Would you buy the new Fuji Range Finder?

Would you buy the new Fuji Range Finder?

  • Total voters
    788
The more I ponder long distance cycling trips, the better a folding, rangefinder coupled MF camera looks. Paired with Bigfoot of course. No doubt there are perfectly adequate to very good 50s vintage folders that would be up to the task. On the other hand, AE would cut down on at least one meter to carry and make quick snaps easy from the bike. 120/220 definitely helps with the bulk of the film stash on the bike. It might be fun, for a HUGE change, to buy a new camera.

I could be in. Something else would have to go first. That's always a huge problem. I really like all of my stuff.
 
Looking more closely at the Fuji 6x7 Folder...

...Lo and behold, it has 3 strap lugs. Just like Bigfoot & Bubba. I want one!
 
I probably shouldn't respond to the bait, but I can't let that comment about DSLR's ride. No, a DSLR (or DRF for that matter) will not give anyone a better image quality than 35mm, and MF will blow it away. All any digital image will do is show you the same tired results that keep people buying and shooting w/ film. Very narrow tonal latitude, no shadow detail, unrealistic DOF, and crappy B&W results.

As far as the Fuji is concerned, it sounds like a nice camera. I can't remember the last time a manufacturer came out w/ a folder, especially in MF format.
 
myoptic3 said:
...I can't remember the last time a manufacturer came out w/ a folder, especially in MF format.
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The Mamiya 6 back in the 80's with its collapsible lens, while strictly speaking is not a classic folder, is true in spirit to the folder principle, besides being a great camera. I bought mine new at that time and love it. So, I'm interested in the new folder and what it represents (i.e. a commitment to rollfilm by Fuji), but won't be in the market for it myself.
 
myoptic3 said:
I probably shouldn't respond to the bait, but I can't let that comment about DSLR's ride. No, a DSLR (or DRF for that matter) will not give anyone a better image quality than 35mm, and MF will blow it away. All any digital image will do is show you the same tired results that keep people buying and shooting w/ film. Very narrow tonal latitude, no shadow detail, unrealistic DOF, and crappy B&W results.
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I don't have any of those problems when I shoot digital. The narrow lattitude is the same as slide film, though neg film does beat digital in that regard. I get plenty of shadow detail and see nothing unrealistic about the depth of field I get with either of my digital SLRs. I have a fullframe Kodak 14n and a crop-sensor Nikon D70. I keep shooting film for most of my fine art work because i prefer the ergonomics of my Olympus OM-system bodies and my Mamiya 645 over the digitals, and I like square pics, which is better with a hasselblad compared to cropping a digital file. What's unrealistic about the DOF?
 
leicasniper said:
Should Fuji make it, the market for it would be tiny, which means the price will be huge. My guess would be several thousand dollars a copy.
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That's just not believeable. At "several thousand dollars a copy" the market would go from tiny to non-existant.

Now, if they put a red dot on it, they could name their price. 😀
 
My current camera is a Mamiya 7II with a 65mm lens. Eventually, I planned to get a back up with the same lens. The Fuji folder, if reasonably priced, would definitely get the nod over another M7II.
 
otaku said:
If a digital and significantly cheaper than an M8 then yes. fuji can make nice cameras even if my a500 is a piece of junk
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My thoughts too. Fuji could make a digital rangefinder with any of its sensor designs but preferably one that is at least 4/3 in size. A fixed moderate zoom on it starting at 24 up to100 mm in 35 mm terms.
It will surpass any digital bridge, DRF and cheap DSLR around in low light quality and dynamic range if you check what their compacts already do compared to other designs. 9 -10 MP will be sufficient. Meanwhile it is possible to design a proper digital zoom rangefinder with parallax and field of view compensation without expensive mechanical linking between lens and finder.


Ernst Dinkla
 
I think that happens when ever some responds to the poll but doesn't post to the thread. The vote in the poll counts as a new post but your post was the last in this thread so it is what shows up.
Rob
Ernst Dinkla said:
Why is that last message by me reappearing with a new date ?

I might be vain but not that degree.


Ernst Dinkla
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I'm tellin you... I have this little super ikonta III 6x6 folder, it is much more portable than any Leica M or similar, it is on the level of a Canonet ql17 giii as pocketability and it shoots big beautiful 6x6 slides or negs. It's old and with a triplet lens that gets soft in the corners and a shabby film tranbsport mechanism that overlaps 2-3 mm of the frames...but still produces great images.
This new Fuji? make it as portable as the Super Ikonta, and it will get a LOT of use.
My two Rolleiflexes... poor dudes will get very bored. I;m even considering selling them if need to finance the new folder.
 
I voted no... nothing against it per se, but I don't really like to be "multi-platformed," and I'm too heavily invested in time, effort, learning and money on the 35mm platform to be able to give medium format the attention it deserves.

Of course, I wouldn't mind borrowing or even renting one just to check it out, but I would not be interested in a long term/permanent commitment.
 
Yes, I will buy it if it is better built than the old GS645 (bellows, shutter linkage). It could be the best MF folder ever .
I live in fear that I have to sell some very nice gear sooner or later.....

wallace
 
No. I'm glad they're putting it out - but honestly, given that I can get a vintage Bessa or Zeiss for a fraction of the cost - I have very little to gain by spending more on the Fuji.

I suspect they'll sell entirely to collectors.
 
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