I just clicked on this APUG sponsor's banner. Now these are pretty kewl cameras! Dead Link Removed Does anyone here have one?
Regards, Art.
Regards, Art.
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Art I own them. I use the 612 model. What would you like to know?
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Very well made; very basic; very good. I've road-tested the 617 and 810. What more do you want to know?
Apparently Art lost interest. For anyone else interested a few details:
The pano cameras were updated, the door now opens wider and gets out of your way better when using the GG, the finish is better and the cold shoe for the viewfinder is in a more decorative alcove. However make sure that the cold shoe aligns optically with the lens. The early model had some problems there.
The viewfinders have been updated and are better. They have far less distortion that the previous WA version. In light of the up coming release of a rise and fall shift adapter, you can get lens cones that have this added in feature in mind. They are 10mm shorter and will fit with the shift adapter, if you decide against using the shift adapter the cones come with a 10mm spacer instead.
Film flatness is excellent with this camera as the advance system consists of 2 simple knobs on top, so you can turn them in counter rotation to each other and tighten up the film. The pressure plate holds the film flat and I have yet to see any scratches on film.
The GG uses magnets to attach to the camera, make dead certain though that the GG is in the right place and FLAT. Otherwise it's a great and simple design. Speaking of simple the camera has just 8 moving parts, the focus ring, the 2 film knobs, the door, the pressure plate, 2 rollers for the film and the slide door for the peep hole. The peephole is needed for advancing your film.
Lens cones are removeable by removing 4 nylon screws, I assume the use of nylon is so that the threads in the camera body do not get stripped or cross threaded. If you intend on changing lenses order extra screws. Changing lenses can be a little slower than you might be used to, but it's not that bad. I prefer not to change lenses so I bought dedicated bodies for my most often used lenses. You can use lenses as long as the 400mm tele fuji, I'm awaiting delivery of a cone for the 360mm tele nikkor.
All in all a pretty good system and reasonable in price.
The pano cameras were updated, the door now opens wider and gets out of your way better when using the GG, the finish is better and the cold shoe for the viewfinder is in a more decorative alcove. However make sure that the cold shoe aligns optically with the lens. The early model had some problems there.
The viewfinders have been updated and are better. They have far less distortion that the previous WA version. In light of the up coming release of a rise and fall shift adapter, you can get lens cones that have this added in feature in mind. They are 10mm shorter and will fit with the shift adapter, if you decide against using the shift adapter the cones come with a 10mm spacer instead.
Film flatness is excellent with this camera as the advance system consists of 2 simple knobs on top, so you can turn them in counter rotation to each other and tighten up the film. The pressure plate holds the film flat and I have yet to see any scratches on film.
The GG uses magnets to attach to the camera, make dead certain though that the GG is in the right place and FLAT. Otherwise it's a great and simple design. Speaking of simple the camera has just 8 moving parts, the focus ring, the 2 film knobs, the door, the pressure plate, 2 rollers for the film and the slide door for the peep hole. The peephole is needed for advancing your film.
Lens cones are removeable by removing 4 nylon screws, I assume the use of nylon is so that the threads in the camera body do not get stripped or cross threaded. If you intend on changing lenses order extra screws. Changing lenses can be a little slower than you might be used to, but it's not that bad. I prefer not to change lenses so I bought dedicated bodies for my most often used lenses. You can use lenses as long as the 400mm tele fuji, I'm awaiting delivery of a cone for the 360mm tele nikkor.
All in all a pretty good system and reasonable in price.
John, It has a horizontal tripod screw. I've used it hand held with a 135mm lens at speeds 125th and higher. At those speeds it's quite sharp. Granted you might be better at 250th or more and it all depends on how steady you are. The weight of the camera itself adds a stability, granted you don't want to hold it to your eye for more than 30 seconds because then the weight will cause arm fatigue, but if you frame, brace and shoot you'll get good results.
I got a 612 last month and have it fitted with a Nikon 200M. It depends on how well you handhold. I made my first couple rolls handheld and the 1/30 exposures were OK. It's a well balanced outfit with the long cone. With this long lens I found I need a little Kentucky windage for composition with the viewfinder..EC
John, I'll add to Early Riser and eclark's comments, I use a Gaoersi 6x17, essentially very similar to the Fotoman, and its easy to use hand-held with excellent sharpness at 1/60th.
Ian
Ian
OP
OP
Hi Folks,
Sorry, I lose track of my posts sometimes. So I didn't have any specific questions - one of things where you don't know what to ask, 'cause you don't know what you don't know, you know?
Thanks for the brief synopsis of the camera Brian.
Next time I'm in NYC one weekend I'm going to check one out for myself. I guess I'd want to see how 'portable' the camera is - the hand holdable question appears to be answered, but I'd like to try it for myself.
Thanks, Art.
Sorry, I lose track of my posts sometimes. So I didn't have any specific questions - one of things where you don't know what to ask, 'cause you don't know what you don't know, you know?
Thanks for the brief synopsis of the camera Brian.
Next time I'm in NYC one weekend I'm going to check one out for myself. I guess I'd want to see how 'portable' the camera is - the hand holdable question appears to be answered, but I'd like to try it for myself.
Thanks, Art.
I own the 6x17, and it has proven to be a good camera for the money. Film flatness is good, but you must remember to back tighten a bit. It can be hand held, when light permits, but special care must be taken in regard to horizons, level, etc, or you are pretty much assured that you wasted your time. The 6x17 requires a 5x7 enlarger to print. Its definitely not a snappy cam. I use mine on a tripod almost exclusively. If you are interested in Pan, its a decent way to get wet.
One of my best sellers (see attachment) was made with this cam. Interestingly, it's in color.
One of my best sellers (see attachment) was made with this cam. Interestingly, it's in color.
Attachments
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