Fuji GW690 111?

Simon Larbalestier · 03-03-2005

Hello
does anyone know where i might be able to find a good condition Fuji GW690 mark 3 model with 90mm lens?
Also i'm willing to part exchange my Mamiya 6MF with 75mm and 50mm lenses against it.
Many thanks

Simon Larbalestier

rover · 03-03-2005

Simon, I see them semi regularly on ebay and at KEH.com. Generally though, I think those who have these tend to hang onto them. With a super sharp lens and the huge 6x9 negative I would hang onto it if I had one too.

Nick R. · 03-03-2005

Why are you getting rid of your Mamiya? I ask because I have a Fuji gw670 II and was thinking of getting the Mamiya as a carry around.

Doug · 03-03-2005

Nick, is that big Fuji simply too big and heavy to carry casually & comfortably? I have packed around a Pentax 6x7, and don't think it's all that bad, but you surely do have to be dedicated and serious about carrying the big camera! By comparison, the Fuji and even Bronica 645 rigs are small and feather-light! Not pocket cameras, of course, but easy to sling over a shoulder all day. Probably rather like the Mamiya 6...

Nick R. · 03-03-2005

Doug,
Are you trying to drive a stake in my GAS attack? I love the Fuji. It's the only camera I have that I don't have to worry about damaging when I carry it, instead it damages things.

Small and feather-light, eh? They must grow'em big out in Eastern Washington State.

pshinkaw · 03-03-2005

I've wanted one of those Fujica's for years. When the original interchageable lens models were discontinued back in the 70's, they were being sold for as little as $150 new. That's when I could only afford a $50 camera.
One of these days...

-Paul

Simon Larbalestier · 03-03-2005

simple really - i mainly use my Plaubel 670's which are the most portable and have a 10 degree spot meter and Nikon 2.8 lens. The mamiya's 6MF and 7ii were bought as back ups. The M6 MF is very small as the lens collapses into the body the M7ii has a great viewfinder, ergonmics on both are superb but i still prefer the Plaubels despite them being prone to breakdown. I also use the Fuji BL690 with the interchangable lenses (the 180mm is a superb landscape lens) -but it's very heavy as a travel camera so i'm looking for the mark 111 fuji 690.
I checked KEH, Adorama and all the usual places in the UK but no luck :-(
Simon

bmattock · 03-03-2005

I have the G690 with 100mm lens and 180mm lens. It has what I am told is a common problem - you fire the shutter and the winder doesn't think you did. When it first started, I could 'fix' it by holding down the shutter hard while beginning the wind - but then that stopped and now you have to hold the shutter down all the way through the wind - which eventually trips the shuter again and you have a double exposure.

Need to get it fixed - it is an awesome camera with awesome glass. I'd like to get it done before summer fun starts. Who's the best for that, anybody know?

Thanks,

Bill Mattocks

Doug · 03-03-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

Nick, is that big Fuji simply too big and heavy to carry casually & comfortably? I have packed around a Pentax 6x7, and don't think it's all that bad, but you surely do have to be dedicated and serious about carrying the big camera! By comparison, the Fuji and even Bronica 645 rigs are small and feather-light! Not pocket cameras, of course, but easy to sling over a shoulder all day. Probably rather like the Mamiya 6...

Nick, it seems I phrased my comment in such a poor way that I called your huge Fuji "small and feather light"! Not at all... I was referring to the Fuji 645 and Bronica 645 rangefinder cameras, light by comparision with the big Pentax 67. I've not handled a Fuji 670 or 690 to know, which is why I asked if it was simply too big and heavy to carry around easily... Thus creating your desire for the smaller Mamiya 6 which is presumably more along the size/weight lines of the 645 cameras? Sorry for the confusion.

Nick R. · 03-04-2005

Ah, my mistake.
The Fuji is big enough to make a Yashica GSN look small by comparison. But that's not so bad in itself because I find that when I resign myself to carry it I don't think so much about the size and weight. It's well balanced and handles nicely. And when I'm shooting outdoors, I carry a tripod anyway, so size is not such a big deal. But, I thought that the small size of the Mamiya 6 or other small MF camera would let me use 120 film for intimate gatherings and snapshot-like photos (and make me more inclined to bring it). You see, the Fuji is the kind of camera that causes people to say "Wow, that's some camera!" I'm thinking that the Mam. 6 or another like it would tend make people less self-conscious.

Doug · 03-04-2005

Yes, there's that "wow" factor with the big Pentax too! If you're not fastened onto the interchangeable lens feature, I'd suggest the little Fuji GS645S is economical, and extremely "small and featherlight"!

Its most visible oddity is the cow-catcher or 'roo-guard protecting the lens from bumps, and the shutter does make a "clack" noise when tripped. But it's otherwise inconspicous, there is a built-in meter, the 60mm lens is marvelous... and one advantage over any interchangeable-lens RF is that the VF framelines shrink and expand to adjust field size as you focus, in addition to the usual parallax correction of course.

Nick R. · 03-04-2005

Yes, the 645 size looks very tempting. The Fuji's and the Bronica RF look like nice solid cameras and the price difference from the Mamiyas is immense. I'm not married to the idea of interchangeable lenses, but the fact that the Mamiya's collapse looks appealing. Maybe the Fuji folder?
There's a camera show near me in a couple of weeks. I'll try and handle any I come across in person.

Simon Larbalestier · 03-04-2005

I'm selling my mamiya 6MF with 75 and 50mm lenses and a 35 panaramic adapter (i never used it) $650 USD + shipping. It is certainly small when collapsed with the lens inside. I had the early Fuji 645 folder with 75mm 14 years ago and from my experience with making big prints 19" x 19" b/w's the mamiya lenses seemed much sharper than the fuji 645. However lens performance is a subjective matter really when it comes to viewing images - its the content of the image that counts for me and how the camera feels when being used. Mamiya 6MF has a good hand grip like its newer 7ii version same black non slip rubbery finish too.

Simon

Simon Larbalestier · 03-24-2005

Just to let you know i did find a mint condition GW690III and i have now sold my Mamiya 6MF and 7ii cameras.

Simon

Nick R. · 03-25-2005

Please post some images taken with the camera when you can.

Simon Larbalestier · 03-25-2005

Nick that will be a while as I shoot in Cambodia mainly and then process and print myself back in the UK. Right now i'm back in the UK I do have several images shot with the very first version the Fujica BLG690 with 100mm and 180mm lenses (i just don't know how to up load them on this site so far i have got as burning them on a CD). However they are on my website under the portfolio "new work" and are images # 16,31,34,35 and 36. #16 was shot with the 100mm at F3.5 the others were with the 180mm.
Simon

Walter_Ai · 06-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Larby

Hello
does anyone know where i might be able to find a good condition Fuji GW690 mark 3 model with 90mm lens?
Also i'm willing to part exchange my Mamiya 6MF with 75mm and 50mm lenses against it.
Many thanks

Simon Larbalestier

If you still happen to be interested in a GSW690III there has been one available on ebay for 2 hours now. Prima vista I find it has even an affordable buy now price - if I compare it to all GSW models sold during the past 12 months. Good luck.