Texsport
Well-known
But, an advantage and another reason to buy the older, interchaeable lens, completely metal older models.
Texsport
Texsport
What's Wrong With the Fuji 690 Series?
- Thread starter JChrome
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Texsport,
Another reason is that the early cameras were built for serious commercial duty. The cameras display an overbuild.
Cal
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
So were the later ones - Fuji never advertised any of them to consumers. By the late 80s, plastics cladding had become accepted in the pro market, see e. g. cameras like the Mamiya RZ, Fuji GX680 or Canon T90 (which were no less reliable than the all metal cameras they replaced, at least for the time period within which studios write off their cameras).
Spanik
Well-known
Don't underestimate plastic. If you manage to have the plastic of any of these bodies so mangled it won't work anymore, then you can be sure the metal version would be just as inoperable.
I find it strange that people seem to complain they get such a good camera for the price asked. 🙄
I find it strange that people seem to complain they get such a good camera for the price asked. 🙄
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Valid points about plastics. Nikon pro cameras like the F5 and my D3X other good examples, but keep in mind that some plastic cameras are built as throwaways and are not built with durability in mind.
I'm not saying that metal is better. I just like durability.
Cal
I'm not saying that metal is better. I just like durability.
Cal
mexipike
Established
negative carrier
negative carrier
It's funny that everyone is mentioning the scarcity of negative carriers. When I needed a glass carrier for my 6x7 negatives I had a really hard time finding one and ended up buying a 6x9 which seemed abundant.
negative carrier
It's funny that everyone is mentioning the scarcity of negative carriers. When I needed a glass carrier for my 6x7 negatives I had a really hard time finding one and ended up buying a 6x9 which seemed abundant.
kuzano
Veteran
Re the metal....
Re the metal....
Regarding the plastic vs. metal on the Fuji 690's. Underneath the plastic of all the big fuji's is completely independent full metal body. In fact, while I've never tried it, I would be willing to bet that one could remove all the plastic cladding on the G and GW series you would have a completely operational, and Light Tight, medium format camera.
Nothing about the plastic on these old Fujica and Fujifilm camera's is structural.
It would be about 2-3 ounces lighter and VERY UGLY!!!
But operation would not change and it would take the same pictures either way... wonderful images.
I took the plastic and vinyl trim off my 1968 Plymouth GTX440 one time and the only result was a slight increase in the numbers at the end of a quarter mile race track.
And remember the advice that Dustin Hoffman got in the movie "Mrs. Robinson" from one of his fathers friends at his homecoming party...."Boy, the future is in plastics".
Re the metal....
Regarding the plastic vs. metal on the Fuji 690's. Underneath the plastic of all the big fuji's is completely independent full metal body. In fact, while I've never tried it, I would be willing to bet that one could remove all the plastic cladding on the G and GW series you would have a completely operational, and Light Tight, medium format camera.
Nothing about the plastic on these old Fujica and Fujifilm camera's is structural.
It would be about 2-3 ounces lighter and VERY UGLY!!!
But operation would not change and it would take the same pictures either way... wonderful images.
I took the plastic and vinyl trim off my 1968 Plymouth GTX440 one time and the only result was a slight increase in the numbers at the end of a quarter mile race track.
And remember the advice that Dustin Hoffman got in the movie "Mrs. Robinson" from one of his fathers friends at his homecoming party...."Boy, the future is in plastics".
lawrence
Veteran
Unfortunately that was true but it doesn't stop most plastics from being horrible to look at and handle. Many years ago Norman Mailer described plastic as "The sh*t from oil" and that hasn't changed.
Kent
Finally at home...
Glad that I found this thread, 'cause I am presently considering a 690 to replace my Pentax 645 Set which after the first thrill I don't shoot with anymore, it's just too big and heavy to hurl around a whole day.
Thanks for all the information, gentlemen.
Thanks for all the information, gentlemen.
awbphotog
Well-known
Woohoo! Another convert. The 690 is for sure heavy, but that's double the negative of your Pentax 645. Enjoy your stay.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
For higher magnification VF'er consider a GL690 over a G690BL.
BTW I bartered and just got another 150/5.6. It has a shutter issue, but understand that my first 150/5.6 has about 1/3rd of its coating missing from the front element (I suspect the lens was not properly cleaned at the time of vacuum deposition of the single coat). I primarily will use this lens on a GM670 mostly shooting vertically.
Cal
BTW I bartered and just got another 150/5.6. It has a shutter issue, but understand that my first 150/5.6 has about 1/3rd of its coating missing from the front element (I suspect the lens was not properly cleaned at the time of vacuum deposition of the single coat). I primarily will use this lens on a GM670 mostly shooting vertically.
Cal
awbphotog
Well-known
Very cool, Cal. I'll buy your busted shutter, poorly coated copy off of you at some point if you decide you don't need it!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Andy,
I have two 150/5.6's: one has the faulty shutter; and the other has the missing coating. The shutter seems to not lock the cocking cam/trigger because at 1 second I can hear the shutter unwind as if the shutter has tripped when I release the film advance. Of course this problem is intermittent.
First I have to either have Frank repair my 100/3.5 AE that has a dead CdS cell (or implement a transplant of the AE multicoated glass into a non AE lens barrel). I have to give Frank some time to search though his stockpiles, if he can't find a good cell I have to secure a donor lens cheaply for the lens barrel.
When the dust settles I'll PM you. Might be a while. I'll likely be unloading the 150 with the damaged/missing coating which is a working lens. PM me so I have you in my mailbox.
One repair at a time.
Cal
I have two 150/5.6's: one has the faulty shutter; and the other has the missing coating. The shutter seems to not lock the cocking cam/trigger because at 1 second I can hear the shutter unwind as if the shutter has tripped when I release the film advance. Of course this problem is intermittent.
First I have to either have Frank repair my 100/3.5 AE that has a dead CdS cell (or implement a transplant of the AE multicoated glass into a non AE lens barrel). I have to give Frank some time to search though his stockpiles, if he can't find a good cell I have to secure a donor lens cheaply for the lens barrel.
When the dust settles I'll PM you. Might be a while. I'll likely be unloading the 150 with the damaged/missing coating which is a working lens. PM me so I have you in my mailbox.
One repair at a time.
Cal
Spanik
Well-known
Maybe first use your 645 next to your 690. The 690 is big and heavy as well and it eats film like a kid icecream. Also one is a slr, the other a rf. Different uses as well as different way of shooting. Don't make rash decisions.
JChrome
Street Worker
I agree with Spanik, maybe borrow one if you can. The 690 series isn't the most portable MF camera out there. If you like 645 then the Fuji 645s are supposed to be great. For me, it's not enough of a difference between 35mm to justify shooting MF but then again... those Contax 645's are really something.
Prest_400
Multiformat
Different tools again. I've made my instagram feed a healthy dose of wedding style photography and many are shooting with 645 SLRs.
You might miss close focus if you do portraiture. The 690s are quite good for environmental portraits.
I've not researched well 645 SLRs but I've seen in person the contax, mamiya and bronica 645s and they aren't compact, to put it in a way. As of weight, I was surprised to see that the Mamiya 645 was just about 1,5kg or more, just like a GW690.
Hell, or just go bonkers and have both 645 and 690 😀.
Kent
Finally at home...
Thanks very much. Although the 690 is rather big for a rangefinder cam and relatively heavy, it's, well, "portable", compared to a Pentax 645 with a 50mm, a 90mm lens and the 80-160 zoom. 😉
I like the simile "like a kid eats icecream". Yes, indeed. 8 frames per roll is not a lot, but then on medium format I tend to shoot very carefully anyway. 🙂
Decision already made. The Pentax 645 is on the offer on Ebay Germany ATM and my 690 presently sits in German customs. 🙁
Well, keep your fingers crossed for me, gentlemen.
Kent
Finally at home...
My wife would consider that to be "bonkers" indeed. 🙄
The Bronica 645 has always been some kind of dream cam for me, but to be honest: am excellent 35mm neg is almost where a 6x4,5 neg is. (May the 645 God not struck me now!)
The real difference is provided by a sharp lens on front of a 6x9 film. 😉
(Am I being too blasphemous now?)
That's the second reason why I went for the Fuji 690. :angel:
Spanik
Well-known
Ah, but then you should compare your Pentax bag with one containing the G690BL with the 65/100/180 in it. 😀
Good luck with customs, I hope they are friendlier than in Belgium.
Kent
Finally at home...
😀
Thanks. I just hope they don't put in on their shelves for three weeks.
They are pretty friendly, but sometimes take their time, you know. 😉
