645 rangefinder from Japan

[kari-s]

Hello!
I am a new member from Finland and I have an urgent question. I am very soon travelling to Tokyo and I am very interested in finding a compact medium-format camera. 6x4,5 cm format would be fine. I believe there are such models from Fuji and Mamiya at least. Any opinions on these?

Another question. Can you recommend me a camera shop in Tokyo that could have these 645 compacts?

Kari

http://smoltron.net

 

[Leighgion]

I own a Fuji GS645, a folding RF with 75mm f3.5 lens and a Fuji GA645, a motorized AF model with a retracting 60mm f4 lens.

The GS645 has excellent optics, but I found it incredibly fragile. It broke twice on me in very moderate conditions and it's now shelved as I'm not willing right now to throw more money at it. It gave me a few good pictures, but I've found it unreliable and expensive to repair.

The GA645, while very plastic with noisy motors, has been excellent to me. The lens is very sharp and, unlike the GS, takes filters without hard-to-find unique adapters. I post here one of my favorite human shots with my GA:

Afraid I'm no help with local shops in Tokyo, but I'm sure somebody else can pitch in.

 

[ntenny]

Regarding shops, Map Camera in Shinjuku have a *ton* of Fuji and Mamiya cameras on their shelves (along with seemingly everything else).

They're within a few minutes' walk of Shinjuku Station on the Yamanote Line, but a little challenging to find. The map at http://www.mapcamera.com/inf/img/map_s_e.gif should help, but even with that, I found I had to walk around for a while searching.

-NT

 

[brian steinberger]

Don't forget about the Bronica RF645. Very compact! Excellent camera.

 

[wclavey]

I own the Fuji GS645S which is not a folder like the GS645 but is still entirely manual. It has a 60mm f/4 lens and has become my "carry around when I travel" camera. I purchased it used but it has been very reliable. Prior to this I had a GS645 which had mechanical problems with the interlock between the shutter cocking and the folding mechanism.

 

[HerrBremerhaven]

I bought a Bronica RF645 a few months ago, and it is now one of my most used cameras. Really great rangefinder mechanism and the best ergonomics I have yet used in any film camera. While more expensive and heavier than the Fuji models, it is still relatively compact for a medium format camera. You can read a ton more about these at Rangefinder Forum.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com

I used my RF645 as a back-up to my large format outfit on a commercial shoot I did in October. Due to adverse weather conditions, I ended up only using the Bronica, and it performed wonderfully. The client was very happy with the final images. I ended up eaten by mosquitoes and soaked in sweat, but the camera just chugged through roll after roll of film without incident.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

 

[firecracker]

Another question. Can you recommend me a camera shop in Tokyo that could have these 645 compacts?

Perhaps Fujiya Camera will do:

http://www.fujiya-camera.co.jp/

The direction in English is here:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=22646137

 

[luvcameras]

Fuji 645 Info Page here Dead Link Removed

One of my all time favorite cameras is the Fuji 645Zi


Dan

 

[Chris Lange]

Moikka Kari! Mitäs kuuluu?

Nice to see another finn on the board! (I'm not finnish myself, but was an exchange student in Kauhajoki from august 2008 to july 2009)

As the others have said, the Fuji GA or GS 645 rangefinders are probably what you are looking for, although I have also heard very good things about the Bronica RF645. I would personally look at a Mamiya 6 or 7 (or 7II) due the bigger neg size in a marginally bigger body, but would definitely pick up a GS645 given a good deal.

 

[kari-s]

Moikka Kari! Mitäs kuuluu?

Kiitti hyvää!

Thank you very much for this great advice! I will look for Fujis, Bronicas and Mamiyas. If I would use 500$ for a used one, what would you suggest? Is Fuji then the only option?

Kari