FujiGW645Zi

Profdaydreamer · May 19, 2020

Hey everybody

I’ve been shooting medium format for a while now on my Mamiya RB67 but I wanted to move to something a little more compact. I also can’t carry the Mamiya to alot of places or take pictures out of the car window and stuff. I also gotta carry around a light meter everywhere. I have done some research and it seems that the FujiGW645Zi is the perfect camera for me with it’s auto focus and built in meter... I think I am going to spend about $650-$700 on this one listing I found and I was just wondering if anyone here has one/has had one and would give me any tips or any reasons not to buy it... or also any other medium format point and shoots with built in flash,autofocus, and meter... cant seem to find any other ones really...

4season · May 20, 2020

It's a wonderful camera although I sold mine sometime around 2005 and don't know how well they withstand the effects of time and neglect. Mine had developed hairline cracks in some of the plastic cladding, but this didn't seem to affect operation of the camera at all but might be a good way to bargain for a lower price.

abruzzi · May 20, 2020

They take very nice pictures. I have one. I don't love it, but if you're traveling and want compactness, and easy point-and-shoot approach to shooting, they're almost the only game in town. You could go for a Pentax, Contax, or Mamiya 645 camera. The later models did auto focus, and I imagine they also did "P" shooting, but I wouldn't call them compact (unless you're comparing to a Pentax 67 or similar.) The only other option I can think of is the predecessor's to Zi. The main difference with the early ones is the fixed focal length lens.

Be aware that the achilles heel of the Zi is the LCD on the film door. They start going bad after use, and you'll see lots on eBay with dead LCDs. This seems to have something to with the flex cable running through the hinge causing stress either on the cable or the solder joints where the cable connects. (the earlier fixed focal length cameras put the LCD on the top and don't seem to have this issue.) Unfortunately the LCD is very useful given that its how you set the ISO of your film. Some people with dead LCDs count clicks-load film, turn the mode dial to ISO, turn the jog wheel one direction to move the ISO setting to its lowest value, then count your clicks upwards until you think the ISO is set correctly. That can work, but the jog wheel is a endless rotary encoder, and over the years those can develop problems missing jumps, or double registering clicks. Mine has that issue a little, and it makes loading film a little tricky. (when loading film, the jog wheel turns into an advance knob.)

Grim Tuesday · May 20, 2020

It's an interesting camera, I picked one up cheap with minor film door issues and have run a few rolls through. I haven't liked it as much as I thought I would, I think for a couple reasons:

First, I don't love love 6x4.5 as a format, because I feel like compared to high quality 35mm it doesn't feel like a huge jump in the same way 6x6/6x7/6x9 really feels like you're shooting something different
There are no wide apertures to speak off
The autofocus is often "very good", but misses by a little bit, and you don't know because you have no preview of focus as you would in an SLR
I'm constantly worried about it breaking and it becoming a paperweight, so I baby it, and I am always thinking I should sell it before the back door cable breaks...
I don't really like the look of 90s style on camera flash indoors pictures and whenever the flash turns on, it looks like that

All that said, remember the camera cost like $2000 in the late 90s, so the lens is really superb. The metering is perfect. I remember reading a review of it saying that it outperformed the fixed lens version at that focal length. Also, I'm often concerned with weight-to-image quality ratio for hiking and the only medium format camera that can get close to this one is a good rolleicord. Here are a couple pictures I've taken with mine. I should take it out more:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132764966@N03/49236831746/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132764966@N03/49237054442/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132764966@N03/49246311172/in/dateposted-public/

abruzzi · May 20, 2020

I would expect that in the weight/image quality sweepstakes, the Mamiya 7 and Plaubel Makina 67 can easily best the Zi, but those are cameras that sell for prices well in excess to $2k USD, and are not automated (no AF, no AE except aperture priority on the Mamiya)

Grim Tuesday · May 20, 2020

abruzzi said:
I would expect that in the weight/image quality sweepstakes, the Mamiya 7 and Plaubel Makina 67 can easily best the Zi, but those are cameras that sell for prices well in excess to $2k USD, and are not automated (no AF, no AE except aperture priority on the Mamiya)

The Plaubel Makina is surprisingly heavy, I believe around 1400 grams. Almost the same as a Hasselblad (1500g)! Better comparisons are probably the Mamiya 6, which is 1100 and the Mamiya 7 which is 1200. GA645zi is I think around 880? I guess my point is that even against stiff competition the GA645zi does pretty well and is a bargain compared to them.

abruzzi · May 20, 2020

Didn't realize the Plauble Makina was that heavy. It does seem to be very compact. I agree the little Fuji has a great lens (as long as you don't need super fast), I just figure a high end 6x7 has a leg up on practically any 645. On the other hand, both the Mamiya 7 and the Plaubel are more than I've ever spent for a camera. In fact they are borderline as much as I've spent for the most expensive full systems I've bought (Pentax 67 with like 8 lenses--$2200 over the course of three years.) Some people aren't put off by price, but to me its a huge limitation of any camera that couldn't function as my primary camera (I prefer through the lens, so SLR or LF. Don't really like TLRs for some reason.)

TomNY · May 20, 2020

I bought a used Zi back in 2003 and after maybe 5 years the LCD started slowly dying. The counting clicks workaround worked for me after that for awhile but now I suspect I'm having problems finding the right ISO. Another strange problem I've had since the beginning is that it will not tightly roll up Fuji film of any kind on the take up reel. I can't figure out what the problem is but Kodak and Ilford films never present a problem. It served me wellfor 10 + years but I wouldn't get another solely due to LCD issue.

destroya · May 20, 2020

I have a Zi. Its a nice camera that has its quirks, like a lot of cameras.

The lens is spectacular. It rivals my mamiya 6 50mm lens based on the few tests I have done. But it's slow. I predominately use it on the wide end , which is a little faster, but it still means I have to be careful with what film I use in it.

as mentioned above, the LCD is a disaster waiting to happen. Luckily mine still works fine, but if I open the rear door to much when loading film, it sometimes blinks in and out. so I am very careful when loading film. based on years of using the camera, if the LCD goes, it is almost useless. I would more than likely only use 1 film in it as you need the LCD to change ISO and my wheel is starting to get click errors, it jumps all over the place so counting clicks will not work. so I will dial in my ISO along with any filter factor and stick to TMAX 400, with filter and ISO of 80 ( I shoot it at 200) and call it a 1 film camera.

the results from prints, both scans and wet prints are great. it is a little large for the size of the neg, also an odd shape. it does fit in my cargo pants and shorts, so for many years it was one of my hiking cameras. like any auto focus range finder, you need to pay attention to the distance meter in the viewfinder to make sure you are in the ballpark of what you are focusing on. like mentioned above, the meter works very well. I get perfect exposures when using velvia. I add a little for B&W neg film as it, like most modern meters, underexposes neg film, more than likely to save highlights in slide film. once you use it, you adjust accordingly.

the tiny flash actually does come in handy. it has saved a few shots because of the slow lens.

all in all its a great camera. but if I could find someone who was willing to trade even for a fixed lens fuji 645 with a wide lens, I would take it. I have more faith that it will last longer. I dont use the camera as much as I used to, maybe 5 rolls a year. if the LCD was not a factor, this woul be one of the best travel cameras for me and the way I shoot. if its the right price I would tell you to consider it. but paying a premium for it over the fixed lens cameras is not worth it in my mind. I'm sure others will disagree, but that's just my opinion.. if you buy one, make sure you can return it for free after using it. to many people never mention the LCD when selling.

john

Alan9940 · May 20, 2020

I've had a Zi for many years and haven't had any of the issues that one typically reads about the camera--LCD going bad, ribbon cable problems, etc. However, I don't use it nearly as much as several of my other cameras so, maybe, that's why mine has remained in perfect operating condition all these years. That said, the results from this camera are first-rate, IMO. When I'm going on longer hikes in the desert and just want to "shoot fast" and move on, I load a roll of Portra 400 and toss a few extra rolls in my pocket. I love the color palette of this film with desert colors and have gotten a few really nice images from the Zi/Portra 400 combo.

xya · May 20, 2020

it's a very nice camera indeed, I had one for years. I have made a review here http://www.120folder.com/fuji_ga645zi.htm and there are more cameras on my site to compare. because of the possible screen issue I would look at the non-zoom cameras of the series, they don't have a screen on their back. they are very nice cameras as well...

Arthurwg · May 20, 2020

Amazing how perfected film cameras were just when they disappeared.

Ariston · May 20, 2020

If you can do without a meter and AF a folding rangefinder will save you a lot of money and be very compact.

Down Under · May 20, 2020

The Fuji GAs (there were several models) are superb shooters when they work - a major minus-point is that they are mostly 1990s cameras based on 1980s technology and when the 'lektriks' fail, that's usually it for the camera which almost always, as the Germans say, kaput.

I've owned two Fuji GA645s and both expired with faulty electronics. One was dropped accidentally by someone I loaned it to, which damaged the LCD display and the film wind. Friend kindly offered to pay for the repair but this proved to be impractical due to lack of parts and the expense involved. The other GA just went dead on me, literally during a shoot. I sold them for parts, oddly enough at surprisingly good prices.

Ebay sellers mostly from Japan now ask for an arm and a leg for Fuji GAs and GSs, the latter to me being a far better camera to work with, fewer electronics to go bad.The GS645i is the ideal point-and-shoot, if you can live with its somewhat odd ergonomics and a f/5.6 lens.

One friend owned a 645wi which has the same setup as the zi with a fixed (45mm) lens. He loved it. Same problems happened. It's now an expensive show pony in his camera cabinet.

All these GAs were, while they worked, mos excellent cameras with truly remarkable lenses. I agree with the poster who said film cameras seemed to die out at a time when their technology was at their best (think Contax G1 and G2 in 35mm). The slides I shot with my GA645i and Ektachrome film are among the best I've taken, rock-sharp, beautiful colors and mid-tones. I've always loved the 645 format and have got along with it for decades (I have 16 exposure kits for three of my Rolleis and I use them often), so I'm fine with the format.

If only Fuji could be talked into making a new model of the GA645, ideally with zi ergonomics/looks and a wi lens - we can dream on but alas, it would probably cost close to a digital Leica.

Grim Tuesday · May 20, 2020

So I guess the big question is, given the reliability issues, is it worth the price? Should I sell mine while it still has value? (I think about this often with my Coolscan 9000ED also...)

gijsbert · May 20, 2020

The GA645zi has iso detect but I believe no film being made has the barcode anymore, not even Fujifilm Acros, bummer!
I have a GA645Wi, great camera, very sharp, my favourite travel camera - not that big and not heavy. Only camera I can think of with a better neg size to weight ratio is GF670 (1040gr or something like that).
Scanned through this feed https://www.instagram.com/ppp_repairs/?hl=en repair guy in UK that repairs a fair bit of electronic cameras, but alas didn't find any Zi - only one GA645, and that wasn't an electronic problem fix. And a long feed so I stopped looking after a few minutes ...

gijsbert · May 20, 2020

Hmm, wonder if you could print the barcode and glue it to a 120 roll to get the ISO detect to work... would be a bit of a pain but if the camera still works besides the lcd might be okay.
Actually, found a description here https://patents.google.com/patent/US6050489?oq=6050489 and the barcode is on the sticker that glues the film to the backing paper. I actually just found an Acros sticker with indeed a barcode. Don't know if it has to be in that exact position for the camera to see it. If so that would make it hard to hack one..

Grim Tuesday · May 20, 2020

Cool idea. There is also the workaround with spinning the knob all the way in one direction, until it hits either the max or min ISO (it does not loop around) and then counting clicks until you get to your desired ISO. I've also read that if the ribbon breaks, it will be stuck in 120 or 220 position for the backplate, so I have resolved to never use 220 film in mine, in case the ribbon breaks on that day. Which turns out to be rather easy, since 220 film isn't made anymore...

spark · May 21, 2020

Mine still works great. The AF is slow by modern standards, and you need to be sure it is locked to the main subject. But the pictures are great. If you are using the internal flash stick with faster film. I can see these as being grab-shot cameras for wedding photographers.
The LCD issues are common to cameras and other equipment made during that period. It's not the LCD that fails, it's the electrical connection.

kahlheins · May 21, 2020

I had a GA645Zi and got rid of it again fairly soon. I could not shoort portraits with this camera at all. Focus was off 90% of the time. Not sure if this was an issue with my camera in particular or just the GA645Zi in general. Anything further away than 1.5 - 2m didn't cause any troubles in terms of focusing. Apart from that it's a lovely camera. I might try get my hands on a GA645 instead, hoping it will not give me the same troubles with the autofocus.

abruzzi · May 21, 2020

mine's focus is pretty accurate, though I don't shoot portraits. The one thing I realized pretty quickly is you need to keep a close eye on the focus distance meter. The closest it focuses is 1 meter, and if you look at the distance meter, if the square next to 1m is flashing, you're too close. You also need to watch the other side of the viewfinder is you see a flashing triangle its either going to be over or under exposed.

Grim Tuesday · May 21, 2020

kahlheins said:
I had a GA645Zi and got rid of it again fairly soon. I could not shoort portraits with this camera at all. Focus was off 90% of the time. Not sure if this was an issue with my camera in particular or just the GA645Zi in general. Anything further away than 1.5 - 2m didn't cause any troubles in terms of focusing. Apart from that it's a lovely camera. I might try get my hands on a GA645 instead, hoping it will not give me the same troubles with the autofocus.

I limited experience with this, but can echo it: of the 3 portraits I can remember taking with my GA645Zi, all three of them were slightly missed focus. Not enough so that the whole person was blurry, but if you're persnickety (which I tend to be with portraits and focusing), it was clear that the focus was not exactly right but a little off. One I just looked at, it was clear the camera focused about 8 inches behind the eyes of the person. Perhaps I was too close and I offended the minimum distance, but I do remember being pretty careful about that.

richyd · May 21, 2020

I had one that I used for travel. I've been sorting out my catalogue and realise that it took some fantastic shots with it even in difficult light and all sharp. Mine was totally reliable until it fell out of may bag but it still worked except on the last zoom setting. I sold it for spares and bought another.

Having read about potential ribbon cable issues over time, I stuck two small rubber blobs by the hinge of the door so that when it opens it stops before it is fully extended preventing any strain on the cable. Don't be put off by the negative comments, just look after it well. In the end I sold it because I didn't want auto everything and use my Bronica RF645 now. The walk around camera I use the most with great results is the Fuji GS645W, all manual with scale focus but still quick to set and I've never had a bad shot and again, sharp optics.

abruzzi · May 21, 2020

richyd said:
In the end I sold it because I didn't want auto everything and use my Bronica RF645 now.

I'd love a RF645, but they've got a little too dear for me. Not as bad as the Mamiya 7, but getting up there.

I was talking to the barista at the local coffee shop while I was getting a latte (to-go) recently He's the only person in my town that I've met that shoots film. He saw my Zi and asked about it. He said one of the customers got out of film ad gave him a GF670. For free. He was saying that to say that he felt 6x4.5 was a little too small a negative.

gijsbert · May 21, 2020

What a snob!!

FujiGW645Zi

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