Experience with a Fuji GS645S? Looking for a travel camera.

[drg3rd]

I have the GS645, GS645S and GA645Wi. When traveling, I almost always take the GS645 … it is so compact - it fits with all my other gear. If I really want "wide" then I take the GA645Wi. My GS645S usually sits at home - I'm afraid it is too fragile for travel and it isn't my widest option. They all have great image quality, so you can't go wrong there. I did have to buy 2 GS645 cameras (returned the first) to get one with working bellows (even though the first one claimed to have brand new ones). Of course if ease of use is the top priority, you can't beat the GA cameras. My GA645Wi is basically a MF point-and-shoot (in auto mode). Also, it gives me 16 shots per roll instead of the 15 from the GS models.

 

[MTGseattle]

Isn't trying to figure out which camera to acquire fun?

 

[Craig]

Isn't trying to figure out which camera to acquire fun?

Yes, until reality kicks in. I was looking at a Mamiya 6 after a friend of mine mentioned that he still had the 50 and 150mm lenses. So I looked at a body and 75mm lens on Ebay and to get a good one without fungus I was looking $4,000 CAD. A bit too rich for me.

 

[brian steinberger]

Yes, until reality kicks in. I was looking at a Mamiya 6 after a friend of mine mentioned that he still had the 50 and 150mm lenses. So I looked at a body and 75mm lens on Ebay and to get a good one without fungus I was looking $4,000 CAD. A bit too rich for me.

That price is outrageous. Should be able to find a body with 75 for around $2000.

This one

 

[Craig]

That price is outrageous. Should be able to find a body with 75 for around $2000.

This one

Are you thinking USD or CAD? Right now the cheapest body +75mm lens on Ebay is $3000 CAD.

The one you linked to is $3500 CAD

 

[brian steinberger]

Sorry, didn’t realize you were in Canada. Missed the CAD in your previous post.

 

[Craig]

Yes, and with the Canadian dollar fallen recently relative to the USD, that makes things more expensive. If the Japanese sellers listed in Yen, it would actually be a better deal for me.

Shipping is odd too, The Japanese sellers can typically ship for $50-60 and it's a 2 day courier service. From the US, it's almost always $150 or more. I have no idea why shipping out of the US is so expensive.

 

[beemermark]

I've had (and have) a lot of medium format cameras including the Fuji ones. The smallest, lightest medium format camera is a Rolleicord or Rollieflex. If you want a 645 try to find a late model Zeiss Super Ikonta in good condition with a Tessar lens.

 

[beemermark]

Yes, and with the Canadian dollar fallen recently relative to the USD, that makes things more expensive. If the Japanese sellers listed in Yen, it would actually be a better deal for me.

Shipping is odd too, The Japanese sellers can typically ship for $50-60 and it's a 2 day courier service. From the US, it's almost always $150 or more. I have no idea why shipping out of the US is so expensive.

I can ship to SE Asia USPS for around $40. Only the most inexpensive stuff (under $50) goes to Canada for that amount. Shipping to costs to Canada by USPS, UPS, or FedEx is ridiculous. Not to mention trying to get insurance after the Canadian post office runs over your camera with a truck. Japanese sellers can ship to the US using courier services and you get hit hard with the courier dunning you for "custom inspection" fees. Anything less then $800 comes into the US is duty free. DT might change that because Chinese companies like TEMU take maximum advantage of that.

 

[wjlapier]

I’ve used all three of the GS variants. The folder was the one with the most trouble. The non rangefinder one was a bit too wide at the time. The one with the roll bar was a great camera that too nice sharp photos. I was just looking at them again for summer travel but decided against only because I have a Rolleiflex old standard that I’d like to be my only medium format camera this trip. I’m getting to that point I dont like carrying a bunch of cameras while on vacation—small kit keep it simple.

 

[David Brown]

Generally, I have never liked rangefinders and find them awkward to use. However, I loved the GS645S in spite of its design. Absolutely one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used. It was a great travel camera, making a number of trips including Germany, Hawaii and Iceland.

Although their form factor and the quality of the lenses has been praised, these cameras received criticism for their fragility. One day, I was working in a very cramped space and had the camera on a short tripod, perhaps three feet tall. While moving around, I knocked it over. The meter died. A few pieces broke off. Everything else seemed to work, but I don’t trust the rangefinder.

This is only my experience: YMMV

 

[yurihuta]

I'm thinking of one of these Fuji 645's as a travel camera
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Have you considered the GA645zi ? I just received mine back from Poland for a ribbon cable replacement and it is a nice size (like a Nikon F5 with a 50mm), although that now approaches the size of my GW690 (which you also have a variant of)... so perhaps too big (or not small enough) for your needs. I have owned the GS645, but that was a long while back (20+ years), but worried about durability for travel and replaced it with a Pentax 645N - yes, very different beast, but my original 645N body just keeps working after all this time.

One of the things I have come to like about the (very new to me) GA645zi vertical/portrait native orientation is when I go to a horizontal composition, the camera body is vertically aligned and my right eye has a good, unimpeded peripheral view (left is looking through the rangefinder) which is nice when composing. The zoom range (four steps, not continuous) is nice 55mm, 65mm, 75mm and 90mm. A pop up flash is a very handy option.

Yes, more expensive than a GS645S, much less expensive than a Mamiya 6 with lens, however, these are now serviceable again (ribbon cable).

 

[Craig]

I had though of the GA645zi, but I was a bit frightened off by the ribbon cable repair.

How do you find the AF? I had heard it was a bit hit or miss, so I was leaning toward a manual focus camera.

 

[yurihuta]

I had though of the GA645zi, but I was a bit frightened off by the ribbon cable repair.

How do you find the AF? I had heard it was a bit hit or miss, so I was leaning toward a manual focus camera.

Too early to tell re: autofocus at the moment (need to process film), however... the viewfinder has a distance scale on the right side that tells you how far it has focused so a little common sense you can verify that yes, my dog (the subject that I'd like in focus) is about two meters away, I halfway depress the shutter release button... however the camera's viewfinder display is telling me that it is focused at 5 meters... now I know that something is amiss and I lift my finger off the release and try again. Similarly with a close up subject, the display will flash the box next to the 1 meter mark (the closest the camera can focus), telling me I am too close. Easy enough for me and actually reassuringly helpful.

The cable repair was great, but I sent from the USA to Poland before all these new tariffs and so I paid nothing in terms of taxes on it coming back to the USA. No idea how this would affect the total price and how much the tax would be.

A quick size reference:

Fuji GA645zi (with hood) is smaller than Pentax 645N with FA 75mm (no hood).

Fuji GA645zi has less depth but is taller than Minolta Autocord with hood for waist level down and lens with hood attached, laying on its side.

Fuji GA645zi is a little wider than Nikon D7500 with 16-80mm zoom (at shortest length) is long.

Fuji GA645zi fits inside of a Fuji GX680 with no lens and bellows compressed. Just kidding I sold off all my GX680 gear a while back, although the bodies would have feasted on the GA645zi.

After doing these size comparisons, I am actually amazed at how relatively small the GA645zi is.

 

[yurihuta]

I had though of the GA645zi, but I was a bit frightened off by the ribbon cable repair.

How do you find the AF? I had heard it was a bit hit or miss, so I was leaning toward a manual focus camera.

just an update on AF after a couple of rolls - it works very well. Being sure to use the two yellow hard bracket focus point indicators and then double checking the distance scale which become second nature quickly) gives me 100% keeper rate. The only missed focus have been awkward attempt to take a group shot - including the photographer - so essentially not looking through viewfinder, just holding camera as far from me (and friends) as possible and pressing shutter release. Quick cell phone pic of viewfinder attached.

 

[Craig]

Thanks for the update. Do you need to estimate the subject to camera distance to confirm that the AF has focused on the right place?

 

[Prest_400]

I always wonder why most of the 6x45 cameras were not 6x6 with a mask to choke it down if so desired. The vertical 6x45 bugs me too. I will say that in my brief stewardship of the Bronica RF I was very pleased with the lenses. I think one would cost at least double what the fuji fixed lens options go for though.

Bigger cameras, and in some cases bigger lenses.

Actually was thinking how uncommon this was, but Mamiya 6 (six), the bellows folder had some versions with that. I knew the modern 6MF had a crop mode but not horizontal. IMO very relevantly for the 15/16 shots per roll in 645.

Other than having to meter with hand held or clip on meter, for travel it's hard to beat the Mamiya 50s vintage Mamiya 6. Great lens folds up into small enough package, just a bit too large for a pocket, well a jacket pocket will work.

Or look into other Tessar type lensed, RF folders. Super Ikontas (III-IV), Isolette III/Super Isolette, Super Fujica 6.

I have a Super Ikonta but I am again thinking the 645-6x6 travel camera, like the OP. Rather fiddly but they are very compact however and I have liked that. But in color, I find seeking something sharper as I am spoiled by the 6x9 Fujinon. I think the best manual RF execution is the Bronica RF645 or Mamiya 6/7, but the prices are just mad; and together with that, the reliability questions. As a Fuji 6x9 user, really now would appreciate the automatised 645 series which really makes sense as a compliment.

Managed to get a P645+zoom+35mm because it was at a good price, lower than any of the modern options mentioned. Of course, it and the zoom lenses are beastly so are valued low. Am having quite some fun with the wider than SWC 35mm and seriously considering travel with this behemoth after a good day of urban scenery last weekend; automatic and 16 frames! I had travelled with the GW690 but, 8 shots a roll rises some budget question as well as having to reload often, which many times can be inconvenient. Otherwise it's more volume than the 1.5kg weight.

 

[Craig]

Actually was thinking how uncommon this was, but Mamiya 6 (six), the bellows folder had some versions with that. I knew the modern 6MF had a crop mode but not horizontal. IMO very relevantly for the 15/16 shots per roll in 645.

That was the problem with the modern Mamiya 6MF, it's still 12 shots per roll even with the 645 mask. Might as well shoot 6x6 and crop in the printing.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I had a Fuji GS645S and really liked it. I had absolutely no complaints on how it functioned or the results the lens produced. I even used it for some shots during my wedding photography time. I am like you and had a hard time with the vertical orientation thing. Then on one wedding I was shooting some qutside shots with the Fuji and it stopped working. No problem, switched back to my main Hasselblad camera and finished up. When I got home I took the Fuji apart and found that there was an internal cable that connects the winding to I believe the shutter cocking (old memory) had disconnected itself. I put it back on and was good to go. Pretty simple camera actually. I'd buy another one if the price was right and as far as I'm concerned the Fuji rangefinder prices now are not right. I've owed two Fuji GW690's, GS645W and the GS645s and they are all great picture taking machines, but way overpriced in my opinion. Still, if that's what one needs to get the pictures he or she wants, then money is a non-issue.

 

[yurihuta]

Thanks for the update. Do you need to estimate the subject to camera distance to confirm that the AF has focused on the right place?

I just do as the camera (a functioning one at least) is relatively new to me and the green LED display is right there... so it is becoming second nature. I really like this feature. In my Nikon DSLRs and the Pentax 645N bodies, there is some form of focus confirmation in the viewfinder display, so a feature that is familiar to me, although not with actual distances - which is a very nice feature of the GA 645zi.