FUJI GW680iii | 6x8 Medium Format | 'Not Quite The Texas Leica'

Do I really need 6x9? Will 6x8 satisfy my hunger for the (almost) largest medium format?
Another Fuji GW series review.
or 'Not quite the Texas Leica'
...or 'The Montana Leica'

Fuji GW680iii
Kentmere 400

[RobbieMaynardCreates]

This is a really well done video, Gareth! Im glad to hear you're enjoying the GW. Its a magnificent camera

[jw]

FYI - the roll counter is worthless in terms of determining age, because it can be reset in under 10 minutes if you know what you're doing. It was meant as a maintenance indicator. These cameras were designed for contact printing, large volume stuff for things like IDs and such, before the age of computers, or other snapshot use cases that required super fast turnaround. Cruise ship on-shore snapshot is another use case seen mentioned, other fast turnaround snapshots. When the thing hits 999, it needs serviced, or at least, that's the idea. The film counter on these GWs and the mechanical Fujica 645s are the reason they sound "twangy". If you pick up and shoot a GL690 or GM670, those don't have a film counter, and they're dang near silent.

[michaelappleyard]

Great video. Happy to say, I just joined the "Texas" brigade with the purchase of a GL690 plus the 65, 100 and 180mm lenses. All are in mint or very nearly mint condition. In spite of the comical size of everything, it is surprisingly usable and the rangefinder seems accurate with all three lenses. The lenses themselves are excellent - sharp edge to edge and with no noticeable chromatic aberation. The in-lens shutters are very quiet and entirely smooth, as is the actual shutter button action. This, combined with the weight (around 2 kg with a lens fitted), practically means that it has IBIS though, in this case, that stands for Inertia Based Image Stabilisation! So far I have not seen camera shake in any if my shots. Using a 200 ISO colour film, the 6 x 9 format gives a resolution equivalent to around 22 megapixels digital, compared with 4 mp with the 35mm format, so the image quality is sublime by comparison. I actually like having only 8 shots per roll since, unlike with 35mm, one is not hunting round for pictures to take at the end of the day just so as to use up the rest of a 36 frame film before it be taken out for processing.

[thebitterfig]

At the local camera store the other day, there was the 6x9 version behind the counter. You hear that these are big, but it’s kinda different to see them in person.

[jackthompson]

I have the 6x7 version. Picture quality can’t be beat. Sometimes use it on tripod with infrared film and a R72 red filter. Because it is a rangefinder you are not looking through the lens so the opaque filter is no problem.

[ADHDIYuk]

I have a GW690, I took it to New York a few years ago. Great camera

[jorgenudvang]

Very nice video. I always wanted one of those, but ended buying a GX680 III, a totally different beast. Might try to find a one still, since the GW is much more portable.

[wotajared]

Have had a GW690III for almost a decade now, phew. Sometimes I wish it were more compact, heh, but for the format it's awesome. The 6x8 version quite makes some sense nowadays with better fit to paper and an extra frame a roll. 2:20 I have heard more issues with 6x7 needing oversize, never handled 6x8 but perhaps 120 files of 3 vertical strips of 3 frames would do the trick?
The counter is just annoying because its mechanism is what creates the ping. Come on, Hasselblads and other pro cameras might have been put to heavier use and nobody stresses so much the shutter service. IMO the Fujis have been very solid in use.
And being 6x9, it contains multiple formats by cropping. I just got used to its 40mm equivalent and haven't really needed anything else.

[randallstewart]

These cameras came in 6x7 (670) - 10 frames; 6x8 (680) - 9 frames; and 6x9 (690 - eight frames. When printing 35mm frames from their 2:3 image ratio, I always found myself cropping off some of the longer side, a waste of film, really. So when I looked at the big Fujis, and already having a 6x7 Pentax system, I planned on getting the GW680. Also, because of its uncommon image ratio, they tended to be a bit cheaper than the GW690. However, I never could get by the fixed lens limitation, and being concerned that, for me, it would become an unused dust catcher, I never did buy one.

[LoFiAxolotl]

Never shot Kentmere 400... but it definitely has an interesting look to it! Personally i prefer the plastic version.... the older versions are freaking heavy....

[juniornlondock]

Dope vid. was wondering if the little thing on the horseshoe was a flash?

[lindsaywebb]

Anyone have an idea how reliable or serviceable the rangfinder is?

[jasosik]

shutter count can be lying to you. when you hit 999 it will start again from 0.