In the previous tutorial mentioned generally in combination an old tachnical camera with a more modern Digital Back, resulting in a set of digital to analog with technical possibilities camera.
So searching in recent months for the components of this combination i met a medium format camera which totally ignores and does not expect that was there ! Usually when I was looking for a used technical camera body, looked older model known manufacturers large format , such as the very good Sinar P2, is essentially the penultimate Sinar model. The problem with this kind of solution was the cost of large format camera that even after so many years you can not call it low. The P2 I mentioned as an example costs around 1300 euro to 2000 euro only the body. Another element that raises the cost , is that large format use large circle lenses to cover the large area of the film. These lenses are very good quality and so their cost is high, from 400 euro to 1200 euro depending on the type of lens you choose. And all this without counting the cost of digital back which is at least 1500 euro for models after 2003 to 2004 . So my overall budget will not be enough even for the camera and a lens !
So searching for a solution more feasible for my budget, i discovered the Fuji GX 680! Initially did not even know that Fuji had never produced anything beyond normal SLR cameras. The large advantage of this machine was that it had coveted tilt & shift movements and not worth a fortune. Other comparative advantages are firstly that the size is almost half of the known large format cameras (Sinar, Cambo, Horseman,) certainly do not compare to a today DSLR because Fuji is almost double ! Secondly for GX 680 there are a number of very good lenses EBC Fujinon that many professionals consider them on par with the Zeiss and Schneider or Mamiya and most importantly their current cost is about 1/10 the price of the aforementioned lenses. Specifically, the cost varies from 150 euro to 700 euro and with an average value at 250 euro. It's worth as a mediocre lens for Canon or Nikon DSLR. Third in Fuji GX 680 can be easily adjusted a digital back with an adapter. And fourth, Fuji features view finder from which you can comfortably control your focus, something in a large format camera can not be done, only by the ability of the live view - live video of the digital back, option to have only the newest DB which are more expensive.
All these advantages of the system "Fuji GX 680 - Fujinon lenes-DB" made e decide to invest in it. Surely you will wonder, that system has only advantages? the Fuji has not anyone disadvantages ? Certainly all solutions have their pros and cons. For example, this system is not suitable for photography except in studio. The camera although is small enough for medium format camera, is heavy and has a huge mirror (4 x relative to a DSLR) which generates sufficiently large vibrations especially at low speeds as a resulted images with motion blur. This problem can be solved with a good heavy tripod and with mirror lock function available to the camera, vibrations are neutralized. So the Fuji GX 680 is not a camera, ideal for off- studio photography. Another disadvantage is that the GX 680 is able to moves the front elemant of the lens, but it can not move the back elemant in which is the DB. This restricts the creative possibilities of the camera, compared with the conventional large format movements.
In conclusion I would say that the GX 680 is a machine ideal for advertising, produc, portrait and food photography.
The camera is manufactured in three different models of the GX 680 I, II and III differences are small and limited to cosmetic changes of rotating the camera buttons and the batteries are different on models I II and III . Essentially all three models have the same features . Apart from these three models , was manufactured and third the GX 680 III "S" which does not have the movements of the front element and so you may find at a lower price on ebay. Generally, the camera has several accessories that are still on ebay and most can be used in models I and II
Along with Fuji i chose to use a DB of Imacon. The Imacon was a manufacturer of digital backs , which merged with the Hasselblad on 2004. H my choice was based on the cost of the back, of the analysis and the type of CCD . The model I chose is the Imacon ixpress 132c 22mp (2004) with the classical - 49mm x 37mm - very good quality Kodak sensor, unfortunately not produced more . It's the same sensor Phase One P25 and Sinar 54M.
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