Any experience with the Fuji 645 series

[Rob Skeoch]

Hey Guys,
Anyone have experience or knowledge regarding the Fuji Fujica 645 series.
Any known faults to look out for?
I think the basic folding model is the GS645 with the 75mm. This is the most interesting because the lens folds away.
The model with the 60mm doesn't fold away but they there would be no bellows issues. Do the lenses have filter threads?
I've checked them out on eBay but don't know what to look for... it seems the meters don't work on many of them.
Any comments greatly appreciated.

Is there a different folder that I should consider instead. I want something to travel with.Fuji Fujica GS645

 

[Johnkpap]

I have had a GS645s 60 wide for many years, it has never had any problems and has been around the world twice

It is my go to travel camera, the lens is super sharp and uses standard 49mm fliters and nikon eye cups. The rangefinder and meter still work fine it has never given me any issues.

One of the most reliable cameras I have ever owned

It is currently loaded with EPR 64 slide film, as I have been photographing landscapes in Autumn her Down Under

Johnkpap

 

[Oren Grad]

Things to watch out for:

The original bellows on the GS645 self-destructed. I'm not sure whether Fuji repair guru Frank Marshman is doing bellows replacements any more - there was some issue a while back about difficulty procuring a suitable replacement. But you could check with him about that. Also with the GS645, you need to be sure to set the lens to infinity and advance/cock the shutter before closing the camera, or you will likely damage the mechanism.

On the GS645S, when the "crash bars" get whacked there's a high risk of internal damage. Sometimes you can see a crack in the body, sometimes the damage is purely internal and so is hidden to casual inspection. Yes, I've had one with crash bar-related damage.

I've handled a GS645W but never owned one. Mechanically it's the simplest of the lot because no folding mechanism and no rangefinder, but it's scale-focus and at f/5.6 the lens is pretty slow.

The GA645/i/W/Wi/Zi autofocus series are starting to run into problems with electronic parts availability when repairs are needed.

 

[mshchem]

Get a Fuji 6x7,8, or 9 rangefinder. I've been less than impressed with Fuji 645 stuff. MHO. Mamiya 6 would also be nice.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I had the original folding model, look out for problems where previous owner(s) have attempted to fold it without cocking the shutter and putting the lens to infinity first.

It is a brilliant camera and will certainly travel in a large pocket, can be operated with one hand, but does get a bit heavy doing so. Quite fast lens and I would suggest you may be better off with a separate light meter, I eventually used a separate meter for colour transparency work. But if shooting negative film you should be able to get away with the inbuilt meter (or the sunny 16 rule), if it is still working that is.

I was able to road test both models before picking the longer focal length lens as my preference. Pretty good for environmental portraiture, really good for landscape, except the film is in portrait mode and requires holding the camera on its side to expose film that way.

Focusing was sometimes a bit messy as my finger slipped out of the focusing tab on the odd occasion I was using one of the ridges to focus with. Your finger sits in a cradle and you rotate the lens using a single finger; works quite well.

Bellows light leaks could be an issue, but weren't for me. I had mine from 1987 through to 2007, it performed quite flawlessly and is still working well as I know the current owner.

Mick.

 

[voceumana]

I had the folding model, and the bellows developed light leaks. Also, had occasional trouble with film winding. Unless the bellows have been replaced with improved material, I would stay away from the folding model. But the lens was exceptional.

 

[Roger Thoms]

Get a Fuji 6x7,8, or 9 rangefinder. I've been less than impressed with Fuji 645 stuff. MHO. Mamiya 6 would also be nice.

I have the GW680III and the GS645S which is a nice combo because the 645 680 are the same ratio. I tend to use the 680 most of the time because the negative is twice as big. Also the rangefinder patch is bigger so it easier to focus, and the focus, aperture, and shutter speed controls are easier to use. That being said the GS645S is very compact and does 15 exposures on a roll of 120 so sometimes I use that. A good example is a trip we just took to Hawaii, I brought my 4x5 and choose the GS645S as my second camera simplicity because it’s so darn small.

Roger

 

[adelorenzo]

As far as I'm concerned the GS645W is basically the perfect camera. Medium format, wide lens, scale focus, good meter. So easy to use and the images are amazing. Load with Portra 400 or HP5, set f /11 at 250, scale focus to 5 m for hyperfocal and it's now the world's best point and shoot camera.

I have owned several of them, all of them failed even after being repaired. I miss them but in the end I could not handle having cameras fail on me all the time.

I take my stuff into the backcountry a lot it's not what they were designed for. I think it would be a brilliant travel camera.

 

[adelorenzo]

Most of the images in this gallery on my website are from a GS645W. There are 2-3 that were shot on a Pentax 645.

 

[Johnkpap]

My reasoning in ending up with the GS645s 60 wide (Crash bar lens)
- No electronics except the light meter
- No bellows to leak light
- 60mm F4 lens Super sharp even wide open works for landscapes and people photos
- Has a rangefinder for focusing
Quite strong and very well built, when traveling I have a small Pelican style case that it just fits in so I can pack it in my check in luggage.

I have found mine to 100% reliable it has never had a issue, if you put a roll of slow slide film through it you will understand how good the lens is

Johnkpap

 

[bernard_L]

GS645W here. Like it a lot. Failed once, loosening of the stack of aperture+speed rings, but I think it resulted from crappy "professional" CLA (lots of oil everywhere). Initially bought it as a landscape camera, then got used to 28mm-equivalent as a general-purpose lens (not formal portrait, of course). From experience with an acquaintance's camera (which I repaired) the film advance/counter mechanism is maybe a weak point (lots of small plastic gears and levers).

So, agree with adelolorenzo, except I decided to tolerate the risk of failure.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Most of the images in this gallery on my website are from a GS645W. There are 2-3 that were shot on a Pentax 645.

nice shots. i'm hoping to take it on canoe trips. I can see why your cameras get damaged in the bush, it's hard to keep a fragile item safe in the pack. I have problems just keeping my lamp working. lol

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I had the folding model, and the bellows developed light leaks. Also, had occasional trouble with film winding. Unless the bellows have been replaced with improved material, I would stay away from the folding model. But the lens was exceptional.

Good to know

 

[Dali]

Fujica GS645s (60mm lens).

PROS:
Very good lens
Light camera

CONS:
Sticky rangefinder with age
Dim and small rangefinder patch
Surprisingly noisy shutter

 

[Randy Stewart]

Over the years, I've owned two GS645 models (the folder) and one GS645W. One folder was stolen. Both folders came to me with original bellows; both had to be replaced. The thin plastic covering original to the bellows simply fails over time. One was done by Fuji, the other by Frank M. I've never had a problems with any of them, but they do not get heavily used either. Back in the late 1980s into the 1990s, I often hung out in a local camera store next to my office to decompress. I watch a significant number of GS645S units go through the used department, most of them having damaged focus helix. The crash bar is there to prevent the lens from taking a hit of any sort, because even the most minor impact on the lens can break the focus assembly. People who own and use them carefully sign their praises and do get great photos. But the risk of damage is high if you get careless. The optics on all of these cameras are extremely good.