Another New Fuji Folder Question

Frank R · Mar 17, 2008

I like the prototype Fuji folder but I had another idea: Instead of building an entirely new camera, do you think it would be a good idea for Fuji to just market a 105mm coated lens to retrofit all those old folders out there?

There are a lot of solid old cameras that would benefit from some nice modern optics.

They could sell it with a shim kit to set the infinity point.
For the cameras that originally had only front cell focusing, they could include a simple focusing mount.
They could make it so that the shutter trigger could be adapted to all the different camera trigger levers.

So many of these cameras were so similar that there would not be that much new engineering work involved, except for the focus mount.

Tell me what you think.

david b · Mar 17, 2008

Sounds much too difficult for the average schmoe. I just can't see this happening.

As for the GF670, my guess is it will be released on a limited scale, as a limited edition camera like the Fuji Natura Classica S.

Hopefully it will be on a global scale.

keithwms · Mar 17, 2008

I think they should just bring back the gsw690. That was (and still is) a beloved and highly prized camera. Surely they have the drawings and tooling specs in a drawer somewhere. They should make that with a retractable lens.

Fuji-san: 6x9 uses more of your lovely film than 6x7.

Ganbatte kudasai, Fuji-san!

frank · Mar 17, 2008

I think the old folders generally suffer from front standard wobbles and misalignment.

Tom Hoskinson · Mar 17, 2008

frank said:
I think the old folders generally suffer from front standard wobbles and misalignment.

With the exception of my 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Crown Graphic - which I have equipped with Fuji, Docter Optics, Schneider and Voigtlander lenses.

Nick Zentena · Mar 18, 2008

Fuji already makes coated 105mm lenses. Just surf over to badger and order one. But I can't imagine too many buying a $400+ lens to upgrade an old folder.

whitecat · Mar 18, 2008

Any rumor yet on when and how much?

pellicle · Mar 18, 2008

Nick Zentena said:
Fuji already makes coated 105mm lenses. Just surf over to badger and order one. But I can't imagine too many buying a $400+ lens to upgrade an old folder.

say, will that fit in a Bessa?

Tom Hoskinson · Mar 18, 2008

Nick Zentena said:
Fuji already makes coated 105mm lenses. Just surf over to badger and order one. But I can't imagine too many buying a $400+ lens to upgrade an old folder.

Yes, I bought one for my 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Crown Graphic.

sanking · Mar 18, 2008

Frank R said:
I like the prototype Fuji folder but I had another idea: Instead of building an entirely new camera, do you think it would be a good idea for Fuji to just market a 105mm coated lens to retrofit all those old folders out there?

There are many issues with the old folders other than the quality of the lens. Squinty viewfinders, advance by reading number through red window, rickety folding struts, inadequate rangefinders, etc. The quality of the lenses on many of them, especially if coated, is their strongest point in some cases.

Sandy King

Frank R · Mar 18, 2008

Nick Zentena said:
Fuji already makes coated 105mm lenses. Just surf over to badger and order one. But I can't imagine too many buying a $400+ lens to upgrade an old folder.

I checked, it costs $645. It looks way too big to retrofit to a folder.

HerrBremerhaven · Mar 18, 2008

I looked into doing something similar with one of my 6x9 folders. While the lens and front cell focus are actually surprisingly nice, the downside is the ancient shutter with slightly questionable reliability (even after restoration). The downside of all this is that more modern 105mm lenses in Copal 0 (or Seiko) shutters are too big to allow the camera to actually fold. So either a bayonet set-up would be needed, or you would need to never fold the camera.

I suppose there is a niche market for this sort of thing. Unfortunately many people using old folder cameras do so with the low entry cost in mind. To get a lens that is three to five times mroe expensive than the entire camera would seem to be a very limited market. Besides, the old lenses really are surprisingly good. Here is a shot of a Morgan sports car from a $10 AGFA folding camera. I don't know that having a newer lens would alter the results much, other than more a more modern Copal 0 shutter would have made it easier to use.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

Frank R · Mar 19, 2008

HerrBremerhaven said:
I looked into doing something similar with one of my 6x9 folders. While the lens and front cell focus are actually surprisingly nice, the downside is the ancient shutter with slightly questionable reliability (even after restoration). The downside of all this is that more modern 105mm lenses in Copal 0 (or Seiko) shutters are too big to allow the camera to actually fold. So either a bayonet set-up would be needed, or you would need to never fold the camera.

I suppose there is a niche market for this sort of thing. Unfortunately many people using old folder cameras do so with the low entry cost in mind. To get a lens that is three to five times mroe expensive than the entire camera would seem to be a very limited market. Besides, the old lenses really are surprisingly good. Here is a shot of a Morgan sports car from a $10 AGFA folding camera. I don't know that having a newer lens would alter the results much, other than more a more modern Copal 0 shutter would have made it easier to use.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

The lens/shutter they would put on their folder is not something they currently sell.

It seems a nice Bessa II with a Heliar will cost $500-700. I could imagine upgrading a few old 6x9s with a new lens/shutter for less than that each.

Great shot of the Morgan btw.

HerrBremerhaven · Mar 20, 2008

Hello Frank R,

Thanks for the compliment. The lens I was investigating was the Nikkor 105mm f5.6 in Copal 0 shutter. It could be done, possibly even with a way to remove the lens to allow folding the camera body, though that would only work well without film in the camera. Due to the technical issues, I have started on modifying a Polaroid 900 rangefinder for usage with 4x5 films, Polaroid holders, and a Linhof Super Rollex back. While this Polaroid solution will be larger and heavier than a 6x9 folder, I get the advantage of rangefinder coupled focusing, a Schneider Xenar 135mm lens, and multiple film formats.

While it might be nice to see a more modern 105mm in an ultra small size, I think the reality is that the costs would be quite high compared to potential sales. Besides, my point of showing that image was to show that even an under-appreciated AGFA triplet lens and guess focus can give very nice results. Sure, an even better lens would be nice, but the old front cell focusing triplets really are surprisingly good. If I had a filter mount to take more modern filters, then I think that would be a better direction to spend money on improvements.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

Another New Fuji Folder Question

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency