Rather sad screenshot

[chrism]

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I was looking to see if there was anything official about the 667W, and couldn't find it, so tried by searching for an obvious film key word:

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Sad.

 

Chris

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[adan]

Google got me to a Neopan 400 hit at Fuji USA - clicking on BUSINESS PRODUCTS > PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY got me to this: Fujifilm USA | Products | Film | Neopan Black & White

[noah_addis]

Seems like the only thing "sad" about this is a bad search algorithm or maybe a division website that is not integrated with other sites within the Fuji company.

 

I've never used Neopan, but it seems alive and well and is on the Fuji pro USA website.

 

Now as for the 667W, all I can say is WOW! That looks like a great camera. Have you found more info and do we know anything about the price and availability?

 

I love my Mamiya 7II kit but sometimes the 50mm, as wonderful as it is, is a tiny bit too wide for me. I've always thought that a 55mm would be perfect. Assuming the fuji doesn't need an external VF (which would be silly on a fixed-lens camera), this could be an amazing backup/wide camera to supplement my Mamiyas.

 

In any event, a company still putting out new film cameras, even if in small quantities, is a very good indicator of their future intentions...

[chrism]

I know, it wasn't fair to expect a Fujifilm site to have the word Neopan on it somewhere!

I don't want to wander to far OT, the only relevance of this thread to this forum being the fact that Neopan also comes in 35mm, but the 667W is said to be available next spring in both a Fuji and a Bessa version, the latter has an estimated price of €2,000. I use the Bessa III and have come to love the 80mm lens on it - in 6x6 it has the same field of view horizontally and vertically as a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera has in the horizontal direction. I don't know that I would need the wide version (OK, I do know I don't need it), and I rather like the enforced discipline of having one fixed lens for a change, so it was just curiosity for me.

Sorry for going off topic!

 

Chris

[andybarton]

Seems like the only thing "sad" about this is a bad search algorithm or maybe a division website that is not integrated with other sites within the Fuji company.

 

 

+1

 

Neopan is alive and well and living in my camera bag tonight.

[adan]

Is the wide version of the Bessa/667W still a "folder"? The only image available so far, from directly in front, could be read either way. There doesn't appear to be a "door" as in the 80mm version.

 

I DO like wide-square images, like Diane Arbus, or Mary Ellen Mark's experiment's with a Hassy 65.

[noah_addis]

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Is the wide version of the Bessa/667W still a "folder"? The only image available so far, from directly in front, could be read either way. There doesn't appear to be a "door" as in the 80mm version.

 

I DO like wide-square images, like Diane Arbus, or Mary Ellen Mark's experiment's with a Hassy 65.

 

I'm relatively sure the Wide version is not a folder, since the wider lens would want to be closer to the film plane.

 

At first I was reluctant to switch to the 6x7 format after becoming quite used to the wider aspect ratio of the 35mm format. I was even thinking of trying to find a 6x9 camera. But I've come to realize that it suits a more subtle style I'm going for in my work now, and I've become quite fond of the almost-square format. If you've neve used a 6x7, I encourage you to give it a try. Of course being able to switch between 6x7 and 6x6 is very interesting.

 

I guess it's off-topic, but at least it's a rangefinder!

[adan]

Actually, I did try one of the fixed-lens Fuji 6x7s earlier this year. Had trouble with film flatness for scanning compared to 6x6 (maybe the bigger area, maybe the oddball length the film has to be cut to for 10 images per roll - 5 strips of 2 pix each).

 

And there is still just something about a perfect square, as opposed to any rectangle. If it weren't for the fact that they have weak wind mechanisms (and no spare parts anymore from Mamiya) I'd probably have a Mamiya 6 + 50mm. Square, rangefinder, wide.

 

(Or maybe a stand-alone Hassy SWC)

[AbbeyFoto]

Actually, I did try one of the fixed-lens Fuji 6x7s earlier this year. Had trouble with film flatness for scanning compared to 6x6 (maybe the bigger area, maybe the oddball length the film has to be cut to for 10 images per roll - 5 strips of 2 pix each).

 

And there is still just something about a perfect square, as opposed to any rectangle. If it weren't for the fact that they have weak wind mechanisms (and no spare parts anymore from Mamiya) I'd probably have a Mamiya 6 + 50mm. Square, rangefinder, wide.

 

(Or maybe a stand-alone Hassy SWC)

 

I am enjoying 6x7 a good deal at the moment and not having problems scanning, but maybe I am less critical than your good self.

 

Square can be good but the key is seeing in square. I have to look through the square finder to see it.

 

Chris

[chrism]

Not a folder:

 

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Chris

[Stealth3kpl]

It could be a folder. There's a lock to the left of the lens plate. I'd expect a fair bit of distance is required from the lens to a negative of that size. Surely the lens must come forward.

Pete

[chrism]

It could be a folder. There's a lock to the left of the lens plate. I'd expect a fair bit of distance is required from the lens to a negative of that size. Surely the lens must come forward.

Pete

 

Might be a shutter lock/meter switch since neither would be switched by the folding mechanism if it isn't a folder.

 

Chris

[noah_addis]

Pete--Actually, wide lenses often do not require a long distance between the lens and the film plane. This has always been an advantage of rangefinder design since designers can work free of the restriction imposed by the mirrors in SLR designs.

 

My 50mm lens for the Mamiya 7 extends far into the body, it seems to almost touch the film plane. The result is very, very low distortion. Though this may come at the expense of some light falloff.

 

I'm pretty sure it's not a folder. That one lever looks like a lock, and the other three corners look to be fitted with screws.

 

Andy--I know what you're saying, I always loved both the 35mm frame and the Hasselblad square frame. But I quickly grew to like the gentle rectangle of the 6x7 frame and now I can't see going back. Just a matter of personal preference though. For me 6x7 provides the best possible quality in a camera that remains portable and handholdable.

 

As for scanning and film flatness, I actually cut my 6x7 negs into single frames. Printfile makes a page designed to hold 9 individual frames in sleeves. I cut up the film, leave the frames in the polyester sleeves from the lab and slip it in the pages. It's a pain that a sheet doesn't hold a whole roll, but the way I shoot it doesn't really matter. I just keep the frames in order.

 

For scanning on the Nikon I use the glass carrier with some modifications. Film flatness was a problem at first but I've mostly solved it. Last week I made some 32x40in. and 40x50in. prints and they looked great with the grain sharp out to the edges.

 

Are you sure Mamiya no longer services the Mamiya 6? I thought they did, though I may be mistaken. If you were seriously interested I'd give Bob a call at Precision Camera Works in Chicago. I always have them service and adjust my Mamiya 7 gear, and they do a great job. I know they will still work on M6s but I'm sure he could advise you about the long-term availability of parts. You may be able to find a whole Mamiya 6 kit for the price of this new Fuji!