Fujifilm discontinues GF670--but still available from Voigtlander-Cosina

Роберт · Aug 26, 2014

A great camera, especially when traveling.

Light (1000g), a real quality lens, 6x6cm and 6x7cm roll film. A very nice VF and the camera is remarkable quiet. And the filter (40,5mm) you put in the lens hood which you can very easily disconnect (bayonet).
So left: Not to forget set the lens to infinity before closing the front.

nbagno · Aug 26, 2014

I found setting to infinity becomes second nature the first time you use it. If you even attempt to close it you feel the resistance.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 26, 2014

I was really interested when it was announced, but when I saw how large it was compared to, say, a Bessa II, I decided it didn't give me enough of an advantage over my 2x3 Technika for the price. The 6x9 folders of the 1950s could fit in the pocket of an overcoat. The GF670 feels more like a more compact folding Polaroid camera.

Ken Nadvornick · Aug 26, 2014

David A. Goldfarb said:
The GF670 feels more like a more compact folding Polaroid camera.

I agree. That's a very accurate comparison. For others who may be reading and wondering, the GF670 is a folding camera, but it's not a folding pocket camera. Unless the pocket is on a really, really big overcoat.

I'm an oversized individual, with hands large enough to hold a basketball in only one of them. So the camera does not feel overly large to me. Especially considering that my other regular handheld rangefinder is a 4x5 Crown Graphic. But it's definitely not a Bessa II.

Ken

DREW WILEY · Aug 26, 2014

It filled a niche, and probably enough of em were made to satisfy the potential demand at that price. I'd be more concerned about how well the
bellows would hold up in the elements. I'm very familiar with various types of view camera bellows, but this is something more delicate it seems.

RattyMouse · Aug 26, 2014

Jeff Searust said:
I got to see and play with one of these a while back and was really disappointed. There are some issues with the front door hinges bending, and a couple other weirdnesses. --- I would MUCH rather have an old Voightlander or a Zeiss ikon

Once I got some hands on time with the GF670W, I simply could NOT resist the camera and went out and bought one the next day. The lens on that camera was so blazing sharp that it was inevitable that I'd get the folder, which I did about 2 months later.

They make a nice pair.

Dr Croubie · Aug 26, 2014

If there's anything that would replace my Bessa L+21/4 and R3A+40/1.4 combo, it'd be a pair of the 670s. Too bad I don't have the cash...

dynachrome · Aug 26, 2014

My 6X7 cameras include several Bronica GS-1s, an RB67 Pro S and an RB67 Pro. There is no question that size and weight prevent people from doing more medium format shootng. I'm on vacation and I brought formats. My 35 is a Minolta X-700 with 28, 35, 50 Macro, 100 and 200. My medium format is a Mamiya M645 1000S with 35, 55, 150 and 300. The Mamiya has the right hand motor winder and a PD-S finder and is heavy even with the 55. I spent much of today rafting and took no pictures at all. Tomorrow will be a Mamiya day. If someone makes use of a medium format folder when a smaller format would have been used otherwise then the folder serves an important purpose.

Oren Grad · Aug 26, 2014

FWIW, the Fuji Japan website shows the black GF670 as being discontinued but not yet the silver one:

http://fujifilm.jp/personal/filmandcamera/filmcamera/mediumformat/gf670/index.html

The Phoblographer piece reports specifically a statement from Fuji US. As usual with Fuji, the various national distributors could be choosing different times to officially pull the plug.

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 26, 2014

Oren Grad said:
FWIW, the Fuji Japan website shows the black GF670 as being discontinued but not yet the silver one:

http://fujifilm.jp/personal/filmandcamera/filmcamera/mediumformat/gf670/index.html

The Phoblographer piece reports specifically a statement from Fuji US. As usual with Fuji, the various national distributors could be choosing different times to officially pull the plug.

They sold out of the run of the black ones first...

Dr Croubie · Aug 26, 2014

Oren Grad said:
The Phoblographer piece reports specifically a statement from Fuji US. As usual with Fuji, the various national distributors could be choosing different times to officially pull the plug.

I was wondering if that was going to be the case, yet again, after that whole Velvia misinformation debacle. One of these days I'm going on a trip to Japan with a suitcase full of cash and coming back with a suitcase full of film and cameras.
(one day I'll wake up and stop dreaming too)

Oren Grad · Aug 26, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
They sold out of the run of the black ones first...

Yes, that would be my guess too.

RattyMouse · Aug 26, 2014

Dr Croubie said:
I was wondering if that was going to be the case, yet again, after that whole Velvia misinformation debacle. One of these days I'm going on a trip to Japan with a suitcase full of cash and coming back with a suitcase full of film and cameras.
(one day I'll wake up and stop dreaming too)

Heh heh.....ain't that the truth. I was in Japan late last year on a holiday, not intending to buy any cameras. I visited Fujifilm's corporate headquarters where they have a very fine museum of hundreds of cameras and films. In front they have a nice display of all their current cameras, where you can hold them. There I got to see, for the first time, the GF670W. Damn but that is one find camera. I played with it for 20 mins or so. Later that week, just a few days before leaving Japan and I find one for sale at Yobadishi, $600 cheaper than in China. I got weak and bought it. OMG. I was not expecting a cost like that. Buying that camera doubled my entire vacation cost!! But it was sooooooooo worth it.

Oren Grad · Aug 27, 2014

From Stephen Gandy over at RFF:

I checked with Cosina.

The Voigtlander Bessa III and Bessa III Wide will stay in production for the time being.

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2383419&postcount=23

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 27, 2014

Oren Grad said:
From Stephen Gandy over at RFF:

I checked with Cosina.

The Voigtlander Bessa III and Bessa III Wide will stay in production for the time being.

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2383419&postcount=23

Thread title updated to reflect new information.

pdeeh · Aug 27, 2014

Now it looks like it's sad news that it's still avilable

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 27, 2014

pdeeh said:
Now it looks like it's sad news that it's still avilable

Well, maybe it's sad that Fujifilm is no longer marketing it, but yeah, best to keep the title factual and leave the editorial sentiments out.

Ken Nadvornick · Aug 27, 2014

Actually, it still is sad news if the $1,600+ version is no longer available, but the $2,200+ version is still available. Now I'm really glad I purchased when I did.

Ken

georg16nik · Aug 27, 2014

My condolences to the fans of the Fuji/Cosina interpretation of a legendary concept.
IMHO, The Cosina folder flip was a stillborn and the history will prove it.

nbagno · Aug 27, 2014

georg16nik said:
My condolences to the fans of the Fuji/Cosina interpretation of a legendary concept.
IMHO, The Cosina folder flip was a stillborn and the history will prove it.

What does history need to prove in this case? It's just a camera. You either like it or you don't. History has better things to do.

georg16nik · Aug 27, 2014

nbagno said:
What does history need to prove in this case?

Ur too inexperienced to understand.

nbagno · Aug 27, 2014

georg16nik said:
Ur too inexperienced to understand.

Thank you. I'll just continue to be naive and use the camera without looking over my shoulder at things that were and could have been.

eclarke · Aug 27, 2014

RattyMouse said:
Yes, a fantastic camera to walk around all day with. Amazingly compact and light. I laugh when I am at the store and see the Pentax 67. My wife is horrified by the size of that thing. (Not knocking the Pentax, there's tons of advantages to that camera).

And once you open it and start shooting, tons of eyes eventually land on you. It is not discreet unfortunately. People do love to inquire about what it is I'm shooting with.

It's a great embassador camera for film.

And such a bright viewfinder..I love mine..

dreamingartemis · Aug 27, 2014

And so ends another beautiful story. Though people who own the GF670 should now see the price of second hand units slowly but steadily climb in price when new ones have all been snapped up.

Xmas · Aug 27, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
I actually prefer the silver. To my eyes it has a more classic look.

My only issue with the GF670, at least with my sample, is that the grease in the focusing helicoid is not stiff (viscous) enough. I tend to often pre-focus then wait for the action to occur, and need for the focus setting to stay put until it does. On my camera if I accurately pre-focus, then drop and raise the camera to arm's length once or twice, the focus shifts. Same if I point it directly straight up. I can then watch as it shifts.

I need to contact Fujifilm USA to see what it might take to correct this minor issue.

Ken

While you wait a blob of 'blue tack' works ok.
I use it on Contax g1 for same purpose.
And to secure a Leica hood on a Canon lens!

Noel

Fujifilm discontinues GF670--but still available from Voigtlander-Cosina

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Fujifilm discontinues GF670--but still available from Voigtlander-Cosina

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