How big is the GW670ii?

W

Way

Guest
Thinking of picking up a GW670ii or iii. Can anyone post a picture of one next to a Leica? Since reading that some folks refer to the Fuji as "the beast", I'd like to see how they compare in size.
 
jan normandale said:
go to Dante Stella's site
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Thanks Jan. I did see Dante's site but a side by side picture would be really helpful for me.
 
I'm pretty sure that I saw a website when I was looking to buy my GW690III where this comparison picture was posted - but I'm coming up blank here at this computer. No luck with Google images either. My Fuji is at the office. If I get the chance I will post the shot you want later today. It's big. Think shoebox.
 
in my book, only 8x10 cameras and above are BIG.
 

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Yes, that's the one on Dante Stella's site alright. You got it. It's the G690 not the GW670 but for demonstration purposes showing a Leica next to a Fuji it's a good one.
 
jan normandale said:
Yes, that's the one on Dante Stella's site alright. You got it. It's the G690 not the GW670 but for demonstration purposes showing a Leica next to a Fuji it's a good one.
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Jan, all the Fuji 6x7 or 6x9 rangefinders are exactly the same size.

To the original poster: if you are man enough to cope with these huge beasts (to quote Dante's website), why not opting for the GW690? It will offer you more real estate for the same bulk.:angel:

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
Way.... since Abbazz has shown in this thread (I wondered why he hadn't) click on the link below his signature... you'll enjoy it. The best if not one of the best Fuji sites on the WWW.
 
Thanks to all for the wealth of information. Since acquiring an Agfa Super Isollete, I've been a recent fan of the old MF folders. I was interested in an old 6x9 folder because I really wanted something I could take anywhere. Jurgen Kreckel has been a great source for these folders - a bit pricey but I know they'll work and he'll stand by his cameras. But I've always been interested in the Fuji 645, 670 and 690 but I never realized how large they were, until this thread. I'm no wimp - I've lugged around my Canon 1D Mk II with a 24-70, 70-200 IS and 400 f5.6 all over the place. But now I'm almost at the point of selling my Canon equipment and just staying with my rangefinders and folder(s). Well, maybe just replace the 1D with a 5D!

Jan - thanks for pointing out Abbazz's site. Looks like a wealth of info.

I did see that KEH has a lot of Fuji 670 and 690. Do you all think that would be a good place to purchase one?
 
Way said:
But I've always been interested in the Fuji 645, 670 and 690 but I never realized how large they were, until this thread.
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One of my favorites in Fuji is the GS645S. The one with the crash bar on the lens. SLR sized....Very light rangefinder, but what a lens...SHARP. A nice one will run about $350-400. Feels a bit plastic, but the plastic is over a durable stamped steel frame. The meters work well and the rangefinder is nice. The lens on the GS645S is 60mm. There is a 45mm lens model Which is the GS645W, but it is zone or scale focus, because of the increased depth of field for the shorter lens.

I use a G690 BL, which is the older interchangeable lens 100mm, and it is a "Tank". If I had the extra 65mm lens, I probably wouldn't pack both lenses with me on a hike. However, the later ones you are looking at are a bit lighter with the fixed lens/plastic or composite shell technology.

If you are moving toward Large Format, and if portability (backpacking) is an issue, these cameras are still lighter than packing any Large Format system I know of. Although they don't have movements, when you are in the wild, film handling with 120 is a vast improvement over large format.

For a medium format street camera, I'd take a GS645S, and for landscapes, etc. the 690 is great.

I also averted the urge to get a 6X17 panoramic Fuji buy building a panning attachement for my G690 that allows me to take two overlapped shots, yielding a 90 degree field of view when I stitch them together in Photoshop CS3. The same could be done with the smaller 645 format, blowing the 35mm panoramic cameras out of the water on resolution and maximum print size.
 
For vintage 6x9, you might want to consider a Kodak Medalist I or II w/their legendary 100/3.5 Ektar lenses. They're 620 format (same size film as 120, but smaller spools), but you can get them converted to 120 easily (though it effectively doubles the cost of the camera) or respool 120 film onto 620 spools. They're not small or lightweight (roughly the size of a Hassie w/normal lens), but they're extremely well-made & durable (built to meet military specs).

I've always found KEH to be a good dealer & they offer a warranty, etc., but you should compare w/reputable eBay prices if you're looking for a real bargain.

Way said:
Thanks to all for the wealth of information. Since acquiring an Agfa Super Isollete, I've been a recent fan of the old MF folders. I was interested in an old 6x9 folder because I really wanted something I could take anywhere. Jurgen Kreckel has been a great source for these folders - a bit pricey but I know they'll work and he'll stand by his cameras. But I've always been interested in the Fuji 645, 670 and 690 but I never realized how large they were, until this thread. I'm no wimp - I've lugged around my Canon 1D Mk II with a 24-70, 70-200 IS and 400 f5.6 all over the place. But now I'm almost at the point of selling my Canon equipment and just staying with my rangefinders and folder(s). Well, maybe just replace the 1D with a 5D!

Jan - thanks for pointing out Abbazz's site. Looks like a wealth of info.

I did see that KEH has a lot of Fuji 670 and 690. Do you all think that would be a good place to purchase one?
Click to expand...
 
Way, I've bought several cameras from KEH and had no problems with rating quality or making a return of a defective Mamiya 6 MF. I'd check some posts from other members though because some people have posted issues regarding them. It's your call on this dealer.

Personally I'm about to order more from them. So I'm obviously not concerned.

Regarding the GS645S Kuzano mentioned. FWIW some of these cameras on a camera by camera basis are prone to film plane issues. You can find more on this if you do a search. Make sure you are comfortable on that matter prior to buying one
 
Keh is a very reliable dealer with a comprehensive return policy. One important point when buying from Keh: unless expressly specified, you have to assume that you are buying the bare bones item without any accessory, even if those were provided as a set with the item when new. If you want the caps, straps, case or user's manual, you'll have to pay extra for them.

I have bought a digital camera (Canon EOS 1DS) from Keh. When the camera arrived, it was unusable because it had no NiMH battery (a specific model), no charger, no software CD, no cables (and of course no memory card, but I already had e few of those).

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
Yes, I forgot to mention on the Fuji

Yes, I forgot to mention on the Fuji

jan normandale said:
Way, I've bought several cameras from KEH and had no problems with rating quality or making a return of a defective Mamiya 6 MF. I'd check some posts from other members though because some people have posted issues regarding them. It's your call on this dealer.

Personally I'm about to order more from them. So I'm obviously not concerned.

Regarding the GS645S Kuzano mentioned. FWIW some of these cameras on a camera by camera basis are prone to film plane issues. You can find more on this if you do a search. Make sure you are comfortable on that matter prior to buying one
Click to expand...

I thought I had a problem on my first Fuji GS645, but it turns out the nature of the issues with film plane is actually a film loading issue and is addressed in the user manual. Not being one to use maps, ask directions or read manuals, I had some problems. Then I looked in the manual, and then verified on the internet that if you do not load the Fuji's carefully and keep pressure on the film roll to keep the roll tight while winding it on the take-up roll, you will have loose film building up in the transport and bind the roll about halfway through. Once I sacrificed a roll or two to the film loading gods, I caught on. Never had the problem again on 4 GS645S, 2 GS645 folders, and 2 GA645ZI's. This appears to be an issue on the 645s only.

You must keep a finger on the film roll to keep the film roll tight while rolling the wind-on to the start mark. Then carefully close the back and crank/shoot the first couple of shots to get to frame #1

Thanks for reminding me on that point.
 
Great pics and comments from all of you. I think that I've discovered that portabilty is a main factor for me and that the Fuji's are just too large for me to lug around. Perhaps in the future I'll change my mind and get one of these great cameras but in the meantime I just purchased a Bessa RF 6x9 with Heliar lens.
 
Way said:
Great pics and comments from all of you. I think that I've discovered that portabilty is a main factor for me and that the Fuji's are just too large for me to lug around. Perhaps in the future I'll change my mind and get one of these great cameras but in the meantime I just purchased a Bessa RF 6x9 with Heliar lens.
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I'm assuming you are talking about a folding camera when you mention Bessa 6x9. I'm curious, what are the specs on the Heliar lens?
 
so what's the big difference between this camera and the Mamiya MF RF? I think the Mamiya is 6x7 right? Any substantial operational/quality differences in these cameras?
 
Heliar.....

Heliar.....

jan normandale said:
I'm assuming you are talking about a folding camera when you mention Bessa 6x9. I'm curious, what are the specs on the Heliar lens?
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Don't know specs, as in largest f-stop, but it is a 5 element lens, which was considerable for it's era... Pre-War if talking about the ALL black Bessa RF. Sweet camera. No better lens than a Heliar on this model, as I recall.
 
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