jeddy-3
Newbie
Hello good people. I have a question about the Fuji GW690 (I).
I just bought one that has a "B" bulb shutter setting, instead of the T. When I bought it on eBay I didn't even bother to really look at the shutter speeds, assuming that what I've read is true and that Fuji only used the T setting on the GW series. When it arrived I saw the B on the lens and was a little surprised. I'm looking around and am having trouble finding information about this. I only see the other 1st versions also with the T setting. Anyone here know what the deal is?
I just bought one that has a "B" bulb shutter setting, instead of the T. When I bought it on eBay I didn't even bother to really look at the shutter speeds, assuming that what I've read is true and that Fuji only used the T setting on the GW series. When it arrived I saw the B on the lens and was a little surprised. I'm looking around and am having trouble finding information about this. I only see the other 1st versions also with the T setting. Anyone here know what the deal is?
DanT
Established
Not sure. My only experience is with the 690iii. Have you tried setting it to 'b' and dry firing it?
divewizard
perspicaz
It should dry fire with the film door open. B would be much more useful than the T setting.
Kenj8246
Well-known
Agree with Chris.
kuzano
Veteran
The only "T" setting I have ever seen on Fuji
The only "T" setting I have ever seen on Fuji
Was on the Fujica 645... GS645 folder, GS645S, and GS645W (last one zone focus)
These camera's all had T... they did not have B. Using T on these camera's was cumbersome because putting the camera on T, would open the aperture when the shutter was pushed. However, to close the aperture you had to change the shutter speed ring on the front of the lens. The shutter button did NOT close the shutter.
The simplest way to do this without blurring the photo, if that last second would be noted by the film, was to put a hand over the lens and change the ring to close the aperture...
YEP! that's it.
Now, I have never seen the big Fuji's or Fujica's with a T setting, since this seems to be Fujis solution for T. All my lenses for the interchangeable lens Texas Leica models had B.. No T.
I do not have firsthand experience on the I and II GW/GSW models, but I did have a GSW III and it had B... No T.
I think after the frustration of the T on the 645's, Fujica/Fuji gave up on T. I suspect also, since one does not generally find T on medium format camera's Fuji finally recognized that T was more appropriate for Large Format, where a camera could sit on a tripod for a long exposure. Fuji probably figured out the big rangefinders were, more often, going to be handheld, and T would be wasted on the camera, as just more parts to fail....Unnecessarily.
Bottom line... a second push of the shutter button never completed the T cycle. You had to change shutter speed to do so. Also remember that Fuji was probably producing more large format lenses during that era, and somehow confused the need for a T function into the Medium Format media.
Prove Me Wrong, Or in Cybertalk PMW?
Last odd point... The big interchangeable Fuji rangefinders did not dry fire without film in them, unless you changed the film type selector from Roll to Sheet film. Then you could dry fire on Sheet without the sheet film back on the camera.
The interchangeable 670 and 690 cameras had an option to shoot sheet film by a sheet back and the selector on sheet. That is the only way the camera will dry fire, until you put a roll in and select R.
The GW/GSW models had no option for sheet film and thus may have dry fired without film.
The only "T" setting I have ever seen on Fuji
Was on the Fujica 645... GS645 folder, GS645S, and GS645W (last one zone focus)
These camera's all had T... they did not have B. Using T on these camera's was cumbersome because putting the camera on T, would open the aperture when the shutter was pushed. However, to close the aperture you had to change the shutter speed ring on the front of the lens. The shutter button did NOT close the shutter.
The simplest way to do this without blurring the photo, if that last second would be noted by the film, was to put a hand over the lens and change the ring to close the aperture...
YEP! that's it.
Now, I have never seen the big Fuji's or Fujica's with a T setting, since this seems to be Fujis solution for T. All my lenses for the interchangeable lens Texas Leica models had B.. No T.
I do not have firsthand experience on the I and II GW/GSW models, but I did have a GSW III and it had B... No T.
I think after the frustration of the T on the 645's, Fujica/Fuji gave up on T. I suspect also, since one does not generally find T on medium format camera's Fuji finally recognized that T was more appropriate for Large Format, where a camera could sit on a tripod for a long exposure. Fuji probably figured out the big rangefinders were, more often, going to be handheld, and T would be wasted on the camera, as just more parts to fail....Unnecessarily.
Bottom line... a second push of the shutter button never completed the T cycle. You had to change shutter speed to do so. Also remember that Fuji was probably producing more large format lenses during that era, and somehow confused the need for a T function into the Medium Format media.
Prove Me Wrong, Or in Cybertalk PMW?
Last odd point... The big interchangeable Fuji rangefinders did not dry fire without film in them, unless you changed the film type selector from Roll to Sheet film. Then you could dry fire on Sheet without the sheet film back on the camera.
The interchangeable 670 and 690 cameras had an option to shoot sheet film by a sheet back and the selector on sheet. That is the only way the camera will dry fire, until you put a roll in and select R.
The GW/GSW models had no option for sheet film and thus may have dry fired without film.
FrankS
Registered User
Mine has the T setting.
kuzano
Veteran
Whoops... that's one way to get answers on RFF
Whoops... that's one way to get answers on RFF
OK... Proven Wrong...
Now, How do you terminate the T function. Another press of the shutter, or change the shutter speed?
One way to get answers on this Forum, as I have found is "throw down the gauntlet". That's better than smacking someone in the face with the gauntlet. I think that would smart
Whoops... that's one way to get answers on RFF
OK... Proven Wrong...
Now, How do you terminate the T function. Another press of the shutter, or change the shutter speed?
One way to get answers on this Forum, as I have found is "throw down the gauntlet". That's better than smacking someone in the face with the gauntlet. I think that would smart
DanT
Established
My GW690III also has a t setting and no b. You terminate the t function by either changing shutter speeds or winding to the next frame (which isn't very useful).
Oren Grad
Well-known
Same with my GW690II. I've never seen one of these with a B setting. Maybe Dante Stella knows something about it.
jeddy-3
Newbie
excellent idea. I'll try that out. Since I've posted this one other user at apug had a GW with the B setting (version I).
Thanks everyone. If anyone has additional info PMs are welcome.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Supposedly there was a self destruction issue particular to B only in some special state of the camera (maybe transporting or changing times while shutter pressed?) and rather than add an extra interlock to prevent that state they disabled B.
Dan Daniel
Well-known
That might have been me at APUG. I have a GW690, first version, with a B setting. As I said over at APUG, the shutter had been changed at Fuji Canada about 3-4 years ago, before I bought it used. I have no idea if this affected the B/T issue.
I thought I'd pass along that today I was at a camera store that had a GW690 just brought in for sale. And its shutter? B setting, no T. Works fine as a B should- opens at press, closes at release.
Huss
Veteran
Reviving this necro thread..
I wish I had read this earlier. I went to use my GS690III this weekend for the first time with the T setting, and ASSumed it worked like with any other camera with a T setting. Had my ND400 filter ready to go...
It stumped me, did not know I had to change the shutter speed to close the shutter. I wound on but after thinking that nothing was working. So the rest of the shots were with no ND and regular shutter speeds.
Moral of the story - never assume...
I wish I had read this earlier. I went to use my GS690III this weekend for the first time with the T setting, and ASSumed it worked like with any other camera with a T setting. Had my ND400 filter ready to go...
It stumped me, did not know I had to change the shutter speed to close the shutter. I wound on but after thinking that nothing was working. So the rest of the shots were with no ND and regular shutter speeds.
Moral of the story - never assume...
Prest_400
Multiformat
Winding the camera does close the shutter as well. AFAIK, people recommend to cover the lens because there is the possibility of streaking the exposure (slight film movement before shutter closing). I do the shutter speed change instead.
It'd be better to have B or a traditional Time. This makes 2-10s exposures a bit more annoying (more actions) but it isn't that much of a shortcoming, at least it makes cable releases with locks redundant (mine have them...). OTOH, there are a quite a few Photographers that use the GW as a staple for long exposures.