02-24-2008
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#6
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Registered User
kuzano is offline
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,634
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At the risk of buying a very expensive camera???
Read this text from the Camerapedia site:
Fuji had brought out a (nominally) 6×8 camera in 1986, the GX680 professional studio SLR. Perhaps for the Japanese market only, it brought out 6×8 versions of these rangefinder cameras: the Fuji GW680III Professional and Fuji GSW680III Professional in March and November 1992 respectively. Like the 6×7 models, these differ from the 6×9 models only in having a smaller film gate and different gearing and numbering for the film advance mechanism: the dimensions and weights are the same as for the 6×9 models, and in Japan the prices were too.
If you find a GSW680, because of it's limited production, you are probably going to have to pay a premium price. If the only differences (and it makes sense to me) is that a GSW680III is simply a GSW690III with a smaller film gate (1/2 cm on each end), different gearing (which is doubtful) and slightly smaller frame lines (maybe), then why not just buy a GSW690III and modify the film gate.
There are a ton more 690III's out there, plus you can also look at the 690II. In fact, if I wanted to shoot 6X8, I could do so with my G690bl and interchangable lenses, whereby I have the choice of 100mm or the 65mm.
I don't think the gearing is a big issue, since I doubt you will get an extra frame by going from 6X9 down to 6X8... if so, only on 220 film.
The frame lines may be an issue, but I suspect not very big.
Just letting out some ideas here. You may never see a GSW680 on this side of the pond again, so why give up the opportunity to shoot in the meantime. In the last few days I have seen no fewer than 4 GSW690 variants on eBay. Never seen a GSW680 on eBay ever.
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