Sad Fuji News/Happy Voigtländer News -GF670 in Japan only -Bessa III elsewhere!

[Chazzy]

The markings beside the right dial look as if they might be for exposure compensation.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Title updated.

Looks like the dial on the right is for shutter speed or auto exposure with an ISO dial inset and exposure compensation next to the dial.

The shutter button is where it belongs. I found the shutter trigger on the Bessa II very awkward, though it was very elegant in the way it would become erect when the door was opened.

 

[david b]

This is so very cool.

Here is why this is such a great camera: dual format.

Lots of people love the square for portraits but hate it for landscapes.

So, now you can shoot a square portrait, then flip the curtain and shoot the landscape.

Without ever holding the camera vertically.

 

[ath]

Details:

 

[Frank Szabo]

Do you think that the dial on the right is for shutter speeds for a focal plane shutter? Maybe the shutter speeds aren't on the lens.

Speeds would have to be on the lens unless one wants a bunch of wiring that eventually will go south at the worst possible moment.

The dial on the right (camera's left) appears to be focal plane shutter control and the other dial (like the Bessa II) is the film advance.

The lens body appears to have (from the rear) aperture control, the next ring with the plastic thing a focusing mechanism and the front a depth-of-field scale.

If it's focal plane, I don't want one after all.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Dual format: 6x6 and 6x7 via curtains (maybe this is only a masking of the 6x7? No details)...

Note the frame counter showing "12." This suggests to me that selecting 6x6 actually controls film transport, resulting in 12 images per roll in the square format.

 

[david b]

I wonder if you will be able to switch in the middle of a roll ?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If there's aperture priority auto exposure, as would be suggested by the "A" on the shutter speed dial, then there's wiring between the body and the lens, so my guess is that it's an electronic leaf shutter with the control on the body. A focal plane shutter would add a fair amount of extra weight and thickness to the package. The downside of an electronic shutter is that it needs a battery, but the upside is that it will be accurate, even at 2 sec. and 4 sec., which aren't speeds you find on mechanical shutters.

I was thinking my first serious new camera purchase in 20-odd years was going to be one of those things we don't talk about around here, but I guess that's just going to have to wait for the MKIII or MKIV.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

I wonder if you will be able to switch in the middle of a roll ?

Since the frame number appears to be physical, as on a rotating disk, rather than an electronic display, I doubt it. More likely the transport is mechanically geared for 10 or 12 frames at time of film loading.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Midroll switching between 6x6 and 6x7 wouldn't get you much anyway, in terms of more frames per roll. Even with 220 you only get to pick up an extra frame or two occasionally.

On the Sinar Zoom holder, where you can switch among 645, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9, and 6x12, or the Gilde that does all those plus 6x17 it seems more meaningful.

 

[david b]

Good thing I will be buying two.

One for 6x6 and one for 6x7

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I want one and now I can theoretically have one.. if only I were rich. Any idea on the price?

 

[Paul Goutiere]

It would be nice if these could be had with a 50mm, 80mm (which it is) and a 120 or 150mm. Regardless, I'll be getting one and my Hasselblad will get semi retired.

 

[ath]

Another one was smarter than me and copied the writing next to the camera - which I did not notice:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=901748&postcount=18

 

[david b]

Text on the sheet next to the display:

The GF670 is a highly portable, folding bellows camera that allows extremely high-quality images to be taken using a high-performance lens unit. The camera is equipped with a unique mechanism for switching between two film formats, 6x7 and 6x6 cm.

The GF670 was jointly developed by Fujifilm Corporation and Cosina Co., Ltd. Fujifilm will be responsible for Japan sales, while Cosina will sell the product outside of Japan as the Voigtländer BESSA III.

Official announcements of the release of the product will be made soon.

Technical specifications.

Folding camera with coupled rangefinder
Film choice 120/220 film
6x7 cm (120-10 exp. / 220-20 exp.)
6x6 cm (120-12 exp. / 220-24 exp.)
80 mm/f3.5 (4 groups 6 elements)
Bright frame-type viewfinder
Automatic parallax compensation
Integral LED exposure metering indications
Electronically controlled lens shutter. 4-1/500 sec, B
Exposure control: SPD Sensor
Center-weighted averaging system
Aperture priority AE and manual switchover
Exposure compensation approx 2EV in 1/3EV steps
Film speed: Manual setting, ISO25-3200 (1/3EV step accuracy)
Manual film wind by winding knob
Mechanical-type counter
120/220 (changeable)
6x7/6x6 (changeable)
CR2 (3v) lithium battery

 

[Matus Kalisky]

I will have to manage to persuade my wife (i just can not get used to that word - I used "girlfriend" for 9 years..) that I do actually not WANT one, but NEED one

I just hope the heliar is really a HELIAR and that metering is TTL ...

 

[tim_walls]

I will have to manage to persuade my wife (i just can not get used to that word - I used "girlfriend" for 9 years..) that I do actually not WANT one, but NEED one

I just hope the heliar is really a HELIAR and that metering is TTL ...

Is TTL metering possible on a camera without a mirror? (I.e. not an SLR.)

[Genuine question by the way, not trying to be a smartarse!]

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If it's a 4/6 lens, it's not a Heliar, but it's probably a nice lens.

 

[david b]

tim,
the "exposure control" is not TTL.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Wow, the sudden addition of 66 format suddenly makes me wet my trousers in anticipation! I don't have a 6x7 enlarger, and would hate to lose film; plus I like the square format.

I think this is really a winner, a great Cosina-Voigtlander idea, and more reason to keep film alive. Hopefully for some they will do some variation on the models (like Fuji did with their fixed lens RF). But for now this is an incredible step.

So, how do you reckon it'll cost ya, now?

 

[david b]

My guess and this seems to have been said somewhere, $1199

 

[John W]

Ouch! My want-o-meter just exploded... I'm at the stage of pondering larger-than-35mm formats... and after interminable scraping the internet for info on MF and LF camera options, this looks incredibly sweet as a first step. The switchable 6x6 vs. 6x7 is a nice feature.

This is definitely the most personally interesting Photokina announcement so far. (Well, the Ektar 100 was kinda neat as well... this camera makes me sad the Ektar's not coming out in 120!)

 

[Chazzy]

I'm relieved that it's a leaf shutter. Lever film advance might have been nice, but it would be stupid to make any conclusions about that without handling the camera. Speaking of which, when do I get to handle one of these things? Spring 2009? How am I supposed to wait?

 

[ny_photog]

This is really great news.

I've wanted a MF folder for the longest time but didn't want to risk what I might wind up with buying a "fleaBay special"!

I'd like to put in a pre-order. Is Gandy still the main authorized Bessa supplier in the US? Problem is, he's a one-man band. Are there any others?

 

[rknewcomb]

I have to admit, now that its closer to being a reality, I'm even more excited. I was holding back so as to not be dissapointed if they didn't make it.
I will have one! Yeah!