Fuji 690 advice

[henryyjjames]

I paid $200 for this GL690 in 2011. It is a great camera at 5 times that price.

MONSTER CAMERA ALERT

 

[itsdoable]

Ok, that's the other question I had. Do any of them have light meters?

No

 

[mshchem]

I see some favouring the 6x8; is there a particular reason?

No meter in any of these. 6x9 is best!!!!

 

[mshchem]

I paid $200 for this GL690 in 2011. It is a great camera at 5 times that price.

That's a beauty. The true TEXAS LEICA. Leicas have interchangeable lenses.

 

[MattKing]

I see some favouring the 6x8; is there a particular reason?

I'm very fond of a 3:4 aspect ratio, and I like how you can fit all 9 negatives on a single Printfile negative page.

 

[250swb]

I've had zero issues with the slightly funky method to end a time exposure: wind the film or turn the shutter speed selector off "T". I do a lot of night photos, never an issue. This characteristic gets criticised on various forums.

I agree the quirky T problem isn't really a problem when you get used to it. I cap the lens and then change from 'T', given it's obviously a long exposure any masking from the cap coming across is going to be a tiny percentage of the overall exposure time and it doesn't show up.

For the OP I've had many variations of the GW and GWS in 690 format and to be honest there isn't anything to choose in terms of IQ or use, it's only down to cosmetic condition. There are quite a lot of cameras that have cracks in the plastic around the top plate fixing screws, take a bit of the price off if this is so, but unless it's really bad it doesn't affect use.

 

[GregY]

W


Wow, that's a gorgeous print! What enlarger did you use? I guess I also have to consider the negative size for enlargement.

Thank you. A Beseler 45MXT with a Zone VI variable contrast head.

 

[GregY]

I see some favouring the 6x8; is there a particular reason?

HJ, In the search for an all-around camera, the 6x8 appeals to me by the Goldilocks principle.... "not too long and and not too short... just right." 6x7 (like 4x5") is a little too rectangular overall for my taste, and 6x9 is a little long for certain images. 6x8 is (for me) a delightful compromise.

 

[mshchem]

6x9 = 35mm (24×36mm) form, 8 2x3 inch negatives fit perfectly in a Printfile. 6x8 is a Japan, oversized 6x7 gave portrait photographers room to crop.

2x3 is a classic format. Extra length gives you the option to crop in from the top and make wide field photos, i.e. XPan on steroids.
Give yourself as much negative as you can get.

Shoot wide, give yourself room to crop.

 

[MattKing]

Yep - one roll of 6x9 negatives all fit in a single Printfile page, one roll of 6x8 negatives fit in a single Printfile page, and one roll of 6x7 negatives doesn't fit in a single Printfile page.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

No meter in any of these. 6x9 is best!!!!

A technical oddity; For the Fuji G690, you could buy a 100mm auto exposure lens. This may have been similar to the Hasselblad 80 with an electric exposure device.

Auto Electro lens
The AE lens has an electronically governed shutter and an exposure meter — not TTL, but (like such 35mm rangefinder cameras as the Konica Auto S2) via a cell positioned behind any filter that might be screwed into the lens. As viewed by somebody being photographed, the lens appears to have a box stuck to its left-hand side, a box that announces "AUTO ELECTRO" and has a screw-in battery cover. The top of this box shows the needle of the meter, when activated by the shutter-speed check ("SSC") button. However, the purpose of the lens is that its shutter speed can be set to "A" (auto), whereupon the photographer enjoys aperture-priority automatic exposure.

When the battery is dead, or the electrical circuitry is not working, the lens has a fixed shutter speed of 1/500. Film speed can be set within the ISO range 25–800.

The lens cost ¥83,000, the hood for it ¥2,000.[17]

The electronic circuitry is now (2006) of course three decades old. But unusually for the time, the battery is silver rather than mercury; and the electronics are reputedly simple and robust.

 

[Dan Daniel]

I see some favouring the 6x8; is there a particular reason?

Just personal preferences. 3:4 ratio. An extra frame (or 2? I am not sure if it gives 9 or 10). That's all.

On long exposures, if there are any concerns over closing the shutter, use a lens cap or hat or such to quickly cap the lens, then turn dial to get out of T. By the way, some of the cameras do have a B setting, mainly on the '1' series from what I have seen.

 

[mshchem]

 

[mshchem]

A technical oddity; For the Fuji G690, you could buy a 100mm auto exposure lens. This may have been similar to the Hasselblad 80 with an electric exposure device.

Auto Electro lens
The AE lens has an electronically governed shutter and an exposure meter — not TTL, but (like such 35mm rangefinder cameras as the Konica Auto S2) via a cell positioned behind any filter that might be screwed into the lens. As viewed by somebody being photographed, the lens appears to have a box stuck to its left-hand side, a box that announces "AUTO ELECTRO" and has a screw-in battery cover. The top of this box shows the needle of the meter, when activated by the shutter-speed check ("SSC") button. However, the purpose of the lens is that its shutter speed can be set to "A" (auto), whereupon the photographer enjoys aperture-priority automatic exposure.

When the battery is dead, or the electrical circuitry is not working, the lens has a fixed shutter speed of 1/500. Film speed can be set within the ISO range 25–800.

The lens cost ¥83,000, the hood for it ¥2,000.[17]

The electronic circuitry is now (2006) of course three decades old. But unusually for the time, the battery is silver rather than mercury; and the electronics are reputedly simple and robust.

Yes, I forgot about this. I've actually seen one. Big ol averaging meter guarantees you will get a shot.

 

[mshchem]

Yep - one roll of 6x9 negatives all fit in a single Printfile page, one roll of 6x8 negatives fit in a single Printfile page, and one roll of 6x7 negatives doesn't fit in a single Printfile page.

I am not a fan of 6x7 for this very reason.

 

[sunbeamland]

The early interchangeable lens models, if all working, do have one advantage for portability. You can engage the dark slide, remove the lens and it will pack better. I think some people like the 3:4 ration of the 6x8. They're also more uncommon. I think they were only made for the Japanese market. I use a a Fujica 645 Folder (GS645) and it is my pocket camera. Great cameras. You won't regret any of them.

 

[henryyjjames]

I'm very fond of a 3:4 aspect ratio, and I like how you can fit all 9 negatives on a single Printfile negative page.

Excellent info about the Printfile negative page... I forgot to consider that but I definitely would be annoyed if they didn't fit.

 

[henryyjjames]

Yep - one roll of 6x9 negatives all fit in a single Printfile page, one roll of 6x8 negatives fit in a single Printfile page, and one roll of 6x7 negatives doesn't fit in a single Printfile page.

I need to visualize this and double-check against my current print file pages.

 

[mshchem]

3 strips of 3 running the 10 inch dimension (vs.) 4 strips of 2 running the 8 inch dimension

The 6x8 uses the Printfile for 6x6, 3 strips of 4.

The 6x9 uses the Printfile for 6x6 4 strips of 3

 

[henryyjjames]

3 strips of 3 running the 10 inch dimension (vs.) 4 strips of 2 running the 8 inch dimension

The 6x8 uses the Printfile for 6x6, 3 strips of 4.

The 6x9 uses the Printfile for 6x6 4 strips of 3

I have the sheets for 3 strips of 4 (6x6) so signs seems to point towards the 680
Of course I could get the other sheets if I wanted but I’ll have to wait till I’m back in the states in June.

 

[mshchem]

I have the sheets for 3 strips of 4 (6x6) so signs seems to point towards the 680
Of course I could get the other sheets if I wanted but I’ll have to wait till I’m back in the states in June.

All the talk about 680, cost of film, might be the way to go. It dawned on me the 6x8 might be close to quarter plate size? 6x8 or 6x9 Gen III in nice shape you can't go wrong.

 

[GregY]

Another print from the GW680iii

 

[reddesert]

I wouldn't make a decision on format size based on what format of Printfile pages you already own. Printfile pages are a consumable, like film, you use them up and buy more.

There are Printfile pages that allow you to store 10 (or up to 12) 6x7 negatives in one page: https://www.freestylephoto.com/1204...Archival-Negative-Preservers-Universal-6x7-cm The disadvantage is that they are larger, so you may need a larger binder. And you can't make a contact sheet onto a single 8x10" sheet of paper. However, I suspect that many fewer people make wet-print contact sheets than was once the custom.

I have the original 6x9 version with interchangeable lenses. 6x9 is by far the most common (or only?) format for the interchangeable lens version. I like 6x9 for its wider, slightly panoramic aspect, but 8 shots on a roll does mean you use it up quickly. The interchangeable lenses all have B setting if that matters.

I feel like no matter how often one hears that these Fujis are big, one doesn't really understand it until holding the camera. They handle easily, but they are almost comically large, like David Byrne's suit.

 

[GregY]

Redd I'm with you on the format decision. That's pretty comical. Does everyone default to Printfile? There are still glassine envelopes. I've got sections of 35mm and 120 negs in individual 4x5 envelopes as well. Fujis are large but they're lighter than a Pentax 6x7. The results are worth it IMO !

 

[Craig]

one roll of 6x7 negatives doesn't fit in a single Printfile page.

You're buying the wrong pages then, they make them that fit a dozen frames of 6x7.