Fuji GA 645

[srtviper15]

What does everyone think of the Fuji GA 645. It looks like a great camera and I was thinking about picking one up before vacation next month!

Would love the hear what the consensus is

 

[4season]

What does everyone think of the Fuji GA 645. It looks like a great camera and I was thinking about picking one up before vacation next month!

Loved it when it was new, but that was in the 1990s, and I figure it's designers expected it to have a useful life of 5-7 years tops. IMO, some of the very qualities which made them so appealing when new (light weight, great set of features) came at the expense of longevity.

 

[Sandro.m]

I’ve been using two GS (45 and 60mm focal lengh) since years without any problem. Even focusing is spot on. I adore the vertical format and picture quality is excellent for A3 prints. I’m sorry 220 film is no more. I also have a GA 645Zi, easy to use like a point and shot camera

 

[guangong]

Loved it when it was new, but that was in the 1990s, and I figure it's designers expected it to have a useful life of 5-7 years tops. IMO, some of the very qualities which made them so appealing when new (light weight, great set of features) came at the expense of longevity.

Ditto!

 

[Businessfotos]

GA is electronic which might be what you are looking for to have a PnS. I opted for the older GS with its perfect 75mm which is a wonderful camera. Foldable lens makes it super compact, but bellows can have light leaks. There is a version with a 60mm which has a bull-bar instead of the collapsible lens and no bellows. The Wide version with its 45mm has no coupled rangefinder so you need to use zone-focusing. I would pretty much recommend one of these older, mechanical cameras over having nightmares with failing electronics …

 

[Sandro.m]

GA is electronic which might be what you are looking for to have a PnS. I opted for the older GS with its perfect 75mm which is a wonderful camera. Foldable lens makes it super compact, but bellows can have light leaks. There is a version with a 60mm which has a bull-bar instead of the collapsible lens and no bellows. The Wide version with its 45mm has no coupled rangefinder so you need to use zone-focusing. I would pretty much recommend one of these older, mechanical cameras over having nightmares with failing electronics …

Unfortunately I must agree with you.
My GA started to have trobles due to oxidation on the contacts of the shutter selection, tourning it for some 15 minutes solved the problem. I didn’t buy the 75mm version because I feared the bellow leaks. The lack of rangefinder on the 45mm is no big issue.

 

[xya]

I have had both, GS and GA series. The foldable GS was a very nice camera indeed, but over the years it was a nightmare. Bellows, shutter, aperture and other mechanics failed. If you fold it without the shutter cocked, it will go haywire. I had it repaired at least 5 times until I sold it to the repair man.

I do not agree with the evaluation of the GA done here. I had all 3 models. I still have the Wide version. None of mine ever failed. I know about the flat cable of the Zi, but there is repair now. So if you can get a GA from a trustable seller, go for it. It's really point and shoot in mid format.

 

[guangong]

GA is electronic which might be what you are looking for to have a PnS. I opted for the older GS with its perfect 75mm which is a wonderful camera. Foldable lens makes it super compact, but bellows can have light leaks. There is a version with a 60mm which has a bull-bar instead of the collapsible lens and no bellows. The Wide version with its 45mm has no coupled rangefinder so you need to use zone-focusing. I would pretty much recommend one of these older, mechanical cameras over having nightmares with failing electronics …

“Can have light leaks” should read “will have light leaks”.

 

[macfred]

I use two GA series cameras - GA645 with EBC Fujinon 60mm f/4 and the GA645Wi with the 45 mm f/4 lens.
Both are still working flawlessly though they are not pampered.
I had the GAZi 645 too (with a zoom lens) but it has electronic failures.
AF is pretty slow and noisy but precise - just like exposure metering is. Lenses are tack sharp.

 

[Sergey Ko]

Exellent travel camera!
I have a lot of A4 prints, but only several scans on Flickr.

 

[macfred]

Yes, a great travel camera - also great for casual photography

 

[chuckroast]

What does everyone think of the Fuji GA 645. It looks like a great camera and I was thinking about picking one up before vacation next month!

Would love the hear what the consensus is

I have a Zi I really, really like. I would imagine the 645 is decent in its own right assuming everything is working properly.

Point Of Order: You NEVER go on vacation with untested camera equipment, or at least only untested cameras. I have seen/heard many horror stories of one-in-a-lifetime images lost to failed cameras, meters, old film batches, inoperable lenses and so forth because someone went on a trip w/o checking them first.

 

[srtviper15]

I have a Zi I really, really like. I would imagine the 645 is decent in its own right assuming everything is working properly.

Point Of Order: You NEVER go on vacation with untested camera equipment, or at least only untested cameras. I have seen/heard many horror stories of one-in-a-lifetime images lost to failed cameras, meters, old film batches, inoperable lenses and so forth because someone went on a trip w/o checking them first.

Thanks for that tip! I actually just picked up a camera I haven’t tested yet. I know what I’m doing this week! I will be shooting a roll and getting it developed before vacation.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

Purchasing a used camera is a gamble.
Older cameras are even more of a gamble.
Years ago I almost gave up on photography as my Nikon F2S and Nikon FE produced unreliable results.
My wife bailed me out with a new Nikon F80 ( which I should have never sold) and the photos were back on track.
Buying into medium format is proving to be equally problematic!
My Mamiya 6 Automat folder has inconsistent focus issues as does my Mamiya 645 Pro S.
I also Have a Minolta Automat that produces good images but requires a full overall as does my Rolleiflex TLR.
As with the Nikon F2S and FE , I am ,at great expense having my older MF cameras serviced.
GAS is not without consequence!

 

[yurihuta]

I use two GA series cameras - GA645 with EBC Fujinon 60mm f/4 and the GA645Wi with the 45 mm f/4 lens.
Both are still working flawlessly though they are not pampered.
I had the GAZi 645 too (with a zoom lens) but it has electronic failures.
AF is pretty slow and noisy but precise - just like exposure metering is. Lenses are tack sharp.

View attachment 374291

these folks in Poland are having the flexible ribbon cable manufactured and reviving Fuji GA645zi cameras. I am sending my copy of this camera in to them for repair. www.fotonaprawa.pl

If you do a search for the company name and Fuji GA645zi, you will see many very happy owners who have had their camera returned to them repaired.

 

[macfred]

Thanks ! Could be important for a couple of GAZi users. I sold mine a few years ago.

 

[SMD]

I have the standard GA645 and the one with the wide lens. Both bought used 22 and 20 years ago*. Never had a problem.
The only fault they have, they do not focus precise at short distances (up to 3-4 meters). You still can use them for portrait but have to remember to look which distance it displays in the finder. If it is unreasonable long, try again, maybe the AF finds the correct distance. If not, you can (kinda) focus manually. The problem is, at longer distances the AF is precise, so you forget to check every time and will have some malfocused close range pictures.

* After reading the extensive, to the point, excellent review on the old (black background) Fred Miranda site. I only regret, being a purist back then, not having bought the zoom version too.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

I have the standard GA645 and the one with the wide lens. Both bought used 22 and 20 years ago*. Never had a problem.
The only fault they have, they do not focus precise at short distances (up to 3-4 meters). You still can use them for portrait but have to remember to look which distance it displays in the finder. If it is unreasonable long, try again, maybe the AF finds the correct distance. If not, you can (kinda) focus manually. The problem is, at longer distances the AF is precise, so you forget to check every time and will have some malfocused close range pictures.

* After reading the extensive, to the point, excellent review on the old (black background) Fred Miranda site. I only regret, being a purist back then, not having bought the zoom version too.

I too am regretting the purchase of a good used AF Fuji 645 when available!

 

[chuckroast]

I have the standard GA645 and the one with the wide lens. Both bought used 22 and 20 years ago*. Never had a problem.
The only fault they have, they do not focus precise at short distances (up to 3-4 meters). You still can use them for portrait but have to remember to look which distance it displays in the finder. If it is unreasonable long, try again, maybe the AF finds the correct distance. If not, you can (kinda) focus manually. The problem is, at longer distances the AF is precise, so you forget to check every time and will have some malfocused close range pictures.

* After reading the extensive, to the point, excellent review on the old (black background) Fred Miranda site. I only regret, being a purist back then, not having bought the zoom version too.

I very much like my Zi now that our friends in Poland have completely fixed it up. Unfortunately, my current thinning of the herd may call for it to be sold. I am astonished how well its held it value given what working/clean cameras are selling for.

 

[SMD]

* After reading the extensive, to the point, excellent review on the old (black background) Fred Miranda site. I only regret, being a purist back then, not having bought the zoom version too.

I have to correct myself, it was Dante Stella: https://web.archive.org/web/20100313174747/https://dantestella.com/technical/ga645.html