Fuji GX680 so cheap

[mark campbell]

I have been looking at medium format cameras on flea bay. By far the best value for money must be the Fuji GX680? Typically going for around $400-$500 US. So much camera for so little price. I know they are not hand-holdable and look like a real beast but what a camera! Am I missing something? Compare with other ridiculous prices like the Mamiya 7 or Hasselblads .

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Back in the 90s, I spent a lot of time assisting a photographer who had the full GX680 system. The lenses are as razor sharp as anything you'll find.

It is a beast. It makes the RZ looks svelte.

It really feels most comfortable in the studio on a camera stand. Also requires a DC power input for some models but may be able to use batteries on others. Just going from memory.

The latest version was discontinued around 2007, so it's been off the market a while and I would guess not many people really know this system for repair. If the GX680 bugged out on you, it might be the end!

The Fuji rangefinders are quite nice and affordable as well.

If I wanted to get into MF and budget was an issue, I'd most likely buy into a Mamiya twin lens system. Paul Strand used a Mamiya TLR the last few years of his life and made some magnificent images of his gardens at Orgeval. I've seen some of the prints in person. The Mamiya will get the job done.

 

[mark campbell]

Yeah, thanks, I wouldn't consider getting a GX680, just too big. But just amazed at the cheap prices.For someone wanting a studio set up - it would be great .

 

[grat]

They're cheaper than that, if you're willing to work at it.

I picked up an older (Has the gates of the GX680 II, but the front of a GX680 I) "body only" that was in pretty good condition for under $100. No battery pack (The original battery packs are mostly defunct, and the 6 AA pack is $200), but I 3D printed one ($5 in connectors / plastic). Had to replace the battery in the film back ($3). Picked up a couple of lenses (80mm and 135mm) from KEH ($150), who also had the studio DC supply ($40).

The bellows has some pinhole leaks-- I bought a replacement from China ($40), just need to install it. In the meantime, I lay the darkslide over the bellows.

They are heavy. They aren't really portable, unless you remember the "portable" PC's from the 1980's. You will invent new curse words if you turn the wrong knob on your ball-head and your hand gets caught between the camera and the tripod. They're also full of 30 year-old electronics, and unlike a Bronica or a Mamiya that can be coaxed into working if the electronics are a little screwy, this thing is a boat-anchor if the on-board CPU can't complete it's diagnostic checks. The full service manuals (note, plural) are available online, but you need some decent electronics chops if you're going to work on one-- and there's always the possibility that the answer is "replace sub-board <X>".

Nice camera, though. Good pictures. Looks like you could shoot down light aircraft with one.

 

[Wayne]

I was noticing them too because the prices are so high on everything else. But yea I quickly decided I can use my 4x5 or 8x10 if I want to lug something around. Although the thought of making my RB67 seem svelte has some appeal...

 

[halfaman]

GX680's are not so cheap anymore, specially the III version which is in the "expensive" range nowdays.

 

[grat]

The III's, which were made into the early 2000's, have been fairly high priced for the past year or more. They have better diagnostics, and they can scribe the exposure info onto the negative. Most importantly, they can be used with digital backs, and just being mentioned in the same sentence as "medium format digital back" makes everything more expensive.

 

[wjlapier]

I have the 680IIIs and when it arrived it had holes in the bellows ( wasn't disclosed in the ad ). Seller discounted me the cost of new bellows and I had Sandeha Lynch make me some. I haven't shot it much since summer but I did use it handheld often. I don't trust the strap--I use a monopod like the Manfrotto 680B or a Gitzo that is similar in strength. I paid $300 for mine with 120 back and wlf--sometimes they don't have these. An additional 220 back cost $25. I have one lens that cost $90.

 

[Nokton48]

DSC05598 by Nokton48, on Flickr

DSC05656 by Nokton48, on Flickr

The GX680 lenses are great. Plentiful and cheap, I have most of them. Converted them to barrel mount and some in shutters for use on my four Makiflex Cameras. The Makiflex is kind of like 60s version of the GX680.

HRU Pulso Test 210 Componon f22 12 pops MicX by Nokton48, on Flickr

The really HOT glass are the F3.2 triad; the 115mm, the 125mm, and the 180mm. I have the 125 and 180

 

[Kyon Thinh]

A few years ago, 2015 or 2016, the GX680III were very cheap, that's when I bought mine for about 150 bucks from KEH. There used to be a KEH manager here and she helped me getting this camera. Also got my 80, 125, 210 and two 120 backs from them. Total for the system was 400 bucks.

 

[Nokton48]

Here is what I am doing with these lenses you see above. Lots of movements possible with the Plaubel Peco Junior. Now they have shutters by Seiko. I'm waiting for my 50mm f5.6 and Seiko Shutter to arrive.

Done Five Fuji GX680 lenses converted to PLaubel Peco Jr by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[grat]

FYI, as a GX680 owner, that makes me cringe.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

My Plaubel Junior restored with New to me 50mm F5.6 Fuji GX680 lens, purchased broken, at a good discount, from Adorama in NYC. They also included the Uber Rare Gelatin Filter Holder/50mm Hood, and a humungeous Fuji lenscap that fits the Gel Holder Hood, it's worth some Dollars so a great deal. The view through the 50mm is AMAZING. Can't wait to shoot some test 6.5x9cm Makina Back Film. EVentually I will buy some type of Digital Medium Format Back. The Peco Junior has a Leica-like smoothness and feel. Plaubel advertised as "The Rolls Royce of Cameras" in the day. Works smoothly and tightly in a Leica-type of way. Also looked through my 4x5" Sinar Normas with this lens. It's amazingly sharp-looking and nice and contrasty view. This will get some use now, rather than becoming an interesting rather heavy broken ornament.

Rick over at GetDPI.com contacted me, and did a nice writeup on using GX680 lenses with Digital. Here

Fujinon GX lenses on digital medium format

Short version: Fujinon GX lenses for the Fuji GX680 system are an option if you need a large image circle on a camera that provides a focusing rail. Image quality is very good, and they’re inexpensive. However, to use these lenses on a digital camera you really need to disassemble and remount...

www.getdpi.com

 

[sunbeamland]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

My Plaubel Junior restored with New to me 50mm F5.6 Fuji GX680 lens, purchased broken, at a good discount, from Adorama in NYC. They also included the Uber Rare Gelatin Filter Holder/50mm Hood, and a humungeous Fuji lenscap that fits the Gel Holder Hood, it's worth some Dollars so a great deal. The view through the 50mm is AMAZING. Can't wait to shoot some test 6.5x9cm Makina Back Film. EVentually I will buy some type of Digital Medium Format Back. The Peco Junior has a Leica-like smoothness and feel. Plaubel advertised as "The Rolls Royce of Cameras" in the day. Works smoothly and tightly in a Leica-type of way. Also looked through my 4x5" Sinar Normas with this lens. It's amazingly sharp-looking and nice and contrasty view. This will get some use now, rather than becoming an interesting broken ornament.

Rick over at GetDPI.com contacted me, and did a nice writeup on using GX680 lenses with Digital. Here

Fujinon GX lenses on digital medium format

Short version: Fujinon GX lenses for the Fuji GX680 system are an option if you need a large image circle on a camera that provides a focusing rail. Image quality is very good, and they’re inexpensive. However, to use these lenses on a digital camera you really need to disassemble and remount...

www.getdpi.com

I love this. I need more photo gear like a hole in the head, but what a great way to upcycle GX680 lenses. With film availability today and the way most folks use their images (scanned or copied onto a digital camera) this is probably more practical than 4x5 for someone wanting to step into camera movements.

 

[Nokton48]

Rick at GetDPI.com also posted this very concise step by step, on how to reconfigure the 50mm f5.6 GX680 for Digital Use



Nicely done and good info!

For me today, all I had to do is unscrew the front and back groups. Had to remove the outside collar, removing three grub screws. But it took all of five minutes. Used a band wrench to unscrew the rear cell, it might have been glued in. East to break free, though

 

[Nokton48]

Getting There Set of GX680 Lenses Seiko Shutters by Nokton48, on Flickr

• Getting there with my set of Fuji GX680 lenses, with Seiko #2 Shutters added. Mounted on Plaubel Peco Junior boards and Minolta SRT cable releases, Yellow Filters on each, and Hoods too. From the left front, the 50mm F5.6, then the 65mm F5.6, then the 80mm F5.6. On the far right front, the 100mm F4. Back Row, from the left, the 125mm F3.2, then the 150mm F5.6. Next the 180mm F3.2, and on the far right, the 210mm F5.6 Also adding the 250mm F5.6, should be tommorrow, got another Seiko Shutter coming. The 50mm front view reminds me of the HAL9000 fisheye in 2001: A Space Odyssey. It looks about the same LOL. Testing phase is coming up. Will utilize them all depending on the situation. I doubt I'll take them out all at once, too much weight! But select two or three depending on what my intended use will be. In the studio I will have the luxury of selecting whichever meets the intended needs of the photograph. So very straightforward. And good to have a choice of focal lengths in the same modern glas

 

[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 90 degree shadows.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Using Brass Hobby Modeling Screws I bolted a Plaubel 120x120 Adapter Board, to a Sinar Norma Uber Heavy Metal Homemade Machined Norma Board (heavily used) LOL. Always wondered what I would ever do with this thing LOL. So now all my Plaubel Junior mounted boards fit onto the Norma, which I can go up to 8x10, although with these 4x5 will do it nicely. This is the Schneider 135mm F3.8 Schneider Xenar, a not often seen lens, in the F3.8 version. Great to look through on the 4x5 Norma. The tripod is Shulman-inspired Leica Tiltall, modded with aluminum block. This tripod is in Shulman's books on Architecture and Interiors, which I studied intensely back in the Eighties.

All of my new to me GX680 lenses now fit my Normas, from 2x2cm up to 8x10. And for outside use the Plaubel Juniors with the GX680's. Great combo

 

[Nokton48]

180mm f5.6 GX680 Peco Jr Makina 6.5x9cm PanF+ D23 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Testing long rail Plaubel Peco Junior with Fuji GX680 180mm f5.6 Yellow Filter Ilford PanF+ Plaubel Makina Film Back. D23 1:1 JOBO Multitank 6 Etone Tank Roller, Omega DII Omegalite 180mm black Rodagon laser aligned. Arista #2 RC paper Dektol 1:2. I like this new Plaubel Mini-Me View Camera. It is FUN to use; the homemade Makina rotating Viewfinder works great; I can see the camera movements, focus or not focus, on the tiny screen. This lens passes it's initial test

 

[Nokton48]

Shell Peco Jr 180mm f5.6 Fuji GX680 PanF+ D23 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Peco Junior 180mm F5.6 Fuji GX680 Ilford PanF+ Plaubel Makina Film Back D23 1:1 JOBO Multitank6 Etone Tank Roller Omega DII 180mm black Rodagon laser aligned Arista #2 RC Dektol 1:2. Broncolor C200 Monolight Broncolor Octobox 150 Foamcore Fill Panel. Tim Layton digital background (printed at Sam's Club) on FOBA Sweep Table. Used a lot of camera movements to get the tines sharp as was possible.

 

[Arthurwg]

I recently met a guy who bought one (with tilts etc) used from B&H with back and lens, for $700.00.

 

[StrangleMeRandy]

I've been in the GX game for three years and it's a lifer for me. Crystal clear WLF with stellar lenses and front standard movements? I'm all over it. Bellows focusing of course, with all the pros and cons.

I take mine into the field, too, and I don't do anything in a studio. It's a reliable tool and my most used camera, maybe tied with my Autocord. I rarely handhold it but that's fun on occasion. Optech makes a good compatible strap for just $30, which I keep on as it's nice to have the camera hanging from my shoulder when I'm moving around or setting up my tripod.

The lens lineup is neat. I do wish they went wider, but I think they would be pushing the limits and usefulness for what was meant to be a studio cam. My favorites are the 65 and 150, to the point that I'm neglecting my other lenses. 80, 115, 180/3.2, and the 210, none of which have disappointed me, though after one dramatic bit of flare on the 210 I've had to think about grabbing the compendium hood.

 

[Nokton48]

I have packed and am concentrating on USING in the field three GX680 lenses. In my white small Zone VI "Marshmallow Bag" is the 50mm, the 125/5.6 and the 180mm F5.6. Plus quite a number of Singer Graflex 120/220 Backs and a lot of various extra film. I am shooting, processing, and viewing my first GX680 photos, they are quite something IMO. Great Glass Hooray!

Eventually as I have time I will test them all. Certainly, look great just looking through them. I just got the shutter for the 100mm F4 going. Saweet to look through