Crush on GX680

[grat]

The "exposure verification" works by reading reflected light off the film. So there's no TTL sensor that can look through the lens to determine the correct exposure.

Reveni makes a new spot meter that's relatively inexpensive, although it's slightly unorthodox.

 

[grat]

Now take a look at the Hasselblads.

Yeah, but... that's a pretty harsh step down in optical quality from the GX lenses.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yeah, but... that's a pretty harsh step down in optical quality from the GX lenses.

Nice try, but chain jerking does not work with me. Joking aside, once you made the leap, you will never look back.

 

[grat]

Nice try, but chain jerking does not work with me. Joking aside, once you made the leap, you will never look back.

I admit-- I'd rather use a Hasselblad hand-held over my 12 pound Fuji Monstrosity any day. And if I were a professional photographer selling my photos to make my living, I would consider a Hasselblad (although really, at this point, a Fuji GFX would be more appropriate).

But for what I do? I can quite literally buy two Bronica SQ-A bodies and a full kit of lenses and accessories, and have them CLA'd for what a single Hasselblad body and a good lens would cost-- and in my hands, the difference in final image quality would be negligible. And the cost of a Hasselblad CLA?

Both of my SQ-A's require(d) the same service-- the electrical contacts in the body need cleaning and adjusting. No frame straightening, no multi-hundred dollar CLA, just some light electrical cleaning.

The Hasselblads are very, very good cameras, but they're not worth the extra expense and hassel, at least for me.

... and I don't think I yanked your chain quite as hard as you think I did on image quality. The Fuji EBC GX lenses are universally praised for their quality and sharpness.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I admit-- I'd rather use a Hasselblad hand-held over my 12 pound Fuji Monstrosity any day. And if I were a professional photographer selling my photos to make my living, I would consider a Hasselblad (although really, at this point, a Fuji GFX would be more appropriate).

But for what I do? I can quite literally buy two Bronica SQ-A bodies and a full kit of lenses and accessories, and have them CLA'd for what a single Hasselblad body and a good lens would cost-- and in my hands, the difference in final image quality would be negligible. And the cost of a Hasselblad CLA?

Both of my SQ-A's require(d) the same service-- the electrical contacts in the body need cleaning and adjusting. No frame straightening, no multi-hundred dollar CLA, just some light electrical cleaning.

The Hasselblads are very, very good cameras, but they're not worth the extra expense and hassel, at least for me.

... and I don't think I yanked your chain quite as hard as you think I did on image quality. The Fuji EBC GX lenses are universally praised for their quality and sharpness.

Yes you could buy two Bronicas, but deep in your heart you would know that there was better out there with more capability and that would steadily eat at you until you dumped the Bronicas and bought the Hasselblad in the end. So save a round of buying and selling and buy into the camera that you know you really want.

 

[grat]

Yes you could buy two Bronicas, but deep in your heart you would know that there was better out there with more capability and that would steadily eat at you until you dumped the Bronicas and bought the Hasselblad in the end. So save a round of buying and selling and buy into the camera that you know you really want.

You're funny-- except I'm not sure you're trying to be. All of that may hold true for you, but I'm not you. No, I'm unlikely to buy a Hasselblad. Ever. Or a Leica.

A Swiss watch may be spectacularly engineered, but it doesn't really keep time that much better than a good quartz watch from Japan or Germany. I don't buy nameplates-- I buy value. If the Hasselblad was slightly more expensive than the Bronica, it might be worth considering. But it's not-- and it doesn't magically make you a better photographer, either.

To try to wrench the conversation back on-topic, the GX680 lenses are not only sharp, and downright gorgeous as a rule, they're not that expensive either-- which in terms of value, makes them far, far better than the Hasselblad.

But the camera's a beast, and for handheld, almost anything will win in the "convenience" category.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You're funny-- except I'm not sure you're trying to be. All of that may hold true for you, but I'm not you. No, I'm unlikely to buy a Hasselblad. Ever. Or a Leica.

A Swiss watch may be spectacularly engineered, but it doesn't really keep time that much better than a good quartz watch from Japan or Germany. I don't buy nameplates-- I buy value. If the Hasselblad was slightly more expensive than the Bronica, it might be worth considering. But it's not-- and it doesn't magically make you a better photographer, either.

To try to wrench the conversation back on-topic, the GX680 lenses are not only sharp, and downright gorgeous as a rule, they're not that expensive either-- which in terms of value, makes them far, far better than the Hasselblad.

But the camera's a beast, and for handheld, almost anything will win in the "convenience" category.

I am being somewhat tongue in check, except that I when through camera after camera for years as new features came out, then changing format and in the end I ended up with almost what I wanted as a teenager, a Bronica S. The difference is that a) the Hasselblad is better built, has better parts and services today, b) I bought the Hasselblad over ten years ago spending a whole lot less for the systems with many lenses and c) as adult I have a lot more expendable income. However if I had gone to Hasselblad from the start, I would have saved a lot of buying and selling as well as much more time photographing with a system that I wanted from the start instead of settling for all those decades.

 

[tomkatf]

Just posted in Classifieds!

 

[Moose22]

I am being somewhat tongue in check, except that I when through camera after camera for years as new features came out, then changing format and in the end I ended up with almost what I wanted as a teenager, a Bronica S. The difference is that a) the Hasselblad is better built, has better parts and services today, b) I bought the Hasselblad over ten years ago spending a whole lot less for the systems with many lenses and c) as adult I have a lot more expendable income. However if I had gone to Hasselblad from the start, I would have saved a lot of buying and selling as well as much more time photographing with a system that I wanted from the start instead of settling for all those decades.

The problem with Hassleblad is that it's missing a cm off of each side of the negative. I don't care how well built it is, it's not a replacement for the mighty GX680.

And, in all seriousness, the 680s lenses are sublime. Sharp, yes, but there's a quality to them that's hard to describe. But it's a very good quality.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The problem with Hassleblad is that it's missing a cm off of each side of the negative. I don't care how well built it is, it's not a replacement for the mighty GX680.

And, in all seriousness, the 680s lenses are sublime. Sharp, yes, but there's a quality to them that's hard to describe. But it's a very good quality.

I never found that so called missing cm a problem, because I can compose without it. Remember square is the perfect format.

 

[Moose22]

I never found that so called missing cm a problem, because I can compose without it. Remember square is the perfect format.

Not in a thread about 6x8 cameras it isn't.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Not in a thread about 6x8 cameras it isn't.

Originally but the GX680 has left the room so 6x6 and Hasselblad are on the table.

 

[Joel_L]

Oh, I don't know that the GX680 has left the room. Since I started this thread I have found I really enjoy the GX. So far I have only played with it around my house. This weekend it's going on a hike with me. I find the rumors that it is not good handheld to be false, I find it very easy to handle, but I think I have seen that the III is lighter than the I or II. I have shot 1 roll on a tripod while playing with the shift ability, and about 3 rolls handheld so far. I find it easy to handle, just need to be mindful to not hit the shutter button on accident.

The other thing I really like about it is the ability to be multi format. I made a 645 mask for it and it works great.

GX680 in the house.

Oh, and I have many lenses for different cameras, the GX lenses are indeed very nice.

 

[grat]

The III is supposed to be much lighter, and not need the bulky battery pack of the I/II models. The interchangeable masks are also nice-- I may try to hunt down a mk III film back so I can play with those too.

 

[Joel_L]

I thought the older versions could also take a film mask but you had to manually set the format, where on the III it's automatic. Is that not the case?

 

[grat]

I'm not aware of any option on the older backs to set the film format.

 

[removedacct3]

I'm not aware of any option on the older backs to set the film format.

I believe that only the new NIII supports the various masks. The back itself is backwards compatible with the older I and II camera models. I doubt the I and II models have the auto format detection as well.

Now let us sit back, relax and wait for Sirius to chim in and tells us that not only all Hasselblad backs are compatible with all Hasselblad bodies but that this has been every since the beginning of time and always will be until the end of time

 

[grat]

My understanding is that the III backs will work on the I/II model, and the auto format detection is built into the back. Makes sense, as the body doesn't need to know how far to advance the film, only the back does.

I don't know if the earlier cameras can communicate the shooting information to the back for the edge imprinting function-- I'd have to dig into the service manual(s). As it's a single, huge, non-OCR'd file, it's somewhat difficult to navigate.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I believe that only the new NIII supports the various masks. The back itself is backwards compatible with the older I and II camera models. I doubt the I and II models have the auto format detection as well.

Now let us sit back, relax and wait for Sirius to chim in and tells us that not only all Hasselblad backs are compatible with all Hasselblad bodies but that this has been every since the beginning of time and always will be until the end of time

It is good to see that someone has learned the program!

 

[Moose22]

The III is supposed to be much lighter, and not need the bulky battery pack of the I/II models. The interchangeable masks are also nice-- I may try to hunt down a mk III film back so I can play with those too.

It's really not the weight. It's 11ish lbs. It's the size itself, they're bulky and hard to carry. Also, a good tripod that'll handle 12 lbs and that bulk has been my issue, more than the camera itself.

I've been seen hauling the beast and it's tripod a mile out a local trail to take pictures of a train, it just takes some arranging. If it's a smooth walking surface, not a proper hike, I'll haul it in a foldable wagon.

As for the format masks, I have been intrigued but last spring the supply dried up. All summer they were rare as hen's teeth. But I haven't looked in the last 6 months, hopefully a few more will appear for sale now and again as it'd be fun to try different formats with these lenses.

 

[grat]

It's really not the weight. It's 11ish lbs. It's the size itself, they're bulky and hard to carry. Also, a good tripod that'll handle 12 lbs and that bulk has been my issue, more than the camera itself.

True on both. My tripod holds the weight fairly well, as it's rated for 16 lbs, and that seems pretty accurate. The ball head, however, has.... limits. It's got a nice, progressive friction lock on the ball, except when the slightly unbalanced GX680 is on it. I've had the camera slam down and pinch my fingers at least once, so I now have to use two hands to adjust the head.

It needs a luggage-style shoulder strap you can carry it with.

 

[flavio81]

Nice try, but chain jerking does not work with me. Joking aside, once you made the leap, you will never look back.

Who makes the Hasselblad lenses now? Hint: it's a company that starts with F, located in japan, and it's mission is to slowly kill its film products.

 

[Nokton48]

Two GX680 125mm Fujis hacked to Plaubel Makiflex by Nokton48, on Flickr

Shown here are left the Fuji GX680 125mm F3.2, and on the right, the Fuji GX680 125mm F5.6, cells screwed into broken RB67 Seiko Shutters (shutter blades removed) iris only lenses for focal plane Plaubel Makiflexes. I have also hacked GX680 lenses into Seiko Shutters I have purchased cheaply, the WS Fujinons are what match pretty closely.

Here's an excellent writeup about hacking the GX680 lenses. He's a digital guy

www.getdpi.com/forum/index.php?threads/fujinon-gx-lenses-...

The 125mm F3.2 GX680 is very HOT glass. Uber sharp on 9x9cm Makiflex.

DSC05751 by Nokton48, on Flickr

DSC05746 by Nokton48, on Flickr

DSC05656 by Nokton48, on Flickr

DSC05614 (2) by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Shades 45 degree High Contrast Pol Test 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is a quick test of my new Sinar Norma Copy Stand. Plaubel Makiflex Automatic 9x9cm SLR with hacked Fuji GX680 180mm F3.2. 6x6cm Plaubel Makina film 120 back #4. High contrast polarized lighting. Two Broncolor Impact 21 200 watt second strobes, with polarizing gels adjusted fully. 103mm Sinar Norma glass polarizing disc under the lens, also fully adjusted. Strobes balanced with Broncolor FM2 Strobe Meter, balanced to F/32 1/2 both sides illuminating. The GX680 lens is one of my sharpest for sure. Foba 200 B&W 120 film exposed at EI 100. Developed in ADOX BORAX MQ straight replenished D76 type. This exposure was one pop at F8. Also made exposures at F11 and F5.6, but this is the ONE. 8x8 inch print on 8x10 Aristo #2 RC developed in Multigrade developer.

This setup is good for photographing anything where you want this type of contrasty polarized lighting with 45 degree shadows.

Maki Std Copy Test Shades 180mm F3.2 GX680 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Sirius Glass]

Who makes the Hasselblad lenses now? Hint: it's a company that starts with F, located in japan, and it's mission is to slowly kill its film products.

My Hasselblad lenses come from Zeiss and are no longer made.