Johnmcd
Well-known
Well I just couldn't help myself. Just purchased a GF670 off the classifieds. Why?
1. I love my Mamiya 7 and 6x7 but wish I had 6x6 as well and as much as I lust over a 50 or 43 lens, I baulk at the price. Basically I'm a standard lens guy.
2. I love my Bronica for the 6x6 but hate the weight and loud mirror noise.
3. I travel a lot and size and weight is becoming an issue. Especially since I need to take my 7D and 300 F4 for an air show next trip to Belgium and I also want a MF and 35mm film in my bag.
So I'm hoping the GF will be, at the very least, the travel MF.
I do have a bit of a problem. I showed my partner a pic of the GF670 and she thought it looked cool but when I said I was thinking of purchasing one she immediately sussed that it is the same as the Mamiya 7. Now, she bought me the Mamiya for a birthday present and now thinks I will just cast it aside. Now she hates the GF670. Women!
The Mamiya 7 will be staying (who knows, one day I might get a 43) as will the Bronica (hardly worth selling, great fun and lenses are dirt cheap). But unfortunately with my move nearly exclusively to film over the last year or so, the R-D1 will probably go. Blasphemy, I know. But I haven't used it in years.
Any GF670 / Bessa III advice warmly accepted.
Cheers - John
1. I love my Mamiya 7 and 6x7 but wish I had 6x6 as well and as much as I lust over a 50 or 43 lens, I baulk at the price. Basically I'm a standard lens guy.
2. I love my Bronica for the 6x6 but hate the weight and loud mirror noise.
3. I travel a lot and size and weight is becoming an issue. Especially since I need to take my 7D and 300 F4 for an air show next trip to Belgium and I also want a MF and 35mm film in my bag.
So I'm hoping the GF will be, at the very least, the travel MF.
I do have a bit of a problem. I showed my partner a pic of the GF670 and she thought it looked cool but when I said I was thinking of purchasing one she immediately sussed that it is the same as the Mamiya 7. Now, she bought me the Mamiya for a birthday present and now thinks I will just cast it aside. Now she hates the GF670. Women!
The Mamiya 7 will be staying (who knows, one day I might get a 43) as will the Bronica (hardly worth selling, great fun and lenses are dirt cheap). But unfortunately with my move nearly exclusively to film over the last year or so, the R-D1 will probably go. Blasphemy, I know. But I haven't used it in years.
Any GF670 / Bessa III advice warmly accepted.
Cheers - John
nanthor
Well-known
Ignore my PM, I just saw the ad. Nice camera. I think, from my experience, you'll find the 670 has a more pleasant bokeh and/or rendition than any of the Mamiya products. It has more of a Zeiss look to the resulting pictures. You will also be pleased with the absolutely silent shutter if you're used to the Bronica. You can't even hear it with your eye to the VF. Bob.
goffer
Well-known
Have had mine for almost 2 years and love it. Collapsible lens makes nearly inexcusable to leave home. At the time I purchased it I had the Mamiya 7 with 50 and 80 in a KEH checkout, but eventually just went with GF760 do to its portability and size.
Sadly, I haven't put a roll through it since the M-E, but I don't really ever see myself selling it. Still has the most beautiful viewfinder I have gazed through.
Only issue I have ever run into was 2 times now the shutter would just not release. The viewfinder would light up all shutter speeds, I would have to pull the battery and put it back to get things working again.
I just ordered a new battery for it the other day, so it could have been bad battery or something.
Sadly, I haven't put a roll through it since the M-E, but I don't really ever see myself selling it. Still has the most beautiful viewfinder I have gazed through.
Only issue I have ever run into was 2 times now the shutter would just not release. The viewfinder would light up all shutter speeds, I would have to pull the battery and put it back to get things working again.
I just ordered a new battery for it the other day, so it could have been bad battery or something.
GaryLH
Veteran
Great camera, u will love it. I have both the Bessa 2 and gf670 (Bessa 3). Btw the Bessa 2 even though it is a 6x9 rf is actually a tad smaller then the gf670. Because I have them both, I tend to use the g670 more as a 6x6.
Gary
Gary
dfatty
Well-known
Great camera, really like mine. Relatively compact and easy to pack for travel, quiet, solid.
The only thing you'll have to train yourself to remember is to fully retract the lens by setting it to infinity before you close the clamshell. Otherwise it won't close and you'll bend something by forcing it. That aside it's a very easy to use camera.
I'll be interested to hear how it compares to the Mamiya 7, aside from the interchangeable lens aspect. Congrats and hope you enjoy it.
The only thing you'll have to train yourself to remember is to fully retract the lens by setting it to infinity before you close the clamshell. Otherwise it won't close and you'll bend something by forcing it. That aside it's a very easy to use camera.
I'll be interested to hear how it compares to the Mamiya 7, aside from the interchangeable lens aspect. Congrats and hope you enjoy it.
Johnmcd
Well-known
Thanks for the comments. The mamiya will always have a place in my heart. I'll be happy with quality anywhere near it. I really think it will be great for travel and 6x6 without the big Bronica.
Cheers - John
1joel1
Well-known
Don't think that the GF can do anything better than the Mamiya 7.
JMHO,
Joel
JMHO,
Joel
olelovold
Established
Congrats, it's a really good camera for a lot of different things. And the size and the look of it is great too.
I would always carry an extra battery or two. They are tiny and the camera needs it to operate - if the meter in the finder is going dim you're going short, and this will eventually lead to the shutter not exposing your negative, wasting precious film. Also mentioned earlier, make sure to put focus back to infinity before closing the camera (this becomes second nature after a while).
Make sure the pressure plate and the 6x6 - 6x7 switch is set where you want it to. When I received my GF670, both of these switches were "inbetween" the two settings for some bizarre reason.
Test the rangefinder when you get it. If the vertical alignment is off, it's an easy task to fix yourself with some very small tools. There are some threads in the forum here about how to do it.
Last but not least, enjoy photographing with it, and make some scans and prints that do the camera justice. It delivers stunning results - the lens is so so good.
I would always carry an extra battery or two. They are tiny and the camera needs it to operate - if the meter in the finder is going dim you're going short, and this will eventually lead to the shutter not exposing your negative, wasting precious film. Also mentioned earlier, make sure to put focus back to infinity before closing the camera (this becomes second nature after a while).
Make sure the pressure plate and the 6x6 - 6x7 switch is set where you want it to. When I received my GF670, both of these switches were "inbetween" the two settings for some bizarre reason.
Test the rangefinder when you get it. If the vertical alignment is off, it's an easy task to fix yourself with some very small tools. There are some threads in the forum here about how to do it.
Last but not least, enjoy photographing with it, and make some scans and prints that do the camera justice. It delivers stunning results - the lens is so so good.
kram
Well-known
Taking mine on a trip tommorrow, third film trying 6x6 again. I got use to setting the lrns to infinity before closing halfway through the first film. I don't find it an issue now.
Johnmcd
Well-known
Arrived in the mail today. First impressions?
The VF is absolutely amazing! It's a joy just to look through it. Loading some film now. Some images and thoughts soon...
Cheers - John
The VF is absolutely amazing! It's a joy just to look through it. Loading some film now. Some images and thoughts soon...
Cheers - John
thegman
Veteran
My brother used to have one, amazing camera, in my eyes one of the best new film camera releases in decades.
furcafe
Veteran
When loading film, make sure it's wound tight onto the takeup spool. For some reason, many of the Fuji medium format RFs have a sort of weak takeup system, which can leave you w/loosely wound film (= possible light leaks along the edges).
As far as handling/ergonomics, I'm not a fan of the strap lugs being on 1 side (vertical hang), but perhaps that was an inevitable part of the folding design.
As far as handling/ergonomics, I'm not a fan of the strap lugs being on 1 side (vertical hang), but perhaps that was an inevitable part of the folding design.
jmilkins
Digited User
They are great John. I have the Bessa III version - I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with yours.
FrankS
Registered User
It can fold into a more compact package.
1joel1
Well-known
True, the Mamiya 7 II with the 80mm lens is slightly larger and heavier, but not much.
If the new camera sparks renewed interest and causes him to go out and shoot more, then it has done its job.
Joel
If the new camera sparks renewed interest and causes him to go out and shoot more, then it has done its job.
Joel
thegman
Veteran
I found my Mamiya 7 + 65mm lens a fair bit bigger and awkward to carry. I just carry my camera(s) in a simple man-bag, and the Mamiya 7 was a it of a squeeze and made the bag mishapen so the studs did not close. The GF670 just folds up and slipped in there like a large book, no problem.
Both amazing cameras of course, but for portability, the GF670 is the one I'd pick.