New to RF - Fuji GW690III

[Prest_400]

Hi there,

Finally I'm worthy of being a member of this forum... I've gotten my first true RF. The GW690 mkIII, the texas leica. Before that it was Oly OM and VF compacts. 😛

I got this at a quite nice price in the bay and it arrived today... After it spent a 2 week vacation with Customs who did quite a dent on my film budget.

Anyways, I expected it to be a big camera. The package from Japan was BIG. The camera... Is Huge!
I think it is quite an attention grabber and every relative that has seen it has been surprised with "such huge type of camera I never seen anywhere". It will be quite entretaining in the logistics of a long trip.

Great handling however. The RF is very good to me. Little problem is that with glasses I don't see the whole of the VF.

There is some weird behiavor on the RF. It's accurate until the 10 m mark and at infinity it is misaligned; aligning the RF it stays at the f11 hyperfocal mark, not infinity.
I didn't get very concerned as after all, it's pinpoint accurate from 1 to 10m, where accuracy is very important, infinity, not so.
Which brings me to the matter, I never heard/read issues about the RF of this camera.

Then, as light meter I rescued an old iPhone 3GS which seems quite handy with the light meter app, plus some DoF and rough exposure calculator apps.

Well, a roll of Provia 400X is in. The iphone light meter too. I just need a few days to finish exams and get shooting.

Any tips? Frankly, I've been following this camera and reading about it for almost a couple of years, but the true experience is always bigger.

 

[tsiklonaut]

Good choice!

It's a fairly compact camera considering 6x9 frame size, you should try a Linhof Technica 6x9 (I did) - that was one big mofo in comparison.

I haven't heard any rangefinder issues on 690 too, what I'd be concerned is that in case the infinity is misaligned, maybe anything inbetween is shifted too? Do first a cheap b&w test film with different focussing distances and see with the loupe or scan later if they're spot on or not from what you intended on focussing the certain frame. If not and rangefinder is misaligned then don't worry too much - there are still people around who could CLA Fuji rangefinder cameras. I know the best mechanics are in Japan that are nearly impossible to contact unless you personally know any local there who could search them out for you and organize your camera there, the next best ones tend to be in US though, just handful are in Europe. I've sent my Pentax 67 body to US for servicing, wasn't exacly cheap, but runs like new for years.

Get a proper lightmeter that is comfortable around your neck or fits into your pocket, you can get them very cheap these days from s/h camera shops or fleaBay. Preferrably an incident meter, maybe later get a spotmeter if you start to finding the incident meter limiting in your workflow after you've developed it enough.

No tips but start shooting and get the feel of the thing, the beast takes some time to get used to in handling and framing, but once you do it's a blessing format with a massive IQ reserves.

 

[Rodchenko]

Lovely camera. I'm looking forward to seeing your results.

 

[Prest_400]

A couple of days and I've only shot a single frame. Timing has been a bit infortunate as the camera arrived just at the middle of my exams.
Want to do some shooting when the summer holidays come, and looking forward to it.

Good choice!

It's a fairly compact camera considering 6x9 frame size, you should try a Linhof Technica 6x9 (I did) - that was one big mofo in comparison.
[...]
Get a proper lightmeter that is comfortable around your neck or fits into your pocket, you can get them very cheap these days from s/h camera shops or fleaBay. Preferrably an incident meter, maybe later get a spotmeter if you start to finding the incident meter limiting in your workflow after you've developed it enough.

No tips but start shooting and get the feel of the thing, the beast takes some time to get used to in handling and framing, but once you do it's a blessing format with a massive IQ reserves.

I just love how now the mirrorless and OM1 feel small.

I don't have a scanner, and the first roll being Provia I might not scan it. Will want to shoot portra somewhere in the next months and that will be scanned.

At the moment my budget has a big dent on it, I will first buy film and I will try to build the kit around the camera. Tripod and meter. Will have to watch listings for meters (L308 seems great).
Btw, Margus, I was the one who commented on your blog, when I acquired it. These beasts are indeed fun.
Student budget management 😀 will have some workarounds for it.

 

[genotypewriter]

Personally I prefer scanning reversals than negatives because I know what it's supposed to look like 🙂

The GW690III is a nice camera. There are smaller 6x9s like the Bessa II but I hate folders as they can be delicate when in the ready to shoot mode and dangling off my wrist or shoulder. The 690III can also form cracks on the plastic shell so it's worth being careful.

I also got a GF670W and it's far more convenient to use than my GW because of the built in meter. Haven't taken the GW out since I got the GF. The image quality difference between 6x7 and 6x9 does show... but that's when you've bothered shooting 🙂

 

[Prest_400]

Personally I prefer scanning reversals than negatives because I know what it's supposed to look like 🙂

The GW690III is a nice camera. There are smaller 6x9s like the Bessa II but I hate folders as they can be delicate when in the ready to shoot mode and dangling off my wrist or shoulder. The 690III can also form cracks on the plastic shell so it's worth being careful.

I also got a GF670W and it's far more convenient to use than my GW because of the built in meter. Haven't taken the GW out since I got the GF. The image quality difference between 6x7 and 6x9 does show... but that's when you've bothered shooting 🙂

The big slides are beautiful.
I think my fidelity for the GW would dangle too if I had one of the GF's. However, as far I could get, the GW's are one of the few 6x6+ affordable modern cameras.

Metering is something I should get a routine into. For the meantime I am using lightmeter apps and sunny rule 16 for exposure setting.
Funnily enough, what I consider one of the best exposed frames in my first roll was a sunny rule 16 one.

I loaded some Portra 400 as I was in the mood for people shots but timing is always inappropiate! Hopefully I am meeting some buddies this week and will be able to fire off some frames.

 

[kuzano]

Best mechanics in Japan????

Best mechanics in Japan????

Good choice!

there are still people around who could CLA Fuji rangefinder cameras. I know the best mechanics are in Japan that are nearly impossible to contact unless you personally know any local there who could search them out for you and organize your camera there, the next best ones tend to be in US though

Cant' speak about the Japanese for repair, but on at least a dozen of my Fujica Rangefinders, the MAN has been Frank Marshman-CameraWiz on the right coast of the USA. Harrisonburg, VA.

In fact I just got a GL690 back two weeks ago from Frank with a CLA, a repair on the transport, bang out some dents on the top, and make the front rim of the lens round again to take a screw in filter.

This camera is now NOT pretty, but thanks to Frank it's a super User Shooter.

Frank has done a number of CLA's, Rangefinder adjusts, new door latch, new LED on the back of a GA645Zi and three new bellows for the paper bellowed GS645, replacing them with long lasting bellows.

Have been dealing with Frank well over a decade.

I never mention Franks prices, but FRANKLY (pun intended) they always surprise me on the low side. Frank had the last camera in July for two weeks.

If you're having problems with your rangefinder, call and talk with Frank.

 

[Addy101]

Congratulations! I've got my GW690II for two months now, it is lovely!

Does any of you know of a nice bag to use with these Texas Leica's? Somewhere somebody said the Think Tank Retrospective 10, and though it fits and is a nice bag, it is a bit big imho. So, any advice?

 

[Prest_400]

I never mention Franks prices, but FRANKLY (pun intended) they always surprise me on the low side. Frank had the last camera in July for two weeks.

If you're having problems with your rangefinder, call and talk with Frank.

At the end I am happy with the Focus. In any case the RF is very slightly off at infinity.
Will have to hold it for a while, but I will have a look at servicing before having a major trip or something similar in a couple of years. A few bucks make a difference with little budget.

Certainly Frank is the man. In Europe I don't know if Fuji still service them.
The main problem of shipping across the pond is customs. I should take a look at the law around repairs, as I think it isn't covered (needing to reimport the camera despite repair status)
:bang:

Congratulations! I've got my GW690II for two months now, it is lovely!

Does any of you know of a nice bag to use with these Texas Leica's? Somewhere somebody said the Think Tank Retrospective 10, and though it fits and is a nice bag, it is a bit big imho. So, any advice?

Hear suggestions too.
I currently carry the fuji with various kinds of backpacks, but that isn't very efficient unless going to a particular location.
For the meantime I took the strap off another camera and put it with the Fuji. Better than nothing and keeps it at hand.

Would like to try handy bag carry, which is how I tend to carry 35mm and equivalent (small toy cameras 😀) and find it quite comfortable.