Fuji GA 645 , a real camera?

Melvin J Bramley · May 9, 2024

I'm looking for a medium format camera that is portable and has good optics.
The older folders just dont cut it!
Some TLR's of similar vintage perform much better .
Here i am comparing a late model Mamiya 6 autocord to a Rolleiflex with a Tessar 3.5 and a Minolta Autocord with its Rokkor 75 , F3.5 lens.
Both TLR's produce better images than the folder with the Minolta Autocord being the the clear winner.
However the TLR's are cumbersome and have poor focusing systems.
The Fuji 645's are interesting for their image quality but have their own issues that are not image quality related.
Given the asking price of the Fuji's with their poor reliability record should I just suck it up and put monies into my Autocord or Rolleiflex?

brian steinberger · May 9, 2024

Do you want interchangeable lenses? Or would you be ok with one?

loccdor · May 9, 2024

Minolta Autocords are one of the best values, optically, for medium format.

Another great value is the Mamiya 645, especially the Junior model. I picked up the camera body for just over $100, prism for $30, less than a year ago. Get a Pentacon 60 adapter and you can use Carl Zeiss Jena and Kiev 60 lenses on it. It is not a large camera with a normal lens mounted. The excellent lenses in this mount include an affordable 30mm fisheye, the 50mm f/4 Flektogon, 45mm f/3.4 Mir-26B, 80mm f/2.8 Biometar or Volna-3, 180mm f/2.8 Sonnar, Arsat K-6B teleconverter. Or, there are great lenses in the native M645 mount as well.

MFstooges · May 9, 2024

Do you mean Mamiya 6 Automat? Are you saying Mamiya 6 Automat images are inferior compared to Rolleiflex?

Marcelo Paniagua · May 10, 2024

Personally, wont go the Fuji 645. For that money there are other more reliable cameras.
Rolleiflex are great cameras you get a more realistico chance to recover your investment; besides having spectacular glass and a decent number of people that can service/repair.

If 6x4.5 is your thing, like stated Mamiya 645 is a great camera. I would stay with native lenses but like stated, your can adapt other lenses as well. Recommend it over the Fuji 645.

For my 645, some years ago I went the Bronica etrs for their backs and havent regreted. Great and cheap lenses. Very practícalo and portable.

gijsbert · May 10, 2024

I've been very happy with my GA645Wi which comes with me on all my trips. It's pretty light, fairly small for a medium format camera, good auto exposure, sharp, auto focus is good - with good finder feedback so if it misses focus you'll usually know and can try a different focus point - I can't really recall a badly focused photo, manual controls - albeit a bit awkward to use but it works.
The AF and AE are nice on a trip as well. The other day I was trying to focus a Koniflex TLR and even with the popup lens it was pretty hard to get the focus right - admittedly I really need glasses, but still!
I also find the data imprint outside the negative quite handy!

Only downsides for me is a bit noisy during focus and advance but not terrible - it's not that stealth anyway, and landscape orientation on tripod can be a bit awkward without an L bracket.

What reliability record are you referring to? As far as I know only the Zi has the ribbon cable problem, which is now repairable. I've never had troubles with the 45mm lens and I imagine the 60mm is the same.

brian steinberger · May 10, 2024

If you’re talking throwing the camera over your shoulder and going, meaning moving rather quickly, I personally would not recommend any medium format SLR. Most rangefinders would be up to task. Mamiya 6 or 7 would be great, I’m not familiar with the 645 Fujis but the larger Fuji rangefinders (6x7, 8, 9) seem nice. My other recommendation would be a Rolleiflex or Rolleicord or you mentioned Minolta Autocord. That would be good too.

chuckroast · May 10, 2024

Melvin J Bramley said:
I'm looking for a medium format camera that is portable and has good optics.
The older folders just dont cut it!
Some TLR's of similar vintage perform much better .
Here i am comparing a late model Mamiya 6 autocord to a Rolleiflex with a Tessar 3.5 and a Minolta Autocord with its Rokkor 75 , F3.5 lens.
Both TLR's produce better images than the folder with the Minolta Autocord being the the clear winner.
However the TLR's are cumbersome and have poor focusing systems.
The Fuji 645's are interesting for their image quality but have their own issues that are not image quality related.
Given the asking price of the Fuji's with their poor reliability record should I just suck it up and put monies into my Autocord or Rolleiflex?

I have a GA-645Zi that has been nearly flawless for over 20 years. The optics are fantastic and it's just the right form factor as a walking around travel camera.

Except ...

The Zi has a well known problem with the flex circuit board that drives the LCD on the back door cracking and causing partial LCD displays. The camera still works fine, you just can't see things like ASA and shutter count reliably.

The good news is that there is a repair shop in Warsaw that fixes them - they are the only one to be able to do so, as far as I know. The bad news is that's it's pricey - $500 US-ish. I sent mine to them and it came back like new, presumably for another 20 years of happy shooting.

MARTIE · May 10, 2024

I have a Fuji GA645Zi, and it's a blast to use!

I bought mine when it was less than half the price of one today, (but isn't that true for everything?) and would I be willing to pay the price of one today or advise someone else to?
No, most probably not.

In my book, the Fuji 645's are seriously fun, quality cameras, and take the sweat out of photography. It's just such a shame that they've all become so ridiculously expensive.

Alan9940 · May 10, 2024

I, too, have had a Fuji GA645Zi for many years and it's a total blast to use! It's definitely one of those cameras that will be with me 'till the end. I can't even remember how long I've had it, but I've never had a single issue with it. I think the "ribbon cable issue" stems from folks flipping the back open and letting it "slam" against its max travel. I knew of the potential cable issue way back when I purchased it, so I very gently open the back and rest it easy fully open, load the film, then gently close the back. No idea if this helped me avoid the dreaded cable issue or I just got lucky with the camera I have, but my LCD is flawless.

Yeah, there are quite a few choices in lightweight MF carry cameras, but the Fuji 645's are just F-U-N!

chuckroast · May 10, 2024

Alan9940 said:
I think the "ribbon cable issue" stems from folks flipping the back open and letting it "slam" against its max travel. I knew of the potential cable issue way back when I purchased it, so I very gently open the back and rest it easy fully open, load the film, then gently close the back. No idea if this helped me avoid the dreaded cable issue or I just got lucky with the camera I have, but my LCD is flawless.

That's an interesting hypothesis. It suggests an idea I may try. Perhaps mounting a small rubber stop near the hinge to limit door travel would help...

xya · May 10, 2024

chuckroast said:
That's an interesting hypothesis. It suggests an idea I may try. Perhaps mounting a small rubber stop near the hing to limit door travel would help...

That's a good idea. I did this for more than 15 years

I have sold the camera as I prefer my GA645Wi which still delivers astonishing results.

chuckroast · May 10, 2024

xya said:
That's a good idea. I did this for more than 15 years
View attachment 370121
I have sold the camera as I prefer my GA645Wi which still delivers astonishing results.

I just put some small self-adhesive rubber feet at the hinge line which definitely reduces the door travel, but your way is probably even better.

4season · May 10, 2024

Melvin J Bramley said:
Given the asking price of the Fuji's with their poor reliability record should I just suck it up and put monies into my Autocord or Rolleiflex?

When new, I loved the GA645 and 645zi, but today, I'd want a discounted price to reflect the probability that I'd be replacing old flexible PCB for the rear door and lens, and my general sense that Fuji cameras of the era weren't built to last.

To date, TLRs and I have had an ambivalent relationship.

Melvin J Bramley · May 10, 2024

I'm rethinking my original post.
I may have focus issues at anything over 30 ft.
Also it looks like I have flare in the corners in some situations.
I wonder if the rangefinder on a Mamiya folder can be unreliable/stick?
Anyway I'm going to buy a lens hood and give it another chance.

bluechromis · May 10, 2024

The Plaubel Makinas are compact, though not light. They are said to have good lenses.

Melvin J Bramley · May 10, 2024

MFstooges said:
Do you mean Mamiya 6 Automat? Are you saying Mamiya 6 Automat images are inferior compared to Rolleiflex?

my Mamiya seems to have focus issues.
When all is good it performs about the same as my Rolleiflex with the 3.5 Tessar lens.
The Minolta Autocord with its 3.5 75mm Rokkor lens is visibly better.
I really like the Mamiya 6 package in that it's nearly pocketable!
Ideally , for me, a Mamiya folder with a Rokkor lens would be wonderful.
But! darn it; then I would have to consider a Konica Perkio IV that other than a CLA is unrepairable putting in the same category as the Fuji 645 series!
Add ; finding a good repair person for even the most menial tasks on older cameras is an exercise in frustration as you approach bankruptcy?

MFstooges · May 10, 2024

Melvin J Bramley said:
my Mamiya seems to have focus issues.
When all is good it performs about the same as my Rolleiflex with the 3.5 Tessar lens.
The Minolta Autocord with its 3.5 75mm Rokkor lens is visibly better.
I really like the Mamiya 6 package in that it's nearly pocketable!
Ideally , for me, a Mamiya folder with a Rokkor lens would be wonderful.
But! darn it; then I would have to consider a Konica Perkio IV that other than a CLA is unrepairable putting in the same category as the Fuji 645 series!
Add ; finding a good repair person for even the most menial tasks on older cameras is an exercise in frustration as you approach bankruptcy?

Maybe you mean Voigtlander Perkeo

xya · May 11, 2024

Or

MFstooges said:
Maybe you mean Voigtlander Perkeo

or a Konika Pearl IV...

craigclu · May 11, 2024

I miss my old GS645 Fuji folder. Very nice glass and I actually had the camera with me more often as it was so portable. I'm embarrassed over how many systems I've accumulated over the years and currently have to pick from but my most used rig is the little Bronica 645RF. Very gratifying performer and has a great tactile experience to it as it approaches a Leica sort of feel and function. The 45mm is the widest optic for it if that limits you but for my duties, it serves me well. 3 lenses, body and flash fit into a surprisingly compact case. I'm lucky to have a Mamiya 7 system and wides so I'll grab that if I need more extreme coverage.

Fuji GA 645 , a real camera?

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