Gaoersi 617 camera: any experiences?

[David Carson]

Anyone handled or bought or used this newish 617 camera?

the producer's site (I think)

interesting bellows version (via expired ebay listing)

photo-i review

The bellows attachment is pretty interesting, the format switching (6x12, 6x15, 6x17) is less so, at least to me. I thought I heard that Fotoman is playing with the idea of the bellows attachment on their 4x5 Point/Shoot.

[Rich Voninski]

David,

I too am interested in any findings on this camera. Very cool looking camera.

Rich

[Paul Droluk]

David... at Fotoman we ARE currently working on poducing a bellows adapter for ALL of our camera models. The adapter will offer rise/fall/tilt and swing on the front standard. Still in the prototyping stage, delivery is expected around mid-summer.

[Pete Caluori]

Greetings,

I have the Gaoersi 6x24, which is the same as their 6x17 only a bit longer. I have put about 100 -150 rolls of 120 through mine since the beginning of the year and love it. I have hand held it at 1/15 of a second, but usually use it at 1/30 - 1/125 range.

The wonderful thing about this camera is that it can be handheld. I made a "standard tilt" adapter for the lens which increases depth of field considerably.

It's a completely manual camera: you have to remeber to remove the lens cap, and set the focus, which I've forgotten to do a few times. Advancing the film is by viewing the makings on the back of the roll of film through the viewing window on the back of the camera.

It's a really nice camera and for the price worth ervery penny. I got mine from eBay seller THKPhoto, whom I can recommend highly. I'm using an older 150mm lens which wouldn't focus at infinity and the seller sent me an extension ring at no charge and was very helpful.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards, Pete

[Richard_Downer]

I've had the Gaoersi 617 for about 5 months and it is excellent!! It's incredibly basic, the back doesn't hinge but lifts off, and film advance is by turning a wheel(no lever) but if you can live with that and the fact it won't take 220 film, it's a bargain. The build quality is really good and the 90mm viewfinder is pretty accurate. I have no regrets in buying this camera and hope to use it for many years.

[Tedward]

Hello Pete.
Yes. i also like my 6x17 gaoersi panorama. I am now taking five (6x15) full size negatives, they still look a panorama, and my five exposures vertually fill up the whole 120 film.....have you measured your negatives yet (anyone)....You will find that the 6x17 negative setting is in fact (6x16)....and the 6x15 negative setting is in fact (6x14) and the 6x16 negative setting....is just over the 6x12 setting....So i have set my format knob ,,,,to the last number...on 615.....number five.....this will give you a true 6x15 negative......Very interested in your standered tilt adapter....what must i have to do, in order to make one of these tilt adapters....Thank you....regards Tedward

[Pete Caluori]

Attached is an image of my 6x24 with the "standard front tilt" adapter that I made. It's simply a small piece of PVC pipe cut a angle on chop saw. This was done as a test, with the intention of having a machinis make a more precise part, but it worked so well that I never bothered to take it any further.

Regards, Pete

[Pete Caluori]

O.K. sorry, I can't type, but you get the drift.

Regards, Pete

[laurentvenet]

Hello Pete.
Yes. i also like my 6x17 gaoersi panorama. I am now taking five (6x15) full size negatives, they still look a panorama, and my five exposures vertually fill up the whole 120 film.....have you measured your negatives yet (anyone)....You will find that the 6x17 negative setting is in fact (6x16)....and the 6x15 negative setting is in fact (6x14) and the 6x16 negative setting....is just over the 6x12 setting....So i have set my format knob ,,,,to the last number...on 615.....number five.....this will give you a true 6x15 negative......Very interested in your standered tilt adapter....what must i have to do, in order to make one of these tilt adapters....Thank you....regards Tedward

Hi Tedward.

I received my Gaoersi from ebay last week and tried it this week end. I'm not very confident with format changing and counting views on back transparent window.

Sorry to ask, but I did not catch how you obtain 5 full 6x15 shots. When doing as explaine on Gaoersi web site, I can shot 4 6x17 shots (it's in reality 6x16 ) and some big gaps appears on the film between each shots.

I was wondering :

- do you turn knob on 6x17 format ?
- for the first picture, shall I align "1" number on film / paper with 6x17 mark on the back window
- for the second and next pictures, how many pictures should I go further : 3 ,
-"2 3/4" , "2 1/2" ?

Thank you very much,

Laurent

[Mick Noordewier]

I'm interested in the newer GF 617S model, the one with shift and a removable back. The older shift model (without removable back) allowed a change from 6x17 to 6x12 mid-roll. Does anyone know if the GF 617S also allows format change mid-roll? If so, how is this accomplished?

-Mick