Voigtlander Fujica Bessa III viewfinder

[Harry Lime]

Has anyone had a chance to peer through one of these? Stephen? Tom A?

Is it similar to a Bessa, ZI, Mamiya 6 & 7 II, Leica M?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Tom A]

I haven't checked on this site for a while - so sorry about the delay in responding.
The Bessa III/667 finder is similar to a Bessa R3A/ZM finder. Very bright, clearly defined frame lines (verticals shift as you change from 6x6 to 6x7). Plenty of surround too - you can see what is happening outside the selected frames. The rangefinder patch is clearly defined and bright.
As with the Zeiss/Bessa it does require that you have your eye centered in the finder - otherwise it is not clearly visible. Part of this is inherent in the design to keep the finder bright and part of it is to ensure that what you see is what you get.
It is undoubtedly the best finder I have seen in any folder, inluding Plaubels.
I have been stocking up on 120 film for it. Dont know when it will arrive - but the Japanese Fuji dealers obviously have preference - oh well.

 

[mgd711]

I got my GF670 on Tuesday evening, Dirk at Japan Exposures shipped it to the hotel I was stopping at before transferring to my ship.

The view finder is excellent, very bright and its easy to see the frame line with glasses and still see around the frame.

The camera feels a lot lighter than its reported 1kg and feels very nice to use. The shutter is so quiet that in the quiet of the morning in a deserted small Japanese town I could hardly hear the shutter operate and had to check that it had actually fired.

The big downside is that I'm now stuck on the ship (D/V Chikyu) and won't be back home for 4 weeks to develop and see the results from the camera.


Mike

 

[Harry Lime]

Thanks guys. Sure sounds good...

 

[dazedgonebye]

How easily can you see displayed shutter speed information?

 

[mgd711]

How easily can you see displayed shutter speed information?

I wear glasses and it's very easy to see.

I'm liking this camera a lot 😀

 

[Jason Sprenger]

Is the shutter-speed information along the bottom or along one of the sides?

 

[dazedgonebye]

Its on the right hand side of the VF, top to bottom with a 6.7 or 6.6 below on the right hand side depending on what film format you have selected.

Sounds like it resembles the Zeiss RF more than the Bessa RF. That would be good. Losing the shutter speeds at the bottom is my main irritation with the R3A.

 

[mgd711]

Its on the right hand side of the VF, top to bottom with a 6.7 or 6.6 below on the right hand side depending on what film format you have selected.