So what if you don't need no steenkeeng medium-format digital Fuji? According to FujiRumors, B&H Photo has found a few brand-new Fuji GF670's in its warehouse, and will be shipping them on the 25th.
The GF670 was a new, modernized version of a classic medium-format folder. Unlike most classics, it is dual-format—you can set it to shoot square or 6x7. The lens is a very fine 80mm ƒ/3.5. The camera was jointly developed by Fujifilm and Cosina, was built by Cosina, and was also sold as a Voigtländer. Introduced in 2008, it ended its run a couple of years ago.
And if you'd like an authentic, historical folder, check out Jurgen at Certo6. He restores older folders to working condition. The "Rolls-Royce" late models are the Zeiss Zuper Ikontas and the superb Agfa Super Isolette, but an earlier one might be more fiddly and more fun, and a better conversation piece.
Looks like your very last chance to buy an '08 GF670 new. And if you get one, please also order some of this and maybe even some of this!
Mike
(Thanks to James Boykin)
Original contents copyright 2017 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
TOP: a modern replica of the aging original.
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Peter Wright: "Interesting post! The only medium format cameras I own are a GF670 bought from B&H, and an Agfa Super Isolette bought from Jurgen at Certo6! (The Agfa came with the original leather case.) I've had both for several years now and can't imagine parting with either. These are genuine coupled ranger-finder cameras producing great negs or slides and really satisfying to use. (I tried out Hasselblad, which is better built, but never hit the sweet spot for me.) I really think an extended period with one of these cameras will teach you lots about photography—something along the lines of the 'Leica for a year' approach."
Andrew Lamb: "My favourite camera is a 70-year-old Super Ikonta. Wonderful bit of engineering. Have owned it for 25 years and would never part with it. On a point of order, Jurgen also sings the praises of the Bessa II but I don't think they're a patch on the Super Ikonta or Super Isolette. Amongst other gripes, the 6x9 neg never seems to be held very flat thus making the camera incapable of showing off the lens to its best."
Stephen Gilbert: "How to tell you're a gear head: you have no desire to shoot film, but still covet the Fuji folder."
Mike replies: Amen, bro.
I have the later 667W version, which has a 55mm wide angle lens. I think it may have been the last newly designed “real” i.e. not a toy or bottom dollar, camera of the entire rollfilm era (2009 - does someone know of a later one?).
The range/ viewfinder is superior to my M6 and much better than my Mamiya 7ii’s was; almost shockingly big and bright, way bigger than any FF DLSR’s finder.
It is quiet and handles very well. The 55mm lens on mine does not seem quite as sharp wide open as my Mamiya’s 65mm did, but it’s more than adequate for the 20x24’s I make. I use it almost exclusively wide open. I can’t speak for the 80mm but I have often heard that it’s excellent.
These are beautiful cameras and will without doubt end up in collections someday.
Posted by: Charles Rozier | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 09:57 AM
I've had one of these since they were introduced. It's truly a lovely camera that begs to be used with thought and care. Admittedly I've only run a handful of rolls through it and am unlikely to ever use it more, if even again. But I'm reluctant to ever let it go. It's just a beautiful thing.
Now there's a camera that would be interesting reengineered as digital, eh?
Posted by: Kenneth Tanaka | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 10:00 AM
I forgot to mention in my earlier comment that the 667 also has a very good center weighted metering system, much more usable than the unmarked small central spot on the Mamiya. This can be a very big advantage over a vintage model.
Posted by: Charles Rozier | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 10:02 AM
Most of my later photo series are made with the Fuji GF670. A couple of earlier ones were made by a Zeiss Super Ikonta B, that had been gone over by Jurgen.
Posted by: Herman | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 10:22 AM
I have and use a Fuji G670 as my "travel" medium format camera. They are a little larger than the older folding cameras, which I have also used, but the viewfinder is bright, parallax corrected, and with an onboard meter and aperture-priority automatic exposure, none of which you will find with the older cameras. And its nice to know when traveling that delicate guts of the instrument are folded within its rugged clamshell.
A couple of things: you've got to set the lens to infinity for the camera to fold, and the it does not fold with the optional lens hood in place. The hood is useful but may be hard to find. I found one for the Voightlander Bessa III -- same camera--on the Cameraquest website, and they were still listed this morning.
Posted by: Bill Poole | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 10:53 AM
I have a couple of the folders restored by Jurgen, and they are great, cheerful little cameras. Very portable compared to the alternatives in the 6x6 or 6x9 world. Jurgen's work is excellent as well; you can tell he does this for enjoyment as it comes through in his work.
As for the 'Rolls-Royce' models, I'd like to offer that some of the more pedestrian folders (Isolette I or II, Record I or II, etc.) might be the way to go. The combined viewfinder/rangefinder of the Super Isolette and its ilk are dimmer than the simple viewfinder of the lower models, and the coupled focus is a bit fiddly. The viewfinder of the lower models, without the rangefinder patch, are nice and bright, and fun to use. Sure, you might want an accessory rangefinder or a modern laser rangefinder to help determine and set distances, but you get used to it. It's a process, but none of these folders is going to be used for action photos anyway. Finally, you can get into one of the simpler models for a very reasonable cost. There's almost no reason to not grab one, if you're interested in medium format film at all.
On paper, the really fancy models sound nice, but tend to be pretty expensive to obtain and service, and might or might not actually yield the most enjoyable experience. That's just from my observations at least!
Posted by: Chris Hunt | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 11:09 AM
My favourite camera is a 70 year-old Super Ikonta. Wonderful bit of engineering. Have owned it for 25 years and would never part with it.
On a point of order, Jurgen also sings the praises of the Bessa II but I don't think they're a patch on the Super Ikonta or Super Isolette. Amongst other gripes, the 6x9 neg never seems to be held very flat thus making the camera incapable of showing off the lens to its best.
Posted by: Andrew Lamb | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 11:12 AM
Wow, great news! I wish they could find the wide version of this camera in their warehouse. It would be an inexpensive alternative to a RolleiWide and more compact than a Hasselblad with 50mm lens.
Posted by: Kodsachromeguy | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 12:27 PM
With my Fuji GF670 in Cuba-
Posted by: Herman | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 12:43 PM
Folders aside, I wonder how many photographic people of today know that it was Fuji who made the world's most bestest medium format camera - the mighty GX680. Fuji knew the power of having an "X" in the name long before the age of digital.
Posted by: marcin wuu | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 02:27 PM
Once you get into old folders it's hard to get out! The image quality is gorgeous. I have the Bessa II with middle-of-the-range Color Skopar lens and love the big, tonally-rich 6x9 negs. A trick to keep the negative flat in the film gate is to only wind on the film after the camera has been opened and immediately prior to exposure. This avoids suction pulling the film. Also, a tripod never hurts:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/24885349549/in/dateposted-public/
Even handheld on a rock'n'rolling Manly ferry across Sydney Heads, a 6x9 rangefinder like the Bessa II can produce great results:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/24621600404/in/dateposted-public/
Posted by: Lynn | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 02:30 PM
No small thing to get forgotten in the warehouse.
It is a kind of dream camera that would make Medium Format portable. Dreams of island hopping in South East Asia with it.
But the bucks ain't there at the moment and could do much more, so instead I got a Fuji GW690 "Texas Leica" with a rather neo-classic 6x9 RF approach.
Interesting how Fuji bridges the two media, they could use a bit more enthusiasm into film out of Instax.
BTW, prices for select (MF) cameras have been on the rise lately.
Posted by: Jordi P. | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 04:08 PM
I am so glad I stopped by today! I've been trying to remember the Certo site, who ran it or what it was called, and I will also be picking up an X-Pro1 book by the above-above-mentioned author. Cool!
Posted by: Marty | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 04:10 PM
I was shocked to see that you recommended tri-x professional, then I see that Kodak has discontinued the 320 ISO extended green sensitivity "optimized for male portraits" tri-x professional, and renamed all the other tri-x films tri-x professional. Seems that all the Kodak films are "professional" now which is odd since Kodak used to only label films that were likely to have quality problems in general use as "professional"
Well at least it isn't that hideous t-max junk.
Posted by: hugh crawford | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 04:25 PM
The GF670 is one of my favourite cameras. It's not small by any means, but it's light and compact enough to bring when I travel (something I can't really say for my P67). Just scanned a roll of slide film from it yesterday, and the results are as pleasing as always.
One minor issue: the film advance ball bearings are not quite as strong as they could be. I had one break at one time and it had to go in to get fixed. Fuji (Cosina) happily did it, though, and I've had no problem since.
Posted by: Janne | Monday, 23 January 2017 at 06:53 PM
A beautiful camera that takes excellent images. Crack it open on the street and no one can resist getting their picture taken with it.
Posted by: Ned | Tuesday, 24 January 2017 at 08:50 AM
I have the Voigtlander Bessa III incarnation - black - and it's a beautiful piece of equipment. I think I posted a photo on this website years ago of it sitting in a jacket pocket (one of he joys of folders). Got to echo Charles Roziers comment about the finder... wow!. After peering at all these EVFs, looking through that is somethin else. It's worth buying just so you can look through the finder every now and again...
Only complaint? That shutter is too damn quiet... you have to turn the film advance knob to make sure you actually got an exposure.
Posted by: Richard Tugwell | Tuesday, 24 January 2017 at 03:03 PM
I have owned a Fuji 645 folder for 30 plus years and found it a frustrating camera to use. Natural Vertical Format and placed on its side for Horizontal Pictures makes controls hard to reach. Controls around end of lens barrel are very tiny and hard to set without taking eye off, so fast off-the-cuff shots at not easily done. Camera was best at slow landscape work. Enlargements at 8by10 were only slightly better than careful 35mm prints. Jammed the Camera several times when closing without advancing shutter- very scary moment. Bellows replaced twice and shutter slows down in slight cold weather. I like my Yashica-mat better - thanks billchrest
Posted by: Bill Chrest | Tuesday, 24 January 2017 at 08:36 PM