parts for gsw690

[fp1]

Hi.

I want to purchased a fuji 6x9 rangefinder. I have read that the

camera, and all those of its ik, have been discontinued by Fuji. I

am wondering if I will be able to get parts for the camera should I

need them. Also, anyboby know where one might be obtained?

 

Thanks.

 

F.

[photo_color]

If you are in the USA, then if I were you I would contact Fuji USA. Do a google search or maybe you have the warranty papers with the camera which would list their location. They are in the east, probably New Jersey.

 

I called them some time ago, to see about repairing a shutter, and I didn't get a good feeling about support (price, availability of parts), however it could have been due to the person I was talking to. For example, 'servcing the shutter' after the counter hits 500 equated in that person's mind to replacing the whole shutter at several hundred dollars. I always though they'd inspect and clean, and replacment would be only if needed.

 

Anyway, other resources to check are authorized Fuji repair places (again, camera warranty papers, or Internet search), and major dealers that sold the cameras new - Badger Graphic Sales, B&H, Adorama, etc.

[ralph_jensen]

These cameras are in very short supply right now, with the series II's often

selling on ebay for more than they cost new. When they do become available

(on ebay, here, or at KEH) they're usually gone in hours, if not minutes. (The

other day someone pointed out in the thread noted below that there were

some 690's available at KEH and they were gone almost immediately.)

 

Unless you HAVE to have the 6x9 format, the Mamiya 7's, in contrast to the

Fujis, are really UNDERpriced compared to new (one guy sold a Mamiya 7

WITH lens today on photo.net for $988, less than some Fuji series II's have

been selling for). Granted, the Mamiya 7 was considered overpriced in the US

and the Fuji may have been a great value, but the Mamiya is in many respects

a superior camera.

 

So if you own a Fuji 690 and don't use it much, now's a great time to sell. If

you need to buy a MF rangefinder, the Mamiya is worth a close look.

 

This thread from last week covered some of the same ground:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007Ze8

 

Re: service: I've had my Fujis serviced at KEH with no problem--they routinely

service cameras that have been discontinued for years--and with so many

690's out there (and so few things to go wrong) I don't expect the Fuji to be

unserviceable for a long, long time.