Fuji 6x9 Models

[david b]

The price for the GW690II is about $599.
The price for the GW690III is about $1079.

Is the price difference, $480, really worth it?

 

[Lee L]

I have a mark II, but haven't seen a III. According to all the sources I've seen the lenses are identical, so images will be the same.

I might be getting a look at a III in a few days and will report back on the viewfinder comparison. Some say the III is easier to load, but I probably won't get a chance to compare that. I've not found the II particularly hard to load.

Lee

 

[Nick Zentena]

I have the first one. The Fuji rangefinder webpage lists the differences. To me none of the differences mattered.

 

[papagene]

The price difference depends on the amount of wear present in the individual models. I have seen a few GW690IIs in EX condition go for as much as $800.00.

gene

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

Supposedly the shutter should be serviced at around 500 rolls, and rebuilt (replaced?) around 1000 rolls. (There's a counter on the body that keeps track.) So buying a newer one might mean a considerably longer time before it needs servicing. On the other hand, if you don't put a lot of rolls through it, what are the odds Fuji will still be servicing them at all by the time you hit the magic numbers? Maybe you'd be better off getting an old one for cheaper and sending it in immediately for a shutter rebuild while they still have parts.

 

[thebanana]

I believe the counter computes by 10's, ie a count of 1 indicates 10 rolls have gone through the camera.

 

[sanking]

I believe the counter computes by 10's, ie a count of 1 indicates 10 rolls have gone through the camera.

The counter computes by 10, but not by the number of rolls but by shutter activation.

For example, if the count is 150 the shutter has been activated 1500 times.

I quote from my Fuji manual for the GW6990III.

"Your camera is provided with a 3-digit shutter activation counter in the bottom which will tell you how many times the shutter has been used so that you'll know when the camera needs maintenance. It counts 10 shutter actuations as 1; that is, if it shows 150, the shutter has been actuated 1,500 times. After reaching 999 (9,990 shots) it will return to 000 with 10 more shots."

Overhaul of the shutter is recommended at 5000 shots.

Sandy King

 

[Sparky]

I bought a III that was broken (shutter problems) for $300 - and then spent another $300 (it's flat rate from fuji) and had them put a new shutter mechanism in and bring the camera fully up to spec. You'll end up with a superior camera for $479 or whatever less than you would have paid.

The only downside is that you have to wait 90 days to get access to your camera... so ask yourself if that's worth it for you.