Imagine a commercial of this camera: A project manager always carries this tough camera with him for a large construction project, with sites covered in dust, under summer heat, autumnal rain or winter snow, taking photos for his progress reports for investors, clients, subcontractors, local politicians and residents, etc. When the project is completed, he is given a hard-earned vacation and takes his wife and kids to a sunny beach, bringing the same model (maybe with fancier colors) with him for precious family moments without worrying sand and seawater.
The perfect camera for my home region, the Pacific Northwest of the US & Canada -- Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska -- with so much rain and dramatic natural scenery. When it's too wet outside to use my more premium film cameras, the Genba Kantoku just steams right through everything. And it takes good shots, too. I was so impressed by a 28WB, like the one you review in this video, that a few years ago I bought its sibling, a Genba Kantoku DD, with a selectable 40mm f/3.5--60mm f/5.2 lens. I've probably run four times more film through the DD than the 28WB.
Polaroid did have the Job Pro series meant for construction sites and whatnot... But they weren't really built any different than the regular one step series, they just had some yellow pieces on them....
My own kind of "beach camera". Seriously. I brought one during a beach trip and it made lots of great shots. It did get some water action, but nothing that involved drowning it. On dry land, it also does amazing photographs - it's rumored that it also shares the same lens as the Konica Big Mini camera (known for its lens but is the finicky version of the 28/35WB Genba Kantoku). But Bellamy, Fuji also built a camera specific for construction needs: the K-28 (camera-wiki.org/wiki/Fuji_K-28 / www.imagingpixel.com/p/fuji-k28.html). That thing had a 28mm f/3.9 lens and looks like a steampunk camera.
@@japancamerahunter No worries. Konica still owned the roost of the construction cameras. I think they even made a digital version of the Genba Kantoku. The version we both have is the 2nd or 3rd iteration; the first one looked like melted plastic.
there's been a ton of videos pop up of this camera recently! I grabbed one when I lived in japan over a decade ago, it's great to take out on a night out. I got mine for maybe a thousand yen in pretty good condition from a bargain bin somewhere in akihabara, interesting to see how high up the prices have gotten now!
wow! this is a really fascinating camera. I'd much prefer one of these as a street camera over something like the ricoh gr1. Cheap, durable, and doesn't get in the way of shooting. I could also buy 10 of these for the price of 1 ricoh gr1v! Maybe not as pretty but I think it has charm. I'm really enjoying these videos! Especially stuff like this that spotlights cameras that aren't as popular.
Great channel you have, really love the content and all the info you have about cameras. Would love to see a video about the Ricoh Singlex in black. As what I have found about it its very rare and is based on the Nikkorex body. I found a black Singlex with the all black 55mm 1.4 lens in a fleemarket for around 5 dollars. Not the best condition but it works and I really like it.
Hi Bellamy, i have the 35wb model and trying to find out what ISO rate films this camera can take. Do you happen to have a link for the manual of this camera? Would greatly help! Cheers
Enquiring minds want to know if you had all that dayglo vest, hard hat stuff left over from your time in the village people or if you bought it specifically for this video :)
Hi from Kanagawa. Love your vids! Keep it up! Don't forget about the Fuji Work Record. Also, the Fujica HD-1 from 1979 predates the Genba by 9 years. It was initially sold to the construction and fishing industries in Japan. Then later to the American market as MTB, skateboarding and snowboarding took off in the early 80's. :)
Imagine a commercial of this camera: A project manager always carries this tough camera with him for a large construction project, with sites covered in dust, under summer heat, autumnal rain or winter snow, taking photos for his progress reports for investors, clients, subcontractors, local politicians and residents, etc. When the project is completed, he is given a hard-earned vacation and takes his wife and kids to a sunny beach, bringing the same model (maybe with fancier colors) with him for precious family moments without worrying sand and seawater.
The perfect camera for my home region, the Pacific Northwest of the US & Canada -- Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska -- with so much rain and dramatic natural scenery. When it's too wet outside to use my more premium film cameras, the Genba Kantoku just steams right through everything. And it takes good shots, too. I was so impressed by a 28WB, like the one you review in this video, that a few years ago I bought its sibling, a Genba Kantoku DD, with a selectable 40mm f/3.5--60mm f/5.2 lens. I've probably run four times more film through the DD than the 28WB.
Polaroid did have the Job Pro series meant for construction sites and whatnot... But they weren't really built any different than the regular one step series, they just had some yellow pieces on them....
I enjoyed the Beastie Boys tribute at the end
I lost it when it went to the outside part haha best video yet, and wow very cool little camera!
Great vid, love the addition of adding a field test :D
finally samples on the pictures!!! amazing job am really enjoying it!!! keep it up
Thanks, will do!
just got mine, the Wide 28 model :)
love the sample shots!!!
The jokes at the end.. utterly the best review so far for sure.
I just ran into this model while browsing Fleebay!! You must be Psychic! 😁
Not the video we asked for, but the video we needed.
we finally get to see his shots
Saw you mention this in another video and picked it up for my kids
I've got the Off-Road-Version some Days ago. I love the short manual and the wide angle lens. I'm really excited! :)
Hope you enjoy it!
I really do. This version seems more quiet, but it has some quality issues: The back door is a bit plasty. But I love it!@@japancamerahunter
My own kind of "beach camera". Seriously. I brought one during a beach trip and it made lots of great shots. It did get some water action, but nothing that involved drowning it. On dry land, it also does amazing photographs - it's rumored that it also shares the same lens as the Konica Big Mini camera (known for its lens but is the finicky version of the 28/35WB Genba Kantoku).
But Bellamy, Fuji also built a camera specific for construction needs: the K-28 (camera-wiki.org/wiki/Fuji_K-28 / www.imagingpixel.com/p/fuji-k28.html). That thing had a 28mm f/3.9 lens and looks like a steampunk camera.
They did, but it came much later than the Konica. Konica the first. I should have probably mentioned that. Thanks
@@japancamerahunter No worries. Konica still owned the roost of the construction cameras. I think they even made a digital version of the Genba Kantoku. The version we both have is the 2nd or 3rd iteration; the first one looked like melted plastic.
Loved the purposeful drop onto pavement, just because you could.
Gotta show the cameras abilities.
there's been a ton of videos pop up of this camera recently! I grabbed one when I lived in japan over a decade ago, it's great to take out on a night out. I got mine for maybe a thousand yen in pretty good condition from a bargain bin somewhere in akihabara, interesting to see how high up the prices have gotten now!
wow! this is a really fascinating camera. I'd much prefer one of these as a street camera over something like the ricoh gr1. Cheap, durable, and doesn't get in the way of shooting. I could also buy 10 of these for the price of 1 ricoh gr1v! Maybe not as pretty but I think it has charm. I'm really enjoying these videos! Especially stuff like this that spotlights cameras that aren't as popular.
Just started working as a darkroom technician at my University and found this! Thanks for historical context!
Saw these 2 months ago on ebay but now you have reviewed it I better get one before the Hipster Dufus..es bang up the price..
I think what is amazing about these is you can still find them effectively mint for nothing.
I really like this Camera! But then I switched to the Nikonos V because back in the day it was about the same used price.
Great channel you have, really love the content and all the info you have about cameras. Would love to see a video about the Ricoh Singlex in black. As what I have found about it its very rare and is based on the Nikkorex body. I found a black Singlex with the all black 55mm 1.4 lens in a fleemarket for around 5 dollars. Not the best condition but it works and I really like it.
can I use this in the ocean for surf photography
No, it isn't that waterproof.
Hi Bellamy, i have the 35wb model and trying to find out what ISO rate films this camera can take. Do you happen to have a link for the manual of this camera? Would greatly help!
Cheers
hey bellamy, i was wondering since this camera is waterproof... is it possible to shoot with it underwater?
awesome
Your videos are getting better and better!! Next you should make a Leica MP-6 giveaway! 😊🤞
lol never gonna happen
Avid instagram and blog follower, but for some reason wasn't subscribed. Super lovely video.
Thanks for subbing!
The Nokia 3310 of All Film Cameras!!!
Love ❤ Your Humor!!??!
I had a premonition we'd see some "cracks"... you couldn't help yourself, could you?...
I wouldn't miss an opportunity like that.
I can hear you describing paint drying and it would still probably be entertaining.
You are probably alone on that one.
I found one for 70 euros!! Should I jump on it?
Enquiring minds want to know if you had all that dayglo vest, hard hat stuff left over from your time in the village people or if you bought it specifically for this video :)
What I did when I was young is in the past..... We did buy them though.
Why is this so funny 😂
Cool!
Hi from Kanagawa. Love your vids! Keep it up! Don't forget about the Fuji Work Record. Also, the Fujica HD-1 from 1979 predates the Genba by 9 years. It was initially sold to the construction and fishing industries in Japan. Then later to the American market as MTB, skateboarding and snowboarding took off in the early 80's. :)
Thanks for the info! I have never seen one of those before. You learn something new everyday.
nice vids keep doing em
not sure if video of it being dropped warrants a discount for scuffing or a premium for proof of toughness
Similar to a Konica Hexar.
Say no to crack lol
Im here for the humor, not the camera
This is cool but can you make one about eating steak?
can it be made of cake?
😂 cheap like me !!!! Yeah like me😂
50 quid later on ebay...