Thinking of picking up a gf670 for editorial work

[emraphoto]

Any folks with a bit of mileage on theirs care to comment on durability?

[keytarjunkie]

I don't have one, I think it looks like a really nice camera but I went for a Mamiya 7 instead. If I were you, I would look at both of these cameras. The Fuji is more compact but I can't think of any other reason to buy it over the Mamiya.

[emraphoto]

Not a fan of the 7. Love the lenses but the body is fragile in my opinion. Worked one into the dirt really fast and it left a ba taste in my mouth.

[ssmc]

Okay first up I don't own a GF670, but the reason why I reluctantly passed may be relevant to you: for color work I love my DSLRs, but for B&W, film RULES. However, when I shoot B&W it's almost invariably with a filter like a Hoya G or a B+W 040. The deal-breaker for me wrt the GF670 is that you cannot close it with any kind of filter in place (completely inexplicable IMO - why could they not have shaped the front cover a bit differently to allow this???), which means either leaving it open all the time, somewhat defeating the purpose of a folder in the first place, or removing the filter every time you close it. Either one is not an option I think I could live with. However if you shoot color then ignore everything I just wrote ;)

On the other hand the new GF670W with a fixed 28mm equivalent lens looks great. I am waiting for the Fuji version to become available in the US and am keeping my fingers crossed that the price is proportionately in-line with the folder...

[thegman]

I believe from ultra thin filters can be fitted, and the lens can still be folded, you'd need to check though, and of course, be very careful.

I have only a little experience of the GF670, and I must say, I loved it. I have somewhat more experience of the Mamiya 7, and I prefer the GF670 in every way except that the lens is not my ideal focal length.

The GF670 is more portable than the Mamiya 7, and fits easily in a manbag. The Mamiya is more flexible if you want more focal lengths, but for an easy to carry around 6x7, I think the GF670 is the one to beat.

[netoga]

I have used my GF670 for 14 months.
I didn´t have any mechanical or electrical problem if that is what you are asking. Maybe you could refine your question about what aspect of durability are you concerned about.
It is not a robust camera, since it has bellows which could be damaged if pushed or pulled. But if you care about that, then it is going to last a long time in my opinion.

[t.s.k.]

...it left a ba taste in my mouth.

You're not suppose to chew - just swallow :)

Gosh, if you beat an M-7 to the ground, I hardly think a folder, any folder, would fare any better with the same treatment.
(Sorry, another IMHO from a gf670 NON-owner)

[filmfan]

Plaubel Makina 6x7 is an option. Very portable. I used one once and it is tremendous, but maybe not the most durable thing out there.

[Jamie123]

I had one (a Bessa III) for over a year. It's a nice camera but if the Mamiya 7 is too fragile for you then a GF670 will seem to you like it's made of cotton candy. You're probably better off with a couple of Mamiyas so you have backup instead one fails.

[emraphoto]

You're not suppose to chew - just swallow :)

Gosh, if you beat an M-7 to the ground, I hardly think a folder, any folder, would fare any better with the same treatment.
(Sorry, another IMHO from a gf670 NON-owner)

the Mamiya 7 could handle the elements and such it just didn't handle my mistreatment very well. the strength in the 670, in my opinion, is it's portability. if the bellows were constantly open it would be a no go for me. the Mamiya 7 is a bit of a beast and thus suffers being tossed about on the back of a motorcycle taxi:) i have a 'no check the luggage' rule and things get banged about unfortunately.

i am primarily interested in shooting color so the b+w filter issue wouldn't bother me. a good point though!

[emraphoto]

I had one (a Bessa III) for over a year. It's a nice camera but if the Mamiya 7 is too fragile for you then a GF670 will seem to you like it's made of cotton candy. You're probably better off with a couple of Mamiyas so you have backup instead one fails.

mamiya 7 is too much space taken up. i really am a lazy fella. the less the better.

[Frank Version Two]

If the new Fuji 67 folder isn't tough enough, then another option would be to go cheap and use older folders or perhaps those 1980s Fuji 645s that were compact and decent.

Typical three options, pick two: quality, size, price... plus toughness for a fourth impossible factor lol.

[Jamie123]

the Mamiya 7 is a bit of a beast and thus suffers being tossed about on the back of a motorcycle taxi:) i have a 'no check the luggage' rule and things get banged about unfortunately.



When i say the GF670 isn't exactly rugged, I don't mean just when the bellows is extended. I wouldn't bang it around when it's folded, either. It's just not really an 'action' type camera.

[emraphoto]

Thanx Jamie. That's the sort of info i am looking for.

I suppose a rollei might fit the bill. Still, shot with one of those 670's a month ago and man, very fluid experience.

[Peter Wijninga]

I asked and looked around: people are concerned with the longevity of the bellows in tropical -humid conditions -mold.

[emraphoto]

Yeah, mold? Not good.

[hausen]

I really love my GF670. It certainly feels like it needs to be treated nicely when extended but fits so easily in the bag it's a a concession worth making to me. I was more concerned with fallibility of my Mamiya 6 than I am with the Fuji. VF and meter are both significantly better than my Mamiya 6 as well. If you want something hardier maybe you should look at the Wide version?

[Matus]

I would say - it you want a camera that is more rugged - get a Rolleiflex. Even that one is not a hammer, but does not have a rangefinder which is a rather fine mechanical device. The GF670 is flatter when folded - but not really small (6.5 cm thick if I recall properly - the Mamiya 6 with 75/3.5 lens collapsed is about 7.5 cm)

[Turtle]

with the Rollei one has to be careful not to bash about the double lens panel area or it can become misaligned against the film. his can be reduced by racking the focus all the way back so it is not extended. Personally I would be wary of a TLR for your purposes John. The Bronica RF645 might be tougher than the Mamiya 7 but it has gear transport issues and with hard use is probably not the best bet.

If you ant 55mm, the wide angle version of the Fuji folder makes sense, tho it is not a folder. Still, smaller than a mamiya 7 with 50mm attached it seems. As for solidity, I cannot comment.

[kzphoto]

I owned a Rollei 3.5F for the better part of 10 years. It was a great shooter but it needed many repairs. Those repairs add up quickly, often costing more than the camera is worth.

I'd go for the new Fuji because it has a warranty.

The Rollei did have a great lens though. :)

[jbielikowski]

i know its too big, but gw670 fit the bill...

[meandihagee]

I played around with a Bessa III, not really sturdy and not really small, even folded. However, I'm sure I could carry one all day in my coat pocket or even on my shoulder.

A positive vote from me for the Fuji GA645 series, pretty freakin portable for a wide MF, fits nice in your hand, lightweight and really robust.

I would buy the GS645 folder, but it's kinda complicated because of the bellows that need to be replaced. So I'm saving up for the Bessa III...

[sepiareverb]

The GF670 wide might be a more robust option as it doesn't fold; but then it doesn't fold. I'm quite intrigued by these two bodies, the aperture priority mode on a 6x6 body has a lot of appeal for me. But I've had less that great luck with the Fuji 645 lenses. The original folder had a good lens, but both the other 645 bodies I shot (the zoom and the GA) had lenses that left a lot to be desired. Just been printing from some of these negatives last week and it has really made me think twice about diving into the GF.

[furcafe]

I 2nd this opinion. The GF670 isn't the most fragile camera, but it's definitely not intended for rough use. For that kind of usage, I think the newer wide-angle version (non-folding) would be a better fit or a non-metered GW670III or GW690III, though then you lose the portability.

When i say the GF670 isn't exactly rugged, I don't mean just when the bellows is extended. I wouldn't bang it around when it's folded, either. It's just not really an 'action' type camera.

[chrishayton]

I own a Mamiya 7 and compared to my M or my Nikon D3 is feels a bit fragile however the one thing that sticks with me from handling the Fuji/Bessa III is that it feels very fragile. The build works for the Leica size Bessa's but that build quality scaled up in size just didn't seem enough. Id still quite like one but not as a workhorse.