Anyone using a Fuji Klasse?

[Steve Boykin]

I had a garage sale last weekend and raised enough money to buy a Klasse S after some haggling with the Ebay seller. He listed it as "Minty." After I bought it I asked him if it was Pepperminty or Spearminty. I don't think he was amused. Anyway, if anyone has used one of these and has some suggestions/advice I would appreciate it.

 

[Brian Moore]

I think Hamish has one, Steve.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Hamish talks about it on his blog: Fuji Klasse W – Comments on Exposure and Focusing

 

[Hamish Gill]

Other than me?
Yeah, I have one ...
Here are all the posts that contain info on the klasse klasse w
I may be able to answer specifics if you have any

 

[Steve Boykin]

Other than me?
Yeah, I have one ...
Here are all the posts that contain info on the klasse klasse w
I may be able to answer specifics if you have any

I'm reading the first entry now. I'm very confused but I will keep pounding it in my head until I understand it. [banghead]

I guess here's my question (which you probably answer on your site). Do you like the lens on the camera?

Well it's coming from Japan so it will be a few days before I have it. I do think I would be using Aperture Priority not the program mode. I like choosing the aperture. I looked at it and the GR1. I primarily choose the Fuji because well it was cheaper (the GR1's were very expensive on Ebay). I think the shutter speed at max aperture was 500 or something like that as opposed to 200 something on the GR1. I got that off the internet so I'm probably wrong. I only take pictures outdoors so I figured that would help. Plus I guess I've just been so happy with the X100/X Pro. Brand loyalty...sigh...

I will definitely have some questions. I am taking a course at the college where I work in photography this fall. It's all B/W. We have a very nice darkroom so I'm looking forward to learning how to A) actually take a good B/W picture and B) how to develop print. I think A is going to be far more challenging than B.

I do have a Nikon FM2 which I got for really cheap $63 + shipping and it works fine and a Sears M42 camera which I will be using for the class also.

Apologies for the run on sentences.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I love the lens, I've heard comment that it doesn't quite have the same "pop" as the GR1, especially when it comes to b&w. I think I agree, but I don't see that as an issue. Im not sure it quite has the character of the gr1 lens if that makes sense? but thats not to its detriment! to my eye, its an all round excelent lens! I expect under close scrutiny it would be possible to find fault with it, but day to day shooting I don't notice any issues with it at all! Lovely and sharp, and no visible nasties.
I haven't finished my review yet, I'm going to run a load more films through it first to make sure I am dead certain of how I feel about it, but for now, excluding the reservations I have mentioned in post about exposure and focusing, I'm very happy!
If you are confusd by what I say in that post, in summary, it's not great for low light as it doesn't meter below 4ev. And it does suffer a little from shutter lag. But once your out shooting you don't really notice. And for the sort of photography you do, these things just won't impact on you at all!

Do bare in mind though, my comments are based on the 'W' ... I can't see there would be any difference ... Apart from of course the lens!

- - - Updated - - -

The fm2 is a great camera for when you really want to get back to basics! I think that will play a big part in your course!

 

[Steve Boykin]

Hamish- THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Based on what I have seen on the internet I really wanted the GR but a I got a bit scared by the LCD problems and they were just going for so much. I got the S for $325 + free shipping. It had the box, hood, ect so I think I got a good deal. I just couldn't afford $500+ the GR1's were going for. I raised a little over $400 on my garage sale so I just couldn't make it. Plus I already went over budget on the other stuff.

This is kind of addictive. There is a beat up looking Spotmatic at a Thrift Store downtown. They are holding it for me. The shutter sounded good. It's just got some dents and dings on it. It has a Sears 28mm lens on it which looks good. I ordered a battery which I hope will show up on Monday or Tuesday. If the meter works I'm going to try and get it. They want $25 for it.

Do you have any suggestions on a cheap light meter? I guess that's something you can't really cheap out on though.

 

[Hamish Gill]

It seems the GR1v's are the ones that really demand the money, I will buy one one day, but like you say they are not cheap, and I definitely agree with your concerns. I bought a silver 'v' that had a duff screen. It was then that I was turned on to idea of the klasse.
You can get plain GR1's in silver for about £100-£150 if you are persistent. Or if you are lucky and don't mind doing a bit of a repaire job (like me), cheaper still! Sometimes it's nice to have something a bit newer though eh?

lightmeter... Weston master v, iv or euro master. The master V is a think of beauty and can be had for £35-£50. Look fr one with an 'invacone' for incident readings. The cone should be pearly white, I have seen some look a little yellow, that's not right!

... Just found this

Weston Master V Light meter For Sale

im very tempted my self!

 

[Steve Boykin]

It seems the GR1v's are the ones that really demand the money, I will buy one one day, but like you say they are not cheap, and I definitely agree with your concerns. I bought a silver 'v' that had a duff screen. It was then that I was turned on to idea of the klasse.
You can get plain GR1's in silver for about £100-£150 if you are persistent. Or if you are lucky and don't mind doing a bit of a repaire job (like me), cheaper still! Sometimes it's nice to have something a bit newer though eh?

lightmeter... Weston master v, iv or euro master. The master V is a think of beauty and can be had for £35-£50. Look fr one with an 'invacone' for incident readings. The cone should be pearly white, I have seen some look a little yellow, that's not right!

... Just found this

Weston Master V Light meter For Sale

im very tempted my self!

Wow that is tempting but perhaps a bit out of my price range at the moment. I am going to think about it. It's probably better to spend a bit more on something like this than roll the dice on Ebay though.

Do you think there is that much difference between the lenses on the GR and the Klasse? Since I shoot outdoors exclusively I was really worried about the shutter speed. The reason I am asking is I could see myself getting the W if I like the S. I told my parents when I was taking them shopping this weekend that could be my birthday/Xmas for the next two years. Dad said OK, but I need to make sure I really want it. I really want to be able to at least go 500 wide open.

 

[Hamish Gill]

If I had a klasse S, I'd buy a Ricoh to compliment it. The max shutter speed is 1/500 at 2.8 on both cameras. Te fuji can go to 1/1000th at f16 I think ... I just used slower film on holiday.

The lenses are different, the Ricoh is probably a touch less perfect, it vignettes a little and the results tend to look more contrasty.

If you can afford a Ricoh to go along side the fuji ... I'd do that!