought it, thought it would focus at closer distances, so I readily bought it back. (Yes, my auction). When I bought the later model GSW690III, I thought I could live without the G690, but I can't pound framing nails with the GSW, so I am glad to have the older camera back. Both cameras are astounding (my opinion) shooters. No batteries, or meters, but I use handheld metering even on my metered cameras.

I play around with some digital, but the Fuji's put digital to shame for image quality. When they make a digital camera for $500 that can come anywhere near a Velvia shot from the Fuji, I might actually switch from film. Hell, if they made a $3500 digital that came close, I might take a look. The Fuji GA645Zi in the picture outshoots most digitals on the market today.

But then the next stepping stone would be digital that would compare with a sheet of Velvia from a 4X5 with a Fujinon Large Format lens.

The little fuji digital in the pic is my eBay camera, purchased LNIB for $100 on eBay.

 

[bob338]

well, the seller had a visitor today that offered to buy just the lens and he took it. so i guess i'm back to looking for a different bargain...

bob

 

[raid]

How much is the camera? $100?