Considering a Fuji GW690II

Dennis-B · Feb 11, 2022

My local used dealer has a Fuji GW690II for sale. Seems to be in great condition, with the usual usage marks (nothing major), and with 446 shutter clicks on it. At $700, this seems to be a fair price. Dealer lists @ EX+. His ratings have always been spot on.

Comments, recommendations?

Dan Daniel · Feb 11, 2022

What do you want to do with it?

Great cameras. A warranty would be good.

By the way, the shutter counter means little. It can be set to any number you want in about two minutes. You never know who's played with the camera before it got to your shop. Judge condition based on wear, etc. as with any other camera, and don't worry about the counter.

abruzzi · Feb 11, 2022

FYI, I believe the "odometer" on the base of those cameras are for 10 clicks of the shutter. Not that thats bad, just a small comment,since your post seems to imply that its taken less than 500 shots.

Dennis-B · Feb 11, 2022

abruzzi said:
FYI, I believe the "odometer" on the base of those cameras are for 10 clicks of the shutter. Not that thats bad, just a small comment,since your post seems to imply that its taken less than 500 shots.

Didn't mean to imply that it was less than 500 actuations. I read that the counter was x10, so, 4460+. Fuji instructions on the camera state that shutter should be maintained @ 5k.

I'm going to physically inspect today, so...

Dan Daniel · Feb 11, 2022

[QUOTE="Dennis-B, post: 2517787, member: 86661"
I'm going to physically inspect today, so...[/QUOTE]

Look for signs of corrosion around the screw heads and joints. Whitish powder. I've seen a couple of these cameras basically sealed up from corrosion. Not to be paranoid, lots of them out there without this problem! Just something to look for.

mshchem · Feb 11, 2022

Dennis-B said:
Didn't mean to imply that it was less than 500 actuations. I read that the counter was x10, so, 4460+. Fuji instructions on the camera state that shutter should be maintained @ 5k.

I'm going to physically inspect today, so...

I have one of these cameras. Really great all around camera. They are loud when you trip the shutter. You might want to run a roll through it to hear it and check the functionality of the shutter/lens

Kodachromeguy · Feb 11, 2022

The 690II has amazing optical output. It would be difficult to improve on it in medium format. Here are some examples:

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2018/10/photographing-cotton-compress-of.html

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-mississippi-delta-37-tchula.html

destroya · Feb 11, 2022

I have the first version and it just keeps on producing great negs and slides. It is one of my favorite cameras to use, just so simple and great results. the loud shutter is an issue for some, but it never bothered me. just accept it and move on and it wont bother you again. Buy it

john

DREW WILEY · Feb 11, 2022

At $700 it should indeed be in great condition. That's what I paid for an almost brand new GW690 iii. Very little difference between the ii and iii versions. I have one of each, and keep color film in one, black and white in the other. The iii is a little bit easier loading the film, but both load quite easily. Great cameras. Superb lens. Handholds if needed better than my Nikon. Highly recommended.

At less than 500 rolls on the "odometer", that should give you many more years of usage before thinking about the shutter mechanism hypothetically needing maintenance. Of greater concern is internal viewfinder hazing, which can be self-maintained, but is a headache to do. So you want to be certain the viewfinder is relatively clear. If you ever need a fine-focus magnifier, the Nikon F one threads right in.

halfaman · Feb 11, 2022

Big but light, perfectly portable, good ergonomy, good rangefinder, and excellent image quality. Great camera. I had a III version and sold it because 6x9 format don't work for me (I ended selling all my 6x9 gear).

gone · Feb 11, 2022

If you get a chance to hold one and fire it, that might make or break the deal. For me, it was just too big. Didn't mind the heavy part since my daily shooter was a Nikon F4s. Typical Fuji glass w/ a very clean sort of IQ. You're not going to get a look like you would from an old Summicron, but it will be really sharp. I found the much smaller and lighter Fuji 645s to be a much more friendly daily shooter. Even it had a loud shutter though, which is absurd, as it was a leaf shutter.

These probably make more sense for people who are going to set them on a tripod. Any MF camera is going to be big and heavy unless it's a folder or TLR, and at least on them you're going to have quiet shutters.

I had to sell my 645s because the shutter kept breaking and KEH was unable to find parts to repair it. So you might want to make sure the 6x9 cameras are still able to be repaired.

mshchem · Feb 11, 2022

I have both the II and the III versions. The III offers easier film loading, just push a little red button and it kicks the spool of film up. The II is more metal feeling. I have 3 Fuji 6x9s and the G617. Best bang for the buck in mf cameras IMHO. 6x9 with modern film is amazing. Not large format but close.

Moose22 · Feb 11, 2022

mshchem said:
I have both the II and the III versions. The III offers easier film loading, just push a little red button and it kicks the spool of film up. The II is more metal feeling. I have 3 Fuji 6x9s and the G617. Best bang for the buck in mf cameras IMHO. 6x9 with modern film is amazing. Not large format but close.

I have the 690. I wish I'd gotten a II or III for one reason, and that's that the straps on the 690 are on the wrong side. Two lugs on the left end of the camera, when I much prefer to wrap a strap around my right wrist as I use my left hand to focus and hold/shoot with my right. On 35mm I tend to use ONLY a wrist strap on the right side lug, and you really can shoot these like a ginormous leica.

The optical formula, as far as I understand, is the same or similar enough. So a II or III will produce similarly excellent results.

I don't think 5000 actuations matters at the age of a II. It's old, no matter what. I think it's the condition itself. Just make sure your shutter times seem close to correct and definitely check for corrosion.

DREW WILEY · Feb 11, 2022

It's almost impossible to get these cameras repaired due to the lack of spare parts. But heck, you can buy a spare one for the price of a typical repair! And they hold up quite well. I've taken my ii version on some long wild weather mountain backpack trips without pampering it. It's great to have something that not only works great on a tripod, but that can also be handheld when the wind and sleet are so strong I can hardly stand up in it myself. Yes, you're restricted to a single lens; but it's a third the weight of my Pentax 6x7 with two lenses. And no rangefinder is ideal for long focal length usage anyway. I love the longer 6x9 rectangle, reminiscent of 35mm frame shape.

But repair-wise, I ordered up a copy of the official repair manual and managed to get the thing apart to clean the inside surfaces of the rangefinder optics. Everything mechanical looked pristine. And the taking lens was still like new. And I intentionally wanted a "beater" with a few battle scars already on the body, so I wouldn't cry if it got another scar in the mountains. If I want a pretty camera instead, I already have my mint iii version as well. But a common misconception is that the iii's are in a plastic housing. Nope, same metal die cast housing, and just a different surface coating.

Shutter noise, Ha! Just a little "thwip", and not a KER-LUNK that induces trans-Pacific tsunamis like my P67 does.

Huss · Feb 11, 2022

The shutter count on the bottom does not mean much as it is very easy to take the bottom off and spin the numbers.

What matters is the overall condition. Does it look in good shape? Does everything feel nice and tight? etc.

If you've never used before, try to fire the shutter just so you can experience the sound and feel. It can be off-putting for some.

Dan Daniel · Feb 11, 2022

Huss said:
If you've never used before, try to fire the shutter just so you can experience the sound and feel. It can be off-putting for some.

I assume that the OP has been to the shop already, but in case he doesn't know, the back needs to be open to fire the shutter without film loaded.

Moose22 · Feb 11, 2022

Huss said:
If you've never used before, try to fire the shutter just so you can experience the sound and feel. It can be off-putting for some.

What is funny, and not Ha Ha funny, is that the bulk of that noise is to actuate that counter on the bottom.

Leaf shutters aren't particularly loud things. At least not when you don't have a big ol' mirror to get out of the way, But the mechanisms to make the counter go clicky click are.

Dan Daniel · Feb 12, 2022

Moose22 said:
What is funny, and not Ha Ha funny, is that the bulk of that noise is to actuate that counter on the bottom.

Actually, it is a spring-loaded bar running under the rangefinder at the back of the lens block. I have seen someone's description of how they muffled the sound but I forget what they actually did. I don't think that the noise has a true functional reason to be there- the shutter is already cocked and as you say leaf shutters are quiet and simple to release without having a metal bar slam around inside the camera body away from the shutter itself. I wonder if the noise was because of the intended use? A loud noise that might be heard by a group of people standing around for a group portrait making clear that the shutter has been tripped.

Dennis-B · Feb 12, 2022

Many thanks for all the input, but I decided that this one just wasn't going to be "mine". It had some honest wear, the shutter sounded fine, and there weren't any obvious flaws other than wear. Screws had no oxidation, no dents, dings, etc. While the rangefinder was clear, the camera just wasn't comfortable in my hands. I did run a roll of long-expired 120 film through it, but it just didn't grab me.

I still have a Mamiya Universal with 6x9 backs, as well as a Koni-Omega Rapid 100, a couple of Yashica Mat 124's (plain and G), as well as my Mamiya 645 Pro TL. I also have a 6x9 Century Graphic. The search will continue.

Arthurwg · Feb 13, 2022

Dennis-B said:
Many thanks for all the input, but I decided that this one just wasn't going to be "mine". It had some honest wear, the shutter sounded fine, and there weren't any obvious flaws other than wear. Screws had no oxidation, no dents, dings, etc. While the rangefinder was clear, the camera just wasn't comfortable in my hands. I did run a roll of long-expired 120 film through it, but it just didn't grab me.

I still have a Mamiya Universal with 6x9 backs, as well as a Koni-Omega Rapid 100, a couple of Yashica Mat 124's (plain and G), as well as my Mamiya 645 Pro TL. I also have a 6x9 Century Graphic. The search will continue.

It's possible that you already have enough cameras.

Dennis-B · Feb 13, 2022

Arthurwg said:
It's possible that you already have enough cameras.

That is so true!!

Considering a Fuji GW690II

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