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So I found this exact model in my city, but it's $1k. There's few key issues - in my region which is Russia Saint Petersburg good western/asian film cameras are rarely available, let alone at reasonable price. Next issue I don't have money like at all, and I'd most likely buy a new pc/laptop for this money because currently I have 12 years old laptop. But this kind of options appears in Russia one in like several years. Also I was thinking about 6x7 format more, but realistically I only can afford Koni-Rapid Omega or maybe Bronica GS-1, first one is rangefinder too, and knowing my style of shooting, I'm quite concerned about minimum focusing distance in GW680III and Koni-Rapid Omega, in both cases it's 1m afaik - and idk if it's gonna be enough for portraits, but I also shoot some textures in nature and whatnot, so I really don't know what to do. Most likely I'll buy Rapid Omega if I'll see one at reasonable price in my region.

Привет! Приобрел пару дней назад GW680 III. Снял рулон Kodak Gold 200 и рулон XP2 для проверки. Проявил, но ещё не отсканировал. Моё ожидание результатов гораздо более страстное, чем желание ребенка увидеть подарок на Новый Год) Сам аппарат, ощущения от него, мне нравяться.

Hi Gareth, did Pentacon ever produce an original split Image glass screen. Kindest regards, John Moore

Really helpful video and great to see examples with a model too

actually it can go to 16 frames ;)

Good disassembly and lovely shot! Enjoyed it, looking forward to explore cleaning on an old cheap vintage lens.

I've also got one of these (zebra version) off ebay with a stuck aperture and was able to fix it up thanks to your videos. Lovely little lens and it works beautifully as a short telephoto adapted on Nikon F mount as well.

Screwdriver, naked fingers over the screen...oh god...

Excellent tip and excellent photos! Will consider this upgrade when I get the Pentacon Six I just ordered 🙂 👍

I look at these fuji cameras as a vertical parings capable system. The GS645S Wide 60 is a perfect choice for street photos.

IN the US, the problem is finding a reliable repair and service resource. The Pentacon Six, in all of its versions, was never that robust, and regular preventive maintenance was always required. The reason to risk one is the lenses made for it by Est German Zeiss, which used to be superb quality and relatively inexpensive. This really is a MF system best owned by a European,

Hello Gareth, thank you for the video and great shots! I've just got the same screen and I noticed it's not flat. Is your screen curved too?

His expressions of opinion that the GS models (manual) are more durable and repairable than the GA645 equivalent are totally misplaced. The GA electronics have mo history of failing, although the electronics theoretically could become a problem, like any other camera so equipped. On the other hand, the GS645S, the subject of this video, is a known quality. It's design exposes the focus mechanism and shutter linkage to easy damage. Among the universe of used units today, many have damaged focus mechanisms, identified by lenses which wiggle in their mounts, or have ratchet motion or grinding noises when focused. Contra the video, these are not repairable, i.e., no one will touch them, and there are no parts to repair them. Since these models use the same lens, optical quality between them is a wash, or may favor the GA645 for its autofocus accuracy.

Exactly what inwas looking for.y screen arrived today.❤

Do you repaid cameras? In mine 1/125 is not working

Really a great video

Hi mate great video just won one on eBay!!! Can’t wait to shoot with it!!! 😁

Great video. Happy to say, I just joined the "Texas" brigade with the purchase of a GL690 plus the 65, 100 and 180mm lenses. All are in mint or very nearly mint condition. In spite of the comical size of everything, it is surprisingly usable and the rangefinder seems accurate with all three lenses. The lenses themselves are excellent - sharp edge to edge and with no noticeable chromatic aberation. The in-lens shutters are very quiet and entirely smooth, as is the actual shutter button action. This, combined with the weight (around 2 kg with a lens fitted), practically means that it has IBIS though, in this case, that stands for Inertia Based Image Stabilisation! So far I have not seen camera shake in any if my shots. Using a 200 ISO colour film, the 6 x 9 format gives a resolution equivalent to around 22 megapixels digital, compared with 4 mp with the 35mm format, so the image quality is sublime by comparison. I actually like having only 8 shots per roll since, unlike with 35mm, one is not hunting round for pictures to take at the end of the day just so as to use up the rest of a 36 frame film before it be taken out for processing.

what battery you need for this camera pls?

I have this lens but in newer mc version :).

Thank you for a great video. Lovely photos!

Nice video and shots at Greenwich. Love my P6 to death and may give this a try.

Anyone have an idea how reliable or serviceable the rangfinder is?

very nice thanks

incredible video, thank you man! can't wait to send my first roll through it

I just borrowed one from a friend to try it out and after the first roll I’m amazed! Very cool camera!

What hood are you using in the video on the 80mm? ty!

The P6 is my secret weapon. The Biometar is one of the best medium format lenses, especially when it comes to Bokeh. I only have three other lenses for that camera. The Volna 3 (even closer focus distance), Sonnar 180 for stunning portraits and a Petzval lens, for the real vintage look. Great video! I hope more portrait sessions with the P6 will follow :)

great video! are you using a diopter? I have this camera, but don't have anything screwed into the viewfinder attachment. I think it might take Nikon ones? Any advice?

My favorite camera

I have a GW690, I took it to New York a few years ago. Great camera

Couldn't stop watching from the first second. Thank you!

These cameras came in 6x7 (670) - 10 frames; 6x8 (680) - 9 frames; and 6x9 (690 - eight frames. When printing 35mm frames from their 2:3 image ratio, I always found myself cropping off some of the longer side, a waste of film, really. So when I looked at the big Fujis, and already having a 6x7 Pentax system, I planned on getting the GW680. Also, because of its uncommon image ratio, they tended to be a bit cheaper than the GW690. However, I never could get by the fixed lens limitation, and being concerned that, for me, it would become an unused dust catcher, I never did buy one.

At the local camera store the other day, there was the 6x9 version behind the counter. You hear that these are big, but it’s kinda different to see them in person.

When I started photography in the early eighties, my father gave me his Pentacon six. I was thrilled to have such a big camera and it had a big loupe finder (not the pop-up but a real loupe) Unfortunately the second curtain didn’t close fully so I had light leakage on each photo, plus the 80mm lens had some fungus. I could not find any repair shop in the Netherlands so I considered it lost and disassembled it myself. Obviously that was a disaster so eventually it ended up in the trash. I have scanned my negatives and even though the quality did not really impress me, not better than 35mm, I wish I had just kept it on the shelf for show…

Never shot Kentmere 400... but it definitely has an interesting look to it! Personally i prefer the plastic version.... the older versions are sooooo freaking heavy....

Got two other from this series, W and Pro, awesome, lightweight, sharp! Too bad W has zone focus, not entirely found of it.

Have had a GW690III for almost a decade now, phew. Sometimes I wish it were more compact, heh, but for the format it's awesome. The 6x8 version quite makes some sense nowadays with better fit to paper and an extra frame a roll. 2:20 I have heard more issues with 6x7 needing oversize, never handled 6x8 but perhaps 120 files of 3 vertical strips of 3 frames would do the trick? The counter is just annoying because its mechanism is what creates the ping. Come on, Hasselblads and other pro cameras might have been put to heavier use and nobody stresses so much the shutter service. IMO the Fujis have been very solid in use. And being 6x9, it contains multiple formats by cropping. I just got used to its 40mm equivalent and haven't really needed anything else.

I am looking for those to put in my old Kiev 60. Are those brighter? I already have a Fresnel in my TTL prism.

Holy crap you can get these in working order for around 150 euro with a Zeiss lens. What kind of crack are eBay sellers smoking ???? Or better yet, what kind of crack are buyers smoking xD

OP, do you use the waist level viewfinder or you have added a prism? If prism, any recommendations? 🙏 Btw, are the scenes shot at the Old Naval College (Greenwich)? Nicely done, both photos and the video 👍

Flawless video and Warsaw looks awesome in your eyes!

I really like your work,I also want to try film portraiture.But i haven't found a model yet😂

shutter count can be lying to you. when you hit 999 it will start again from 0.

Has the Pentacon roughly a decade ago. Great camera. It was really fun using it.

FYI - the roll counter is worthless in terms of determining age, because it can be reset in under 10 minutes if you know what you're doing. It was meant as a maintenance indicator. These cameras were designed for contact printing, large volume stuff for things like IDs and such, before the age of computers, or other snapshot use cases that required super fast turnaround. Cruise ship on-shore snapshot is another use case seen mentioned, other fast turnaround snapshots. When the thing hits 999, it needs serviced, or at least, that's the idea. The film counter on these GWs and the mechanical Fujica 645s are the reason they sound "twangy". If you pick up and shoot a GL690 or GM670, those don't have a film counter, and they're dang near silent.

American users can get theirs serviced by Ross Yerkes of Los Angeles, ca, Usa, or anyone else, for that matter.

I have one with an Exakta 66 as well. I have the 50mm 80 mm, 120mm Zeiss lenses. Also the 30 Arsat fisheye, the 45mm Mir, the 65 Vega, the 90 Kiev 2.8, 180 Meyer Gorlitz, 250 5.6 Kiev.Been shooting them since 1998

If you want a Pentacon Six without the trouble (shutter, spacing, transport etc.) then get a Kiev 60.

I have the 6x7 version. Picture quality can’t be beat. Sometimes use it on tripod with infrared film and a R72 red filter. Because it is a rangefinder you are not looking through the lens so the opaque filter is no problem.