dante_stella Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Ok, finally acquired a small camera bag that can swallow a Fuji GSW690III. The catch is that with the required light meter, it's a one-pound penalty over the GA645 I usually take. Has anyone taken a 6x9 Fuji on an extended trip and been sorry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald_brewster Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 I use a Mamiya 7 rather than a Fuji (roughly same size), but I will say that the results more than make up for any inconvenience (which IMHO is minimal). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham_line Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Negatives from the 6x9 give a marked jump in clarity over the 645 and I think the focusing mechanism is a lot more accurate. But 'a small bag that can swallow a Fuji GSW690III' is an oxymoron :-). Guess it depends where the photography ranks in the purpose of your trip, and how much personal stuff you need to carry. There's also the need to carry twice as much film for the same number of exposures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb1 Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Yes, No. Yes its worth it, and No not sorry. I've back packed it on hikes this year that have had vertical gains of approximately 5,300, 3,000 and 1,400 feet (1,600 m, 900 m, and 425m) and didn't feel like any were wasted efforts. The longest trip time wise has been about a week, so maybe not 'extended'. I pair it up with a digital to take care of snap shots, documentary and people shots that the 690 might not do well. The main question is if the focal length and F-stop range will be useable for your subject matter. If so, then don't hesitate taking it. Its all mechanical, and pretty rugged. I dropped mine on the last trip about 5 feet onto concrete. Its a little scraped up, but still useable. And yes, it does have quite the appetite for film... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante_stella Posted September 29, 2004 Author Share Posted September 29, 2004 Josef: The Crumpler Tall-EE actually has a top which is basically a trapezoidal fit to the camera (sitting on its baseplate). I usually take the GA because it is small and light - and fits in a coat pocket, useful because most of my trips are in fall in cooler places. This time, however, is Turkey, where it is really warm. Since there is no coat pocket, and the GA has some configuration time (to do what I do with it), the GSW is looking more attractive. Plus I have a lot of Verichrome Pan in the freezer - and it is a fantastic film in 6x9. I usually go with 30 rolls of 120 - but I imagine given the more deliberative nature of the 6x9 (external meter, etc), I won't quite need twice as much film... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert fox Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Take your GSW !!!!! I take mine AND the GW690III and have never felt overburdened by the weight. I guess everything's relative. Once you look at your chromes on the light table, you'll never want to go back to a 645..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pensacolaphoto Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 I have taken the GL690 on many trips and I never regretted doing so. It is heavier than my Rolleiflex TLR, but it gives me tack sharp images that can be enlarged with clarity. It is a very well built camera that can take the bouncings in a trip and will not break down unless severaly "beaten". Now, you won't do that Dante, will you! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
link Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 One pound? Take it for sure. If you don't, you'll be sorry... I do have a question: Does anyone know of a good camera backpack that can hold my GSW and GW + maybe a 35mm slr and a tripod on the outside? The ones I've seen in the store just seemed designed for a 35mm slr and a big zoom lens, plus other lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxc Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Yes take it, you won't regret it. You can carry one extra pound, it's worth it. I've never regretted carrying my 6x10 Veriwide, let alone even bigger cameras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aoresteen Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 LAst week I was in Nova Scotia with my Cambo SF23. Big mistake! I found myself wishing I had a Fuji 6x9 RF camera. I was taking a pictute at Peggy's Cove with the wind blowing my dark cloth all over. It was very hard to focus. When I was done, the people around me said they got some great shots of me fighting the wind. Don't think twice, take it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffrey_krenzel5 Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 I solved a similar relative weight/space issue by taking my Fuji GSW690III and leaving the "required" light meter at home -- and using sunny 16 -- which worked just fine for the outdoor shots (but is not as good an idea if you are planning alot of indoor shots). Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham_line Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 If you have a good, secure way to carry it I wouldn't hesitate for a minute. For me, the only hassle with the big Fujis was the leather zip case that came with them, because I generally use an incident meter anyway. They also fit well into a Domke F3X. But 30 rolls of film is 180 exposures. Or 240. I forget. Think that's going to meet your needs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_frost1 Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Get yourself a small 4X5 kit and then the Fuji will be the small, light, simple choice. Look at what some folks carry in a 35mm kit. The Fuji, committed to one lens, is small and light by comparison. I think it is worth the weight/size penalty over 645, depending on how big you want to print. ...Then again, it's not something I like to walk with on a neck strap, whereas the Fuji 645 is light enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fast_primes Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 I found the big 69 Fujis too obtrusive for travel/urban use (along with the Pentax 67). The need to fiddle with a light meter, change film every 8 or 16 shots, the loud ping of the Fuji leaf shutter, and huge size, all mitigated against me feeling comfortable with it. I very much prefer the Mamiya 7 system over Fuji 69s. The 7 is vastly quieter and much more fluid to use with it's built-in meter and auto-exposure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_wire Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 A friend returned recently from some hikes in the Canadian Rockies with a Nikon xxx something digital full of scenes that he displayed on his laptop. Striking views but forever lifeless looking to me. What a wasted opportunity. Shots with my old RB67 or Iskra always "stand out" from my 35mm Canon "primes" or old Minolta 645 folder and others. If a picture is worth taking it's always worth carrying the largest possible hardware, in my estimation. I wonder how far I'll be able to carry my soon to be acquired 4x5 Field camera? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_bach1 Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Get the OP/TECH USA pro straps, I have them one most of my cameras and bags. They dont make the camera smaller (Polaroid 600se With 69 film magasins , Plaubel 69 super Wide pro shift and Nikon F2) but take a lot of pain from you body. They must be cheap in USA. In London they are from 14 to 17 sterling pound depending on the models and shops, for me they are worth the mony. regards Michael Bach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pensacolaphoto Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 The Fuji GL690 or BL690 with the automatic 100mm lens does not need a meter. I still use a handheld spotmeter. A meter does not add extra weight and should not be considered a nuiscance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAn Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Have taken many times with Pentax Digital. I have GW rather than GSW, but it doesn't matter here. Always was happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_chow Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Yes, the extra weight is worth it. Bring whatever will give you the best quality shots, especially if it's a tough to reach place. I've packed a 4x5 monorail for a 30+mile packing trip in Olympic NP before. It weighed a ton, but for shots of fields of flowers, the tilt came in handy, and the large film area gave me more cropping options. Now if you have a llama or mule (some places rent them!), bring an 8x10! I shot a few sheets of 8x10 velvia in Zion NP and it made my 4x5 velvia chromes look tiny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_miller10 Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 One way is to use an ultra-compact light meter like the Gossen Digisix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreas_carl Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Took it to Indonesia and HongKong and yes, it is worth the "weight"!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_narsuitus Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Yes, I would take a short trip to capture scenic shots with just a Fuji GSW690III, a light meter, and a tripod. However, for an extended trip, in addition to the film, I usually take the following: Fuji GSW690III Fuji GW670III Polarizing filter Graduated neutral density filter Light meter Tripod Cable release Equipment case Plastic bag to protect equipment from unexpected rain (heavy duty trash bag) Empty 120 spool (in case I need to replace a lost or damaged one) Small point and shoot digital with extra batteries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talmage Posted December 14, 2004 Share Posted December 14, 2004 <P> I took my GW690III on my honeymoon to Scotland in May. I carried it, my light meter, and snacks in a large Timbuk2 messenger bag. My wife and I went all over Edinburgh on the busses and on our bikes and except when I was very, very tired after a long day of playing tourist, I didn't regret the weight of the camera. </P> <P> When we took a three-day rail and bike excursion to the Isle of Skye, the Fuji came along in my bag, sharing space with my toiletries, a change of clothes, a book, and snacks. The felt bag mighty heavy as I rode my bike up and down the hills from the ferry to our B&B. On our day trip, with just the camera, meter, and snacks, the weight was OK. The pictures from Skye are worth it. </P> <P> I have to admit, alas, that I sometimes wished I'd brought a lighter camera like my K-1000 or that I'd had the foresight to buy a digital point-and-shoot like my wife's Canon S200 Digital Elph. Mostly, I wished that when I was tired. </P> <P> The thing about that Fuji is that I shot far fewer pictures than I would have with a digital or a 35mm but I got more keepers. </P> <P> Anybody with small children want to offer an opinion? I daresay your experiences travelling with MF are far different than mine! </P> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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