Fuji GW690ii - best money I've spent

LMNOP · Jun 4, 2015

And here is why:

That camera is relatively lightweight, considering the negatives it produces. Since it seems to be modeled after a toy camera, the handling and operations are as simple as possible. It took a few adjustment rolls, to figure out which films produced the best results for my eye, and that seems to be Portra 400 (no surprise) but the BW results are fantastic, and it is SO easy to shoot hand held, even in lower light. If you've ever considered picking one up, be careful, it may overshadow your primary camera. Since purchasing, my RZ rolls have slowed to about half the normal frequency. I have often contemplated buying a second one as a backup, maybe even the GSW model. Here's a few recent shots, ALL handheld except the night shot of Dot's market. Not sure if this is a review, more of a rant, but its safe to say I've found my desert island camera.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jun 4, 2015

Get a GSW

ohnewton35 · Jun 4, 2015

These are absolutely great shots BTW

EdSawyer · Jun 4, 2015

NIce shots, thanks for sharing! I am partial the the 3rd gen ones (had 2, now just have one). the GSW is well worth getting, they work well as a pair. If anything, the GSW is the better of the two, lens-wise.

The RZ is still a better rig for tight portraits, long shots, macro, etc, but the Fujis are great for light, simple, street shooting, landscapes, travel and anyplace where you just want to carry one camera and not worry about a lot of things. I take them skiing, easy to pack inside a jacket or bag and still ski with them without a lot of baggage/backpack/etc., and simple enough to load on a ski lift or on the trail. The lack of a meter is freeing too, you get good at guesstimating exposure pretty fast when shooting that way. I rarely use a meter anymore outdoors now, there's no need once you are good at estimating exposure (and in the case of shooting color neg, just err on the side of overexposure).

LMNOP · Jun 4, 2015

ohnewton35 said:
These are absolutely great shots BTW

Thank you so much!

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Get a GSW

Yes! I think I'll go for the mark III

Sirius Glass · Jun 4, 2015

Enjoy film and your camera.

gzinsel · Jun 4, 2015

I agree. . . its great camera. I have a III! its fantastic. enjoy, enjoy, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cheap, cheap, cheap for the quality you get.

macfred · Jun 4, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Get a GSW

I agree with Richard.

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Excellent photographs - I especially like the 4th and 5th one very much !!

papagene · Jun 4, 2015

Love my two Fujis,GW670II & GSW690III.

Sirius Glass · Jun 4, 2015

papagene said:
Love my two Fujis,GW670II & GSW690III.

These two are often linked. Is it possible to buy one and not the other?

sixby45 · Jul 12, 2018

Lovely camera - and I agree you may NEED both the GW & GSW

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 12, 2018

I see you were in DC riding the Metro in that one shot

RattyMouse · Jul 12, 2018

Another 3 year old thread comes to life.

norm123 · Sep 11, 2018

I have GW690II and the GSW690. I'm in love with these cameras. Lens are really sharp. I don't like the hood on the 690II and the "T" speed, but I'm used to now.
Great negatives and chromes!!

thuggins · Sep 11, 2018

I keep looking at these, but just can't bring myself to pull the cord. I've got a Medalist that had a full CLA by Mike Zacks, a Bessa I, a Kodak Tourist II, and a 6X9 Franka that looks brand new. Granted, the folders are in a group by themselves. But I really can't see an advantage of the Fuji over the Medalist. In fact, the Medalist is lighter and physically smaller (granted, the actual shapes of the cameras are very different, so "smaller" is a relative term).

The 90mm lens puts the Fuji at 35mm equivalent, which I probably use about 90% of the time. But the 100mm on the Medalist is just under a 39mm equivalent, so the difference is hardly noticeable. I'm curious to know what folks who have had both think of them side by side.

Dan Daniel · Sep 11, 2018

thuggins said:
The 90mm lens puts the Fuji at 35mm equivalent, which I probably use about 90% of the time. But the 100mm on the Medalist is just under a 39mm equivalent, so the difference is hardly noticeable. I'm curious to know what folks who have had both think of them side by side.

I've used both, but for different purposes. I've used the Fuji as a 'street' camera, where its fast focusing and integrated viewfinder beat the Medalist easily. And I've never gotten comfortable with the timing of the Medalist shutter button no matter how much I practice. Then again, I hate the Fuji shutter release noise. Probably more than anything I've ever disliked on any camera I've ever used, I hate that noise. Just ruins the whole experience, and whincing each time I take a photo is not a good practice.

I've used the Medalist mainly as a landscape and tripod camera. Love it. Easy to carry, much quicker than a view camera. And the lens, well, that's why I use this camera. I've modified mine for 120 film so film respooling isn't an issue. I used to use a Horseman VH with the 105 Ektar in a similar style, so in some ways I see the Medalist as a film back and a lens.

Lens-wise, I like the Kodak Ektar much more than the Fuji. But this is my taste- Xenar, (this) Ektar, Summaron- low-ish contrast but great bite in the details.

So as to the advantage of the Fuji- handling as a street rangefinder in the integrated viewfinder and basic layout (but that stupid shutter clang!! arghhhh....)

Theo Sulphate · Sep 11, 2018

The 90mm on my GW690III is more than adequate for how I use the camera. Anything wider and I've got RB or Hasselblad to use.

My only complaints, which are minor, are (1) the shutter speed and aperture rings are awkward to access through the lens barrel cutouts and (2) the rangefinder patch could be more distinct.

Mine has relatively little use: the counter is at 50 (= 500 shots) from new (not rolled over).

A lot of people complain about the sound of the shutter or shutter-counter mechanism; this does not bother me.

Oddly (?), I think the GW690II looks better with its hard plastic and crosshatch pattern as opposed to smooth and rubberized areas.

wyofilm · Sep 11, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Another 3 year old thread comes to life.

It was just a nap.

frank · Sep 12, 2018

I had a 67 version ll for a while. Great lens. I once took a family group portrait with 5 or 6 people in it. After the sitting, the fellow said he'd like individual headshots of each of his 2 daughters. I was able to heavily crop and make them from the group picture negative. Camera was on a tripod and electronic flash eliminated any movement blur. Great lens.

sixby45 · Nov 1, 2018

Awesome! I Loved my GSW 680 III for just that reason and some of those scans we're the best in terms of negative work to this day. If I didn't love 6x6 so much I'd get a new 690 great camera and great shots!

Huss · Nov 2, 2018

sixby45 said:
Awesome! I Loved my GSW 680 III for just that reason and some of those scans we're the best in terms of negative work to this day. If I didn't love 6x6 so much I'd get a new 690 great camera and great shots!

You should get my minty Gw690iii. It doesnt see much use now that I have a Veriwide 100..

sixby45 · Nov 2, 2018

Thanks Huss! I have been completely smitten with my Rolleiflex though for street photo work I encourage any and all to try the excellent GW or GSW variant of the 690 - amazing camera and just plain fun to use.

Fuji GW690ii - best money I've spent

LMNOP

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