GW690II on it's way

campy51 · Jun 28, 2019

I have a sickness. I read all the nice things about the Kodak Medalist so I went out and bought one, and then the GW690 caught my interest so less than an hour ago I purchased one. The seller says the rangefinder image jumps once in a while and you need to refocus. I am hoping it's just a slight lube job in the linkage or what ever it moves along. If the GW690 handles better than the Medalist then I will probably sell the Medalist.

Dan Daniel · Jun 28, 2019

It certainly handles differently! The Medalist is slow to use, deliberate. The Fuji is a standard rangefinder design with an integrated viewfinder. I could use the Fuji in the street like a 35mm rangefinder. I wouldn't even try that with a Medalist.

But the Fuji doesn't have the Medalist lens.

And the Fuji weights 5 ounces more than the Medalist.

All in all, I think most people will go for the Fuji over the Medalist.

campy51 · Jul 9, 2019

Received it yesterday and shot a roll and developed today. I wish the focus spot was bigger. I now know what everyone says about the ping after the shutter is released. My 2 year old grand daughter was mimicking the sound after taking a picture.

mshchem · Jul 9, 2019

campy51 said:
I have a sickness. I read all the nice things about the Kodak Medalist so I went out and bought one, and then the GW690 caught my interest so less than an hour ago I purchased one. The seller says the rangefinder image jumps once in a while and you need to refocus. I am hoping it's just a slight lube job in the linkage or what ever it moves along. If the GW690 handles better than the Medalist then I will probably sell the Medalist.

The rangefinder is no big deal. I had the same problem with a GW690III. It's a simple CLA. I have never messed with this myself, I have a great repair shop, it was a couple hundred bucks, well worth it. You can use it as it is. It maybe a very simple DIY repair? Best all around cameras I own.

Adrian Bacon · Jul 9, 2019

Dan Daniel said:
It certainly handles differently! The Medalist is slow to use, deliberate. The Fuji is a standard rangefinder design with an integrated viewfinder. I could use the Fuji in the street like a 35mm rangefinder. I wouldn't even try that with a Medalist.

But the Fuji doesn't have the Medalist lens.

And the Fuji weights 5 ounces more than the Medalist.

All in all, I think most people will go for the Fuji over the Medalist.

I have the same GW690, it’s big, but nice. Built like a tank.

mshchem · Jul 9, 2019

Now I want a Medalist. . Just say no.

campy51 · Jul 9, 2019

mshchem said:
Now I want a Medalist. . Just say no.

I may be selling the Medalist if I decide on the Fuji since I don't need both and I have a 500 C/M. Although the medalist does look nice in my collection.

voceumana · Jul 9, 2019

But the Medalist uses 620 film--personally, I'm not up for the issues with respooling. And the Medalist RF window is miniscule. Fuji lenses have always made me happy.

campy51 · Jul 9, 2019

Here are a couple from the first roll yesterday. Even though the focus spot is small I think I can focus more quickly with this than the Medalist.

soulstar89 · Jul 13, 2019

campy51 said:
Here are a couple from the first roll yesterday. Even though the focus spot is small I think I can focus more quickly with this than the Medalist.
View attachment 226676 View attachment 226677

nice pics. i have a rz67 proii and shooting my three year old niece with it can be challenging. i seem to prefer medium format compared to 35mm. i have looked at the gw690 but i wonder could you further explain your opinion on the rangefinder patch. for example when you say the patch is small does it effect the focusing? is the patch on par to say the mamiya 7?

i think a rz and a fuji gw690 could be a great set up. one for portraits position the other for landscape position.

campy51 · Jul 13, 2019

The patch should be bigger considering the size of the viewfinder. I never saw a Mamiya 7 so I can't compare it.

John51 · Jul 14, 2019

I prefer the split image focus on my Medalist to my other rangefinders. Didn't take me long to get used to switching my gaze from rf to viewfinder. It's well thought out imo.

soulstar89 · Jul 14, 2019

campy51 said:
The patch should be bigger considering the size of the viewfinder. I never saw a Mamiya 7 so I can't compare it.

ok not to worry

GW690II on it's way

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