Anyone who had a Fuji GF670 but sold it, why?

[DREW WILEY]

Some of the Fuji 645 rangefinders have too many bells n whistles for me - too much to go wrong. Some people love em. That format size is just too small for me personally. I ordered a repair manual for my 6X9's and successfully took apart and cleaned the inside of the RF components of the older camera myself. All the mechanical parts still looked great. No battery needed for anything. No electronics. I always prefer handheld metering with a true spotmeter anyway.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Oh gosh, I'd have go dig back in my History file to recall the exact source. There are a number of sources listed on Google as well as EBay, either downloadable or hard copy. Mine was an original factory manual. Just type into the search engine entry your camera model and "repair manual". All kinds of hits come up. Of course, dedicated parts for many of these camera no longer exist, and that's why repair shops won't accept them anymore, and why you need to be extra careful fooling with one yourself. The Fuji "Texas Leicas" are fairly straightforward to get apart and back together again for maintenance purposes, provided nothing inside is actually broken.

 

[AlanY]

This one time I was ready to exit my elevator at a Hyatt in San Francisco. I had my GW690III with me, hanging at my side. Doors opened and as I try to step out these parents told their kids to run inside. Ignoring the fact that I was trying to get out (and it is just manners to let people out first). Felt a big whack and one kid look dazed. He had run into my GW. I checked my camera, it was fine.

Kid was not though?

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

I never learned to focus it accurately at wide apertures. Half of my f/3.5 portraits did not nail the eye.

I did a workshop with Mark Steinmetz a few years ago. He mentioned he had been working with a MF folder and gave it up after having focusing problems. He's a Fuji 6x9 RF guy, so if he can't focus a folder, it probably can't be done.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Fascinating thread, it has actually fully cured my many year desire to have a GF670. I'd like to read a thread like this for every medium format camera that costs over a grand...

 

[MattKing]

On the positive side, a Hasselblad cures GAS for all other brands. Think of it as a $5K vaccine shot against all analog GAS.

Not for me.
A long time ago, I worked selling cameras, including Hasselblads.
Ergonomically, they don't suit me at all.
I don't know whether other strongly left handed people are equally affected, but I certainly am.
If I was given one, I would happily sell it.
My various Mamiya cameras have been much better suited to my needs.
I've never had a chance to get to know any Bronica models, but I'd like a chance to try a GS-1.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I've never had a chance to get to know any Bronica models, but I'd like a chance to try a GS-1.

Same for me, but what makes you think you would like a GS-1 after disliking the 'blad? It seems to me that it's about the same ergonomically, if not a little bit worse in each dimension.

 

[MattKing]

Same for me, but what makes you think you would like a GS-1 after disliking the 'blad? It seems to me that it's about the same ergonomically, if not a little bit worse in each dimension.

I'd like to try one, because it is a 6x7 camera and it is smaller than an RB67 (which does suit me).
The grip options appear to also be better than the Hasselblad ones for us left handed users.
Though there are no guarantees that it would be better suited to me - as I said, I would like to try one.

 

[MattKing]

See? That's exactly what I'm talking about! You are allergic to Hasselblads (the vaccine) and this makes you - in this case - susceptible to Bronica GAS. My body took the vaccine just fine, and I do not feel the urge to try a GS-1, or any other camera from any other manufacturer. I even stopped thinking of large format, so the GAS immunity works across formats!

My C330, 645 Pro, Baby Bessa, Kodak Tourist, 6x12 pinhole and Brownie Hawkeye team keep me inoculated from medium format GAS (although I miss my RB67).
The interest in a GS-1 is one of mere curiosity.

 

[campy51]

I haven't found anything that cures my gas other than the prices of this stuff today. I have collected a group of cameras that should have cured gas but I still have it. Hasselblad 500 C/M, Rolleiflex 2.8E, Bronica EC-TL, Kowa Six, Kodak Medalist II and my newest is a Mamiya 6. I am hoping the Mamiya will make me want to sell the others but I like looking at them and using them from time to time. I find the Bronica and Kowa are the easiest to focus. If I find an exceptional camera at an exceptional price I will probably buy it, but it's getting harder to find the deals these days. I have even bought a Bronica EC body for $55 to see if I could fix it since I have extra lenses and a metered chimney finder for it. I have put many hours into it and have learned a lot and it's been fun.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hasselblad killed my GAS. Once I got all the Hasselblad lenses that I wanted, GAS just disappeared and never came back. Hmmm, another reason to buy Hasselblad.

 

[Huss]

Kid was not though?

He seemed worst for wear. But big picture view - that is fine as the number of Fuji GW690s out there is finite, whereas new kids are being popped out as we speak.

 

[cherrywood]

this is a really old post but I didn't want to spam the forum with another similar post. hi, I'm newish here, and I am considering buying a Fuji GF60 but reading all of these posts is making scared. I mainly want to buy it because I had a dream that I was using an Olga Camera and I became famous. (I already purchase it new for $60 on bhphoto) so who knows why I want this Fuji camera, oh well. Please let me know

 

[Pioneer]

Past history. Beautiful lens but 3 repairs in 3 years was too much for me. It was on the road more than I was.

Find a good Zeiss Ikon folder. It will last far longer and I'm willing to bet it will give you some very good photos as well.

 

[250swb]

this is a really old post but I didn't want to spam the forum with another similar post. hi, I'm newish here, and I am considering buying a Fuji GF60 but reading all of these posts is making scared. I mainly want to buy it because I had a dream that I was using an Olga Camera and I became famous. (I already purchase it new for $60 on bhphoto) so who knows why I want this Fuji camera, oh well. Please let me know

Whatever a 'GF60' is? You could try a Fuji GW670 if you want a 6x7 camera, but only the photographer can make him or herself famous. I recommend stop thinking for a while..

 

[Anaxagore]

If you find an Agfa Automatic 66 with working light meter and light-tight bellows, you may want to try it.. true, film sensibility is limited to 25-200 ASA, but it does not need a battery, has a full metal construction. The Auto66 is a pleasure to shoot with when I don’t have enough space to take an MF SLR. The price on the used market has been climbing up lately, like many other cameras, but it remains below that of the GF670. You are limited to 6x6 though, no 6x7 with that one.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I could have had a very clean GF670 demo model at a very good price. Handled it. Just didn't feel right, and seemed delicate. Likewise, could have had a very clean M7 at a tempting price. But I opted for a fine "user" GW690ii instead, plus an absolutely mint GW690iii, plus a mint 300 EDIF P67 tele lens, all for basically the same allotted budget. Think I made the right choice. Those fixed-lens Fuji RF's handhold wonderfully if needed, are fairly rugged and simplified, have superb lenses, and didn't cost so much apiece that I have to be paranoid about taking them out into the weather. I really prefer the longer rectangle of 6X9 over 6X7 anyway. And even that wonderful P67 tele does get a lot more usage than I first thought, and is one reason I've kept my whole P67 kit.

If I could afford them all, then I would have em all. But then I'd just go nuts having too many options to worry about, and it might turn out counterproductive. I'm not a camera collector; my concern is the final result; and one adapts to what one has.

 

[guangong]

I could have had a very clean GF670 demo model at a very good price. Handled it. Just didn't feel right, and seemed delicate. Likewise, could have had a very clean M7 at a tempting price. But I opted for a fine "user" GW690ii instead, plus an absolutely mint GW690iii, plus a mint 300 EDIF P67 tele lens, all for basically the same allotted budget. Think I made the right choice. Those fixed-lens Fuji RF's handhold wonderfully if needed, are fairly rugged and simplified, have superb lenses, and didn't cost so much apiece that I have to be paranoid about taking them out into the weather. I really prefer the longer rectangle of 6X9 over 6X7 anyway. And even that wonderful P67 tele does get a lot more usage than I first thought, and is one reason I've kept my whole P67 kit.

If I could afford them all, then I would have em all. But then I'd just go nuts having too many options to worry about, and it might turn out counterproductive. I'm not a camera collector; my concern is the final result; and one adapts to what one has.

Although I own a GF670 and don’t intend to sell it...for me it has its uses, you made the correct decision. Camera choice depends upon personal fit for each individual. That’s why so many varieties exist. After my Hasselblad 1000F died, I tried Linhof 120 camera and Pentax 67 (This was in the old days when camera stores would let customer take camera out of store and fiddle with camera while walking on the street.) Didn’t like either one.
I bought new 670 at closeout price at BH, i probably wouldn’t buy one at today’s prices. The comment made above that my Super Ikonta will outlast the GF is probably quite true.

 

[Prest_400]

I could have had a very clean GF670 demo model at a very good price. Handled it. Just didn't feel right, and seemed delicate. Likewise, could have had a very clean M7 at a tempting price. But I opted for a fine "user" GW690ii instead, plus an absolutely mint GW690iii, plus a mint 300 EDIF P67 tele lens, all for basically the same allotted budget. Think I made the right choice. Those fixed-lens Fuji RF's handhold wonderfully if needed, are fairly rugged and simplified, have superb lenses, and didn't cost so much apiece that I have to be paranoid about taking them out into the weather. I really prefer the longer rectangle of 6X9 over 6X7 anyway. And even that wonderful P67 tele does get a lot more usage than I first thought, and is one reason I've kept my whole P67 kit.

If I could afford them all, then I would have em all. But then I'd just go nuts having too many options to worry about, and it might turn out counterproductive. I'm not a camera collector; my concern is the final result; and one adapts to what one has.

Well said. back in 2014 when I went for the GW690 its rugged nature and large format seemed good. TBH I always thought the GF670 is a good idea for my needs as a highly mobile travel camera. But the wallet wouldn't ever agree. It's both 6x6 and 6x7, which are fantastic formats, and I do fine with a single prime lens. ILaryi
But that $ difference buys a lot of film and transportation; while at it the Mamiya 7 is also in very high prices. For the latter cost Iwould now rather consider Digital medium format.

I did a workshop with Mark Steinmetz a few years ago. He mentioned he had been working with a MF folder and gave it up after having focusing problems. He's a Fuji 6x9 RF guy, so if he can't focus a folder, it probably can't be done.

Interesting! I have been eyeing 645 and 6x6 folders which are, in the affordable cases, vintage. I perhaps might be able to get my hands on a Agfa Super Isolette and even lend it for a trip alongside the 6x9 but don't have hopes for outstanding usability and speed.
Might be because I grew up during the great recession and digital revolution; but echoing what Drew mentions, I have some good options and rather put my budget into film.

 

[TmRn]

Coming in late to this discussion. I sold mine to KEH about a month ago for slightly less than I paid for it new 10 years ago. I just never took to it. Build quality seemed far less than my GW670III. Yes, the older camera isn't metered, but with a tiny Keks light meter on top it's nearly as fast to use.