Fuji GA645

mporter012 · Jan 11, 2015

I've been considering picking up a one of the Fuji 645 rangefinders. From a previous post, I located this great website Dead Link Removed, which nicely summarizes the differences in the models over the years. Is the normal framing for all the of models vertical? That would be tough for me to get used to. The models that are "autofocus" are only autofocus, with no manual focusing capability?

Thanks,

gone · Jan 11, 2015

Yep, vertical framing. You get used to it. I loved mine for it's relatively small size and light weight. The cheesy plastic construction, well, you got used to it. I had to work at getting good photos from mine, as I found the Fuji glass sharp, but w/o the character I like from older glass. With the right film and developer protocol you can nudge that part up a bit. My camera was the GA645S. It worked well until the shutter went South and KEH was unable to find the parts to fix it. That model is quite a bit smaller than the later auto focus cameras, which are essentially P&S medium format cameras. To my knowledge, the AF models are AF all the time, as there are no distance markings on the lenses and no RF in the viewfinder. The GA645S had a simple but easy to see RF spot. The viewfinders on all of them are huge and pretty bright.

6x4.5 is an interesting format, although I prefer 6x6. If I were to buy a 6x4.5 camera today it would probably be one of the great old folders that come in that size, and just estimate the distances. A Zeiss Ikonta 531A is 6x4.5, and if I remember correctly is the smallest 6x4.5 camera ever made. They will actually fit in the palm of your hand even when opened and ready to shoot. They're mechanically works of art too, w/ excellent lenses. I owned one w/ a Tessar, but actually prefer the cheaper Novars that are scale focusing. Give me a good 3 element MF lens any day over a 4 element Tessar.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 11, 2015

Yes vertical framing but the camera is easily and comfortably held horizontal to enable such framing. I have the GA645 and its lens is superb. MF P&S is a perfect description. They have their detractors and those who love them as I do. I had a GA645zi for a while which I also loved but did not need to keep both so I sold it. Still have and treasure my GA645.

Here's a wonderful page on these cameras:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/ga645.html

And a few examples of mine using the cameras:

Cascade Falls Trail Mill Valley FujiGA645 FujiAcros D-761-1 8min30sec 22C 1minAg2x 2012-08 VSmac 9000 Scan-120812-0002 c FFws by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

Buchanan and Pierce St Albany, CA FujiGA645 IlfordDelta400 DiXactolUltra PS 8min 21C 2011 VSmac 9000 Scan-110919-0003 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

Ben_Albany_Oceanview_FujiGA645_Acros_D-76_1-1_12-2006_07 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

Tilden Botanical Garden GA645 APX25 01-2006 09 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

trythis · Jan 12, 2015

GA645 has manual focusing ability, but it is servo control, not on the lens. You see the distance numerically in the viewfinder and LCD on top, I think. Its not bad if you set the focus with auto and switch to manual for handing the camera off to a stranger, your family member or tripod timer for the shot. Its not going to be easier to get something in focus manually.

macfred · Jan 12, 2015

trythis said:
... Its not bad if you set the focus with auto and switch to manual for handing the camera off to a stranger, your family member or tripod timer for the shot. Its not going to be easier to get something in focus manually.

^ I agree !
---
The GA645 series was my way back to film.
I have the GA645 (Fujinon 60mm f/4) and the GA645Wi (Fujinon 45mm f/4) - I can recommend them both.
These cameras are great for traveling, hiking or mountaineering.

An other nice page about the GA645 series (german language) :
http://www.troeszter.net/FujifilmGA645Series.html and http://www.troeszter.net/FujifilmGA645Serie2.html

Writes and reviews :
Dead Link Removed
http://http://blog.americanpeyote.com/2007/06/11/fuji-ga645-the-awesome-film-camera/
http://blog.americanpeyote.com/2007...-camera-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-501007

RattyMouse · Jan 12, 2015

I REALLY don't like shooting vertical all the time so that is why I parked my GA645 for the past year. That said, it is a great camera, with a very nice lens. It's nice to get 16 shots per roll of film vs the 10 shots I get with my 6 x 7 rangefinders. The camera is on the loud side with the film advance. You can't shoot discreetly in quiet areas because of that. The built in flash is very nice, one of the best things about the camera. None of my other film cameras have flash so this makes the GA645 quite useful when I need more light.

I would REALLY try to get an "i" version of the camera if you can. That has a second shutter button for landscape framed shots. Unlike what was said above, I find shooting the camera sideways (normal!) very difficult to hold level. I rarely do it because of that.

Roger Cole · Jan 12, 2015

Dagnabbit, y'all are makin' me want one! I have a Mamiya 645 Pro which is probably my single most versatile camera but yet the one I use least. A 645 P&S would have a lot if appeal. Granted I use my Yashicamat 124 almost as such and happily crop to rectangular when/if needed...grr, may have to find some money laying around!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk and 100% recycled electrons - because I care.

macfred · Jan 12, 2015

RattyMouse said:
I would REALLY try to get an "i" version of the camera if you can. That has a second shutter button for landscape framed shots

^ +1 !

Film advance and focussing is not so noisy on my GA645Wi - my GA645 is much louder.
The i - version does not shoot with the lens cap on (the GA645 does it :eek = great +

RattyMouse · Jan 12, 2015

macfred said:
^ +1 !

Film advance and focussing is not so noisy on my GA645Wi - my GA645 is much louder.
The i - version does not shoot with the lens cap on (the GA645 does it :eek = great +

Yeah, I've lost a few shots due to leaving the lens cap on. Really annoying. Another reason to get the "i" version.

RattyMouse · Jan 12, 2015

Some GA645 images from my library:

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 12, 2015

Wow, awesome Fuji 645 images here!

anfenglin · Jan 12, 2015

I love mine too, it's so light, and with that lens just awesome. I little quirk to look out for is that it doesn't measure TTL, it measures TTF, through the finder. Because of that you need to be very careful when shooting landscape with a bright sky, especially with slide film. You can use EV from -2 to +2 but you have to remember to use it. I'm not that thoughtful -_-
On the plus side, having put over 80 rolls through mine now, I can load it while standing up, the loading mechanism is quite thought through. When the back is open, the wheel on top is used for turning the take up spool, you just put the backing paper in, scroll ahead a bit, then close the back, the camera senses the beginning of the film using an infrared sensor if I remember correctly.
Quite a lot of pictures on my flickr stream were made using the GA645. I don't care about the noise, which, to be fair is quite lets say nasty, the quality of the lens is sublime.
Oh, another thing, wierdly, the GA645 only puts 15 shots on a roll of 120 film, the GA645i manages to get 16 frames per roll. Noone knows why.
Another big upside is, having a leaf shutter, you can get a shot using half a second of exposure time, although you are a bit limited speedwise.
For me the GA645 is perfect, I often ride around on my bike and being able to put a medium format camera with a lens like that in a small pocket just is the bees knees.
cheers

MrBrowning · Jan 12, 2015

I have one that I bought not to long ago and I really love it.

Depending on where you're located this may be of interest.

"The GA645 Professional still operates normally whenleft for up to 2 hours at a temperature of minus 10
so they continue to give reliable readings even in cold
weather. However, you should not keep the camera at extreme
temperatures of minus 20 degrees C and below. Such conditions
not only affect the camera, but can also cause hardening
of the film base. lf you have to shoot at minus 20 or 30 degrees
C, be sure to insulate the camera by keeping it in a
camera bag, and remove it only for 10 or 20 minutes at a time."

you can find the manual here http://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/fujifilm_ga645_full.pdf it's on the last page Q9.

To those who posted them: Awesome pictures!

RattyMouse · Jan 12, 2015

anfenglin said:
Oh, another thing, wierdly, the GA645 only puts 15 shots on a roll of 120 film, the GA645i manages to get 16 frames per roll. Noone knows why.
cheers

My GA645 gets 16 shots per roll of film. Anyone else get that?

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 12, 2015

My GA645 goes only to 15. My GA645zi got 16.

macfred · Jan 12, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
My GA645 goes only to 15. My GA645zi got 16.

Same here - GA645 goes to 15 (30 with 220 film), GA645Wi got 16 (32 with 220 film).

Did we mention the barcode reader for FUJI medium-format films on the i - version ?
It sets the film speed automatically.

Some people rap the plastic construction on the GA645 series - I think the cameras are pretty sturdy.
From the manual :
Camera's main body is made of die cast light alloy and sheet metal. The lens barrel is made of aluminum alloy.
Backcover is a 0.6 mm pressed steel sheet. Bottom cover, top cover and front cover is polycarbonate.

Forgot to say: batteries last for ever.

David Brown · Jan 12, 2015

mporter012 said:
The models that are "autofocus" are only autofocus, with no manual focusing capability?

I must be the only one with the older GS645S, (the one with a "crash bar") which is a rangefinder. It is the sharpest lens I own - in any format!

macfred · Jan 12, 2015

David Brown said:
I must be the only one with the older GS645S, (the one with a "crash bar") which is a rangefinder. It is the sharpest lens I own - in any format!

^ Very nice camera !

An other `true´ rangefinder was the GS645 (a folding bellows camera) with the 75mm f/3.4 (5 elements in 4 groups) from 1983.
The GS645W (45mm f/5.6) was only Scale Focus.

RattyMouse · Jan 12, 2015

I'll have to double check my films. Maybe my memory is whacked.

pdeeh · Jan 12, 2015

David Brown said:
I must be the only one with the older GS645S, (the one with a "crash bar")

no I've got one too!

I should use it more, it really is very nice indeed to handle, though the rf patch is a bit dim.

macfred · Jan 12, 2015

RattyMouse said:
I'll have to double check my films. Maybe my memory is whacked.

I think you're memory is right
Dante Stella reports about a second version of the GA645 (not the i -version) with a few improvements to the first model :

GA645 (v.2) increases the number of shots on 120 film to 16 (from 15) and the number on 220 to 32 (from 30), adds a little protective ridge around the AF button to prevent accidental pressing, and quiets down the focusing ...

skysh4rk · Jan 12, 2015

anfenglin said:
Oh, another thing, wierdly, the GA645 only puts 15 shots on a roll of 120 film, the GA645i manages to get 16 frames per roll. Noone knows why.

RattyMouse said:
My GA645 gets 16 shots per roll of film. Anyone else get that?

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
My GA645 goes only to 15. My GA645zi got 16.

I can confirm what macfred has noted below: There are two versions of the GA645 (v.1 and v.2) that were released prior to the GA645i.

The second version, which can be identified by the ridges surrounding both the AF button and, I believe, the exposure compensation button as well, gets 16 exposures for each roll of 120.

I had this second version.

The camera produced fantastic imageswhen it worked. To say that my GA645 had serious problems with the electronics would be an understatement and I was very lucky to rid myself of it without incurring any financial losses. As much as I liked its sharp lens, compactness, and in-built flash, I would probably think twice before I would consider purchasing another electronics-laden Fuji rangefinder. I certainly wouldn't risk buying one without a good warranty unless the camera was dirt cheap.

macfred said:
I think you're memory is right
Dante Stella reports about a second version of the GA645 (not the i -version) with a few improvements to the first model :

GA645 (v.2) increases the number of shots on 120 film to 16 (from 15) and the number on 220 to 32 (from 30), adds a little protective ridge around the AF button to prevent accidental pressing, and quiets down the focusing ...

mporter012 · Jan 12, 2015

Thanks for the thoughts. The photograph from Tilden Botanical Gardens is wonderful.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 14, 2015

mporter012 said:
Thanks for the thoughts. The photograph from Tilden Botanical Gardens is wonderful.

Thanks. Light was great that day.

Giuseppephoto · Jan 26, 2015

Great camera!

I have a GA645 V2... (and a GA645W V1)

The GA645 is a great camera. It's a little "quirky" in the sense that it looks funny, and some folks aren't fans of the vertical 6x4.5 format but I love mine! It's sharp, it meters very well and it's portable. That review by Dante Stella that was posted previously is very accurate and well written.

If I had a few extra bucks laying around I'd buy a 2nd in a heartbeat...

Try to get one w/ a lower roll count if possible (hold down the +/- button while turning the control wheel to "ISO").

Just a few humble examples:

Fuji GA645

mporter012

gone

Richard S. (rich815)

trythis

macfred

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