Need help with Fuji GW690

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

Well, I received my GW690 a few days ago and finally got around to running a test roll through it. The lens looks great, the shutter seems right on, but unfortunately there is something wrong with the advance. It advanced right through the first two frames before getting to "1" for the first shot, and kept shooting onto the paper at the end.

I guess I am sending it back, but I wanted to check and make sure this isn't a simple fix or something I did wrong before I send it back.

Any help is appreciated.

EDITED: Sorry, it is the GW690.

Dan Daniel · Nov 23, 2019

Is it a model III? There's a plastic gear in the frame metering/measuring system that can get stripped teeth.

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

Dan Daniel said:
Is it a model III? There's a plastic gear in the frame metering/measuring system that can get stripped teeth.

It is the first one.

Dan Daniel · Nov 23, 2019

In general, the same area can get dirty and a spring can pop out of place on any model.

It's probably in the ~$150 range to get fixed. For your thinking about sending it back. All in all, probably best to just try again. Enough working ones out there.

If you saved the backing paper from your roll, run it through and see if it keeps happening.

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

Maybe I didn't make sure there was enough tension?

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

Dan Daniel said:
In general, the same area can get dirty and a spring can pop out of place on any model.

It's probably in the ~$150 range to get fixed. For your thinking about sending it back. All in all, probably best to just try again. Enough working ones out there.

If you saved the backing paper from your roll, run it through and see if it keeps happening.

How do I tell with just backing paper? When I ran it through, it seemed to work right (woumd to "1" and wound up after "8"). It just went too far on the wind-on.

mrosenlof · Nov 23, 2019

I don't know the innards like Dan does. The only user error I can think of is setting the film for 220 rather than 120. And I'm really not sure how that would change the position of the first frame.

mrosenlof · Nov 23, 2019

you could load backing paper, and advance until it stops (hopefully at frame 1) then open the back and see which frame number on the backing paper is visible. I think for 6x9 it's the number closer to the unexposed film spool. I think.

Dan Daniel · Nov 23, 2019

Ariston said:
How do I tell with just backing paper? When I ran it through, it seemed to work right (woumd to "1" and wound up after "8"). It just went too far on the wind-on.

It should stop at the 1 and this should put the 6x9 '1' on the backing paper in the correct position (check for film tape on other side of paper, or mark this spot on the back. Frame should be start maybe an inch past this). Now wind paper back, do a frame 1 to frame 2 wind. I seem to remember about 1-1/2 strokes?? Whatever this is, it should be consistent frame to frame, except each frame should take a bit less winding than the previous frame.

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

I'm an idiot. I even thought to myself I wish there were a film window. Checking now...

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

I don't know for sure which number is the 6x9 number, or where it should stop.

This is where it stopped. Can you tell me which is the 6x9 number, and where the stopping position should be?

Alex Varas · Nov 23, 2019

Upper one, I think it’s on the right position.
Edit: Checked with my model, first as well, same position as yours.

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

I thought so, too. I just got the film dry, and the last couple of frames have scratches. The rest are perfectly fine. Can this be related?

Thanks for all your help.

Grim Tuesday · Nov 23, 2019

I'm not sure those are scratches because they're black but I'm also not sure what else to call them. They look almost like light leaks or a partially open shutter during advance?

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

Ohhhh, I know what it is. I used the B setting, and the advance lever closes the shutter. I need to cover the lens or change the shutter speed to close it, instead. You have a good eye!

Well, I don't know if the wind-on mishap is enough to worry about. If there are broken teeth in a cog somewhere, it seems like I might have issues. I'll try my test roll a few more times and see what happens.

Thanks again for all the help!

Grim Tuesday · Nov 23, 2019

I say pass your test roll through it 10 times (being careful to wind it back up tightly between tries -- I use a Koni Omega back I have lying around to re-roll 120 rolls) and if it works with good spacing every time go ahead and keep it. Sometimes the first time you run film through an old camera like this you dislodge something or distribute the lubrication better and it will start working fine. I had this issue with my Mamiya C220 - on the first roll, the counter got stuck at 6 and wouldn't continue. But I ran a few more test rolls through and never had a problem again. My guess is I just knocked whatever dirt was in the mechanism loose.

If it's something truly broken, like the plastic gear, you would notice it every time.

Alex Varas · Nov 23, 2019

I helped a friend with his first model as well, he said in every roll one ir two frames were skipped, more than 1 and 1/2 winding until stops, after inspecting the camera I pushed the metal roller placed at the film back which pushes the film against the roller which detects if the films moves, after that and even loading back paper all worked fine, still I need his feedback after a month.
I guess someone more experienced in these cameras could tell better.

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

Thank you, that is advice that I will follow. I would like to keep it, because the glass is absolutely flawless, and the shutter speeds seem dead on (I timed the 1 second setting). So many of the listings for these had balsam separation or some other issue with the lens or shutter.

Dan Daniel · Nov 23, 2019

The GW690 is very sensitive to loose film loading. Be sure to keep the film spool tight. I think I kept a finger on the feed side as a loaded it. Then in closing I would keep a light pressure on the wind lever. Not enough to move it but enough to keep the film taut. If the film gets loose in winding frame spacing goes to hell. It's pretty much the worst camera I have had for this. A someone mentioned, check all the rollers nd such, make sure they are rolling freely and applying pressure.

Ariston · Nov 23, 2019

Thanks all. I did check that particular roller and it seemed okay. I did NOT make sure my first roll was taut. But I did with the test roll that worked out okay. Hopefully that was the issue.

You always have to learn a new camera's moody ways.

Dan Daniel · Nov 23, 2019

Oh, since you have had this problem, also probably best to get int into the habit of doing slow and steady film winding. I know someone using one now who finds that spacing can get off if he just jams on the wind lever while not paying much attention.

Alex Varas · Nov 24, 2019

Dan Daniel said:
The GW690 is very sensitive to loose film loading. Be sure to keep the film spool tight. I think I kept a finger on the feed side as a loaded it. Then in closing I would keep a light pressure on the wind lever. Not enough to move it but enough to keep the film taut. If the film gets loose in winding frame spacing goes to hell. It's pretty much the worst camera I have had for this. A someone mentioned, check all the rollers nd such, make sure they are rolling freely and applying pressure.

I like very much this advice, Dan Daniel, thanks!

sixby45 · Nov 26, 2019

I’d like to second the advice above I’ve had all three versions of the GW690 and it does indeed get finicky about the tension. It’s worth running the test rolls through a bunch of times to redistribute the lubricants and such - I’ve had a few older cameras which where unused and skipped frames or miscounted via their backs until they were warmed up so to speak. after all this warming up however it may not fix the problem so just be prepared to send it to it’s seller and look for another version as there are indeed many out there especially from Japan.

all the best! Hope it resolved itself through use

Ariston · Nov 26, 2019

sixby45 said:
I’d like to second the advice above I’ve had all three versions of the GW690 and it does indeed get finicky about the tension. It’s worth running the test rolls through a bunch of times to redistribute the lubricants and such - I’ve had a few older cameras which where unused and skipped frames or miscounted via their backs until they were warmed up so to speak. after all this warming up however it may not fix the problem so just be prepared to send it to it’s seller and look for another version as there are indeed many out there especially from Japan.

all the best! Hope it resolved itself through use

Thank you - and thank you to everyone else giving that advice. I am going to try exactly this with a test roll (repeatedly) as soon as I have time during these holidays. The seller is being very accommodating, so that helps.

Need help with Fuji GW690

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