Helloooo Texas Leica!!

[the.ronin]

I am very excited as I'm expecting a Fuji GSW690II to arrive in the mail tonight. This is my first foray into film much less larger format photography. I plan to primarily shoot B&W with this camera. I aim to develop the negatives myself and print them via Epson V600.

The seller seems to be honest enough and evidently, this camera is in great condition. Would it be worth taking this camera to the local camera store to have a professional give it a checkup (which I assume includes lubricating the shutter which I understand is important from my reading).

Any other advice other MF or Fuji 6x9 (I know theres many flavors of the GW) owners might have would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Arvay]

It's a great camera, you will enjoy it& I've got both GW ans GSW and they are two cams that I am using in my travels for last 3 years mostly (sometimes it was Hassel but he has gone...)
No advice, just shoot and enjoy🙂

 

[Vickko]

Some advice:

- make sure that when you load the film, that the film and backing is taut. Use your finger to put some tension on the roll as you load the film.

- make sure that the backing plate matches the film (120 vs 220) and the dial on top matches too.

- don't think "big Leica", but, "small hand held large format camera". At 6x9 cm, you're almost in Large Format territory.

And enjoy. The huge negative will blow you away.

 

[Kenj8246]

Vick gives good advice. Enjoy the Fuji, I really like shooting mine. Here's a ridiculous truck shot on Tmax 100 and developed in Rodinal 1+50.


Semi-monster truck: Tmax and Rodinal by kenj8246, on Flickr

Kenny

 

[kuzano]

VICK is on the money on avoiding

VICK is on the money on avoiding

Vick is on the money on avoiding the biggest first problem you will have with any 120 6X9 camera. It usually costs a new user 3-5 rolls of mid roll jams before they read the manual and load the film tight. That's a big long frame you are stretching across and the way to avoid "jams" and poor frame spacing is a nice tight load on the first frame. One finger on the feed roll, one finger on the wind on lever, and whatever you have left over to close the back on a tight frame. NO, I'm not kidding.

Otherwise it's just a double size 35mm and not battery dependant.

BTW, in terms of additional acreage, the 6X9 frame is 4.7 times the area of a 35mm frame. A very yummy upgrade in film area.

 

[ChrisN]

Another tip - to ensure the film stays as flat as possible, wind on just before you make each exposure (rather than immediately after each exposure). OK - if you are shooting the whole roll on a single subject there's no difference, but if there will be hours (or days) between shots, it all helps.

 

[z.bruce.li]

GSW and GW are great not only for B&W but also color. The EBC Fujinon lenses are really on par with Fujinon's excellent large format offerings. Same heroic color slides with a lot less trouble.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blee1996/sets/72157605948340486/

 

[sevo]

The seller seems to be honest enough and evidently, this camera is in great condition. Would it be worth taking this camera to the local camera store to have a professional give it a checkup (which I assume includes lubricating the shutter which I understand is important from my reading).

I don't know your local camera store, but personally I know of no camera store I'd let anywhere near a camera with any lubricant.

There are only maybe half a dozen competent Fuji 69 repairers world wide. But I'd only access them in case of a failure - unless you happen to live within walking distance of one of them, the transport risk is higher than the questionable benefits of a CLA.

 

[the.ronin]

No advice, just shoot and enjoy

Thanks Arvay ... that is great advice!

Vickko, Kenj8246, and kuzano, thank you for thar great tip. That would never have occurred to me and although I have read the manual (got what appears to be the original scanned in pdf if anybody needs it!), I may have glossed over that part. I did come across what seems to be the only video on YouTube for the GSW690II specifically but it's in Japanese lol. There seemed to be emphasis placed on keeping the thumb on the roll as you do the initial feeding around 1:23 ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZXN-KRvPLw

Another tip - to ensure the film stays as flat as possible, wind on just before you make each exposure (rather than immediately after each exposure). OK - if you are shooting the whole roll on a single subject there's no difference, but if there will be hours (or days) between shots, it all helps.

Awesome. Thanks ChrisN. Yet another seemingly obvious thing I would never have thought of. From my reading I'm understanding that flatness is a big deal when scanning but never gave it much thought as far as in the camera itself.

GSW and GW are great not only for B&W but also color. The EBC Fujinon lenses are really on par with Fujinon's excellent large format offerings.

z.bruce, I do plan to take color shots as well. Admittedly, I am focusing on black & white for now because I'd like to do the developing at home and want to start easy. Yes, I've been hearing that this EBC Fujinon is a very good lens.

I don't know your local camera store, but personally I know of no camera store I'd let anywhere near a camera with any lubricant.

There are only maybe half a dozen competent Fuji 69 repairers world wide. But I'd only access them in case of a failure - unless you happen to live within walking distance of one of them, the transport risk is higher than the questionable benefits of a CLA.

Thank you, sevo! I ended up NOT bringing the camera to the shop. But more out of wanting to spend time with the camera rather than fear of having them do more harm than good. The camera shop I was going to take it to was Tuttle Camera, a mom & pop shop in the neighborhood. I don't know them too well but they seem down to earth. Unless there is a problem, I will hold off on CLA.

Kenj8246 and z.bruce.li ... beautiful photos. I will be very happy with the results if my photos are a fraction of your quality. Maybe its just me, but the dynamic range on MF photos consistently blow me away. Areas where my DSLR (Nikon D90) would have trouble show discernable detail in MF film - I would have to HDR the DSLR images to achieve the same level of detail. Again, maybe just me.

So as a thanks for reading through all this, I present to you, my Texas Leica lol ... 😀

 

[helvetica]

As a resident of the Lone Star State... I approve of this beastly camera. If you need some inspiration, check out these shoots from Time Magazine using a Fuji http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M7rSayb05M

 

[Red Rock Bill]

Great camera and actually pretty easy to use....if you scan check out betterscanning.comfor some useful items.....Bill

 

[Spanik]

Got the old version and a 6x9 slide is a thing of beauty.

So far never had a film jam but I do wind on carefully.

 

[kuzano]

Yes... stayed with the old interchangeable model.

Yes... stayed with the old interchangeable model.

I was pondering a GW, because of the EBC coating and color. However, once I acquired the automatic exposure 100mm lens, which is the only lens EBC coated for the interchangeable lens system, I stayed with the older body.

Heavier, but much quieter, because of no film counter, It's my preferred body. I had a GSW690 for a while, but find I don't shoot much wide angle.

I did just acquire the hard to find 150mm lens, and have a bl body, the AE100, the standard 100, and now the 150. Need to get some shots with that one. The 150 is classified as the portrait lens for the "Texas Leica".

The other thing about the older bodies is that they make a very DEADLY weapon, on the end of a firm strap.

But, best of all.... Great Pictures, and a reasonable substitute for Large Format.

Enjoy your camera....