What's Wrong With the Fuji 690 Series?

chaospress said:
Not a contradiction really, they have different image rendering. Have you shot with a Leica M9 or M240? Digital is getting better all the time.

I hope you're not worrying about what other people do, if you like it stick with it and happy shooting!
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Oh no, I certainly don't worry about what other people do. Anyone can shoot with anything they want and I wouldn't care. And I can understand why Leica's are so coveted and fun to shoot with.

I haven't shot with the M9 or M240 but I'd like to put some shots side by side and see how they compare. If you put them side by side as a web based jpeg, then I don't think there would be significant difference. But when it comes to printing, I think the IQ advantage of the 690 would be apparent.

But a tool is only useful if it satisfies the requirements of its application. Film can't compete with the digital sensors for high iso. The new Sony A7 with the 12mbp sensor has incredible high iso capabilities. But I just don't need that for what I do.
 
Pablito said:
6x9 aspect ratio not as popular as 6x6 or 6x7, also so few shots per roll.
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Pablito,

The way I see it I perfer 6x9 because it is like 2x3 aspect ratio in 35mm photography. The idea is to be like 35mm photography, except supersized for higher IQ and the ability to print a lot bigger, with enhanced tonality.

I like the term "Texas Leica." True is the fact that there is nothing like a Leica VF'er though.

Not a popular format I agree, but that is part of the charm for me.

Cal
 
Sorry but I do not think that is true.

Sorry but I do not think that is true.

JChrome said:
I agree about the abundant supply. I did mention that the production numbers were a large reason for the current pricing. Interesting idea about the quality though. Because so many were produced and they all are built like tanks, the number available that are working and in good condition is still very high and this would also drive the price down.

So with the 4 frame roll count - you are basically saying that the counter would count a roll as a roll regardless of the number of frames selected.

But I disagree with this - when I took apart the GW690 mkIII, I messed around with removing the counter on the bottom. Essentially the counter is actuated every time the shutter is depressed. There is no linkage between the counter and anything else.

Of course, they could have changed the design from the original GW690 and the Mark III but I doubt it.
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Standard procedure on the GW series camera's is that the count mechanism goes up one count for every roll. Thats why you multiply the number by 10 to get film actuations.

So if the count goes up one for a roll, then it is going up one for a total of 4 actuations on the 4 count rolls. This would make the count overstated by 6 for each roll. This only occurs on GW and GSW. There is no count mechanism on the interchangeable lens camera's, so one would not know the count in any way, unless logged manually.

But the 4 count rolls would minimize the shutter actuations, while putting more mileage on the opening/closing and transport mechanism.

Still, I only make the point as evidence for a huge surplus of bodies because of this market place in the orient for these camera's and because anyone getting a camera out of the 4 frame market would be getting the benefit of fewer frames per roll. If that market was hot, the camera could still be worn out because of the increased usage. But it explains the surplus along with lower prices.
 
Popularity of 6X9 is not directly because of size.

Popularity of 6X9 is not directly because of size.

Pablito said:
6x9 aspect ratio not as popular as 6x6 or 6x7, also so few shots per roll.
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Pablito,

The 6X9 popularity is not because of look of the frame. It is less popular because most processing labs have rarely carried a negative carrier for 6X9. That has always been my experience. That problem goes away entirely with scanning and digital.

It is a common aspect ratio, and anyone who has shot a lot of 35mm would be quite fond of 6X9, because, as pointed out, it is 2X3 aspect, same as 35mm.

It's the absence of processing labs that could enlarge 6X9 that caused it to be unpopular. For me.... I really like it, now that I am scanning for both the 2:3 aspect ratio, and for the Panoramics that I spoke of in my earlier post.
 
kuzano said:
Standard procedure on the GW series camera's is that the count mechanism goes up one count for every roll.
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Surely it must be "for the number of exposures that make up one 120 roll", or the noisy counter mechanism triggered by each exposure would make no sense at all - if they had wanted to count rolls, they would have coupled the usage counter to the door switch for the frame counter reset, and would only have had one click each time the counter reset...
 
I used to use my BL690 in all my trips, side by side with a Rolleiflex 2.8D. I have bought another 690, but it is a G690. My main lens is a 100/3.5AE, which works very well with flash for portraits, and it is super sharp for landscapes.
 
Another thing why I fear they aren't that popular is that Fuji isn't as sexy as Leica or Hasselblad. There isn't a myth around them. Hasselbald went to the moon, Fuji was used by busoperators. Leica invented the rangefander and 135 format, Fuji is a japanese copy.

Partly because import was small volume and the japanese economic boom was in those days regarded as a threat to the western economy.

Not so sure about that 4 exposure film playing a role in anything.

EDIT: read about the diopter. Going to look for one for the GM670, that one has a round viewfinder. The G690BL sadly has a square one.
 
kuzano said:
Standard procedure on the GW series camera's is that the count mechanism goes up one count for every roll. Thats why you multiply the number by 10 to get film actuations.

So if the count goes up one for a roll, then it is going up one for a total of 4 actuations on the 4 count rolls. This would make the count overstated by 6 for each roll. This only occurs on GW and GSW. There is no count mechanism on the interchangeable lens camera's, so one would not know the count in any way, unless logged manually.

But the 4 count rolls would minimize the shutter actuations, while putting more mileage on the opening/closing and transport mechanism.
Click to expand...

I understand what you're saying, but I really don't believe this is correct. The counter is only* connected with the shutter release. It doesn't have any other linkage. It doesn't have anything to do with rolls.

A good test - open up the back of a GW and fire the camera 10 times and see that the counter has gone up by 1.
 
I have a GSW690 and a GW690 - they give amazingly sharp negatives. As noted by many, the "thunk" of the camera shutter (or counter - whatever) is not stealthy, by any means. But they are portable and hand holdable. I have hiked many miles with them - I admit, on the way home I often ask my wife to hold "the big Fuji" for a spell.
 
I think that the lack of printing is the chief reason many don't shoot 6X9.

I do print a lot and always use Fujica 690 series, Norita 6X6, Linhof 617, Noblex 6X6, and sometimes XPan and Widelux. (using the 35mm cameras more with CineStill films which offer Tungsten hi speed and extra fine grained daylight film).

If and when CineStill 50D and 800T ever become available again in 120 film, I'll shoot a lot more MF.

As far as the weight, the Fuji 690 cameras are lighter weight than the Norita 66 and full battery hand gripped 35mm cameras like Nikon F5 and Canon EOS3.

Texsport
 
I don't buy the argument about lack of negative carriers. I've actually shot plenty in this format and still have the camera. Every pro lab I ever worked with had the neg carrier. Also, you can easily mask off a 4x5 carrier, especially a glass 4x5 carrier.

Also, while the quality will obviously be better than 35mm (same aspect ratio) those who don't look critically might confuse it with 35mm precisely because it is the same aspect ratio. 6x6 and 6x7 "look" more obviously, from a distance, like med. format.
 
KenR said:
I have a GSW690 and a GW690 - they give amazingly sharp negatives. As noted by many, the "thunk" of the camera shutter (or counter - whatever) is not stealthy, by any means. But they are portable and hand holdable. I have hiked many miles with them - I admit, on the way home I often ask my wife to hold "the big Fuji" for a spell.
Click to expand...

Indeed the GW isn't quiet. I did my best to silence it but found it was really impossible. It also has nothing to do with the counter - that's a myth that's spread from every forum and 690 article from here to Timbuktu. This thread shows it all.

If you get the G, BL or GL, they are whisper quiet though 🙂.

@Kuzano, here's a shot of the counter assembly.

img_4612.jpg
 
Pablito said:
Also, while the quality will obviously be better than 35mm (same aspect ratio) those who don't look critically might confuse it with 35mm precisely because it is the same aspect ratio. 6x6 and 6x7 "look" more obviously, from a distance, like med. format.
Click to expand...

Pablito,

You make a very good point. Interesting insight of how we are programed that is so true.

Cal
 
Re: whisper quiet, I've got a 100 3.5 that has a sharp "pang" to it whenever I trigger the shutter on my G690BL. This lens was serviced by Frank Marshman less than a year ago, and functions perfectly...just has a noise to it. The AE 100 that I have makes less noise for sure, but I just can't get used to relinquishing control of the exposure...thus I live with my pangy 100 3.5. A brilliant camera.
 
sevo said:
Well, don't do it, then. There is a full set of manual speeds to the right of the "A"...
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That's true...however doesn't the lens default to 1/500th without a battery, and thus need a battery to operate even the manual speeds? I love the lens, but will probably end up listing it here for someone who can use it more.
 
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