Fuji GX 680 180mm f/3.2 in Seiko Shutter for 4x5 Experience

[BryanBirks]

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I’ve seen a couple of people on this forum talk about the GX680 lenses being mounted for 4x5. So I decided to buy one that was on eBay from a guy in the UK. He referenced me images of the 180mm f/3.2 on the 680 and I thought it would be spectacular on 4x5. Plus some people have said it works great as well on here.

He didn’t have any sample images for it because his negatives were stored away. First red flag. But regardless I trusted him.

Fast forward and I get the lens. It’s completely unusable wide open. I couldn’t even focus on anything as the center was basically transparent. It covered the whole film plane but as you can see the image was horrible.

I asked to return it and was obviously upset and he proceeds to tell me that the lens suited his “dreamy and ethereal” taste. And was on par with the Aero Ektar in sharpness. And said I wouldn’t be able to see for sure until I shot film with it. I don’t think it’s magically going to be in focus when I waste film on it.

I sent it back and just wanted to share my experience with it just in case anyone else wants to purchase this lens. I think it’s obviously mounted wrong and after talking with countless other LF photographers they agree as well. But if you like what you see above then by all means buy it for $700.

[Peter De Smidt]

Sorry to hear about this. This is my favorite lens for my GX680 system, and something is obviously wrong with how the lens is mounted. I would not describe the OEM lens as "dreamy and ethereal".

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/2874/33148017923_39b9c41c63_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/SvbfSp)DSC05746 (https://flic.kr/p/SvbfSp) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

I have the GX680 180mm F3.2 and I transplanted the cells into a Seiko Fuji WS shutter. It's one of my sharpest lenses on my 9x9cm Plaubel Makiflexes. So it is doable. I suspect the cell spacing on yours is way off specs.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50541383136_17c5318466_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2k1aNnw)Shades 45 degree High Contrast Pol Test 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2k1aNnw) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

This is a quick test of my new Sinar Norma Copy Stand. Plaubel Makiflex Automatic 9x9cm SLR with hacked Fuji GX680 180mm F3.2. 6x6cm Plaubel Makina film 120 back #4. High contrast polarized lighting. Two Broncolor Impact 21 200 watt second strobes, with polarizing gels adjusted fully. 103mm Sinar Norma glass polarizing disc under the lens, also fully adjusted. Strobes balanced with Broncolor FM2 Strobe Meter, balanced to F/32 1/2 both sides illuminating. The GX680 lens is one of my sharpest for sure. Foba 200 B&W 120 film exposed at EI 100. Developed in ADOX BORAX MQ straight replenished D76 type. This exposure was one pop at F8. Also made exposures at F11 and F5.6, but this is the ONE. 8x8 inch print on 8x10 Aristo #2 RC developed in Multigrade developer. This setup is good for photographing anything where you want this type of contrasty polarized lighting with 90 degree shadows.

[BryanBirks]

https://live.staticflickr.com/2874/33148017923_39b9c41c63_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/SvbfSp)DSC05746 (https://flic.kr/p/SvbfSp) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

I have the GX680 180mm F3.2 and I transplanted the cells into a Seiko Fuji WS shutter. It's one of my sharpest lenses on my 9x9cm Plaubel Makiflexes. So it is doable. I suspect the cell spacing on yours is way off specs.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50541383136_17c5318466_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2k1aNnw)Shades 45 degree High Contrast Pol Test 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2k1aNnw) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Yeah I was bummed for sure. Definitely not mounted correctly and super annoying that the guy thinks he did it correctly.

[BryanBirks]

Sorry to hear about this. This is my favorite lens for my GX680 system, and something is obviously wrong with how the lens is mounted. I would not describe the OEM lens as "dreamy and ethereal".

Yeah he only said that after I supplied the photo of the ground glass and quickly lost recollection of sending me reference photos of the lens on a 680 system as samples before I bought it.

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50316146541_5ed844107a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jEgpnX)Maki Std Copy Test Shades 180mm F3.2 GX680 (https://flic.kr/p/2jEgpnX) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

From Flikr:


Here I have attached the Makiflex Standard camera. to my Sinar Norma Copy Stand/Clamp/Head Mechanism. Attached the 180mm F3.2 Fuji GX680. Shooting my "shades" as a 3D test, using a Plaubel Makina 6x6 120 back, loaded with FOMA 200 rated at 100. Polarized lighting both sides, 200WS each, and the 103mm Sinar Norma Polarizing Filter Holder fits tightly on the front lenshood on the 180 GX680 lens. Just like it was made for it! :) WOW this lens has some resolution, now.... Quite acute in a good way. I have wanted to try this setup for a while. As I think I have mentioned before, the Makiflex family has a Plaubel patented shutter braking mechanism, absolutely granite boulder solid and vibration free. Plaubel made a big deal about this when the introduced the camera. Unlike some other big SLR's, no vibes at all, so perfect, although somewhat moot as I am using syched strobe. This is tight 6x6 crop of the clip-on sunglasses. Will try to develop ASAP. Also I can use all kinds of sheet film in this. Foma 200 bracked at f16, f11, f8 and f5.6 as a start. Development will prolly be in Pyro PMK+

These cameras also take 9x12cm/4x5 sheet film.

[BryanBirks]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50316146541_5ed844107a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jEgpnX)Maki Std Copy Test Shades 180mm F3.2 GX680 (https://flic.kr/p/2jEgpnX) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

From Flikr:


Here I have attached the Makiflex Standard camera. to my Sinar Norma Copy Stand/Clamp/Head Mechanism. Attached the 180mm F3.2 Fuji GX680. Shooting my "shades" as a 3D test, using a Plaubel Makina 6x6 120 back, loaded with FOMA 200 rated at 100. Polarized lighting both sides, 200WS each, and the 103mm Sinar Norma Polarizing Filter Holder fits tightly on the front lenshood on the 180 GX680 lens. Just like it was made for it! :) WOW this lens has some resolution, now.... Quite acute in a good way. I have wanted to try this setup for a while. As I think I have mentioned before, the Makiflex family has a Plaubel patented shutter braking mechanism, absolutely granite boulder solid and vibration free. Plaubel made a big deal about this when the introduced the camera. Unlike some other big SLR's, no vibes at all, so perfect, although somewhat mute as I am using strobe. This is tight 6x6 crop of the clip-on sunglasses. Will try to develop ASAP. Also I can use all kinds of sheet film in this.
Foma 200 bracked at f16, f11, f8 and f5.6 as a start. Development will prolly be in Pyro PMK+

Do you have any examples wide open? Would love to see what it was actually supposed to look like. Haha

[Daniel Unkefer]

Do you have any examples wide open? Would love to see what it was actually supposed to look like. Haha

Examples here on flikr:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=gx680%20180mm%20f3.2

I bought this lens with the idea of using it for beauty and fashion headshots. A portrait photographer friend HATES his; It's too painfully sharp for some of his clients :)

Problem I see using this lens, is that depth of focus is mighty -thin- at F3.2. I've had incorrect comments made on other forums, about some my photos taken with uber speed lenses being out of focus! Extremely paper thin depth of field is NOT the same thing as something being completely out of focus :/ Especially when those photos get repeatedly faved by others :/

[Peter De Smidt]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nu8hzp3rjhuzws3/120_gx_-0886_1200.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/celvskw3dw62pgl/120_gx_-0878_1000.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sfthvv31ytjkscn/120_gx_-0893_cropped_1200.jpg?raw=1

[Daniel Unkefer]

Beautiful Peter! Love 'em

[Peter De Smidt]

Thanks, Daniel!

[Daniel Unkefer]

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https://live.staticflickr.com/2874/33148017923_39b9c41c63_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/SvbfSp)DSC05746 (https://flic.kr/p/SvbfSp) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Comparing these two photos, his front group looks forward-spaced compared to mine. Perhaps he did not remove all the bits holding the front group together?? It's kind of difficult to tell in your photo. Another possibility, is that it is not the correct version Seiko shutter, perhaps the shutter is a different thickness. The only ones I found that worked, were the shutters for the f5.6 and also the F6.7 "WS" series of Fuji lenses. Lucking out I found a few cheaply in Japan, with horrible looking cells, which I chucked into the trash.

BTW taking this apart was a lot of fun but involved some risk which I was willing to take. If I remember correctly Fuji glued some of the rings and stripping it down completely was really quite a challenge. My mini bandsaw got a workout removing all that boxy plastic electro stuff

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48132180317_bfe1306994_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gkh1iT)GX680 Completed 180mm 125mm F3.2 Makiflex (https://flic.kr/p/2gkh1iT) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

I also hacked the 125mm F3.2 GX680 lens to Makiflex among others. These are some hot 90's era glass! Both acutely sharp if you like that

Maybe someday I will hack the 115mm F3.2 and I will have the F3.2 triad in Makiflex :)

[neil poulsen]

Last year, I had occasion to purchase an EBay listed adapter that enables one to use Mamiya RB67 lenses on a large format camera. It's pretty clever. One can cock the shutter using the adapter, and then if desired, the adapter can also trip the shutter. Or, one can use a separate shutter release cable that attaches to the lens itself.

The lensboards on my 4x5 are nearly 7" on a side. So, I will mount the adapter onto a deep recessed lensboard. Some RB67 lenses can be a little heavy. The recessed lensboard will help balance the RB67 lenses before and after the standard. It would be neat to try either the soft focus lens or the 140mm macro lens with medium format film, or with a digital back that I have.

Surprisingly, the Mamiya website has a datasheet that suggests that some RB67 lenses cover 4x5.

[Daniel Unkefer]

The RB67 Seiko shutters are also properly spaced and work GOOD with the hacked GX680 cells. Their shutter spacing is correct and for a while I was buying broken 90mm RB lenses just to gut the shutters for the GX680 lenses. I kept the iris mechs intact but removed the shutter blades, as the Makiflex is focal plane.

[roetronxoay]

mine looks very sharp on the groundglass even though I've yet to shoot any sheet with it. For that price you can have mine with guarantee for sharpness ;)

[MAubrey]

I don't have any digitalized shots, but I happily use my 180mm f/3.2 on my Super Graphic.

Any lens that GX680 Fujifilm lists as having full movements on their 680 cameras should cover 4x5 straight on without movements.

[BryanBirks]

Update for anyone interested. I returned the lens and it was delivered today. Now the guy is saying that I messed it up and is making me open up a dispute with eBay without refunding me. I suggest that he is butthurt because I came at him pretty hard in my messages calling him out and calling him a scam artist for trying to sell a faulty lens. I may have said it looked like a $2 coke bottle which is actually probably better than it actually is. Regardless just stay far away from this sample.

[BryanBirks]

mine looks very sharp on the groundglass even though I've yet to shoot any sheet with it. For that price you can have mine with guarantee for sharpness ;)

Do you have a photo of your ground glass? I may need to use it to settle my dispute with eBay. Lmao

[Tin Can]

I have that adapter and a few RB

I put it on a Sinar board

I need to try again and harder



Last year, I had occasion to purchase an EBay listed adapter that enables one to use Mamiya RB67 lenses on a large format camera. It's pretty clever. One can cock the shutter using the adapter, and then if desired, the adapter can also trip the shutter. Or, one can use a separate shutter release cable that attaches to the lens itself.

The lensboards on my 4x5 are nearly 7" on a side. So, I will mount the adapter onto a deep recessed lensboard. Some RB67 lenses can be a little heavy. The recessed lensboard will help balance the RB67 lenses before and after the standard. It would be neat to try either the soft focus lens or the 140mm macro lens with medium format film, or with a digital back that I have.

Surprisingly, the Mamiya website has a datasheet that suggests that some RB67 lenses cover 4x5.

[roetronxoay]

It’s hard to capture the screen on mine, very glary so I don’t know if this would help
216511

[BryanBirks]

It’s hard to capture the screen on mine, very glary so I don’t know if this would help
216511

Thanks. I can tell that looks substantially better than what I had. Appreciate it.

[Carsten Wolff]

Late reply, apologies, from an innocent bystander: The elements look very far apart in that remount. - Have those elements merely been remounted via step-up rings to a Copal-0 or -1 sized shutter? 180/3.2 = 56mm, so, not even a Copal 3 (max opening 45mm) would preserve that aperture..... No idea what Fuji does with it originally, I've never been near a GX680, and my reasoning may be off. But: Overall height of the f/5.6 version of that lens is apparently 104mm, and for the f/3.2 version its 105mm respectively....So, if yours isn't in that ball park....There's your problem. It seems to me you had a both inept and fraudulent seller. Let us know how you got on with that saga.

[John Liang]

This is my first post to the site, I have been thinking of finding a inexpensive gx680 taking it apart use the front standard somehow attach to your 4x5 front standard and reassemble the electronics and buttons into a small box which also has the electronic remote shutter attach to it, that way we could use the lenses from the gx680 system, the 180m f/3.2 especially for portraits with 1/400 of a second is faster than copal 3.
from what I have observed a lot of the photographer from this site seems they are electronics or electrical engineer, this should not be too difficult and it is a lot cheaper than Xenotar 150mm F2.8. just a thought.

[Peter De Smidt]

Interesting project, John. I have one of the 180- f/3.2s. That would be a pretty complicated endeavor, though.

[Daniel Unkefer]

One issue with adapters, is that they add extension. So turns it into a macro lens. I discovered that the Seiko LS23 Shutter (eg: Fuji WS 250mm 6.7, I buy with bad glass), or even busting out the shutter from a broken RB67 lens, will allow you to screw the front and rear cells directly in. Actually I've done this with a full range of GX680 lenses, still looking for a broken 115mm F3.2 to finish my set.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52753339599_b4909bf5fc_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2onCDXV)SONY DSC (https://flic.kr/p/2onCDXV) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

The Fuji GX680 Lens Set, from left 125mm F5.6 GX680, 210mm F5.6 GX680, and right the 250mm F5.6 GX680. All neatly shuttered Seiko LS23 Shutters from Fujinon WS lenses. lensboards 3D printed from the Guy in Italy, light seals added by me using Rotary Cutter to cut strips. Works good Minolta SRT Cable Releases (Good Ones!) 82mm Yellow Filters, Rubber Lenshood. Lens on left not finished, needs JB Welded Ring to board, back cell lip removed by me with grinder (to back focus on Makiflex) now needs brush painted with Krylon. Also I will Krylon the back of the lens board to make sure no leaks.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52621839636_134d6e5a7f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ob1FBb)Getting There Set of GX680 Lenses Seiko Shutters (https://flic.kr/p/2ob1FBb) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Getting there with my set of Fuji GX680 lenses, with Seiko #2 Shutters added. Mounted on PLaubel Peco Junior boards and Minolta SRT cable releases, Yellow Filters on each, and Hoods too. From the left front, the 50mm F5.6, then the 65mm F5.6, then the 80mm F5.6. On the far right front, the 100mm F4. Back Row, from the left, the 125mm F3.2, then the 150mm F5.6. Next the 180mm F3.2, and on the far right, the 210mm F5.6 Also adding the 250mm F5.6, should be tommorrow, got another Seiko Shutter coming. The 50mm front view reminds me of the HAL9000 fisheye in 2001: A Space Odyssey. It looks about the same LOL.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52837024891_0b2f2f5315_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ov2yFM)SONY DSC (https://flic.kr/p/2ov2yFM) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

This all fits in the small Zone VI White Bag, looks like a picnic cooler. Restored Plaubel Peco Junior body with Jim Galvin Glenn Evans Graflex Roll Back modded to Peco Junior. Made to nicely hold Singer Graflex 120/220 Roll Backs. Two RH8 2.25x3.25, two RH10 6x7cm, one 220 RH20. Three Fujinon GX680 lenses modded to Plaubel Junior Boards. From the left, the 125mm F5.6 GX680, then the 50mm F5.6 GX680, then on the right, the 180mm F5.6 GX680. All three lenses work perfectly with the standard length Plaubel Peco Jr Rail. Film loaded is Ilford PanF+, Ilford Delta 100, Shanghai 220 EI 100, Maco ORT25, Ilford FP4+, Ilford HP5+. So this I'll be taking out this spring, on an olde Star-D tripod. The tripod has a shoulder strap for traveling, and the bag is HEAVY but has everything I need plus room for odds and ends. Apertures on the shutters fully correctly marked, and verified through direct measurement of the lens front irises. All now perfect ready for fully testing. Eight 120 test rolls have yielded perfect frames, some outside tests and some studio stuff. Will post photos soon. These lenses are sharp enough for digital medium format. Hmmmmmm

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52610962301_b227bf4276_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oa3W9V)Fuji GX680 50mm f5.6 Seiko Shutter (https://flic.kr/p/2oa3W9V) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

My Plaubel Junior restored with New to me 50mm F5.6 Fuji GX680 lens, purchased broken, at a good discount, from Adorama in NYC. They also included the Gelatin Filter Holder/50mm Hood, it's worth some Dollars so a great deal. The view through the 50mm is AMAZING. Can't wait to shoot some test 6.5x9cm Makina Back Film. EVentually I will buy some type of Digital Medium Format Back. The Peco Junior has a Leica-like smoothness and feel. Plaubel advertised as "The Rolls Royce of Cameras" in the day. Works smoothly and tightly in a Leica-type of way. Also looked through my 4x5" Sinar Normas with this lens. It's amazingly sharp-looking and nice and contrasty view. This will get some use now, rather than becoming an interesting broken ornament. BTW I should mention that I bought the camera for 70 Bucks from Adorama. Another great price. And it included a lens board with a #0 hole

[John Liang]

One day if I have chance to get around of doing it I would post the whole Process, I really think this is the solution to bypass finding the right shutter for all those wonderful Fuji lenses.

[Havoc]

I really think this is the solution to bypass finding the right shutter for all those wonderful Fuji lenses.

What would be wrong with using the shutter they are in? I know they are electronically controlled shutters but running those looks not that hard to me (ok, I'm an electronics engineer). And we would not have to rob working lenses of their shutters.

I have one of those lenses, but with a defective shutter. Maybe I'd have to buy one with a working shutter and see what can be done.

[Peter De Smidt]

Well, it would be non-trivial for someone who's not an electrical devices expert. Ok, maybe it just wouldn't be trivial for me.

[Daniel Unkefer]

What do you do when components go POOF? Most of mine were purchased DOA so it does happen

https://www.getdpi.com/forum/index.php?threads/fujinon-gx-lenses-on-digital-medium-format.72331/

Here's another Guy over on GetDPI who has adapted GX680 to Seikos