Fuji MF?

[Brian Moore]

I have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.

KEH has a GL690 and a GM670 for sale. Both come with the 100mm lens.

I could also get a Mamiya 7. Body only, though; I'd have to save my pennies up for a lens.

I know some of you have shot one or the other (Fuji or Mamiya) and perhaps one or two of have shot both. I've been shooting my friend's Mamiya 7 lately. Love it!

Any thoughts you would care to pass along would be appreciated.

(I haven't looked at E-bay at all yet.)

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I have a couple of the later 6x9 Fujis Brian, the GW690II and the GSW690II

Rangefinder design - very easy to shoot with - no separate film backs

IQ is excellent - totally manual cameras, no metering at all.

The GL690 is an earlier model with interchangeable lenses - although i believe there may be just two lenses available?

Build quality is excellent - built like a tank in fact - metal rather than plastic

But probably less lenses to choose from than the Mamiya?

Fuji went on to make lenses for the Blad H series and replace Zeiss, so I wouldn't have any qualms about the optics

But Mamiya is legendary IQ - tough call

If you want to get together and have a play with the 6x9s, let me know.

 

[Pete Askew]

I've no experience with the Fujis Brian but they certainly look to be bargains compared with the Mamiya. One the plus side most of the lenses have mechanical shutters whereas the Mamiya is controlled electronically (and won't function without a battery) but on the negative side, they are twice the weight! Interesting though.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Chris and Pete for the responses.

Chris: We still need to have that get-together anyway, regardless of the Fuji issue. Maybe we can rope Mr. Bradley into the soiree? Or Nihat. Or both!

Lenses: I like the idea of interchangeable lenses in the earlier cameras. I have since found out that there are at least 5 focal lengths available: 50, 65 (2 versions), 100 (3 versions), 150 (2 versions) and 180 (2 versions). One website alluded to a (perhaps mythical) 250, and KEH appears to have an 80 for sale. So maybe as many as 7 focal lengths.

Pete: I don't mind a heavy camera so much. I'll carry my C33 around all day long without any bother. I also like the purely mechanical functionality.

Thanks again for the responses.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I'm up for it - Darren & Nihat?

Didn't know the lens range was that extensive - makes it a very attractive proposition

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Brian,

Mamiya has not failed me in 11 years I used, and all were mint used. In fact got 65mm from KEH. 800 gr body lighter and smaller than many DSLRs. Don't know anything about Fujis. But if you like 1x1.5 ratio rather than 1x1.25 (Mamiya), that could be an important factor. The other question is how much of a lens changer are you? If you choose Mamiya, 65mm is a good start (personal choice), and I use 80mm the least and 43mm the most. 43 is an amazing lens with external viewfinder. I do not recommend 150mm and 210mm.

I am for it as I suggested to meet some time ago. It'll be fun.

- - - Updated - - -

When, where,
and I be there.

 

[Brian Moore]

Brian,

Mamiya has not failed me in 11 years I used, and all were mint used. In fact got 65mm from KEH. 800 gr body lighter and smaller than many DSLRs. Don't know anything about Fujis. But if you like 1x1.5 ratio rather than 1x1.25 (Mamiya), that could be an important factor. The other question is how much of a lens changer are you? If you choose Mamiya, 65mm is a good start (personal choice), and I use 80mm the least and 43mm the most. 43 is an amazing lens with external viewfinder. I do not recommend 150mm and 210mm.

I am for it as I suggested to meet some time ago. It'll be fun.

- - - Updated - - -

When, where,
and I be there.

Thank for the response and advice Nihat.


Meet up: Chris is in SD. So's Darren, if he can join us. You're in Ventura County somewhere,...is that right, Nihat? I'm not quite in the middle--wait, maybe I am--but I don't mind going south or north.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Thank for the response and advice Nihat.


Meet up: Chris is in SD. So's Darren, if he can join us. You're in Ventura County somewhere,...is that right, Nihat? I'm not quite in the middle--wait, maybe I am--but I don't mind going south or north.

Brian, I can drive about 80-90 miles south to Newport Beach - Laguna Beach area or anywhere around you guys have interest in. That'd be the just way to Chris and Darren coming from SD.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Change of plan: you should all come to Edinburgh! We have clouds

 

[Hamish Gill]

Or Worcester and rock a bit of the birthplace of RPF!

if probably go for the mamiya Brian ... Something about the 645 format seems to suit your style IMO

 

[Pete Askew]

Except it's 6x7!

 

[Larry Bolch]

Or Edmonton—gorgeous summer—and I have loads of MF equipment to play with—Graflex, Linhof, Plaubel, Zeiss, Bronica...

Great scenery when you get here, and fantastic scenery on the way—from anywhere in the world.

A fridge loaded with somewhat ancient film, but all of it frozen. Craft brews world-wide. Constant festivals until the snow flies.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Erm yeah ... Stupid me!
Similar aspect ratio though ...

Ill start again ...

id go for either the mamiya 7 or a 670, the 67 format seems to suit your style

 

[Brian Moore]

Or Worcester and rock a bit of the birthplace of RPF!

if probably go for the mamiya Brian ... Something about the 645 format seems to suit your style IMO

I don't actually like 645 Hamish. (I do like 6x6, 6x7, 6x9 etc.) I'll explain when I get to Worcester!

- - - Updated - - -

Or Edmonton—gorgeous summer—and I have loads of MF equipment to play with—Graflex, Linhof, Plaubel, Zeiss, Bronica...

Great scenery when you get here, and fantastic scenery on the way—from anywhere in the world.

A fridge loaded with somewhat ancient film, but all of it frozen. Craft brews world-wide. Constant festivals until the snow flies.

Very very very tempting, Larry!

- - - Updated - - -

Erm yeah ... Stupid me!
Similar aspect ratio though ...

Ill start again ...

id go for either the mamiya 7 or a 670, the 67 format seems to suit your style

I must admit I do find myself partial (I think) to the 6x7 format over the various other 120 film configurations.

Thanks, Hamish.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I knew what I meant ...
I was thinking of the last bunch of shots I have seen of yours, the one of the runner I commented on in Flickr, the grainy one ... There was one of a nice angle of a building ... Another compile too ... All of them I thought "he has nailed that format" ... So what ever format it is, and what ever camera gets you to it, I think you should stick with it!

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, Hamish. (By "runner" perhaps you mean the fotie of Levitated Mass with the wee lassie running towards me?) Anyway, I appreciate your comments, Hamish. Thank you.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Yeah, that's the one ... Although I saw the "wee lassie" as the subject