GSW690III - New Toy...

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spirit_of_will

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Hi All,

I'm newly registered but have been reading threads, particularly on Fuji 690's and Mamiya 7's, for a while now which has helped in making (I hope) an informed choice for my next camera...

The postie has just delivered a new toy that I have been after for a while, a nice example of a Fuji GSW690III. I have been desperate to lighten my usual pack load of a Pentax 645nII, 3-5 lenses, plus Fuji GX617 with 2 lenses.

I am hoping that by cropping the 6x9 neg I'll be able to still have the option to shoot 1:3 ratio panos and if I really want to travel light the GSW690III will still give me lots of flexibilty how I use the end results.

Having only played with it for 30 mins or so, I have a couple of questions which I hope regular users might help me out with... No instructions came with it so I hope you'll indulge me with some wisdom!

1./ Lens Hood - is this easily removeable? I can't see how to access the shutter speed and aperture settings while I've got a Lee Filters adapter ring fitted. In fact I can't even use the Wide Angle version with the recessed ring direct onto the lens, I've had to fit a UV fliter first to get it to fit. Not being able to use a landscape oriented camera with ND Grads and still have access to the Av & Tv is going to be a huge inconvenience. How do others get round this?

2./ Focussing - this is my first rangefinder so the focussing is going to take some getting used to - any tips? How accurate is the DoF scale? I could easily use the technique I use with the GX617 and always focus hyperfocally via the scale.

3./ Bulb setting - I do LOTS of low light work. Is this the 'T' setting I see on the Tv dial. I've read that this doesn't work in the same way as a normal Bulb setting which you control with the cable release plunger. Can someone enlighten me how this is supposed to work please?

4./ There is a button and a switch on the front of the camera which has an 'L' underneath - what does it do?

5./ Servicing - it's showing 106 on the counter so not exactly high mileage yet but I'll soon change that. Can anyone give me an idea on the suggested service intervals and cost please? I assume that Fuji UK will still service and have parts for one of these?

I've ordered some instructions on ebay, but they are going to take a while to get to me from across the pond - not sure I can wait that long before getting to grips with it...

Many thanks in advance for your help and input...

Regards,

Will
 
These Fujis are definitely not the best option for lots of low light shooting. The T setting is a pain. Otherwise, great camera. I've heard that lots of users cut the sliding lens hood off.
 
I cannot help in any way whatsoever, but have fun!

Well, I have never used T, but I believe that it means that you have to press the shutter again to close the shutter, unlike the B setting where the release of pressure closes the shutter - so a T requires a click to open and a click to close. Try it! I might be wrong however.
 
Thanks Tripod - I had assumed that it would operate the same as the GX617 which is a dream to use on B setting (hardly use much else when shooting Velvia at f/32 with a one stop centre ND!!!). Am I right in understanding the way to close the shutter on 'T' setting is to move the dial to another value? Don't fancy that much, especially if I'm only shooting 3 or 4 secs, the risk of camera shake is too great...
 
Turtle said:
I cannot help in any way whatsoever, but have fun!

Well, I have never used T, but I believe that it means that you have to press the shutter again to close the shutter, unlike the B setting where the release of pressure closes the shutter - so a T requires a click to open and a click to close. Try it! I might be wrong however.
Click to expand...

I'll try anything - just wanted some guidance before wasting a load of film... Will go and check the back of a drawer now, I must have some out of date film somewhere!!!
 
On the T setting, to end the exposure use a largish lens cap to cover the lens and hood - then change the shutter speed from T to 1 second - which will close the shutter. The grip on the shutter speed ring is really awkward, even if the lens hood has been removed.

The DOF marks are rather close together and the numbers on the focus scale are rather large. If I'm trying to capture both the foreground and background, I'll set the aperture to f/22 and use the marks for f/11.

As for traveling light - I generally bring along a full sized tripod when I am out with the Big Fuji. So, your mileage may vary.
 
Last edited:
1./ Lens Hood - is this easily removeable?

......it can be removed, but not easily.......


4./ There is a button and a switch on the front of the camera which has an 'L' underneath - what does it do?

....locks the shutter button

5./ Servicing -

....between 500 and 1000 on the counter..... Frank Marshman at Camera Wiz is THE fuji repair guy in the country...CAMERA WIZ Camera Repair 169B Pleasant Hill Road Harrisonburg, VA 22801-5715 (800)-471-8133

Dan

Fuji 670&690 page at
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fuji670.htm
 
toyotadesigner said:
http://www.dofmaster.com/custom.html

The have a DOF calculator for Palm OS as well which I use often. The DOF scale is as precise as on any other cameras - some guesswork involved. However, stopping down to f16 or f22 means you'll have a hughe depth of field.

I'm shooting land- & cityscapes with the GSW, it's a great camera with the best lens you can get for 6x9. The Fujinon lenses are on par with Zeiss lenses, maybe a tad sharper.

Instead of milling off the lens hood I'd suggest you use some step-up adapter rings for large filters. It looks weird, but it works.[/QUOTE]


In order to screw on the step up ring and larger filters, doesn't the hood have to be retracted, thereby covering up the aperture/shutter speed controls?
Click to expand...
 
Welcome to the forums for OP. Sounds like you have a neat new toy to play with for sure. Looking forward to seeing some photos as well as hearing how you like it once you get to use it. I agree with FrankS that the Fujinon lenses are good. I have had Fujinon cameras and lenses for a long time and think the Fujinons take a back seat to nobody. Especially as concerns flare, but they are sharp too.

Let us know as you get to using the camera, how you like it.
 
they really should have put some filter threads on the end of the hood, and made the hood lockable.

how do you use nd grads on a rangefinder, anyway?
 
I'll also recommend Frank... highly

I'll also recommend Frank... highly

Meleica said:
1./ Frank Marshman at Camera Wiz is THE fuji repair guy in the country...CAMERA WIZ Camera Repair 169B Pleasant Hill Road Harrisonburg, VA 22801-5715 (800)-471-8133

Dan Fuji 670&690 page at
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fuji670.htm
Click to expand...

Write this info down in a safe place.... NO FOO... not in your computer... I said a safe place. Put it in a locket and wear it around your neck.

Frank just sent back two of my Fuji 645's. A Complete rebuild and bellows replacement on my GS645 folder, and a new back LCD on my GA645Zi. His rates are extremely fair and his time seems good, considering a wait on the bellows from his supplier and a wait on the LCD from Fuji. He's done other work for me as well.

Just tell him Lars from Oregon referred you. He'll probably hesitate and say "Who", but that's OK. As long as he does the work he does, he doesn't need to remember me.

OH, and ask his advice on the shutter service. I know that on the 645Zi he (and fuji both) say to just shoot it until it won't shoot. My Zi has over 32,000 shutter actuations (and my 81 BMW has 357,000 miles on the original engine and trans).
 
Fuji 690III Hood

Fuji 690III Hood

Hi All,

Thanks for the warm welcome - the 690's now had a couple of rolls of film through it although still waiting for the results back...

The hood is really causing me some hassles. Not sure how the idea of stacking some 67mm filters is going to help, other than to introduce vignetting... My Lee Filters 67mm adapter ring just isn't going to sit right or give me access to the TV & Av...

Aizan - using ND Grads without viewing through the lens is fairly easy to achieve. On my 6x17 I've been lining them up by eye but using soft transitions. Lee now do a very useful scale to sit on the front of your fliter holder that makes the process even easier.

So, back to that rather interesting design for the hood. Have many of you 690 users resorted to taking the thing off? Is there a way of getting it off that would mean it could go back if I ever felt the need to sell the camera on again? Or is it a case of find a careful repairer with a hacksaw?

Will
 
Thanks again all - the GSW690 is, as of this afternoon, with my local repair shop to get the hood removed - didn't trust myself enough to get the job done without making a mess. They seemed a little baffled by the camera design but wouldn't do the job without me signing next to the words "CUT HOOD OFF" on the job sheet!!!

Like the chap said "they do repairs - not camera butchery!"

Ho-hum drastic as it seems I'm sure the camera will be a load easier to operate!

Will
 
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