The Fuji GX680 is a single lens reflex system camera for medium format film produced by Fujifilm with interchangeable camera lenses and interchangeable film holders for the unusual film format 6x8cm on 60mm roll film type 120 and 220. One highlight is the mounting of the lens on a lens board running on a rail connecting lens and camera body by a bellows like a view camera. In contrast to related medium-format-cameras of other makers, e.g. Mamiya RB67 and RZ67 and Rolleiflex SL66, the lens board can be shifted right, left, up and down for perspective control, the lens board can also be tilted on horizontal and vertical axis for control of depth of field using the Scheimpflug principle. Therefore the Fuji GX680 has the optical skills of a large format camera, only limited by restricted movability of the lens board, enabling the camera also for architectural photography. The Fuji GX680 has quite large physical dimensions for a medium-format-camera, but compared to studio-large-format-cameras the Fuji GX680 is a somewhat more compact model. Although the Fuji GX680 was designed for studio-work due to its size and weight, a neck-strap was offered for mobile work.
The Fuji GX 680 has been built in 3 model variants (numbers in parentheses are the production periods):
- Fuji GX 680 (1989-1995)
- Fuji GX 680 II (1995-1998)
- Fuji GX 680 III (1998-2007)
The 3 models differ externally only by slight modifications on displays, controls and rechargeable battery versus battery.
There is a second variant of the model III called GX 680 III S, missing the tilt- and shift-movements of the lens board (but movement of the lens board for focusing is possible).
About 18 interchangeable camera lenses, some viewfinders and focusing screens, film holders (also for instant film), different bellows and extension rail sets for close ups were offered.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Comparison of model specifications
1The GXM-Lenses were introduced with GX680 III. An electronic Picture-Counter was included in the lenses, allowing the Fuji GX680 III together with film-holder III to show the counter for the film-holder, the camera and the lens for maintenance purposes. GXM-Lenses can be used on models GX680 and GX680 II, but show no counter there.
2Counter for lens only with GXM-Lenses and film-holder III
3120 and 220 type roll-film used different film-holders on models GX680 and GX680 II; model GX680 III used different replaceable film-cassettes in the same film-holder
4only viewable with 6x8 and 6x7 focusing screens on model GX680 III
5needs adequate format-mask for film-holder III, adapt viewer by matching focusing screen with imprinted format border, changing of film-mask in the middle of a roll is not possible.
6effective movement can be reduced by 50mm Lens or 100-200mm Zoom-Lens, also by combining different movements with any lens; model GX 680 III S has no Lens-Shift or -Tilt
7enables mounting of Fujifilm DBP Digital Back
8OTF=Off The Film, during the exposure a Silicium-Diode inside the camera-body measures the light reflected by the film in a central 25mm diameter circle, displays: over-/under- or correct-exposure after taking the picture; no Flash Control via OTF possible
9Camera body with 135mm/1:5.6 lens, film holder and rechargeable battery
10Camera body with 135mm/1:5.6 lens and film holder, without (rechargeable) batteries
11Body only, without batteries
Fuji Camera Batteries Video
Parts and controls
The listed controls and parts are available on the camera:
- Shutter release button
- Power off & film advance (Single/Continuous/Multi) mode selector
- Film wind button (following a multi-exposure)
- Mirror up/down switch
- Shutter speed selector dial (including Bulb and Auto Exposure)
- Aperture adjustment & stop-down levers (both are part of the lens)
- Focusing knobs and Focus lock lever
- Tilt and Shift knobs and locks
- Hot shoe (on lens board)
- Flash synchro socket
- Flash synchro test button
- Remote control shutter release socket
- Communications connector (only model III)
- Spirit level
- Revolving film-holder lock release button
- Viewfinder lock release lever
- Lens lock lever
- Battery-/rechargeable battery compartment
- LEDs or LCD
Lenses
All EBC Fujinon GX(M) Lenses have been equipped with a Central shutter (Flash synchronisation is possible at all shutter-speeds), the lenses have good reputations. Electric contacts on the lens board and the lenses have been used to control the central shutter. The shutter in all lenses is electronic and made by Seiko.
A Lens Board Adapter accessory permits the use of large-format camera lenses fitting Linhof Technika type lens boards, but the shutter of these lenses is not controlled by the Fuji GX680, so only Bulb speed can be used.
Accessories
As the Fuji GX680 series are system cameras there is a wide range of accessories:
- Folding waist level viewfinder (default accessory)
- Magnifier hood
- AE viewfinder FL (view from above), AE angled viewfinder (view from behind) - each equipped with Exposure Meter (including flash)
- Neck-strap (model III default accessory) & Neck-strap-set
- Extension Rail Set 40mm, since model II also 80mm - to extend the 65mm Focus-Rail
- 1m and 5m Remote Release
- Instant film-holder
- 120/220 roll-film-holder (since film-holder III only one type of holder with two different replaceable film-cassettes for 120 and 220 type film, additional format-masks)
- Focusing Screens (especially for different formats on model III)
- Bellows for long focus-movement or wide angle-lenses
- Digital Back Fujifilm DBP for GX680 (other makers digital backs can also be mounted to Fuji GX680 by interchangeable mounts, most digital backs have smaller formats than 6x4.5 cm)
- Film-Holder Adaptors for Hasselblad 6x6, Contax 645 and Mamiya 645 backs
- Bellows-Lens-Shades, Lens-Hoods
- Dioptric Correction Lenses for folding waist-level viewfinder
- Carrying Case
- Rechargeable Battery, Charger, Battery Holder
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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