I tried everything. If you are successful let me know what brand you have, thanks
Yeah, I thought about this. I'm not going to put tape on the roller. I wonder if a piece of silicone or latex tubing, slit, could be made to work????
Well, you just mentioned several current-times use cases for which a MF RF is not first choice, and then you mention a (great) book from 50 years ago, which was partly taken with an ancient camera that even at that time resembled some old-fogey penny-farthing.This begins to feel a little like the Monty Python "But I came in here for an argument" sketch. You already have a medium format system camera, right? Maybe you don't need or want a TL Fuji 6x9 rf. It's ok to simply not want something. One doesn't have to make an argument that it's bad, just that one doesn't want it. It doesn't mean that other people who do want or use it are misguided.
I don't think "rangefinder" needs to be associated with street photography just because many prominent street photographers used the 35mm rf. There are places where a big RF seems not the ideal tool, for ex if I were going to do a lot of studio portraits. On the other hand, there are many stories on Photrio of people who shot weddings in the 70s using a 6x7 Koni-Omega RF. I suspect the Fujica 6x9 RFs were less common in the US back then, compared to the Koni-Omega and Mamiya medium format cameras. All of these were quite expensive professional tools at the time, and people probably did not flit between systems.
Although not any of those RFs, Bill Owens took many of the shots in "Suburbia" with a Brooks Veriwide, which is a 6x9 viewfinder camera with a (slow) 47mm lens. He used a bare bulb flash for the interiors. I think he also used some other camera, perhaps a Pentax 6x7.
Well, you just mentioned several current-times use cases for which a MF RF is not first choice, and then you mention a (great) book from 50 years ago, which was partly taken with an ancient camera that even at that time resembled some old-fogey penny-farthing.
If, as some people said here, it is a rather niche camera, what is that niche? Looking at the argument that it is almost a portable LF camera, how many people with a Linhof have ever taken a TL as an alternative?
I acquired mine analagous to considerations of caliber and barrel length for a rifle. Those two should be primary in choosing an arm dependent on what you hunt and terrain. I acquired mine specifically. A 6x9 for most crop-ability; a sharp lens; for lightness; and for utter simplicity and holdability. And I chose it for walking in the field (mostly only when huntingβ¦ but while stalking). So when itβs quiet and between the dawn dusk activity, Iβve plenty time to stop and take grander images at infinity focus to crop later, all while not worrying/fiddling with a more complex camera which I can drop in the swamp.If, as some people said here, it is a rather niche camera, what is that niche? Looking at the argument that it is almost a portable LF camera, how many people with a Linhof have ever taken a TL as an alternative?
I would just say, like at work, that is not a native function so it's not supportedSo, I don't understand the point. If you want 35mm, shoot 35mm. If you want 6x9, shoot 6x9. If you want panoramic, shoot 6x9 with panoramic cropping in mind.
Not criticizing here, just wondering ...
But that doesn't exist. Integrated exposure meter in Medium format? Rather limited to high tier cameras and/or modern. f2,8 you might be able to get the Xenotar 80mm and use it in a Press camera. At 6x6+ there aren't that many practical fast lenses.And - for these action-packed, in-the-field use cases, how do you rate the lack of an integrated exposure meter against the crop-able 6x9 format? And wouldnt be a faster lens - 2.8 Planar springs to mind? - be much more useful for your use case?
Worst of all, Fuji never offered these cameras in a Collector Edition with an alligator skin covering and gold-plated shutter release button.
You mean they are so bland and boring that not even these marketing ploys would have helped to make it at least a bit desirable?
That's rough. But if you believe so, ok.
I don't think Fuji ever targeted the Fanboi crowd of consumers. Having owned a couple of their cameras for years, it always seemed to me that they were targeting very narrow niches for whom marketing a lot was unnecessary.
I currently own a 645Zi a GW690II and a two body/six lens Hasselblad system. Each of those has a place, none are inherently and objectively "better". They're just each better at some specific things. cf updthread: Paint Brushes
Worst of all, Fuji never offered these cameras in a Collector Edition with an alligator skin covering and gold-plated shutter release button.
Well put Chuck. Sometimes the image calls for a rectangular negative....& then the Fuji is the ticket! View attachment 371304
Don't know if this was covered on this thread, but I had heard that the 6x9 versions especially were designed rather specifically for Japan tour leaders to take photos of their groups. The wide especially will capture the entire tour group standing in front of its bus. It's pretty much a fool-proof camera even for the non-skilled.
That sounds right, but I have to say, both the 645Zi and the 690GWII have really good lenses which makes them useful in a wide range of shooting situations. No, they're not fast, but they are sharp and contrasty when used in their sweet spots. More to the point, they are better than any Mamiya lens I ever used - 645, Universal Press, or TLR of any vintage.
The only comparable Mamiya optics I ever used were the Mamiya 7 family which were uniformly excellent. But they should be, since one of those lenses alone cost more than a GW690, let alone lens and body.
If you look upthread, you'll see I picture I took on the Kenai river in Alaska last summer. I grew up in AK and everything is "remote". Getting to that location took a 2 hour car drive plus another 90min boat ride ... IOW it was really remote.
I cannot imagine jumping in and out of the boat in waders with a huge backpack of 'Blad or view camera stuff plus a big tripod. Instead, I took a small backpack with a digi SLR and the GW690II, and a small carbon fiber tripod. I don't think that image was diminished in any way by those choices ...
And here we go!
Don't know if this was covered on this thread, but I had heard that the 6x9 versions especially were designed rather specifically for Japan tour leaders to take photos of their groups. The wide especially will capture the entire tour group standing in front of its bus. It's pretty much a fool-proof camera even for the non-skilled.
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