Fujifilm Debuts Wideangle Gf670w Film Camera
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ibcrewin
Ah looky looky
I love hearing stuff like this.
Rogier
Rogier Willems
I was thinking about it the past few day's and voila there it is 🙂
But my dreams are shattered by the price :-(
But my dreams are shattered by the price :-(
Girmantas
Member
very nice, waiting to obtain 🙂
divewizard
perspicaz
What size filters does it use? Hopefully without any special adapter like on the folder or the X100. Needing an adapter for filters is lame.
bolohead
Joel Cosseboom
Wow. With the current yen conversion, that's about $3350 USD. 😱
bwcolor
Veteran
The dollar is falling with respect to most currencies, so better get it while it is under $4000 USD.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
This is an interesting situation. My scepticism of a few weeks ago, that maybe the camera would not appear, is disproven. The differences in handling the lead up to launch of the X100 and the GF670W rather makes it look as though this is being handled by a different section of Fuji to their digital range and who are more focused on the domestic Japanese film market than the international one.
The indicated price is unexpectedly high - (it might drop a bit by launch time as it's clearly a recommended retail price) - compared to the Bessa III/GF670 folder but there are a couple of factors to consider. One is that although the expectation was that it would be less expensive to manufacture as a non-folder, the actual pool of potential purchasers for what is essentially a specialist camera is going to be much smaller than for the earlier camera and therefore the development and overhead costs per unit are going to push the costing up considerably.
Additionally they (Fuji/Cosina) may have decided that with the decline in the USD the numbers likely to be sold are less than originally expected. This might be a very short production run which when sold out, stays sold out. Plus indications to date are that it's only being released in the Fuji version and to the Japanese market. There is no hard news yet of a Voigtlander branded equivalent and given the sales rate for the folder who would want to bet the farm on moving a wide version that's $1000 more?
Having been one of the early testers of the Bessa III, I came to the conclusion that whilst it offered some advantages of carry size, weight, metering and viewfinder the quality of the Fuji lens was on a par with my f2.8 Planar Rolleiflex. Not bad at all, but hardly an incentive to spend $2500 to replace the 'flex. So I kept the Rolleiflex.
And I'm leaving for a three or four month trip around Australia for which I wanted a wide MF camera in six weeks' time which is before the Fuji is even released in Japan. I was looking forward to the advent of this new Fuji camera. And I would have bought one at $2500. But now it's $3300+ indicated and not until May at the earliest - probably months later outside Japan, if at all.
Two weeks ago I bought a mint Rolleiflex WA for $2400. Makes a nice pair with the E2. So, it's 50 years old, but it's as new and although some of the modern features of the Fuji are not as well represented I have the consolation of knowing that I have bought a camera that will never depreciate in value. This week another Rolleiflex WA in almost as good condition went for $3600. Maybe I got lucky, but another similar camera described as a bit knocked around (proven by the photos) but a good user was also on offer at around $2300, so I think I did OK.
Someone is going to write and say I could have bought an MF with interchangeable lenses etc etc for $300-400. Maybe so, but many posts (plus those on other forums) have been so full of tales of malfunctioning, unavailability of parts, requests for help etc for so many of those models that it was a place I didn't want to go to.
In the end perceptions play a major part. I paid a lot but have a classic MF wide angle non-depreciating camera in perfect condition and for which service is still available. I think I'm OK with that.
The indicated price is unexpectedly high - (it might drop a bit by launch time as it's clearly a recommended retail price) - compared to the Bessa III/GF670 folder but there are a couple of factors to consider. One is that although the expectation was that it would be less expensive to manufacture as a non-folder, the actual pool of potential purchasers for what is essentially a specialist camera is going to be much smaller than for the earlier camera and therefore the development and overhead costs per unit are going to push the costing up considerably.
Additionally they (Fuji/Cosina) may have decided that with the decline in the USD the numbers likely to be sold are less than originally expected. This might be a very short production run which when sold out, stays sold out. Plus indications to date are that it's only being released in the Fuji version and to the Japanese market. There is no hard news yet of a Voigtlander branded equivalent and given the sales rate for the folder who would want to bet the farm on moving a wide version that's $1000 more?
Having been one of the early testers of the Bessa III, I came to the conclusion that whilst it offered some advantages of carry size, weight, metering and viewfinder the quality of the Fuji lens was on a par with my f2.8 Planar Rolleiflex. Not bad at all, but hardly an incentive to spend $2500 to replace the 'flex. So I kept the Rolleiflex.
And I'm leaving for a three or four month trip around Australia for which I wanted a wide MF camera in six weeks' time which is before the Fuji is even released in Japan. I was looking forward to the advent of this new Fuji camera. And I would have bought one at $2500. But now it's $3300+ indicated and not until May at the earliest - probably months later outside Japan, if at all.
Two weeks ago I bought a mint Rolleiflex WA for $2400. Makes a nice pair with the E2. So, it's 50 years old, but it's as new and although some of the modern features of the Fuji are not as well represented I have the consolation of knowing that I have bought a camera that will never depreciate in value. This week another Rolleiflex WA in almost as good condition went for $3600. Maybe I got lucky, but another similar camera described as a bit knocked around (proven by the photos) but a good user was also on offer at around $2300, so I think I did OK.
Someone is going to write and say I could have bought an MF with interchangeable lenses etc etc for $300-400. Maybe so, but many posts (plus those on other forums) have been so full of tales of malfunctioning, unavailability of parts, requests for help etc for so many of those models that it was a place I didn't want to go to.
In the end perceptions play a major part. I paid a lot but have a classic MF wide angle non-depreciating camera in perfect condition and for which service is still available. I think I'm OK with that.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
At that price it would need to be very, very good IMO. I was disappointed with the lens on the III when I tried one ... mainly the OOF area at wide apertures.
I wish Fuji luck though because there are a lot of positives for film shooters in this release.
I wish Fuji luck though because there are a lot of positives for film shooters in this release.
john_s
Well-known
Let's hope they reintroduce a 400 speed black and white film to go with it.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
That is a little ironic isn't it? This thing has a slower lens than the III at f4.5 and they recently withdrew Neopan in 120. 🙄
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
It really does make you wonder about the strategic leverage between the various departments at Fuji and whether they actually talk to each other. I'd like to see a copy of their overall film/camera business plan!
If there is one.
fergus
Well-known
I'm tempted, even at the $3300-ish price. I have a small bonus due by the end of June, which might line up nicely with availability.
Can't wait to see some sample pics.
Can't wait to see some sample pics.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
The price is... Ahem... I guess its sales will be... Ahem...
By the way, does any 6x4.5 (AE compact) with a fixed 35mm equivalent lens exist?
Cheers,
Juan
By the way, does any 6x4.5 (AE compact) with a fixed 35mm equivalent lens exist?
Cheers,
Juan
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Juan,
Fuji used to make a line of 645 autofocus, autoexposure point-n-shoot cameras (they could be focused and exposure set manually too but were really designed as point-n-shoots). Some of them had fixed focal length lenses and some had zooms. GA645 was the original one I think.
Fuji used to make a line of 645 autofocus, autoexposure point-n-shoot cameras (they could be focused and exposure set manually too but were really designed as point-n-shoots). Some of them had fixed focal length lenses and some had zooms. GA645 was the original one I think.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
Oh yes, thanks, Chris... I forgot I saw (not long ago, where am I?) a nice one in that line from a link FrankS gave me... I was stupidly remembering them as 6x9... By the way, they are compact and have a nice price.
Cheers,
Juan
Cheers,
Juan
Jamie123
Veteran
The folder doesn't need an adapter. You're probably thinking of the clip-on hood that has its own filter thread but you can also put filters on the lens directly (although they have to be unscrewed for folding the camera).
Jamie123
Veteran
Price is quite steep considering this is the Fuji version. I don't want to imagine what the Bessa version will cost!
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
The original Fuji folder (GS645) uses a custom, cutaway shade, which also serves as the filter adapter. There is no provision to mount filters directly. However, I don't see a reason why a rigid lens can't have ordinary threads.
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