Fuji Gf 670 Repair

The folders from the 1940's / 1950's were designed and manufactured with reliability in mind - no short/cheap cuts or fancy features unless needed. Back then any major repair was seen as luxury.

This is terrible news for everyone owning not only the GF670 but also the GF670W, which probably now is also not repairable.

Looks like my decision to buy these two cameras as very very wrong.

RattyMouse said:

...but also the GF670W, which probably now is also not repairable.

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If the parts availability problem is specifically related to the folding mechanism of the GF670, it won't necessarily tell us anything about the W.

Oren Grad said:

If the parts availability problem is specifically related to the folding mechanism of the GF670, it won't necessarily tell us anything about the W.

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The OP mentioned that he has a lens issue.

The lens will not rotate to infinity. If the lens does not rotate to infinity then the bellows will not collapse and allow the door to close. Somehow this is all tied to an interlock. My Super Isolette does the same thing but the lens focus rotation visibly withdraws a bar which prevents the bellows door from beginning to fold up until the lens focus is on infinity. On my Fuji GF670 this was not visible and I ended up sending it in for repair.

There are likely other folders where returning the lens to infinity is necessary to allow the entire assembly to fold back into the camera. I doubt that Cosina reinvented the wheel in this case. They probably made use of a previously designed system.

I suspect that any system that uses unit body focusing rather than front cell focusing will need to have the lens withdrawn to infinity so the assembly is short enough to fold up.

Pioneer said:

The lens will not rotate to infinity. If the lens does not rotate to infinity then the bellows will not collapse and allow the door to close. Somehow this is all tied to an interlock. My Super Isolette does the same thing but the lens focus rotation visibly withdraws a bar which prevents the bellows door from beginning to fold up until the lens focus is on infinity. On my Fuji GF670 this was not visible and I ended up sending it in for repair.

There are likely other folders where returning the lens to infinity is necessary to allow the entire assembly to fold back into the camera. I doubt that Cosina reinvented the wheel in this case. They probably made use of a previously designed system.

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Regardless, this camera should be FULLY repairable now by Fujifilm and into the foreseeable future. You can still find GF670's on the shelf here in China and in Japan as well. It is absurd that Fujifilm is just abandoning these cameras now.

This might be an issue with Fuji USA only. They may either be unwilling to obtain parts from Japan, or unable, because Fuji Japan is unwilling to supply them.

Similar to some of the film and paper and chemical offerings.

I agree. Terrible thing. Someone should run right over there and thump them.

Or perhaps we can spend our time crying about it on this forum. That is fun but not very helpful.

Meanwhile the OP has a broken camera that he cannot use. Does anyone have any way to help him?

MattKing said:

This might be an issue with Fuji USA only. They may either be unwilling to obtain parts from Japan, or unable, because Fuji Japan is unwilling to supply them.

Similar to some of the film and paper and chemical offerings.

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My GF670 was bought in the US and is still under US warranty. Clearly if I had this problem Fujifilm USA would tell me to take a hike.

Pioneer said:

I agree. Terrible thing. Someone should run right over there and thump them.

Or perhaps we can spend our time crying about it on this forum. That is fun but not very helpful.

Meanwhile the OP has a broken camera that he cannot use. Does anyone have any way to help him?

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This might be the straw that pushes me off Acros forever. I love that film but I just despise what Fujifilm is doing to people here. Damn I just bought 20 roll of the stuff last week too. Sigh........

RattyMouse said:

Regardless, this camera should be FULLY repairable now by Fujifilm and into the foreseeable future. You can still find GF670's on the shelf here in China and in Japan as well. It is absurd that Fujifilm is just abandoning these cameras now.

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Why?

The camera is not manufactured by Fuji. They purchased a single run of 5000 cameras from Cosina Voigtlander and sold them. I am sure there were probably a small run of spare parts that were also included in the initial purchase. As far as Fuji was concerned this was a Limited Edition camera.

Now Cosina is still selling this camera as the Voigtlander Bessa III, but since they were undercut in price by Fujifilm I seriously doubt they have been flying off the shelves. They may be selling a few more now. But that extra price helped pay for the service and parts availability that you are so concerned about. If you bought the Bessa III then you can probably get it serviced. However, if you took the less expensive route, you may now have a bit of a problem.

Do I like that Fujifilm did this? No! But they made no secret about the fact that this was a limited edition run. In fact, you couldn't even have it serviced at the normal service centers. They had to be sent to Fuji USA, Fuji Japan, etc.

If your camera is still under warranty, which I remember to have been one year, then you have a case and Fuji Japan will probably honor it. If it is out of warranty then it may become a bit tougher to take care of.

But, I do not remember ANY words in Fujifilm's warranty for this camera that says they will maintain parts and service now and into the future.

Pioneer said:

Why?

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Fujifilm's name is on the WARRANTY card, not Cosina's. Do you think FOXCON is responsible for Apple products?

Pioneer said:

But, I do not remember ANY words in Fujifilm's warranty for this camera that says they will maintain parts and service now and into the future.

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In the USA, you could have bought the GF670 as short as a few months ago. You really suggest that having parts unavailable for a brand new camera is acceptable? Do you REALLY think that one has to see it in print that parts will be available for the next few years otherwise all bets are off?

Nonsense.

Fujifilm's warranty states that they will repair defective cameras and now they are saying that they can't due to lack of parts. Ridiculous.

RattyMouse said:

In the USA, you could have bought the GF670 as short as a few months ago. You really suggest that having parts unavailable for a brand new camera is acceptable? Do you REALLY think that one has to see it in print that parts will be available for the next few years otherwise all bets are off?

Nonsense.

Fujifilm's warranty states that they will repair defective cameras and now they are saying that they can't due to lack of parts. Ridiculous.

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I fully agree. If the camera is still under warranty than the OP...and yourself if your camera has broken...still have a valid claim against Fujifilm. If not, I don't know what options you have. I owned mine for several years and loved it. I sold it recently to help finance another purchase that must remain nameless here. Mine was repaired for the same problem described by the OP, outside of warranty. It was handled quickly and with no fuss.

Beyond sending Mr. Kobayashi of Cosina Voigtlander a nice letter and asking for a repair I don't know what the solution would be.

I know that Cameraquest will not even accept gray market Voigtlander Bessa III cameras for repair, let alone Fujifilm models. I have seriously been considering replacing mine now that things have improved but I will likely pay Cameraquest for a new Bessa III this next time.

Seven years as I remember.

I found a link regarding appliances, not cameras. These are Ca regulations but something similar should exist throughout the US.

Quoting California Civil Code, Sec. 1793.03.
(a) Every manufacturer making an express warranty with respect to an electronic or appliance product described in subdivision (h), (i), (j), or (k) of Section 9801 of the Business and Professions Code, with a wholesale price to the retailer of not less than fifty dollars ($50) and not more than ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents ($99.99), shall make available to service and repair facilities sufficient service literature and functional parts to effect the repair of a product for at least three years after the date a product model or type was manufactured, regardless of whether the three-year period exceeds the warranty period for the product.

(b) Every manufacturer making an express warranty with respect to an electronic or appliance product described in subdivision (h), (i), (j), or (k) of Section 9801 of the Business and Professions Code, with a wholesale price to the retailer of one hundred dollars ($100) or more, shall make available to service and repair facilities sufficient service literature and functional parts to effect the repair of a product for at least seven years after the date a product model or type was manufactured, regardless of whether the seven-year period exceeds the warranty period for the product.

And this one.

Quoting Business and Professions Code, Sec. 9801(h)-(k)
(h) "Electronic set" includes, but is not limited to, any television, radio, audio or video recorder or playback equipment, video camera, video game, video monitor, computer system, photocopier, or facsimile machine normally used or sold for personal, family, household, or home office use.

(i) "Appliance" or "major home appliance" includes, but is not limited to, any refrigerator, freezer, range, microwave oven, washer, dryer, dishwasher, trash compactor, or room air-conditioner normally used or sold for personal, family, household, or home office use, or for use in private motor vehicles.

(j) "Antenna" includes, but is not limited to, a resonant device designed especially for the purpose of capturing electromagnetic energy transmitted by direct satellite or commercial radio or television broadcasting facilities. An antenna and its associated accessories are not deemed to be a part of a set and shall be considered, under this section, to be located outside or in the attic of a residence.

(k) "Rotator," when used in connection with an antenna installation or repair, includes, but is not limited to, an electromechanical device operated from a remote location to rotate an antenna on a horizontal plane. A rotator and its associated accessories are not deemed to be a part of a set and shall be considered under this section, with the exception of the directional control unit, to be located outside or in the attic of a residence.

This is what I get from Fuji Hong Kong:



Thank you for using Fujifilm products, we are sorry for the parts of GF 670 is discontinue.



Thank you!





Best regards,


富士相機維修中心

地址: 香港荃灣德士古道 220 號荃灣工業中心 8 樓
(荃灣西站 D 出口 或 238X 巴士)

電話: (852) 2406 3287
E-mail: rsd@chinahkphoto.com.hk



Fujifilm Camera Repair Service Centre

Address: 8/F, Tsuen Wan Ind. Centre, 220 Texaco Rd, Tsuen Wan, HongKong
(Tsuen Wan West Exit D or Bus Route no. 238X)

whoa, I think Fuji might have a lawsuit pending on this one...

DanielStone said:

whoa, I think Fuji might have a lawsuit pending on this one...

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God I hope so. This level of abuse is mind blowing.

Anyone know a reputable shop in Hong Kong that repairs camera. I am going to Hong Kong in 2 weeks time.

The resale value of these cameras is going to drop like a stone.

Ugh so sad, I just purchased one 4 months ago! I'm guessing the only way to repair these moving forward might be DIY or using a for-parts spare. I hope not.


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Frank Marsh, isn't he the Fuji medium format guy for older cameras? Maybe the OP can contact him and see where he stands with this model.

Contact info should be buried in this thread- (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Pioneer said:

I suspect that any system that uses unit body focusing rather than front cell focusing will need to have the lens withdrawn to infinity so the assembly is short enough to fold up.

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Bessa RF from 1930's or Bessa II from 1950's can fold even when not at infinity. Both are unit focusing folders not front cell.

Dan Daniel said:

Frank Marsh, isn't he the Fuji medium format guy for older cameras? Maybe the OP can contact him and see where he stands with this model.

Contact info should be buried in this thread- (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

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Well if Fujifilm says there are no parts to fix these cameras, I don't see how a 3rd party will have much success.