gx680lugger

In response to Paul Wilson's post.... <BR><BR>

 

Paul got me thinking on the weight factor...... so I looked up the

specs.<BR><BR>

Mamiya RB Pro SD with a 127mm lens, back, 50mm, 210mm = 9.87 lbs<BR>

Fuji GX680 with 135mm lens, back, battery, 50mm, 210mm = 12.02 lbs.<BR>

This computes to a difference of only 2.15 lbs. Not much when you consider the capabilities of the Fuji. Granted, some would not consider the RB Pro as an outdoor system, but I have been hauling an RB ProS or a Bronica GS1 for the last 4 years. I tried the M7 and was not happy with a range finder. I also tried a few view cameras, and quite frankly, found them cumbersome, slow to set up and way to costly to shoot. ($7 - $12 per shot!). <BR><BR>

I have seen 32x40 enlargements from Velvia taken by Mr. Haley with the GX680 that looked superb........I guess I will just have to grin and bear it......literally. :o)>

Has anyone else noticed small spots of rainbow like distortion in high key areas (especially the sky) of images taken through circular polarizers? I own several different high quality circular polarizers and I have noticed even in the viewfinder that they sometimes create a rainbow color distortion spot in the frame.

The only water resistant incident meter that I am aware of is the Sekonic L408. There are also underwater meters, which go well beyond water resistance.

In response to Don Baccus' response to metering.......

 

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"I'll sometimes use evaluative metering to give me a second opinion, if you will, and am also surprised at how often I find myself arguing with the camera over a piddly third of a stop."

 

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If you are shooting Velvia or E100 and printing on Cibachrome (Ilfochrome) which is the internationally accepted high watermark for museum quality, archival (rated at 60 to 200 years)color prints, your exposure must often be within that critical 1/3 of a stop or you will not get an exposure that will produce the best possible print on Ciba. Fujichrome papers, on the other hand are much more forgiving.

Is anyone out there besides John Haley using a Fuji GX680 for outdoor

photography? I have played with one and I am thinking about getting a used package for landscapes and such in the red rock country of Northern AZ and Southern UT where I live. Any hints or advice would be appreciated.

I have been shooting E100S and SW since they became available here in the red rock national parks of Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon etc. I grabbed some Astia and gave it a try a month ago, and like it very much. I agree with Don Atzberger on their similarities. I think that my overall favorite would have to be E100SW as it tends to warm up the blues in the shadows in my early and late light shots which account for 90% of my landscapes (without having to play with filters).

 

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I venture forth anymore without some Velvia, Astia, E100S and E100SW in my cooler, as all four have their place.