Fujifilm GW690 stuck on first exposure? Unsure what's going on?

voightlandertroubles · Sep 15, 2021

Hey all,

I recently purchased a Fujifilm GW690 from eBay and received it this morning. I quickly grabbed some film and tested it but ended up having a few issues.

So I opened the film back and tested the shutter, it worked fine and seemed accurate. I then placed a roll of Porta 160, winded it up till the arrows lined up with the red dot and closed the back.

I winded it up and it stopped just before the first exposure like this:

I pressed the shutter, it went off. Sweet! I then winded it up but it moved a little bit before stopping at 1 and it indicated it was on the first exposure. I could not wind it more.

I then pressed the shutter button and nothing would happen. I would depress it fully but didn't hear the shutter go off nor did the winding mechanism allow to move to the next exposure.

I opened the film back, closed it and winded it again, same situation. Stops just before 1, I take a photo then wind it a bit to 1, and then it's stuck.

I attempted with a different roll after watching a video just in case I made a mistake. 2nd roll also had the same problem.

I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong or if there's a trick to it, or should I be asking the seller a return for the camera since I did pay just over $1k for it.

Thank you!

campy51 · Sep 15, 2021

I would return it. Is it the GW690 or is it the II or III? If it's the original GW690 then I think it was a lot of money but unsure what that amount is in Australian money.

ic-racer · Sep 15, 2021

Time to support a camera technician.

voightlandertroubles · Sep 15, 2021

campy51 said:
I would return it. Is it the GW690 or is it the II or III? If it's the original GW690 then I think it was a lot of money but unsure what that amount is in Australian money.

It was about $732 USD which was the cheapest I could find in a decent condition on eBay. Guess I might have to flag it with the seller.

Dan Daniel · Sep 15, 2021

Unless you can find a technician willing to work on it and with parts, I would send it back. If you can get it serviced locally, get $2-300 AUS refunded.

4season · Sep 15, 2021

Some of those cameras have "odometers" on the bottom which indicate when the camera is due for service. I don't know if they stop operating when they reach a certain #, but I do know that the counter is supposed to get reset.

Dan Daniel · Sep 15, 2021

4season said:
Some of those cameras have "odometers" on the bottom which indicate when the camera is due for service. I don't know if they stop operating when they reach a certain #, but I do know that the counter is supposed to get reset.

The camera will keep working no matter the odometer setting. In fact, it's pretty simple to remove a few screws on the bottom of the camera, remove the bottom plate, and reset the counter to whatever number you'd like. I would never judge a Fuji GW by its counter. Look carefully at other indicators for actual condition- wear, rub marks, screw oxidation, etc.

Roger Thoms · Sep 15, 2021

My GW680III is doing the same thing. Very frustrating because it happened on a recent trip to Colorado. Fortunately I also had my Leica IIIf with me so all was not lost. My question is where to send the GW680III for repairs. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Roger

braxus · Sep 15, 2021

Advance Camera in Portland Oregon has a tech that is really good with medium format film cameras. He worked on my Pentax 67ii camera this year and did wonders on it. They pulled all the stops for me, so I recommend them!

Nitroplait · Sep 16, 2021

I don’t know if the forwarding mechanism works the same on the GW as it does on my GL690, but in the case of the GL it requires two full strokes to fully forward the film. It also supports many smaller strokes BUT if at least ONE of these strokes wasn’t full, then the shutter wasn’t fully tensioned and the the camera is jammed.
On the GL you can remove the lens and tension the shutter manually and move along. I don’t know if there is a workaround on the GW apart from opening the back.
For the GL690 it is a known “feature” but first time owners often thinks they got a defective camera.

voightlandertroubles · Sep 16, 2021

Nitroplait said:
I don’t know if the forwarding mechanism works the same on the GW as it does on my GL690, but in the case of the GL it requires two full strokes to fully forward the film. It also supports many smaller strokes BUT if at least ONE of these strokes wasn’t full, then the shutter wasn’t fully tensioned and the the camera is jammed.
On the GL you can remove the lens and tension the shutter manually and move along. I don’t know if there is a workaround on the GW apart from opening the back.
For the GL690 it is a known “feature” but first time owners often thinks they got a defective camera.

Each time I did a full stroke. That's what I found odd when it would jam just before 1, then I'd press the shutter. Then I could move it just a bit to 1 before it would jam. Even though I could depress the shutter, it wouldn't go off nor could I move the winder any more

campy51 · Sep 16, 2021

Try putting a roll in and when you get to first exposure open the back press the shutter and see if you are able to advance the shutter with the back open.

voightlandertroubles · Sep 16, 2021

campy51 said:
Try putting a roll in and when you get to first exposure open the back press the shutter and see if you are able to advance the shutter with the back open.

It does work but it ends up resetting the counter and I have to wind it back up to 1. Also, opening the back would expose the film to a light source

campy51 · Sep 16, 2021

voightlandertroubles said:
It does work but it ends up resetting the counter and I have to wind it back up to 1. Also, opening the back would expose the film to a light source

Yes I know, you would have to sacrifice a roll to help you troubleshoot the problem. You can rewind the roll and keep using the same roll. Were you able to fire the shutter a second time?

250swb · Sep 16, 2021

OP your description is a bit confusing and I'm not sure if the camera can take the first picture or not. If you can wind to #1 and then can't make an exposure are you sure the shutter lock isn't engaged and stopping you making an exposure? It's on the front of the camera, the lever surrounding the front shutter button.

voightlandertroubles · Sep 16, 2021

campy51 said:
Yes I know, you would have to sacrifice a roll to help you troubleshoot the problem. You can rewind the roll and keep using the same roll. Were you able to fire the shutter a second time?

So what ends up happening is it gets stuck at 1, I open the film back and shut it, take a photo.
Film counter resets and I wind it again from 0 to just before 1 as it stops/jams, I take a photo.
It frees up the winding mechanism and I move it a tiny bit to 1 and the winder is stuck firm again. I press the shutter and nothing happens. I have to open the film back again and repeat the process.

voightlandertroubles · Sep 16, 2021

250swb said:
OP your description is a bit confusing and I'm not sure if the camera can take the first picture or not. If you can wind to #1 and then can't make an exposure are you sure the shutter lock isn't engaged and stopping you making an exposure? It's on the front of the camera, the lever surrounding the front shutter button.

Sorry for that! So when I wind the camera, it stops just before we get to #1. I can't move it any further. I press the shutter and take a photo freeing up the winding mechanism. It then allows me to move the winder just a lil bit till the counter is set on #1. I can't wind any further. However, when I press down fully on the shutter, nothing happens. I can't take a photo and it doesn't wind any further.

In terms of the shutter lock, whereabouts is it?

250swb · Sep 16, 2021

Ah, forget the shutter lock, it's an earlier GW690 that doesn't have one. However just to test things you could try using the front shutter button and see if that works.

voightlandertroubles · Sep 16, 2021

250swb said:
Ah, forget the shutter lock, it's an earlier GW690 that doesn't have one. However just to test things you could try using the front shutter button and see if that works.

Tried with the 2nd roll as well just in case. Same problem :/

250swb · Sep 16, 2021

Send it back, there are loads around on eBay and search the Japanese sellers who will have a MKIII version for less money and in better condition.

voightlandertroubles · Sep 16, 2021

250swb said:
Send it back, there are loads around on eBay and search the Japanese sellers who will have a MKIII version for less money and in better condition.

Will do! I actually bought this model as it was $400 cheaper than any of the MKIII versions sadly

takilmaboxer · Sep 17, 2021

I have a Fuji 645 that developed the same problem. I spent $300 to get it fixed and it broke again, days after the expiration of the warranty. There is a problem with the counter/double exposure prevention mechanism. I believe that it is a design problem and I'm not willing to spend more money on it. The camera works intermittently now and I just live with it. Good luck!

mshchem · Sep 17, 2021

voightlandertroubles said:
Will do! I actually bought this model as it was $400 cheaper than any of the MKIII versions sadly

Definitely send it back. I have MK II and MKIII versions, all have a shutter lock?
That thing looks rough. These are my all time favorite cameras. In good condition you'll not have problems. And a good technician can tune these up.

Kodachromeguy · Sep 17, 2021

Roger Thoms said:
My question is where to send the GW680III for repairs. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

As of 2016, Fuji in USA referred me to Southern Photo Technical Services in North Miami Beach, Florida.

http://www.sp-ts.com

They repaired my GW690II when I broke it on a Route 66 car trip. I need to re-drive it with a film camera all over again. Their web page states:
FUJUFILM CAMERA REPAIR CENTER
Southern Photo Technical Service is your exclusive Fuji Film USA, Camera Repair Center, providing all warranty and non-warranty repair services for all Fuji Cameras.

WARRANTY REPAIRS
Customers must submit a copy of the dated sales slip as proof of purchase for all warranty repair claims.

NON-WARRANTY
A written repair estimate will be provided for all non-warranty repairs, before repairs are made. All major credit cards are accepted.

Roger Thoms · Sep 19, 2021

braxus said:
Advance Camera in Portland Oregon has a tech that is really good with medium format film cameras. He worked on my Pentax 67ii camera this year and did wonders on it. They pulled all the stops for me, so I recommend them!

Thanks for recommendations.

Roger

Fujifilm GW690 stuck on first exposure? Unsure what's going on?

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