I had a GSW690III and the 65mm lens was outstanding for landscapes. I wish I still owned it.
Be forewarned, however, that these have taken on cult status since Fuji discontinued them.
I sold mine for several hundred dollars MORE than I paid new! I saw one go for over $1800 on ebay in the last month!
The lens is outstanding but I don't think I'd pay $1800 for one!BTW, if you go the Fuji route, stick with the II or III models. Fuji still stocks parts and sevices those but I've heard the they no longer have parts for the older generation models.
Jeff
From: "Eric Goldstein" <egoldste@xxxxxxxxx> Reply-To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [rollei_list] Re: 6 x 9 search Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:03:43 -0400 Emmanuel B. and I mentioned the Fuji... there is some dispute relative to whether these lenses are great however... Eric Goldstein -- On 8/31/07, R.C.Booth <rcbooth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >> I've been following this thread with interest as I've been playing with wide> angle lenses on a 2x3 Century Graphic. >> But if you can do with a 65mm lens, one ready-made solution is to get a Fuji> GW690 in any of the three versions that were made. > > These are certainly convenient with great lenses and pretty close to an > actual 6 x 9 format. > > RCB > > http://rcbooth.zenfolio.com/ > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Mike Bischof > To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 12:36 AM > Subject: [rollei_list] Re: 6 x 9 search > > > Jan,> After all the technical discussions ;-), let me give you some perspectives > from a user's point, as I have gone that route in the last couple of years > -- and yes, it does lead to LF photography with no shortage of opportunities > to blows lots of cash. As a result, my current favorite weapon is an Arca> Swiss 4x5 Field camera with a Rodenstock Apo-Sironar S 210, but that's a > different discussion :-D >> Back to the topic at hand. After considerable time with the 6x6 negatives > and slides from my Rolleiflex, I wanted to get something with a bigger (and > rectangular) negative, so my first choice was a Crown Graphic 23. Here are a> couple of notes on that camera (which I still own and love, but which > doesn't get a whole lot of use anymore, thanks to the Arca): >> 1) Relatively cheap and lightweight camera with good (and cheap) access to > multiple lenses. I still have the 101mm Ektar and the 80mm WA Ektar, both> are great lenses.> 2) With the proper sets of infinity stops (and good calibration), neither> lens really needs the rangefinder for focusing _landscapes_ since they> _will_ be shot at infinity. Of course, other shots will require focusing. > 3) For hand-held operations, focusing by groundglass is a PITA, but so is> composition. I always used my Crown Graphic tripod-mounted, but it is> possible to do handheld as well. For _landscapes_, I think the bigger issue> is composition, but if you are only using B&W, where you can crop during> printing (rather than slides, where that is less desirable), you could just > get the proper masks for the external viewfinder that is attached on top of > the (older?) Crown Graphics. They are not as accurate as in an SLR, but you> can just make sure that you are capturing the scene in general (also see > film flatness issues below).> 4) If you do buy a Crown Graphic, make sure you get one with a Graflock, so > you can use rollfilm holders. Since you are interested in 6x9, you want the> rollfilm holder that generates 8 shots out of a 120 roll (I think it's > called RH-8???). There are (at least) two versions, the newer ones have> additional rollers to achieve better (but not perfect) film flatness, but as> a result, the image is really more like 6x8 (one of mine was as small as > 56x72mm). The older ones do not have the rollers, are closer to 6x9, but > also have more film flatness issues. My approach was always to compose> generously, and then really only use the center 6x7 (or so) for printing. > 5) There are wider lenses than the 80mm WA Ektar for 6x9, but they will all > require you to "drop the bed" to avoid it showing up in your picture. As a > result, IMHO, _handheld_ composition is practically impossible. I had a 65mm > Angulon and a 47mm (Super?-) Angulon for a while, but even tripod-mounted it > was a PITA, and they never saw enough use (for me) to warrant keeping them.>> Incidentally, since I wanted to have a _handheld_ camera whenever I can't > use my Arca, I got a 6x9 folder about a year ago. Since I didn't want any > front-cell focusing camera (due to the well-known image quality issues, all> the Zeiss Ikons (unfortunately) were off the list. I ended up getting a > Voigtlander Bessa II, which had most of the things I wanted:> - good optics. I only got the Color-Skopar (=Tessar) version, but there is a> Color-Heliar and even a Apo-Lanthar version. although at _much_ higher > prices. > - coupled rangefinder > - not front-cell focusing -- the whole lens moves when focusing> I does have considerable film-flatness issues, but, again, the center potion> (about 6x7) is perfect, and the viewfinder isn't terrible accurate for > composition anyway. > > Feel free to contact me offline, if you have more questions. > > Cheers, > Mike > > > > > > Jan Decher <Jan.Decher@xxxxxxx> wrote: > Eric: > >> Very interested in a portable 6x9 folder, especially in one that can handle > a mild wideangle (60mm) so I can do panoramic landscapes on my expeditions. > Do you have web links for the Miniature Speed or Busch Pressman? Do they > have coupled rangefinders or will I have to resort to groundglas focusing by> taking the 6x9 cassette on and off? > I guess this is how people gradually slide into LF photography... > > > I picked up the Omega B7 today. It has two focusing tracks for a 50mm > Componon and a 3 1/2inch (90mm) Ektar, But only came with a 50mm EL > Omegar... > > > Thanks, > Jan > > > > On 30 Aug 2007, at 02:28, FreeLists Mailing List Manager wrote: > > My fav 69 shooters are a miniature Speed and > a Busch Pressman, from which I can hang any number of fine lenses. I > also think they have the edge over folders relative to film > flatness... > Eric Goldstein > > > > ________________________________ > Looking for a deal? 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