Fuji's new GF670W Rangefinder: Priceless?

[MarkG]

Fuji announced their new GF670W at Photokina . . . and, no surprise, they did not announce its price. On my blog, I discuss the pricing history of the GF670 and speculate on the factors that may shape the as yet unannounced price of Fuji's new camera. You can read the post here: http://wp.me/ph0f6-3i

Mark

 

[Ian Grant]

Now that's a camera I could lust after, I like a WA lens and could use that 55mm as standard.

Ian

 

[MarkG]

Ian, and what would you be wiling to pay for the camera?

 

[Ian Grant]

That's a $1000 question.

In truth not an arm & leg. I can use my 617 camera at 6x12 if needs be with a 75mm lens which is at a very rough guess about the same horizontal angle of view.

However the new Fuji would be far more practical as a single camera option, I often carry 6x6, 6x17 and 5x4

I'd have to see it might well be far cheaper to convert a Polaroid camera exchange rates and then regional pricing etc makes a HUGE difference.

A 6x9 camera with a 65mm lens would be even better,

Ian

 

[Chazzy]

It's a pity that it isn't a folder.

 

[MarkG]

Ian, your "$1,000" response conforms well with the data presented in the poll on the Rangefinderforum that I discuss in the post. At least one person commented on my blog post that he expected the price to be around $2,500 because of the sophistication of the lens design . . . perhaps, though Cosina is the presumed manufacturer of the camera and they manufacture complex lens designs far less expensively than others (that's code for "Leica").

BTW, I noticed your location is Turkey, er West Midlands, UK. The UK subsidiary of Fuji has put up their own website for the GF670 and has promoted the camera heavily. Maybe they'll be able to argue for more competitive pricing with Japanese HQ

 

[MarkG]

@ Chazzy -- I agree. I'll bet the manufacturing cost of the folder design proved too expensive.

Mark

 

[RobertV]

The folder mechanism will be not there so they save some money on it but the lens design is pretty complicated although C.V. can make less expensive W.A. lenses (looking at the U.W.H. and S.W.H. but in M-mount now not a real bargain anymore). I predicted the Bessa III 667 introduction around Eur. 2000 2 years ago and for this new W.A. camera version I think around Eur. 2200.

But we will see in a few months what happens.

 

[munz6869]

This is more like a w.a. version of my GW680III, which, after using the GF670/Bessa III for a fortnight, I actually prefer to use (rather than a folder) - so if it's released, in a moment of madness I could see myself buying it. I don't like the shutter mechanism on these (it's so quiet and touch-sensitive) though - I prefer a satisfying "clunk", or a quiet shutter with a bit of depth to it...

In regards to price - I always think my LF kit was expensive, but both in comparison to some of the rapidly obsolescing DSLR's with a decent set of lenses, are actually quite reasonable, even at US$2500+, given the negative size and optical quality. We just need to set aside $20 a week for two years or so ;-)

Marc!

 

[yurihuta]

Marc,
There is a wide angle version of your GW690III - it is the GSW680III with a 65mm lens. I have seen it here and there for sale, but it seems to be quite rare judging by how little I see it compared to the GW680III.

Regards, Yuri

 

[munz6869]

Yuri! Now why did you have to tell me that? Now I'll most certainly waste years searching for one....

Marc!

 

[TareqPhoto]

I have GSW690III with 65mm, it is really wide enough, not sure how wider than my Mamiya 7II + 65mm or GW670 with this new 55mm.

 

[2F/2F]

A 6x9 camera with a 65mm lens would be even better

It's a pity that it isn't a folder.

Exactly!

I like the camera, but I would opt for a used 6x9 with the 65mm; it would probably be the older model with interchangeable lenses. The frame size and vertical AOV would be far more to my liking, and it would be cheaper.

If this new camera was a folder, I might feel differently.