Got a Fuji GSW690III, is this a good deal?

[KM-25]

A grand for 15 on the counter:

http://www.geocities.com/antjam65/GSW690III.html

It looks good to me, they have been going for around $1,200 on ebay so I figured this might be a good one to snatch up. I got this thing just so I can shoot some landscapes in Iceland for a year. I will also be bringing my Xpan and Leica.

I wanted the largest, sharpest neg I could get without going panoramic, I think this baby is it.

 

[Solinar]

The big Fujis GSW690III in like new condition are whorishly expensive for as much plastic that comes with one. The fact is no one will be building another 6x9 rangefinder camera like the Fuji in the near future and the GSW690 is preferred camera over the GW690 for landscapes. Hence, the price.

For the size of the camera, it is fairly light. I picked up an inexpensive GW670II for nature shots. I intended to use it mainly with a tripod, but I must admit big Fuji does pretty well hand-held. Velvia or PanF with a tripod is still the best way to go, if you print large.

Congrats,

 

[KM-25]

The big Fujis GSW690III in like new condition are whorishly expensive for as much plastic that comes with one. The fact is no one will be building another 6x9 rangefinder camera like the Fuji in the near future and the GSW690 is preferred camera over the GW690 for landscapes. Hence, the price.

For the size of the camera, it is fairly light. I picked up an inexpensive GW670II for nature shots. I intended to use it mainly with a tripod, but I must admit big Fuji does pretty well hand-held. Velvia or PanF with a tripod is still the best way to go, if you print large.

Congrats,

I have heard differing opinions on the build, I will manage I suspect. As for the film, I got over the overly garish saturation of velvia a few years ago, shoot other color film stock and prefer mother nature to saturate for me. While some Pan F and Efke 25 will go through this camera, the main reason I got it is to shoot Techpan.

I rarely hand hold for landscapes, especially with a camera like this.

 

[Meleica]

very good price...see my page for Fuji 6x7 and 6x9 Prices

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fuji670.htm

Dan

 

[Solinar]

I have heard differing opinions on the build,

Yeah, it's amazing that a 6x9 medium format feels like an inflated Canonet, but the camera is rather well put together. For example, on my GW670II with the 90mm lens, the frame lines in the VF shrink as the focus is adjusted close-in. None of my other RF cameras do that even though the field of view most definitely shrinks when adjusting a long lens from infinity to close focus.

By the way that shutter noise is the counter mechanism for the number of shutter activations going off.

 

[Abbazz]

A grand for 15 on the counter

Congrats for your purchase. To me this is one of the best cameras you can get for landscape photography if you don't want to carry LF gear (of course the absolute best is the older G690 with its 50mm lens ). The price is great as, like Solinar said, this camera is in high demand by landscape photographers. I guess that you will be able to sell it for a substantial profit if it doesn't suit you.

Don't ever trust the film counter on the Fuji GW/GSW cameras offered for sale, because it's so easy to tamper with it. In this case I wouldn't worry about it, as the camera looks very clean on the pictures.

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[rpsawin]

KM-25,

Wow, the camera looks really clean. I think you may have made a great purchase. I just put together a Mamiya 7II outfit and am still getting used to it. I really like it so far. Like you, I shoot landscapes and this gives me the best options: rf photography and big negs.

Best Regards,

Bob

 

[KM-25]

Wow, this thing is Gianormous!!

I laughed out loud when it came out of the box. It is in good shape too, perfect glass, good operation.

The build is much better than what I expected based on opinions. It is not exactly light, in fact, I think for my purposes, it is just light enough. I really don't know why people always have to equate build quality with the use of metal, it's a crock.

If the lens lives up to the hype, this will be one fantastic new tool.

 

[Solinar]

Yep, it is gianormous. I'll have to admit that I snickered a bit when unboxed my GW670 II. In spite of its Toontown appearance it is a very serious camera. If the weather is nice go shoot some chromes tomorrow and you will see what I mean.

 

[Abbazz]

If you want a deep blue sky, you might consider to invest into a Heliopan circular polfilter (67mm diameter), which has a degree scale on the outer ring. Though it is very expensive (around 182 Euros), it is the only one you can use without hassle on a Fuji RF.

The one I have is the Kenko, cheaper than Heliopan(*link*), and much easier to use IMNSHO.

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[Abbazz]

The build is much better than what I expected based on opinions.

The Fuji 690 are very well built cameras. Usually people that have never held one will tell you that they are plastic crap. This is simply not true. Quality wise, the latest Mark III model is very similar to the G690 from the sixties, the main difference being the polycarbonate covers, which have replaced the brass covers. But the guts and the steel frame are basically the same.

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[KM-25]

Interesting polarizers.

I solved that one years ago when I got my XPan, little white out dots on the filter ring, works great, cheap too.

Also, how is the lens in regards to flare? The coatings look great so I am thinking it is pretty good.

 

[Abbazz]

Also, how is the lens in regards to flare? The coatings look great so I am thinking it is pretty good.

Don't worry about flare, Fuji's EBC coating is one of the very bests, together with Zeiss T* and Pentax SMC.

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[Abbazz]

Abbaz, the Kenko filters are hard to find in Europe. But I've found a supplier for the Heliopan filters now who charges 40% less than the others.

The link I provided was for a supplier in Europe (Robert White), who is also a RFF sponsor. Any good pro retailer in Europe should be able to order one for you if you don't want to deal directly with Robert White.

Cheers,

Abbazz