Fujica 6x9 for vacation trip?

fdonadio

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Hello, people!


I am going on a 15 day trip in a couple of months and want to take a light camera that would work well for landscapes.

Thought about a rangefinder, but since I like medium format (and have lots of 120 film), I think a Fujica 6x9 would be the best fit.

I think the wide format would be nice for landscapes, but would also work for "street photography". I am a little worried about small indoor spaces, though...

Now, the question: should I get a model with interchangeable lenses (like the G or GL); or the GW should be enough?


Cheers,
Flavio


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Richard S. (rich815)

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Beautiful cameras with terrific lenses. Only downsides, in my mind, for what you are considering is:

1. Changing the film every 8 shots
2. Cameras are big and bulky and the shutters go TH-WUNK!
3. Interchangeable versions are HEAVY.
 

Dan Daniel

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If Richard's points don't put you off, go for it. Yes, it is big but noit unmanageable. And yep, it goes TH_WUNK. That was the killer for me, but this is an aesthetic issue almost exclusively. Sure, people nearby would sometimes look over, but nothing bad from the noise. For me it was just so inelegant that I had to stop using it and go back to the barely audible 'swick' of the Rolleiflex (a TLR is another option for your travels). It's 6x9 and all manual so if that fits your style of shooting on the street, it will be fine. Slower, pre-focusing, letting scenes unfold in fornt of you and waiting for a particular moment...

So it's doable. If it will fit what you want, only you can say.
 

ruby.monkey

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You could always take two - both GW690 and GSW690 - since they're not particularly heavy or bulky to carry.
 

Richard S. (rich815)

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fdonadio

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Dan and Richard,


I don't have a problem with heavy cameras at all. I even like them, as it seems I can keep steadier with heavier cameras.

I use a Hasselblad 500C/M most of the time. It makes a lot of noise (barn-door curtain goes TH-FLOP!) and I don't care if people will look at me in the middle of the street! I still did not get the classic "is that a Hasselblad?" question, though. [emoji20]

(Edit: pressed "send" too early!)

Changing film every 8 shots is the only problem, from what I see. But it's not a showstopper. I really want to concentrate on the beautiful snowy landscapes (August in Chile is just in the middle of the Winter). Snapshots of my wife and me can be shot with the "not-film-based-camera"...


Cheers,
Flavio
 
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fdonadio

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ruby.monkey and Richard,


As much as I would like to carry a Leica around, I don't have enough budget for that... [emoji17]

But the Fujica looks like an oversized one and maybe, just maybe, I will get the not-so-famous "is that a Leica?" question!!! [emoji38]


Cheers,
Flavio


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Rick A

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I just spent a weekend away with my (new to me) GW690II, Big and bulky, yes. Heavy, that's a subjective word, relative only to what you consider heavy. It isn't as small and convenient as my late Mamiya 6 folder, the optics and negative are superlative, which justified carrying the beast for me. Yeah, the thing makes a racket when you trip the shutter, not much worse than a 35 SLR (IMO), and as I understand, is the shutter count mechanism, not the shutter. I pondered the same question, which one(GLP, GW, GSW). My conclusion, the oldest models weren't worth the still high price for the condition all the ones I found for sale showed to be in. Plus, there is only 2 degrees angle of view difference between the 100 mm and 90 mm, and I really am not a fan of wide angle for everything, so the GW was my choice.
Addendum: my only real gripe, unloading film and changing spools with my fat, arthritic fingers.
 
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fdonadio

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Rick,


Do you find it harder than a Hasselblad to load and unload film?

I've just read an article about these cameras and the GL690 seems to be the best option. With a Fujinon S 100mm f/3.5, it's the lightest of all and, if I find it necessary, I can get a 50mm (!) or 65mm afterwards.

I am a little afraid of getting a GW or GSW just to find out I should have gotten the other one...

I anyone knows a good reason for me not to get the G690BL or GL690, please chime in!

Thanks to Dan, Richard, ruby.monkey and Rick for the help!


Cheers,
Flavio
 

Prest_400

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I've got a GW690III and took quite a while until I got it.
GW690s mkI and mkII until recently went for quite low prices from Japanese sellers. IMO, for 250-250$ there aren't many comparable cameras out there. RF, relatively modern, 5 element lens and big format. Later units might not need CLA.
The GSWs aren't that plentiful and command high prices. They should be similar to a 135 camera with a 28mm. The GW's are about 39mm equivalent, a wideish standard.

Loading film: In the mkIII it is very easy, a couple of buttons release the spools. A measure of caution must be taken while loading: Keeping tension while loading to avoid winding problems/overlapping frames, which seemingly is a problem across all straight path cameras.
Wish I had a Hasselblad to compare, but seems the Fuji is easier; at least it is more similar to a 35mm camera in this.

Points against a G/GL690: Never handled one of the older Interchangeable lens Fujis but IIRC they are heavier due to the mount for interchangeable lenses and the wide angles are rarer. The 65mm is f8 vs 5.6 in a GSW.

I'm still not settled on a proper method on how to carry mine. It is bulky, but not heavy IMO. In a backpack it's no problem, except for the limited accessibility. Lugged it a whole day in the city with a messenger bag, but I found it descompensating (I've got a light built). Don't have a strap on mine... Perhaps I should get a properly padded one.
 

Richard S. (rich815)

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If the aspects I mention are of no concern then by all means take one! Incredible cameras and lenses. The later polycarbonate-shelled ones are lighter (but do have solid bodies under the shell) and those older ones are quite heavy. First time I found and picked up a GL body I was floored by its heft. The older ones are also getting quite long in the tooth and hard to get repaired and maintain. I owned a GW690III for about 14 years. I also created and used to run the now-defunct Fuji Rangefinder Pages website. Cannot say enough great things about the ability of these cameras and their superlative lenses. That said I sold off my beloved GW690III a few months ago. As much as I can wax lyrical of the huge negs and sharpness of the lenses it just did not gel with my mindset and I did not shoot with it as much as some of my other cameras nor got the results (composition-wise) I often wanted for some reason. For MF I much prefer my square format Rolleiflexes and Hassy bodies. I do still own and shoot a GA645i which is so much more compact and easier to use than the larger 6x9 Fuji cameras. Still a good sized neg and terrific lens too. But with a meter, AF, auto-advance and 15-16 frames per roll. A terrific medium format street shooter.
 
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jeffreyg

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Why not take the Hasselblad? If you have a 50mm it should work for landscape. I usually travel with two - one with a 50 and one with a 150 plus the 2x which will take the 150 to 300. I also carry a carbon fiber tripod. I use the same film in both so no need to change lenses from one body to the other. If you don't have a 50 you might be able to find one for what you would spend on another system.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/
 

Rick A

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It's actually quite easy to load, but for me with arthritis, unloading exposed film is difficult. You pull the tab on the bottom of the body, and pop the end of the spool up, which sounds easy enough, but my fingers don't work as they should so grabbing the end doesn't quite happen as it should, same with moving the empty spool to the take up position. If you have good manual dexterity, then it shouldn't be an issue.

I originally thought one of the original series with interchangeable lenses was what I wanted, but after watching ebay for a while, and seeing what looked like high priced beat up(used up) junk, I opted for the GW690 and found a series II that looked good and had a decent price. I also decided that I didn't want to be burdened with a bunch of lenses, I went through that with 35 mm, and like to keep it simple. I also have a 4x5 with several lenses, enough said. The difference between 100 on the G and the 90 on the GW only shows 2 degrees difference in viewing angle, another deciding factor, as I prefer a "normal" lens to wide angle. The 65 mm on the GSW put it out of the running for me. I love 6x9 and used to carry a Kodak Tourist, the Fuji blows that away by far optically. I only miss my old Mamiya because of the size, it folded small and fit in cargo pocket of my shorts or jacket, and still gave me a good size negative, plus never having to rotate the camera to fit the scene.

I also used to own Kowa Super 66's and they were not my idea of fun to pack around(referencing your 'Blad), loud and bulky.

Oh yeah, I put a wide Op/Tech strap on mine, makes it feel lighter than the narrow strap that came with it.
 
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Sirius Glass

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I like a good TH_WUNK!! I am just finishing a trip to Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy with my Hasselblad, the 50mm and 80mm lenses and a tripod. The weight should be considered in your decision.
 

quintobrena

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Wives usually bring a full suitcase of shoes, then we have the right to bring all our photographic equipment!!! =D
I'll bring the 6x9 for landscapes and a 35mm for street!
 

hamradio

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Hm, did the fixed-lens cameras have a noiser release? My ae 100/3.5 that I use on my g690 and gm670 just gives the standard leaf shutter click.
 

moyenmoins

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Hello !


If you buy a Fujica GW690, try to get one with B shutter setting and not the T one.
If you have the T version, you will have to change the shutter speed or load another view to close the shutter. Not very practice...
A detail that i haven't noticed when i bought mine
 
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fdonadio

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jeffreyg said:
Why not take the Hasselblad?]
Click to expand...

As much as I love my Hasselblad, I find I am not very agile with it. And it's a little cumbersome to use on a trip, even though I use it to shoot skateboarding in the streets. Well, go figure!


Cheers,
Flavio


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Dan Daniel

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hamradio said:
Hm, did the fixed-lens cameras have a noiser release? My ae 100/3.5 that I use on my g690 and gm670 just gives the standard leaf shutter click.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! I don't have a GW690 on hand these days, but it does clang. This isn't a leaf shutter click. It is a spring-loaded bar slamming into a piece of metal.

It actually isn't the shutter counter making the noise, by the way. A few of us tracked this down a while back. You can take the counter mechanism out, including the activating bar, and the noise still happens. I don't remember the specifics, but the basic idea is that when you release the shutter, a spring-loaded metal bar goes sideways across the top of the camera above the lens. This bar pushes (slams into) another bar that releases the shutter. It is such a clumsy mechanism that there must have been a reason for Fuji to have done this. I keep reading that the main market for this camera was tourist groups. Maybe they wanted a solid clearly heard noise so a large group would know that the shot had been taken?
 

RalphLambrecht

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Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Beautiful cameras with terrific lenses. Only downsides, in my mind, for what you are considering is:

1. Changing the film every 8 shots
2. Cameras are big and bulky and the shutters go TH-WUNK!
3. Interchangeable versions are HEAVY.
Click to expand...

I had one and wasn't a fan either;the plastic craftsmanship did not inspire confidence.image quality was OK, however.
 
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fdonadio

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I've read all the replies and I deeply thank you all for the huge lot of information and opinion...

I even considered the GA645i (and its newer versions), but I hate cameras that shoot film in "portrait" format when you hold them "normally". Reminds me of those half-frame 135 cameras...

I'm gonna get me a GL690 with a 100mm for the landscapes. If I like the camera and the 100mm makes me step too far away to shoot some subjects, I'll get wider lenses.

Again, thanks to everyone for the help!


Cheers,
Flavio


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hamradio

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I have both a g690 and ga645. Totally different animals, but both great in their own right.

The 645 is a nicer quick-shot camera. The native portrait mode isn't really anything, as I got used to flipping the camera pretty quickly. It has more or less replaced my olympus stylus cameras.

The 690 is far easier to use than the 645 in manual mode, if I don't want to play with autofocus. I used to use a Mamiya super 23 for this sort of work, but the Fujica actually fits in my bag, so it gets used. I don't see much overlap with the 645, as far as functionality goes. My next overseas trip, the 690 will probably stay at home, while the 645 comes with. Lighter and quicker to shoot, but noisier.
 

Richard S. (rich815)

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Good thought process, good choice! Show us some images when you get back.
 

Rick A

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Good luck and I hope you get a great deal(and a good camera). Have a great vacation and don't forget to post photos here for us. Oh, and show us what you bought.
 
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