Difference between revisions of "Fujifilm GF670"

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|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/bawtrees/3794103933/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/3794103933_4491299df6.jpg]<br/><small>image by {{image author|bawtrees}}</small> {{with permission}}
 
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The '''Fujifilm GF670''' or '''Voigtländer Bessa III''' is a folding camera taking 6×6cm or 6×7cm exposures on [[120 film|120 or 220 film]], jointly developed by [[Fuji|Fujifilm]] and [[Cosina]].<REF> Jointly developed by Fujifilm and Cosina: [http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2008/pdf/release/overview_e.pdf Photokina 2008 overview release] in the [http://www.fujifilm.com/ Fujifilm official website]. </REF>
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The '''Fujifilm GF670''' or '''Voigtländer Bessa III''' is a folding camera taking 6×6cm or 6×7cm exposures on [[120 film|120 or 220 film]], jointly developed by [[Fuji|Fujifilm]] and [[Cosina]].<REF> Jointly developed by Fujifilm and Cosina: [https://web.archive.org/web/20080920160945/http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2008/pdf/release/overview_e.pdf Photokina 2008 overview release] (archived) in the [http://www.fujifilm.com/ Fujifilm official website]. </REF>
  
 
== Public display ==
 
== Public display ==
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At about the time of the Photo and Imaging Expo (Tokyo, March 2008), Fujifilm said that the camera would be put on the market by the end of the year.<REF> "2008 PIE ripōto!", {{ACA}} May 2008, pp.168–71. </REF>
 
At about the time of the Photo and Imaging Expo (Tokyo, March 2008), Fujifilm said that the camera would be put on the market by the end of the year.<REF> "2008 PIE ripōto!", {{ACA}} May 2008, pp.168–71. </REF>
  
At [[Photokina]] 2008 (Cologne, Sep. 23–28), at least three black cameras were exhibited. It was announced that the camera would be released as the '''Fujifilm GF670 Professional''' on the Japanese market,<REF> [http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2008/pdf/release/overview_e.pdf Photokina 2008 overview release] in the [http://www.fujifilm.com/ Fujifilm official website]. </REF> and as the '''Voigtländer Bessa III''' for export.<REF> [http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7jzkae.html# Bessa III presentation] in the Voigtländer official website. </REF> One of the cameras was inscribed ''FUJIFILM 6×6/6×7'' on the top cover, and the other two had the ''Voigtländer'' logo and the ''BESSA III'' brand name on the top, and ''667'' at the front. The Fujifilm and Voigtländer models only differ by the markings and lens name: Fujinon or Heliar. The new "6×6" marking on the Fujifilm version might indicate that the dual-format feature was added as an afterthought, between the PMA and the Photokina.
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At [[Photokina]] 2008 (Cologne, Sep. 23–28), at least three black cameras were exhibited. It was announced that the camera would be released as the '''Fujifilm GF670 Professional''' on the Japanese market,<REF> [https://web.archive.org/web/20080920160945/http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2008/pdf/release/overview_e.pdf Photokina 2008 overview release] (archived) in the [http://www.fujifilm.com/ Fujifilm official website]. </REF> and as the '''Voigtländer Bessa III''' for export.<REF> [https://web.archive.org/web/20081007060732/http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7jzkae.html Bessa III presentation] (archived) in the Voigtländer official website. </REF> One of the cameras was inscribed ''FUJIFILM 6×6/6×7'' on the top cover, and the other two had the ''Voigtländer'' logo and the ''BESSA III'' brand name on the top, and ''667'' at the front. The Fujifilm and Voigtländer models only differ by the markings and lens name: Fujinon or Heliar. The new "6×6" marking on the Fujifilm version might indicate that the dual-format feature was added as an afterthought, between the PMA and the Photokina.
  
As of Oct 30, 2008, the camera is not yet mentioned in the Fujifilm website, nor in Cosina's Japanese website, but it is already announced in Voigtländer's international website (published by the German distributor).<REF> [http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7jzkae.html# Bessa III presentation] in the Voigtländer official website. </REF>
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As of Oct 30, 2008, the camera is not yet mentioned in the Fujifilm website, nor in Cosina's Japanese website, but it is already announced in Voigtländer's international website (published by the German distributor).<REF> [https://web.archive.org/web/20081007060732/http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7jzkae.html Bessa III presentation] (archived) in the Voigtländer official website. </REF>
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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== GF670W ==
 
== GF670W ==
 
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A prototype GF670W was on display at Photokina 2010. <ref> Fujifilm GF670W [http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2010/pdf/release/gf670w_e.pdf Photokina 2010 news release] at the [http://www.fujifilm.com/ Fujifilm official website]</ref> It was released in 2011 and features a 55mm f4.5 (10 elements, 8 groups) wide format lens. The filter rings is 58mm. Even though it is based on the same body the GF670W does not have a bellows. The focus is done on the barrel of the lens. The main critique of this is that the focusing ring does not completely surround the barrel of the lens. It has breaks in it that some find hard to use. The dimensions are 178mm wide by 109mm high by 89mm deep. It weight in at 1100 grams without a battery.
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A prototype GF670W was on display at Photokina 2010. <ref> Fujifilm GF670W [https://web.archive.org/web/20101011091758/http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2010/pdf/release/gf670w_e.pdf Photokina 2010 news release] (archived) at the [http://www.fujifilm.com/ Fujifilm official website]</ref> It was released in 2011 and features a 55mm f4.5 (10 elements, 8 groups) wide format lens. The filter rings is 58mm. Even though it is based on the same body the GF670W does not have a bellows. The focus is done on the barrel of the lens. The main critique of this is that the focusing ring does not completely surround the barrel of the lens. It has breaks in it that some find hard to use. The dimensions are 178mm wide by 109mm high by 89mm deep. It weight in at 1100 grams without a battery.
  
 
A Voigtländer version is also available as the '''Voigtländer Bessa III 667W'''.
 
A Voigtländer version is also available as the '''Voigtländer Bessa III 667W'''.
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In English:
 
In English:
 
<!--Commented out link, page no longer present/available, please remove if not returned by 04/2017 * [http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7jzkae.html Voigtlânder Bessa III] in the [http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_home_e.html Voigtländer official website] -->
 
<!--Commented out link, page no longer present/available, please remove if not returned by 04/2017 * [http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7jzkae.html Voigtlânder Bessa III] in the [http://www.voigtlander.com/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_home_e.html Voigtländer official website] -->
* [http://davidbram.blogspot.com/search/label/gf670 News with pictures] at [http://davidbram.blogspot.com/ David Bram's blog]
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<!--Commented out link, page password protected, please remove if not free again by 04/2017 * [http://davidbram.blogspot.com/search/label/gf670 News with pictures] at [http://davidbram.blogspot.com/ David Bram's blog] -->
* [http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/PREventDetailPage.jsp?DBID=NEWS_878348 News release about the PMA 2008], briefly mentioning the GF670 as a "new portable medium-format film camera", at [http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/index.jsp Fujifilm USA]
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<!--Commented out link, page no longer present/available, please remove if not returned by 04/2017 * [http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/PREventDetailPage.jsp?DBID=NEWS_878348 News release about the PMA 2008], briefly mentioning the GF670 as a "new portable medium-format film camera", at [http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/index.jsp Fujifilm USA] -->
* Bram, David. [http://davidbram.blogspot.com/2008/02/fujifilm-gf670-folding.html Fujifilm GF670 post] in Bram's blog. Bram provides links, commentary and some thought about the camera.
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<!--Commented out link, page password protected, please remove if not free again by 04/2017 * Bram, David. [http://davidbram.blogspot.com/2008/02/fujifilm-gf670-folding.html Fujifilm GF670 post] in Bram's blog. Bram provides links, commentary and some thought about the camera. -->
* Cheesman, Chris. "[http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Fujifilm_plans_6x7cm_medium_format_folding_camera_news_177080.html  Fujifilm Plans Medium Format Folding Camera]". ''Amateur Photographer,'' 1 February 2008. Fujifilm GF670 at the PMA 2008; says little.
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<!--Commented out link, page no longer present/available, please remove if not returned by 04/2017 * Cheesman, Chris. "[http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Fujifilm_plans_6x7cm_medium_format_folding_camera_news_177080.html  Fujifilm Plans Medium Format Folding Camera]". ''Amateur Photographer,'' 1 February 2008. Fujifilm GF670 at the PMA 2008; says little. -->
 
* Hissink, Dennis. "[http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/18141/fujifilm-medium-format-camera/ Fujifilm Medium Format Camera]". Fujifilm GF670 at the PMA 2008, in letsgodigital.org. Recycles a bland and uninformative press release, but also has two photographs. A third photograph shows three people who are presumably members of Fujifilm's R&D staff; none is shown holding a folder.
 
* Hissink, Dennis. "[http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/18141/fujifilm-medium-format-camera/ Fujifilm Medium Format Camera]". Fujifilm GF670 at the PMA 2008, in letsgodigital.org. Recycles a bland and uninformative press release, but also has two photographs. A third photograph shows three people who are presumably members of Fujifilm's R&D staff; none is shown holding a folder.
* McComb, Andrew R. [http://armst.blogspot.com/2008/02/fujifilm-6x7.html Fujifilm GF670 at the PMA 2008]. McComb shows photographs but says nothing substantive; yet he's more eloquent than those who comment on what he writes.
 
* [http://www.photographyblog.com/images/pma_2008/fujifilm/ More photos] of this and the less surprising Fujifilm novelties.
 
 
* [http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00OF7F Thread about the GF670 at the PMA 2008], in photo.net. Much chitchat, little that's substantive.
 
* [http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00OF7F Thread about the GF670 at the PMA 2008], in photo.net. Much chitchat, little that's substantive.
* [http://nelsonfoto.com/v/showthread.php?t=13720 Thread about the GF670 at the PMA 2008], in nelsonfoto.com. Similar to photo.net but without the squabbling.
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<!--Commented out link, page no longer present/available, please remove if not returned by 04/2017 * [http://nelsonfoto.com/v/showthread.php?t=13720 Thread about the GF670 at the PMA 2008], in nelsonfoto.com. Similar to photo.net but without the squabbling. -->
 
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/voigtlander667/ Voigtländer 667 Flickr group]
 
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/voigtlander667/ Voigtländer 667 Flickr group]
 
* [http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/test/2075300/fujifilms-wide-angle-medium-format-gf670w/ Fujifilm's wide angle medium format GF670W] at [http://www.bjp-online.com/ British Journal of Photography]
 
* [http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/test/2075300/fujifilms-wide-angle-medium-format-gf670w/ Fujifilm's wide angle medium format GF670W] at [http://www.bjp-online.com/ British Journal of Photography]

Revision as of 06:26, 12 November 2019

Japanese medium-format VF and RF (edit)
6×9 Fujica G690/GL690 | Fujica GW690/GSW690 | Mamiya Press | Marshal Press
6×8 Fujica GW680/GSW680
6×7 Fujifilm GF670 | Fujica GM670 | Fujica GW670 | Koni-Omega | Makina 67 | Mamiya 7
6×6 Mamiya 6
4.5×6 Bronica RF645 | Fujifilm GA645 | Fujifilm GA645i | Fujifilm GA645W | Fujifilm GA645Wi | Fujifilm GA645Zi | Fujica GS645 / GS645S / GS645W
Japanese medium format SLR and TLR ->
Other Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

The Fujifilm GF670 or Voigtländer Bessa III is a folding camera taking 6×6cm or 6×7cm exposures on 120 or 220 film, jointly developed by Fujifilm and Cosina.[1]

Public display

Two prototypes were showed by Fujifilm at the PMA 2008 salon (Las Vegas, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2), one in silver finish and the other in black.[2] It is not known if these were functional prototypes or mere mock-ups. The name "GF670" began to circulate at the time but was not officially confirmed, and the top housing was merely inscribed FUJIFILM 6×7. From about the same time, pictures of a silver example in open position were displayed in various websites, showing either a mock-up or a competent computer rendering: this are easily recognized by the absence of the front door latch, and by the unrealistic aspect of the bellows.

At about the time of the Photo and Imaging Expo (Tokyo, March 2008), Fujifilm said that the camera would be put on the market by the end of the year.[3]

At Photokina 2008 (Cologne, Sep. 23–28), at least three black cameras were exhibited. It was announced that the camera would be released as the Fujifilm GF670 Professional on the Japanese market,[4] and as the Voigtländer Bessa III for export.[5] One of the cameras was inscribed FUJIFILM 6×6/6×7 on the top cover, and the other two had the Voigtländer logo and the BESSA III brand name on the top, and 667 at the front. The Fujifilm and Voigtländer models only differ by the markings and lens name: Fujinon or Heliar. The new "6×6" marking on the Fujifilm version might indicate that the dual-format feature was added as an afterthought, between the PMA and the Photokina.

As of Oct 30, 2008, the camera is not yet mentioned in the Fujifilm website, nor in Cosina's Japanese website, but it is already announced in Voigtländer's international website (published by the German distributor).[6]

Description

The camera has a Fujinon or Heliar 80/3.5 lens, a coupled rangefinder, aperture-priority automatic and manual exposure modes and an exposure compensator. The film is advanced by a knob at the top right, as seen by the photographer, and there is a round exposure counter window next to it. The knob at the top left controls the shutter speeds in manual mode and has an A position for aperture-priority automation. It also contains the ISO setting dial, and provides -2/+2 exposure compensation. There is a hot shoe above the top housing and a PC synch socket at the left end. The shape of the front standard is very close to that of the Voigtländer Bessa II or Vito III of the 1950s, probably deliberately. The tabbed focusing ring is placed just behind the aperture ring. It seems that the meter cell is placed next to the rangefinder window, to the front of the top housing.

The cameras exhibited at the Photokina show some slight differences from those displayed at the PMA: the markings on the speed dial and exposure compensation scale differ, as well as the position of the strap attachments, switching from a top-mounted strap to a side-mounted one.


GF670W

A prototype GF670W was on display at Photokina 2010. [7] It was released in 2011 and features a 55mm f4.5 (10 elements, 8 groups) wide format lens. The filter rings is 58mm. Even though it is based on the same body the GF670W does not have a bellows. The focus is done on the barrel of the lens. The main critique of this is that the focusing ring does not completely surround the barrel of the lens. It has breaks in it that some find hard to use. The dimensions are 178mm wide by 109mm high by 89mm deep. It weight in at 1100 grams without a battery.

A Voigtländer version is also available as the Voigtländer Bessa III 667W.


Notes

  1. Jointly developed by Fujifilm and Cosina: Photokina 2008 overview release (archived) in the Fujifilm official website.
  2. See the pictures and videos of the event in the links at the bottom.
  3. "2008 PIE ripōto!", Asahi Camera May 2008, pp.168–71.
  4. Photokina 2008 overview release (archived) in the Fujifilm official website.
  5. Bessa III presentation (archived) in the Voigtländer official website.
  6. Bessa III presentation (archived) in the Voigtländer official website.
  7. Fujifilm GF670W Photokina 2010 news release (archived) at the Fujifilm official website


Links

In English:

In Spanish:

  • Sama, Valentin. "Fujifilm: analógica" in dslrmagazine.com. Fujifilm GF670 at the PMA 2008. Four photographs.

In Japanese: