GF670 in San Francisco

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thegman

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Hi all,
In a few days time, I'm going to be in San Francisco, on holiday from London. I'm thinking seriously about picking up a GF670 while I am there, as it is practically $1000 cheaper in the USA than the UK. What is a good camera shop in San Francisco which you think would carry it? I'd like to have a feel of it first before I part with the green.

Also, for owners of this camera, any gotchas I should be aware of? It would be my first medium format camera. My only slight concern is the lens, I tend to prefer wider than 50mm (which I understand is about what 80mm is medium format).

Also, how do the frame lines differ when shooting 6x6 or 6x7?

Thanks

Garry
 
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You could try Calumet Photo but I would call them first to see if they have it in stock. If the Bessa III is okay with you, I would check RayKo Photo Center, their link is under the Cool Links on the front page.
 
Bessa III would be just fine, except for the price, I like the Voigtlander brand, but won't pay $400 for it, I like Fujifilm just as much.

I'll check Calumet and Rayko though, thanks!
 
I think you'll be hard pressed to find a shop that stocks that camera. San Francisco is not the film camera paradise we would wish it to be.

Rayko only has the Bessa rangefinders and a selection of choice used gear. Calumet might be your best bet, since they sell it on their web site, but I doubt they have one in stock in their local shop. If you contact them first, they might be able to get one in the shop for you to look at.
 
I've sent them a quick mail, see if they'll have it. I don't want to put them to too much trouble getting one in for me, as I'm not 100% decided yet.
 
Stop by New York City on your way and buy the Fuji version at B&H Photo. Last time I checked, they had it in stock. Or order it from your hotel room in San Francisco and have B&H send to your hotel by overnight delivery.
 
thegman said:
Hi all,
In a few days time, I'm going to be in San Francisco, on holiday from London. I'm thinking seriously about picking up a GF670 while I am there, as it is practically $1000 cheaper in the USA than the UK. What is a good camera shop in San Francisco which you think would carry it?
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The GF670 is a specialist film camera. Film cameras themselves are exotica nowadays, let alone one as offbeat and expensive as the GF670. You'd only be able to handle one in a store in New York.

I'd like to have a feel of it first before I part with the green.
Also, for owners of this camera, any gotchas I should be aware of? It would be my first medium format camera.
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If you've never owned a MF camera before, you probably don't have comparison references in the first place. It's as easiy to load as a 35mm camera. The folding assembly is quite delicate and you have to know what you are doing to ensure the front standard locks in place.

My only slight concern is the lens, I tend to prefer wider than 50mm (which I understand is about what 80mm is medium format).
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Yes, it has a standard lens. If you want wide, a used Fuji GSW670 would be a much more appropriate option. The lens on the GF670 is reasonably sharp, but has quite a bit of distortion and vignetting. It is nowhere near the same class as a Hasselblad 500, a Mamiya or a Fuji 6x7 or 6x9 rangefinder. The main reason to get the 670 is if you want a lightweight, carry anywhere MF camera, i.e. it is the MF equivalent of an Olympus mju, just much more expensive. A used Hasselblad would be a much cheaper yet more capable camera.

Also, how do the frame lines differ when shooting 6x6 or 6x7?
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The framelines are parallax-compensated and adapt depending on which film format you select. They are not very accurate for framing. Don't expect a Leica level experience, it's closer to a 35mm Bessa.
 
majid said:
The lens on the GF670 is reasonably sharp, but has quite a bit of distortion and vignetting. It is nowhere near the same class as a Hasselblad 500, a Mamiya or a Fuji 6x7 or 6x9 rangefinder. The main reason to get the 670 is if you want a lightweight, carry anywhere MF camera, i.e. it is the MF equivalent of an Olympus mju, just much more expensive. A used Hasselblad would be a much cheaper yet more capable camera.
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The lens on my Bessa III is arguably sharper and definitely more contrasty than my Hasselblad 80mm CFE was, especially at infinity.

The Bessa III lens has no visible distortion to my eye. It does have vignetting at the wider apertures, but this becomes less of a problem stopped down.

The Hasselblad lenses do have a unique signature which is very appealing for portraits, especially. They also have a smoother/better out of focus rendition.

It really depends on what you are doing. If you are shooting stopped down, deadpan style photography like I mainly do, the Bessa III is actually a better choice.
 
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Pick up a copy of Black and White magazine (UK). There is a review of that camera in the June 10 issue. It was not that favorable.
 
Thardy said:
Pick up a copy of Black and White magazine (UK). There is a review of that camera in the June 10 issue. It was not that favorable.
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After using this camera regularly for nine months now, I feel like I know pretty well the strengths and weaknesses of it. I'd be curious to read the review if it were online... and how long the reviewer used the camera. My experience with it was definitely not lust at first sight. It has taken a while for me to come to work with it and realize that, for what I do at least, it could (and now did) replace my Hasselblad. In general, it is not a direct substitute for a 'blad though.

That said, if portability/folding were not a concern for a user -- or the poster here of this thread -- and they wanted to go rangefinder, I'd recommend a Mamiya 7 II to most people. The lack of lens interchangeability on the Bessa is definitely limiting.

If anyone is curious, here is what I do with it...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33946021@N04/tags/voigtlanderbessaiii667/
 
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Thanks to everyone for the help, maybe I'll try get a look at the review before I go. Portability is a concern, I do just want to be able to put it in my bag and go. I did go through a phase of considering a 'blad or maybe a an RB67, but the size puts me off. The Mamiya 7 is very nice, and I've seen them up close and the size looks OK. You can get wide angle lenses which is very attractive, but they're pricey.

The GF670 appeals from a cosmetic point of view, I think it loooks great, and call me shallow, aesthetics matter to me. The normal lens is the main concern, I don't expect Leica build quality, I've got a Zeiss Ikon, and I'm very happy with the build of that, I expect similar things from the GF670.

Having it shipped overnight to the hotel is a great idea, but I won't have the chance to fondle, which is a shame.

Lots to think about, still not at all decided, in fact I almost bought an M8 instead a couple of days ago, which shows how on the fence I am.

Steve Huff's review of the GF670 I thought was positive, but ever so slightly damning with faint praise, certainly not the exuberance shown for the MP or even the EPL-1.
 
thegman said:
Thanks to everyone for the help, maybe I'll try get a look at the review before I go. Portability is a concern, I do just want to be able to put it in my bag and go. I did go through a phase of considering a 'blad or maybe a an RB67, but the size puts me off. The Mamiya 7 is very nice, and I've seen them up close and the size looks OK. You can get wide angle lenses which is very attractive, but they're pricey.

The GF670 appeals from a cosmetic point of view, I think it loooks great, and call me shallow, aesthetics matter to me. The normal lens is the main concern, I don't expect Leica build quality, I've got a Zeiss Ikon, and I'm very happy with the build of that, I expect similar things from the GF670.

Having it shipped overnight to the hotel is a great idea, but I won't have the chance to fondle, which is a shame.

Lots to think about, still not at all decided, in fact I almost bought an M8 instead a couple of days ago, which shows how on the fence I am.

Steve Huff's review of the GF670 I thought was positive, but ever so slightly damning with faint praise, certainly not the exuberance shown for the MP or even the EPL-1.
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Is there any place in London you can go to have a look at the camera? One of the larger Calumets? I know some people think it's horribly unethical to fondle a display camera at a store when you have no intention of buying it there but I say the hell with it. As long as you don't make a sport of it I don't see where the problem is.
 
There is a Calumet, but it's small, I think The Classic Camera might have the Bessa III, which is of course the same thing, although I doubt I'll have the opportunity to go, as I'm leaving soon. I'll see how I go, if I can have a try and I like, maybe I'll just treat myself.

I think the Mamiya 7 makes a lot more sense, but brand new, it's more expensive, and I just *like* the GF670 more. I want to buy new, not just to have spanking new camera, but to support the industry in my little way too.
 
thegman said:
There is a Calumet, but it's small, I think The Classic Camera might have the Bessa III, which is of course the same thing, although I doubt I'll have the opportunity to go, as I'm leaving soon. I'll see how I go, if I can have a try and I like, maybe I'll just treat myself.

I think the Mamiya 7 makes a lot more sense, but brand new, it's more expensive, and I just *like* the GF670 more. I want to buy new, not just to have spanking new camera, but to support the industry in my little way too.
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The one at Drummond Street is actually pretty big if I remember correctly. Certainly bigger than the one on Wardour Street.

Buy what's best for you, not the industry. If you want to support the industry, save your money on the camera and spend it on film. There are plenty of used cameras around that will work for years to come if there's still film for them.

The Bessa III is a pretty nice portable camera. I like it because I can just take it with me on a walk and carry it from my shoulder without being 'the guy with the camera'. The Mamiya 7 is also an excellent camera but it's a bit more 'serious'. Personally, I prefer to use an SLR like a Hasselblad or Mamiya RZ when I'm doing serious shooting and use the Bessa III when I want something a bit more casual.
 
Sure, you're right, I do want to buy what's right for me, if I were to buy a Mamiya 7, I'd get that new too. The GF670 for me is more "want!" rather than need.

I'll buy film of course, but buying film does not support the film camera industry, just the film industry, Fujifilm is an exception of course, as they do both. I guess I want to see new film cameras, not just the continuation of film production. If Fujifilm's 5000 GF670s sell out, then maybe they'll make another camera, maybe even a 35mm range finder, who knows?

But back to your point, you're right, I have to put my own needs before trying to single handedly support the market!
 
I have had the Bessa III since it came out. I use it less than my 35mm rangefinders, but on the average I put 12-15 rolls/month through it. I used Hasselblads. Rollei (TLR/SL66), Fuji etc for decades. The Bessa III is so far the best of the bunch. Part of it is the portability, part is the fact that it has one focal length (though two negative sizes 6x6/6x7). The rangefinder is stunning!!!! AE system is good to excellent (occasionally it is difficult to see the speeds in the finder in bright. contrasty light.
It is not small, but far less bulky than a Mamiya 7 or a Hasselblad - which means that it is a comfortable "take anywhere" camera.
It is also quiet - so much so that you sometimes wonder if it fired!! It did, but neither you nor the surrounding will know.
Great "people" shooter camera as it looks strange with its bellows and subjects keep looking at it, not realizing that you are taking a picture.
If you get one, be prepared for questions like "Oh, is it an old Polaroid" - "My granpa used to have one like that" - or the strangest one of them all "Is it digital?".
Check with Stephen at Cameraquest.com what he has in stock in regards to Bessa III's - the GF 670 is the same camera - made by Cosina for Fuji.
Lens quality: I went back and checked 120 negs from Hasselblads 80 mm and 100 mm lenses, as well as Rollei 75f3.5 Planar (one of my bench mark lenses for 120 film). The Bessa surpassed them, with the exception of the 100f3.5 Planar - which it equalled.
The slight vignetting at f3.5 and f4 is really only visible in the 6x7 setting. I have not found any at 6x6 settings.
Yes, I would love to see a Bessa Wide with a 50mm f3.5 or 4 on it - though I would like a 6x9 cm Wide even more. In the meantime, I would go for the Bessa III/GF 670 - if you can live without the interchangeble lenses. You probably find yourself using it more than you think - partly because the portability too.
 
Hi Tom,
Thanks for this, it's good to hear from a user, I won't do anywhere near 12-15 rolls a month, probably just a few, same as 35mm. The Bessa III would be fine, but it's $400 more, and I can't justify $400 for a name change. I don't mind a little vignetting, in fact on B&W film I think it looks nice.

I think I'd definitely like it, it's very good looking and I think that encourages use, at least it does with my Ikon. I love Velvia in 35mm so in 6x7 I think it would be stunning.

I'm definitely warming up to getting one, in some ways the fixed lens is reassuring, that I won't be after another one in a few months, and it will force me to be more imaginative.

I think if I walk into a shop in SF and there is one to walk away with, it will be hard to resist.
 
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