GF670 reliability?

[disco2000]

Hi everyone

I am very interested in picking up a GF670, but I've heard that there are some issues with reliability and build quality. Can I get some feedback in regards to that from those who have used/own the camera?
Also, from my understanding, the focus needs to be set to infinity before collapsing the lens, what happens if you forget to do so?

 

[thegman]

I would imagine it's a bit soon to comment on reliability, as of course, it's quite new, and it's sturdiness we'll only know over time.

If you forget to set the lens to infinity, it just does not close, it does not break or anything like that.

I've used my brother's GF670 a few times, I think it's one of the best cameras of recent years. 6x7 in such a portable form, with the modern amenities of auto exposure, modern sharp lens and switch-able to 6x6 if you want. Brilliant camera.

 

[Jamie123]

The build quality is fine but as it is a folder it's not really a camera to bang around (when it's unfolded).
As thegman says, if the camera isn's set to infinity it will simply not close.

 

[tlitody]

Why oh why did fuji ever stop making their medium format cameras, the 6x7, the 6x9, the 6x8. No sooner have they done so and they start making a folder and the soon to be released wide version. Just doesn't seem to make sense since these cameras were the choice of many professionals for weddings and the like. I can only guess that demand has picked up from those coming back from digital or as the older models died and couldn't be repaired.

 

[thegman]

I guess they felt there was a better market for a "retro" style 6x7 than a bells/whistle modern 6x7. The wedding pros I'm reading about these days using film tend to market themselves in a certain way, and a bellows camera fits that a lot more than a modern looking camera.

 

[CameraQuest]

Hi everyone

I am very interested in picking up a GF670, but I've heard that there are some issues with reliability and build quality. Can I get some feedback in regards to that from those who have used/own the camera?
Also, from my understanding, the focus needs to be set to infinity before collapsing the lens, what happens if you forget to do so?

Warranty repairs on the Voigtlander Bessa III have been minimal. It would seen to be a very reliable camera.

Be careful about low priced grey market Fuji cameras. I doubt Fuji USA will repair grey market imports, and I know I will not repair them.

Stephen

 

[disco2000]

Sounds good guys, thanks for the input!

Warranty repairs on the Voigtlander Bessa III have been minimal. It would seen to be a very reliable camera.

Be careful about low priced grey market Fuji cameras. I doubt Fuji USA will repair grey market imports, and I know I will not repair them.

Stephen

I'm mostly likely gonna be buying it used as I will be in Japan later this summer, do you think buying new would be worth it just to get the warranty?

 

[johnny.moped]

I also got one.
Unfortunately it focusses way past infinity.
Also the battery-life is pretty poor in cold conditions (about zero degree celius).
Will send it in for calibration the next days. But I was told by Voigtländer that it might take up to two months as it has to be sent to Japan from Germany.

Stephen: Do you know if a misfocussing camera even can be calibrated? I understand that the rangefinder can be calibrated but what if the lens itself just focusses behind infinity?

 

[mgd711]

I've used my GF670 for just short off 2 years, there has been close to 200 roll's of Neopan gone through it. It has worked in the tropical heat off the Philippines and the cold of Norther Japan and been banged around in my bag, thrown off and on various helicopters by careless deck crew's and after all that the camera still function's perfectly.

My favourite medium format camera!

 

[Krosya]

Warranty repairs on the Voigtlander Bessa III have been minimal. It would seen to be a very reliable camera.

Be careful about low priced grey market Fuji cameras. I doubt Fuji USA will repair grey market imports, and I know I will not repair them.

Stephen

If they are reliable - than why worry about having to repair a grey market Fuji and therefore why bother much more expensive Bessa?
Or they are NOT really that reliable? So, why bother with one at all?
As far as I know Bessa III and Fuji 670 are the SAME thing. Correct?

 

[mgd711]

As far as I know Bessa III and Fuji 670 are the SAME thing. Correct?

Correct, but the Fuji was released for the Japanese market only.

 

[thegman]

In the UK at least the difference in price between a Bessa III bought through the proper channels, and a imported GF670 can be about £1000. £1000 pays for a lot of repairs, which you'll likely never need. Hell, you can practically buy two GF670s grey market for the price of a "legit" Bessa III in the UK.

I would get the grey import model, if you have any trouble, get it fixed at the most expensive repair man you can find, and you'll still save money.

Having said all that, the Bessa III and the GF670 are the same brilliant camera in different colours.

 

[mugent]

Hi everyone

I am very interested in picking up a GF670, but I've heard that there are some issues with reliability and build quality. Can I get some feedback in regards to that from those who have used/own the camera?
Also, from my understanding, the focus needs to be set to infinity before collapsing the lens, what happens if you forget to do so?

I currently own a GF670, I imported it from Canada due to the insane price in the UK.

As others have said, the lens needs to be set to infinity, but it's fine if you don't, it just won't close, I guess you could break it by forcing it, but considering it's a folder, the mechanism feels sturdy.

Another slight issue with the lens is that you cannot close the folder with a filter attached. This is a serious PITA if you shooot Infrared, as you would be constantly putting on/taking off the filter. The lens hood would solve this somewhat as it's a clip-on, and the filters are attached to the hood, not the lens, thus much quicker to remove. But if you are a big fan of filters, this camera will be a pain.

The lens is ever slow slightly soft wide open, but in a nice way, and razor sharp stopped down, which I think makes it very versatile.

Reliability seems fine, I've ran quite a few films through it with no trouble at all. I've also read a few sporadic reports questioning it's reliability, but I've never had any issues with mine.

The build quality is nice, not amazing, but as good as one can reasonably expect, a Hassy will be better built, but it'll also weight twice as much. I think in this case, a lightweight build is better as it makes the camera so much more portable.

I've had it for while, and it's probably the nicest camera I've ever owned.

Cheers

MT

 

[sevo]

Correct, but the Fuji was released for the Japanese market only.

As far as I remember, Cosina had a head start of one year on the international market while Fuji was the only Japanese seller for the same period - but since then, both seem to be free from territorial restrictions. Fujifilm positively demonstrated it on international trade shows starting one year after its release and currently offers it for mail order on one of its UK sites.

 

[lshofstra]

@johnny moped:
You're right about the battery in cold conditions. It has been it's slightly cold where I live (subzero anyway) and I can't use this camera unless I warm up the (new) battery in my pocket. Then in the camera it's blinking lights and failure because it gets cold again. So in cold circumstances you can't rely on this otherwise great camera to perform, which is a shame, isn't it?

 

[kuzano]

Oxymorons

Oxymorons

Military intelligence
Bad Sex
Country Music

Unreliable Fuji

 

[kuzano]

NOT.. repeat NOT!!! a Fuji related issue.

NOT.. repeat NOT!!! a Fuji related issue.

@johnny moped:
You're right about the battery in cold conditions. It has been it's slightly cold where I live (subzero anyway) and I can't use this camera unless I warm up the (new) battery in my pocket. Then in the camera it's blinking lights and failure because it gets cold again. So in cold circumstances you can't rely on this otherwise great camera to perform, which is a shame, isn't it?

Those shooting in cold weather should know that it is common to carry a spare battery in an inner pocket when shooting in near zero or below zero conditions.

Don't try to hang this one on Fuji. It's been true since most cameras became battery dependent in the 60's. Ask any mountain climber or arctic traveler.

Geez, anyone who doesn't like the Fuji GF670 better start finding real Fuji issues to harp about.

NOT Directed at you personally shofstra.

PS: What the H is anybody doing out in sub zero temperatures AND shooting pictures?😱

 

[Matus]

One question for Stephen:

I never quite understood this "not repairing grey import" thing. I can understand that warranty would not apply for a camera that was imported - fair enough. But why not repair a camera if the owner pays for it? It is business after all .... or did I get it wrong?

 

[DerekF]

I never quite understood this "not repairing grey import" thing. I can understand that warranty would not apply for a camera that was imported - fair enough. But why not repair a camera if the owner pays for it? It is business after all .... or did I get it wrong?

Punishment for not getting an authorized version? IIRC Nikon also refuses to repair grey-market imports even if you wanted to pay for it.

 

[Matus]

Punishment for not getting an authorized version? IIRC Nikon also refuses to repair grey-market imports even if you wanted to pay for it.

I see, but if you just loose your warranty card or buy second-hand? What then? Or they just check the SN?

Frankly - give the today's globalization, I would really expect world-wide warranty on this kind of products. But then one could not ask 50% for the same product in a different country so easily (not too common, but happens)