Fuji GW690III Professional - the Texas Leica.

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[@Narsuitus]

Over the decades, I have used 6x6, 6x7, 6x9, and 6x12cm medium format film cameras. I have never tried 645.
I have medium format rangefinders, SLRs, folding cameras, and view cameras.
For general subjects, the 6x6 square image was my favorite until I tried 6x7.
For landscapes, the 6x9 is my favorite.
I use my Fuji GSW690 medium format rangefinder with fixed 65mm wide-angle for group portraits, environmental portraits, architecture, landscapes, and scenics.
I use my Fuji GW670 medium format rangefinder with fixed 90mm normal lens for full-length portraits, ¾ length portraits, environmental portraits, and general subjects.

[@PhilKnall]

Thanks for the comment! I think because I started with 135 film and then shot digital for a while, I never quite warmed up to the square format. Even 6x7 felt too square for me a lot of the time. 6x9, or maybe 6x8 at most, feels the most natural to me.

[@tinpl8r]

I have used many different versions of this camera. And currently have the GSW690iii and the GW670iii. Love them both!

[@PhilKnall]

I'd love to try the GSW! These cameras were truly great.

[@tinpl8r]

@@PhilKnall had the gsw690ii at a great price. Sold it for a decent price but missed it then had to pay a premium for the gsw690iii. But totally worth it

[@PhilKnall]

Sounds like my experience, i bought my first gw690iii cheap and was foolish enough to sell it!

[@mahdimanesh4221]

Any recommendation on which version to get? I like the metal look of the mk2 better than the mk3… and I do not find major differences on paper 😅

[@SteveBrokaw]

Nice review. I love mine!

[@PhilKnall]

Thanks Steve! Truly an awesome camera.

[@robdixon5016]

I have a GSW690iii, love it and I using it again this weekend. Great video!

[@PhilKnall]

Thank you for the comment! There something really special about these cameras isn't there.

[@petergoodrum1607]

Great vid... You didn't mention the shutter counter. From memory of having one it goes up to 9999 at which point the shutter neads servicing or it will potentially be off in terms of speeds etc. Fuji recommends. When I bought mine if figured that at a count of 4500 the shutter would either be half way through its service life or ragged from not being serviced. Fortunately when it arrived from a returns accepted Japanese Ebayer it was good. When I used it for the second time I hiked miles and shot some landscapes. I got to the end of the roll and found I'd left the lens cap on. I was so annoyed that I vowed never to do it again. I kept to my word I sold it straight away!

[@PhilKnall]

Thanks for the added info! Yup, been there done that... unfortunately that's an issue that is bound to happen with most rangefinders. But I love them too much, can't let a few rolls of wasted film deter me 😂

[@TheIrishfitter]

This is excellent

[@PhilKnall]

Thank you!

[@Kerberos2233]

Even though the version 3 has plastic outer parts, it is still heavier than the version 2. The difference is only 35 grams though

[@PhilKnall]

Really?? I could've sworn it felt much heavier. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@mateo89fl]

​@PhilKnall the version III outer case is not plastic, it is metal with a rubberized coating. That's why it's not lighter than the II

[@marco_renard]

You bring out some excellent points!
Our conversation on Instagram definitely influenced me getting one 😂
Do you ever use it on a tripod ? I am looking for one and a good L bracket, so I'd love to hear if you have any recommendations.
I saw you had a Olympus XA, it's actually the camera I'd love to pair with my 690 to travel !

[@PhilKnall]

Hi! Thanks for watching. Sorry to say but that's not my area of expertise.. i use a tripod for video but never for photography. The one i use for video is a K&F Carbon one.

[@marco_renard]

@@PhilKnall Alright no problem ! Thanks for replying man :)

[@quite1enough]

I really wanted to try 6x8 version, but it's nowhere to find now and the prices is just ouch (not to mention that delivery to my region is borderline impossible right now).

[@PhilKnall]

Yeah, 6:8 is a really pleasing crop too, I've looked at those as well but as you said they're rare and expensive. Good thing is they're the same camera aside from the aspect ratio, so it's easy to just crop the pictures.

[@stampydragon2739]

How is the iso set

[@PhilKnall]

There is no meter in this camera so there's no setting for ISO.

[@Alhemund]

Greaat MF camera!!

[@PhilKnall]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@simbatv7328]

what film did you use?

[@PhilKnall]

Do you have a specific photo you want to know? Most of them are on lomography color negative 400

[@simbatv7328]

@@PhilKnall Thank you!!

[@jackmlynek8817]

Seriously, stop calling it the "Texas" Leica. Texas is so small you could drop it into Ontario and still have over 100,000 sq miles left over. Texas may be big in the US, but it's not much in Canada. Get over yourselves.

[@PhilKnall]

I'm not even from the US 😂 I think it's more referring to the stereotype that everying *in* Texas is big - the trucks, the steaks, the guns etc. I didn't coin it 🤷
( I'll take Ontario over Texas any day too!)