RE: [Leica] 6x9/6x7/6x4.5 rangefinders

["George Kenney" <gdkenney@bellatlantic.net>]

Does anybody have any good recommendations re 6x9-4.5 
rangefinder cameras? I'm thinking of acquiring one on the theory 
that it might in some circumstances be easier to cart around and 
use than my Rolleiflex, certainly easier than Hasselblad, or a Wista 
4x5.

I'm thinking of the Mamiya 7II (I guess for this Robert White is 
clearly the most competitive price-wise), the Bronica 645 RF, and 
the Fuji GW-690 III or GSW-690 III.

This would not be for serious shooting, necessarily, but for keeping 
with around town in lieu of Leica kit.

First priority, however, would be lens quality. I've noticed in my 
Rodenstock 4x5 APO Sironar-S 150/5.6 -- though it is plenty sharp 
enough -- less overall image quality than in Leica glass. (Pity Leica 
doesn't make large format lenses today.) And am acquiring some 
Schneider lenses in hopes of more pleasing results. In any case, 
tho I've read quite a bit in newsgroups and on the web about how 
'great' the lenses are for all the above cameras, and particularly the 
Mamiya lenses, I'm somewhat skeptical. Even given the physics of 
the larger negative, I want a pleasing quality to the image. So does 
anybody have experience to say which of the above has glass that 
really can qualify as a 'Texas Leica'? And within the above groups, 
do some lenses stand out above others?

Second, build. Which are good and sturdy, able to be knocked 
about a bit without undue damage? I'm leaning to the Fuji on this 
score, but am very interested in others' experiences.

And I welcome other comments on the comparison which I haven't 
thought of in my questions.

Thanks,

G.