Should I trade in my Fuji GW690III for a Fuji GF670 or Plaubel Makina 670/67?

[warden]

Finally, between the Fuji GF670 and Plaubel Makina 670, which one - if any - would you pick and why? (Also, what are the differences between the Plaubel Makina 670 and the Plaubel Makina 67?)

I agree with Huss - get rid of your Fuji if you don’t like using it. Both of the cameras you are considering will be better for you if you like 6x7 so there is no bad choice here.

I was in the same boat comparing the GF670 and Makina and ended up with the 80mm Makina, which I liked enough to get the wide version too. They are good cameras with outstanding lenses, and they collapse to an easy to carry thinness. (The same can be said of the GF670 but I haven’t used one.)

You said in your OP that you want a light meter. Both of my Makinas were purchased with working light meters but now only one works and the other will need to be repaired the next time it gets a CLA. The wiring for the light meter is a known weakness of this design, so that alone might be reason enough for you to get the Fuji.

As for rangefinder accuracy I’ve never had mine adjusted in the ten years or so of ownership, but I’m not rough with cameras so maybe that has something to do with it, or maybe I’m just lucky.

 

[Paul Howell]

In terms of price and features I would get a Mamiya Press, Super 23 or Universal with 6X7 back, the Universal has bright lines for both 6X7 and 6X9. Press lens are going resolve Tmax 100, contrast is good, sharp edge to edge. Lens range from 50mm to 250, wide's need a separate viewfinder, the longer tele on the Press and maybe and the Super Press. Downside, no internal light meter, and they are heavy, odd size filters that take some time to hunt down.

 

[GregY]

Paul, that is a workable solution, (I had one)....but it is unwieldy. If I had to resort to a camera of that size and bulk I'd use a Pentax 67.
The beauty of the Fuji GW/GSW 670/80/90.... is that they're relatively light, even though they're big.
I've ski-toured and heli-skiied with mine, hiked around Europe (travelling w only a 30litre pack carry-on)
If I were the OP I'd resort to placing a WTB ad on forums in N America and calling around to likely shops.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Perhaps some of you have better suggestions on where I can put the roughly $3000 I'd be spending on either the Fuji GF670 and Plaubel Makina 670? Is there another lightweight and portable 6x7 film camera that I'm missing?

Finally, between the Fuji GF670 and Plaubel Makina 670, which one - if any - would you pick and why? (Also, what are the differences between the Plaubel Makina 670 and the Plaubel Makina 67?)

Many thanks for your time and help!

The camera has to work for you, not what others are happy with, but if you are going to spend $3,000US then you should be considering a Hasselblad with better reliability, parts, service and lenses. Besides the Hasselblad is a system that its upward and downward compatible since 1957. You will just have to wait a little longer between buying lenses.

 

[Huss]

I used to be enamored by Fuji GF670 and pulled the trigger a few years ago. The camera was simply too fragile to be practical and nailing critical focus was not easy: the focusing helicoid felt toy-like and imprecise, without a reliable infinity stop. In hand, it felt plasticky and way cheaper than its high (even then) price. Made all the wrong sounds: the shutter was silent but film advance was on a loud/clicky side, basically the least engaging camera to shoot I ever owned. Additionally, the rangefinder kept drifting and needed periodic re-alignment which wasn't nearly as easy to DIY as a Leica, for example.

I sold it and flirted with an idea of switching to Makina, but talked to a few owners who basically said the same thing: too fragile for daily use. I tried to approach a Mamiya 7 but it's too ugly to be in the same room with me, so I abandoned that idea. Recently I acquired a couple of cheap Soviet Moskva and Iskra rangefinders, and they cemented my convinction that if you want light & portable medium format camera, steer clear of folders and get a TLR. The square is the superior format anyway and it's important for any photographer to relaize this before their death.

yeah, I also had a Moskva and Iskra. They basically are shining examples as to why it is worth spending more money on a camera. The Iskra felt like it had lead weights in it. The Moskva was literally painful to use.

 

[MattKing]

6x8 gives you 9 frames

Indeed, it does - and all in one Printfile page. Thanks for the correction.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Siriuously? - Confusing the conversation with a Hassle again? MF SLR's are really in a different category in terms of portability and shooting style. Compare apples to apples, not to watermelons.

 

[Duceman]

Siriuously? - Confusing the conversation with a Hassle again? ...

Yeah, needle stuck in the groove... keeps repeating the same thing.

 

[logan2z]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread.

I do have a Hasselblad and love it, but I find it pretty heavy (with a couple of lenses along for the ride) when taking it on a hike. So I've also been considering a lighter all-mechanical 6x7 MF camera. I'm enamored with the Makina, but not the price or reported reliability issues. I'm going to take a closer look at the Fujicas, one of those might be the ticket.

 

[GregY]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread.

I do have a Hasselblad and love it, but I find it pretty heavy (with a couple of lenses along for the ride) when taking it on a hike. So I've also been considering a lighter all-mechanical 6x7 MF camera. I'm enamored with the Makina, but not the price or reported reliability issues. I'm going to take a closer look at the Fujicas, one of those might be the ticket.

The 670 is much more robust than the 67. Over the years i've had both....the 670 film transport is much improved. Having said that....the meters worked in all mine. They fold up small but they're not light & the 80mm Nikkor is spectacular

 

[Sirius Glass]

Siriuously? - Confusing the conversation with a Hassle again? MF SLR's are really in a different category in terms of portability and shooting style. Compare apples to apples, not to watermelons.

I guess that I need to hold your hand as I walk through this with you. The OP raised the point that one option could cost him $3,000, wlth that kind of money the OP may want to check out buying a Hasselblad. Gee that was not too hard to follow was it? Please let go of my hand now.

 

[Mike Lopez]

I guess that I need to hold your hand as I walk through this with you. The OP raised the point that one option could cost him $3,000, wlth that kind of money the OP may want to check out buying a Hasselblad. Gee that was not too hard to follow was it? Please let go of my hand now.

The OP was quite specific and very clear in asking for recommendations concerning a “lightweight and portable 6x7 film camera.” Hasselblad is not that.

And this is where I would recommend that the OP have a look at the Mamiya 7 or 7II, given his affinity for rangefinders. I had a 7II 20 years ago and really enjoyed it, but rangefinder compositions are no longer my thing.

 

[warden]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread.

I do have a Hasselblad and love it, but I find it pretty heavy (with a couple of lenses along for the ride) when taking it on a hike. So I've also been considering a lighter all-mechanical 6x7 MF camera. I'm enamored with the Makina, but not the price or reported reliability issues. I'm going to take a closer look at the Fujicas, one of those might be the ticket.

Hasselblads are great I agree, but I also agree that long hikes are not their forte. Even with a much improved shoulder strap from Optech I didn’t like long walks with one due to the bulk and tendency to bounce around. Just a personal preference And once you try a long hike with a slim 6x7 the difference is noticeable.

 

[Duceman]

The OP was quite specific and very clear in asking for recommendations concerning a “lightweight and portable 6x7 film camera.” Hasselblad is not that.

No point in raising facts, as they are like water on a duck's back to him.

And this is where I would recommend that the OP have a look at the Mamiya 7 or 7II, given his affinity for rangefinders. I had a 7II 20 years ago and really enjoyed it, but rangefinder compositions are no longer my thing.

I second this. The Mamiya 7ii is by far my most favorite camera.

 

[logan2z]

Hasselblads are great I agree, but I also agree that long hikes are not their forte. Even with a much improved shoulder strap from Optech I didn’t like long walks with one due to the bulk and tendency to bounce around. Just a personal preference And once you try a long hike with a slim 6x7 the difference is noticeable.

I did a 5-hour hike with my 500 C/M and an 80mm CF T* lens a while back. That was a once-and-done experience Next time I'll either compromise on image quality and take a 35mm camera or I'll buy another MF camera that's easier to haul around for long periods.

 

[Paul Howell]

With 3 grand it is possible to get a clean working Mamiya 7 and perhaps one lens (?). Problem is few repair options.

 

[DREW WILEY]

The 6X7 etc rangefinders under discussion are actually more portable easier to shoot handheld if necessary than most 35mm SLR's and DLSR's I see people running around with, along with their predictable bulky zoom lenses. There's nothing non-portable about a Hassie system. Heck, that's a small camera to me - I've hiked perhaps 15,000 miles with a 4x5 Sinar System in the pack, quite a bit with a P67
gear, many times even with 8x10 gear. I have good reasons for all the above. But MF rangefinders, within their given limited lens selection, are especially convenient and portable, and quick to shoot, and deservedly have their own niche.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hasselblads are great I agree, but I also agree that long hikes are not their forte. Even with a much improved shoulder strap from Optech I didn’t like long walks with one due to the bulk and tendency to bounce around. Just a personal preference And once you try a long hike with a slim 6x7 the difference is noticeable.

I carry the Hasselblad and two lenses in a backpack with the SWC. Since the weight in on my back, well balanced, it is not a problem to backpack the camera. But I will also use the same toploading backpack with a Nikon AF for color with a 28mm to 200 AF zoom lens a Nikon AF for black & white with a 28mm to 300mm AF zoom lens and they share a 20mm to 35mm AF zoom lens. I will only carry one 4"x5" camera in a backpack at a time.

 

[logan2z]

There's nothing non-portable about a Hassie system. Heck, that's a small camera to me - I've hiked perhaps 15,000 miles with a 4x5 Sinar System in the pack, quite a bit with a P67
gear, many times even with 8x10 gear.

I've done it but didn't find it enjoyable. Maybe it was the steep terrain that did me in. Or maybe I'm just a wuss.

 

[logan2z]

I carry the Hasselblad and two lenses in a backpack with the SWC. Since the weight in on my back, well balanced, it is not a problem to backpack the camera.

A backpack would have been a better choice. At the time, I only had a shoulder bag for my Hasselblad gear.

 

[Sirius Glass]

A backpack would have been a better choice. At the time, I only had a shoulder bag for my Hasselblad gear.

A shoulder bag for almost any camera worn for a day of walking around photographing or traveling will throw my back off by the end of the day. Even part of the day is not good for my back. That is why I changed to top loading photo back packs years ago.

 

[warden]

I carry the Hasselblad and two lenses in a backpack with the SWC. Since the weight in on my back, well balanced, it is not a problem to backpack the camera. But I will also use the same toploading backpack with a Nikon AF for color with a 28mm to 200 AF zoom lens a Nikon AF for black & white with a 28mm to 300mm AF zoom lens and they share a 20mm to 35mm AF zoom lens. I will only carry one 4"x5" camera in a backpack at a time.

Yeah, in a backpack cameras are just weight I suppose, and in a backpack it’s not such a big deal If the camera is bulky or slim. In my case I carry cameras on a shoulder strap in the city with no backpack usually, so in my case the Hassy is an annoyance to carry. While on the strap the camera hangs lens down, and the distance between the strap anchors is so small that the camera easily twists around in an uncomfortable way while I walk. The 6x7 folders stay put comfortably because the strap anchors are much farther apart preventing that twisting, and since the cameras are quite slim they tuck under the arm without interference, making normal arm movement while walking easy with the camera hanging from the shoulder. They’re both great but if I’m carrying a camera rather than a backpack, I prefer the folder shape.

 

[manfrominternet]

So... someone very kindly offered me their Mamiya 7 with the 65mm, 150mm, and 210mm lenses (with its separate viewfinder) for a grand total of $2k, BUT the internal light meter doesn't work with any of the lenses. Apparently the light meter doesnt work at all.

Do you guys think this is worth it? Despite the light meter not working, I assume most of you would say yes, but I would definitely want to fix the light meter if possible.

Would any of you guys know how much it would cost to fix the light meter in the Mamiya 7 or if its even possible to fix said light meter?

Many thanks!

 

[Duceman]

Truth be told, I don't use the light meter on my Mamiya 7ii all that often. Yes, it would be nice to have, but that's one heckuva deal.... even by decade-ago-standards.

As for repair, give this a try: https://mamiyarepair.com/mamiya-7-body-and-lenses/

Would be nice to know an estimate prior to purchse.

 

[Sirius Glass]

So... someone very kindly offered me their Mamiya 7 with the 65mm, 150mm, and 210mm lenses (with its separate viewfinder) for a grand total of $2k, BUT the internal light meter doesn't work with any of the lenses. Apparently the light meter doesnt work at all.

Do you guys think this is worth it? Despite the light meter not working, I assume most of you would say yes, but I would definitely want to fix the light meter if possible.

Would any of you guys know how much it would cost to fix the light meter in the Mamiya 7 or if its even possible to fix said light meter?

Many thanks!

That is a question of personal convenience which only you can answer.