Fujica GL 690, with Fujinon AE 1:3,5/100...

Erik Petersson · Feb 6, 2010

...to be found on the local auction site.

My Voigtländer RF folder from the 1930:s has introduced me to large negatives and slides, and I was instantly attracted to this Fujica when I saw it.

What are your impressions of this camera, and what would be a fair price for an "as new" camera? It isn't too large, is it?

thanks in ahead
E

olleorama · Feb 6, 2010

Erik Petersson said:
...to be found on the local auction site.

My Voigtländer RF folder from the 1930:s has introduced me to large negatives and slides, and I was instantly attracted to this Fujica when I saw it.

What are your impressions of this camera, and what would be a fair price for an "as new" camera? It isn't too large, is it?

thanks in ahead
E

I was also thinking about this auction. Although I have to be realistic. I don't really need a new camera.

mgb74 · Feb 6, 2010

As I remember, it is fairly large. Not necessarily large in comparison to any 6x9 alternatives (short of some folders), but larger than it's rangefinder looks would imply. Maybe it's just me associating rangefinder with small and compact.

sanking · Feb 6, 2010

mgb74 said:
As I remember, it is fairly large. Not necessarily large in comparison to any 6x9 alternatives (short of some folders), but larger than it's rangefinder looks would imply. Maybe it's just me associating rangefinder with small and compact.

I used to have one. It is a pretty large camera, and compared to the later fixed lens GW and GSW 690 cameras, it is made of metal and on the heavy side.

Sandy King

Oren Grad · Feb 6, 2010

Lots of info about the interchangeable lens Fuji's here:

http://www.lallement.com/pictures/G690.html

See also Dante Stella's Fuji 690 page:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/g690bl.html

They're BIG and HEAVY - the GL with the AE 100 should be somewhere up near 2 kg. Think Pentax 6x7 class, though between the leaf shutter and the lack of a big mirror flapping up and down the Fujis are much better suited to hand-held use.

As for price, the GL/AE 100 combination is probably the most scarce and desirable of the whole series. Although the market is pretty soft now, I'd imagine at least $1000 for a clean set, maybe a lot more for "as new".

P C Headland · Feb 7, 2010

I've got one with the normal (non-AE) lens, and while it is big, it is not unwieldy. With a decent strap or bag, it's easy enough to carry around for a while, and easy enough to shoot handheld.

Erik Petersson · Feb 7, 2010

olleorama said:
I was also thinking about this auction. Although I have to be realistic. I don't really need a new camera.

It is a shame one can not handle the camera before buying, when it is on an auction site. To see if I really need it or not.

olleorama · Feb 7, 2010

Erik Petersson said:
It is a shame one can not handle the camera before buying, when it is on an auction site. To see if I really need it or not.

Well, if I had the chance of handling it and feel it I would surely think I would need it.

Oren Grad · Feb 7, 2010

I have a G690BL with the non-AE 100. I've owned or used the fixed-lens GW690II as well, along with other MF RF cameras like the GS645S, Mamiya 6 and 7, and Super Ikonta A and B. Actually, I've used the Horseman VH-R as a RF camera too.

Compared to all the others except the Horseman, the G690 series is BIG. And HEAVY. It feels like a boat anchor around my neck and in my hand. Obviously, different people will have different tastes in cameras and differing tolerances for size/weight; only you can tell what's right for you. But if you've never seen one of these in the flesh, and your experience of RF cameras in the past has been with models that are compact and lightweight for their respective formats, think again. Forewarned is forearmed.

Erik Petersson · Feb 7, 2010

I have a Kiev 60, which is a bit too large and heavy for me. Maybe I should wait until a fixed lens version of the rangefinder emerges. Or even a 6x4,5 rangefinder, if there are such.

Thanks for the advice. I want my cameras portable.

janm · Feb 11, 2010

Someone bid the asking price in the last minute. I was tempted to place a bid, but already have a Mamiya 645 Pro that doesn't get used much.

Jerevan · Feb 11, 2010

Just goes to show that somebody out there is crazy enough to (hopefully) use it.

Fujica GL 690, with Fujinon AE 1:3,5/100...

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