Fujica G690

The Fujica G690 was the first of a series of medium-format, interchangable-lens, leaf-shutter rangefinder cameras from Fuji Photo Film.

Fujica G690

The Fujica G690, released in 1968, is a 6×9 interchangable-lens, leaf-shutter rangefinder camera. It looks rather like a large Leica, and anyway is designed to be about as close to a 35mm rangefinder camera as a leaf-shutter medium-format film camera can be. It takes 120 film, 220 roll film, or sheet film: roll or sheet is selected by an "R"/"S" switch (which must be set at "S" for dry-firing). The back simply hinges open (there is no separate film back), and in order to change lens in mid-roll one turns a knob to engage an internal curtain.

The coupled rangefinder is integrated with the viewfinder, which shows framelines for the 100mm and 150mm lens. The viewfinder is superior to most other rangefinder cameras (such as Leicas) in moving the projected brightlines not only to adjust for parallax but also to adjust the field of view as the focusing distance changes.

The camera is black, with some silver trim around the view- and rangefinder. On the front is a mark that might be a stylized "P" for "professional" (suggested by the way in which the "P" disappeared on later models marked "Professional" elsewhere).

The camera came equipped with a 100mm f/3.5 lens finished in silver. Other lenses available (all in silver trim), were 65mm, 150mm, and 180mm. Each of the four lenses, and each of the later lenses, works with any of the bodies in this series.

Fujica G690BL

The main improvement of the Fujica G690BL, released in October 1969, was a lock to prevent lens removal unless the curtain was closed. Other substantive changes were a redesigned control for opening and closing the curtain, and an improved lock for the back.

The lenses were now finished in black and the silver trim was removed from the body, marked on the front "BL", where "B" stands for "Black and "B" for "Lock". (Not "Breech Lock", as is sometimes stated: the G690 had just as much of a breech lock as the G690BL.)

In Japan, the G690BL was released as a set with the 100mm lens.

Fujica GL690 Professional

The Fujica GL690 Professional was released in January 1974.

A second shutter button was added on the front for ease when the camera was held vertically.

The sheet film capability was abandoned, while short-roll 120 capability was added. (These films, little known outside Japan, are marketed for six rather than twelve 6×6 exposures, or four exposures with this camera.)

Finder magnification was increased from 84% to 92%.

Cosmietic changes were the addition of "Professional" at the top and the disappearance of the "P"-like mark on the front; and a large white stylized "G" on the top of the lens mount.

The focussing grips on the lenses changed to rubber. A 50mm lens, a faster (f/5.5) 65mm lens, and an autoexposure 100mm f/3.5 lens were released at the same time as the GL690.

In Japan, the GL690 was released as a set with the regular 100mm lens.

Fujica GM670 Professional

The Fujica GM670 Professional was released at the same time as the GL690 (see above). Although for 6×7 exposures, it is just as large as the GL690 and differs only in having a smaller film gate and different gearing and numbering for the film advance mechanism.

In Japan, the GM670 was released as a set with the AE 100mm lens.

Further reading / references

• Koyasu Yoshinobu (子安栄信). "Fuji Shashin Firumu no kamera no subete" (富士写真フィルムのカメラのすべて All the cameras of Fuji Photo Film). In "Fuji Shashin Firumu no kamera" (富士写真フィルムのカメラ The cameras of Fuji Photo Film), no. 44 of Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera no Senka. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1997. ISBN 4-257-13013-X (In Japanese only.) Koyasu deals with these cameras on pp. 68–9.
• Nawa Hidetaka (那和秀峻). Meiki o tazunete: Sengo kokusan-kamera hiwa (名機を訪ねて：戦後国産カメラ秘話) / Revisiting renowned cameras. Tokyo: Nippon-kamera-sha, 2003. ISBN 4-8179-0011-3 (Despite the alternative English title, all in Japanese). Nawa devotes pp.255–71 to the G690 and its successors.

External links

• Fuji Fujica G690BL, by Dante Stella
• Evolutionary History of Fuji 6x7, 6x8 and 6x9 Rangefinders, by Dante Stella
• Fujica G690 (1968-1978) Online Resource
• Illustrated history of the G690 and successors, by Babar de St Cyr (in French)
• GL690 instructions
• Fujica G690 and its successors at Bob Monaghan's site, with much discussion. (The page at first appears to be about the G690 and its immediate successors, but in fact much of it is about the later, fixed-lens cameras.)
• The Fuji Rangefinder Pages (for these and other medium-format Fuji cameras)

In Japanese:

• Fujica G690BL at Aya's Camera
• Fujica G690BL repair (in Japanese)
• Fujica G690(BL) rangefinder repair (in Japanese)