Fuji 6x9 Rangefinder

[Paul Lange]

Has anyone experience of these cameras?

I am thinking of buying one and have searched the internet which seems to throw up positive reviews. Just wondered if anyone here has used one.

 

[Brian Moore]

Not the same I know but I had a 6x7 for a very short while, Paul. Bought it from KEH. When it arrived I was dismayed by the fact that the back door was rusting so I returned it quickly. I shot one roll with it. The camera seemed massive to me. I think @Chris Dodkin may have one.

 

[Paul Lange]

Thanks Brian. I think the 690s are fairly big too. Just wondered if they have any common faults. Pete had a 670 and I think he mentioned that the winding mechanism is prone to problems. I have a GS645S and apparently it is reliable but potentially quite easy to break the lens from its mounts.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I have a couple of Fuji 6x9s Paul - love 'em

fixed lenses, no metering, nothing much to go wrong

Like a big rangefinder - they are known as Texas Rangefinders

IQ is superb - 8 frames per roll

Some sample images using various 120 films here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dodkin/sets/72157631701622868/

 

[Pete Askew]

Or even Texas Leicas!

You're right Paul, I have a folding 6x7 / 6x6 from Fuji / Voigtländer. Mine needed to go back to Fuji to have the winding sorted (uneven frames, sometimes overlapping) and inaccurate rangefinder re-calibrated. Build quality not as good as you'd expect for the price but the option of 6x6 was attractive. Haven't used it since the repair but should as it a nice, compact travel camera.

 

[Paul Lange]

Looks like a safe bet then.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

There is an early model with interchangeable lenses Paul, but my personal choice was to go with a later models and fixed lenses.

You get two focal length options - 65mm (28mm equiv on 35mm) and 90mm (44m Equiv on 35mm)

There is a counter on the bottom plate of the camera which indicates the number of shutter actuations. It counts 1 for every 10 frames taken, so a counter showing 150, has taken 1500 frames.

Fuji recommend a shutter service when the counter reaches 500, and a winder service when the counter reaches 9999.

A complete camera should come with rubber eye cup, lens cap and strap. The lens hood is built-in to the lens barrel, and should be present!

As mentioned, you'll need some form of external light meter - but once exposure is set, I've found it easy to walk around and shoot with the camera, as long as the lighting does't change.

People don't quite know how to react when you point one of these at them - it's so big!

 

[Paul Lange]

Thanks Chris. I do have a small Sekonic lightmeter that I could use and also a lightmeter app on my mobile that actually seems to work accurately - I was amazed. I have earmarked a few possibles on ebay but it would be nice to buy from somewhere where I could see it first in the flesh as it were. I think either a mark II or a III would do me but not sure on focal length. I did see a few mark Is but they had been extensively used.