Fujifilm has shown a prototype of its GF670, a medium-format film camera expected to be released in 2009.

The GF670 is a portable folding camera jointly developed by Fujifilm and Cosina. It features a mechanism for switching between two film formats, 6x7cm and 6x6cm (120 and 220 films). Read our full story here.

In the meanwhile, here are 11 photos of the prototype.

Click here to see the other ten images.

It has long been only a prototype. We first heard about at last year's PMA trade show and were able to see a wooden version of it at Photokina in September 2008. But now, it's official. Fujifilm is weeks away from releasing its GF670 Professional medium format film camera in the UK and Europe. Here is our full article about it.

Outside of Japan, the camera is released under the Voigtlander Bessa III 667 name, which Cosina distributes.

And now for the pictures:

Love-Kim Verlie ©Michael G Dougan

This is one of the first images taken using the Fujifilm GF670 medium format film camera, or the Voigtlander Bessa III as it is known in Europe. It was taken by Scottish photographer Michael G Dougan for Japan Exposures. I'll let you read his review here, but in a few words, Dougan says that he is 'extremely pleased with the camera’s image quality' and that with 'several rolls of Neopan 120 in my pocket, it’s a perfect setup for me.'

Read the full review and see more sample images on Japan Exposures. You can also read our full report on the camera's release in the UK.

It's such a rare occurrence, that when it happens we have to mention it. Last month, Fujifilm announced its first Real 3D camera (see our news article here). Akihabara News was one of the first media outlets to get their hands on one to review it, and their conclusions were quite harsh:

To be VERY VERY VERY Honest, I feel pretty bad… I feel bad for the Fujifilm engineers and staff who worked on the W1… There's no word other than crap that comes to my mind when describing it, maybe I got it wrong from the beginning, maybe I was expecting too much, but I can't recommend the W1 to anyone… Seriously… What did Fujiflim expect? I really want to know. Read the full review here.

Fujifilm could have retaliate by never loaning a new product to Akihabara News, but that's not what they did. Instead, they invited the reviewer and editors to Japan to discuss the review and explain why the cameras had some limitations. This is almost un-heard off, and we wish other manufacturers would adopt the same policy. Read Akihabara News' report on its meeting with Fujifilm.