Fuji GX680

[mattbenn8]

Hey all. I just won a GX680....the original version with the 100mm f/4 lens. It hasn't arrived yet. I've been having a hard time finding a lot of info on the camera. I understand the basics....6x8...tilt...swing...but do any of you know of a better site resource for the camera?
It seems that the forums and sites related to this camera are all down. Flickr has a bare minimum(maybe 100) pictures tagged as taken with this camera. Fuji's website acts as if this camera never existed.
I'm just looking to learn some of the cameras eccentricities, quirks and characteristics beyond "it's huge" and "it tilts".

Thanks

[F16SUNSHINE]

Congrats you are the envy if many with this fine rig.
I googles quickly and there were many hits.
Surprisingly nothing at camerapedia.org .
Looking forward to your samples and feedback.

[kansalliskala]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/gx680iii.shtml

[cooltouch]

Congratulations! You've just bought yourself one helluva camera. It may be relatively obscure compared to Hassys and Mamiyas, but it performs with the best of 'em. The Fujinon lenses are excellent optics.

[spiralcity]

yes indeed ! These are highly respected cameras..

Have fun and be sure to post a few pics.

[mattbenn8]

Thanks for the tips. Just got the camera and unfortunately it was a little busted up in the front. The portion that holds the lens to the rails and allows for the movements had come off. The screws that held it on were weak and 5 of the 6 had the heads of the screws pop right off. I've gotten it rigged back on to the point where it will function and will let you know how it performs after I get some film back.

[mattbenn8]

A quick pic with the GX680. The thing handles like a brick. More later.

[LittleAlex]

I reacently have obtained the whole set of the camera with the standart 135mm lens for the relatively reasonable price





http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOJ-62-g-Excellent-FUJI-GX680S-FUJINON-135mm-f5-6-Holder-From-Japan-/151624128500?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234d8097f4&nma=true&si=wr%252B0zwxaDE3i%252FyurJzegM2NfbFY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The condition of the camera is perfect. However in reality the dimensions, and the weight very much surpassed all my boldest expectations. I was looking for the reasonably manual camera, rather the for “the heavy machinegun”.
In addition I was unpleasantly surprised to discover, that it needs the especial battery. Not that it would be difficult to build the replacement from AA accumulators, but it will take some time, and the manual work. And the backup batteries in the film backs also are replicable only by the disassembling of the item. Not too great problem for me, but steel the certain headache.

Also I missed that it is the “S” model, which means no movements.

[cooltouch]

Well, still -- despite the minor drawbacks, you've got yourself a helluva system there. I fantasize about buying a GX680 III system periodically, but then I also wonder what on Earth I'd do with it after buying it. The GX680 is a quintessential studio camera, and trying to use it as a field camera -- which is more the work I'm inclined to do -- would probably be an exercise in frustration.

[LittleAlex]

[LittleAlex]

Batteries in the film backs, of course, had been dead long ago. Fortunately I discovered the pefect description, how to disassemble it, and change the battery:

http://www.thierrygruximages.com/perso/gx680.html

The replacement battery I easily obtained at the local market for $7.5



Also I am experimenting with the power souse for the camera. There it the half finished device (it need to be put into the box with the electrical contacts, which I assembly at the present):



The main idea, and the general size for the bottom plate I took from that page:

http://www.gitarrenklinik.de/gx-680-battery-holder/