GA645Zi

Matesh99 · Jan 16, 2020

Hello,

I’ve recently discovered a problem with my GA645Zi. I’ve shot first roll of BW Fomapan with no problems. However when I load a roll of Portra 400 the camera doesn’t wind it up to a first frame and there Is still number zero on the LCD. The LCD Is fully functional so I dont think the problematic ribbon cable is damaged in any way. Tried it a few times always making sure the film isn’t loose or anything.
thanks in advance

Grim Tuesday · Jan 16, 2020

Have you tried the classic things to do with an electronic camera? Take the battery out and put it back in, see if that fixes the problem. Another possibility is that the new shiny Kodak backing paper confuses the sensor somehow. Do you have another roll of fomapan you can try?

If it stays a problem I don't know how you can fix it. I don't think anyone works on these cameras, or keeps spare parts for them. I've often had a real conundrum about whether I should sell mine before it breaks and pocket the proceeds in order to buy something more fixable in the future. And make no mistake, I'm sure 95% of Ga545zi cameras will be broken within the next fifteen years.

On the other hand, it's a lovely and unique camera so I might as well keep using it while it keeps working!

Jim Blomfield · Jan 16, 2020

I don’t know if this helps. I only shoot black and white film. With the latest version of backing paper on Tmax 400 I have found that unless I put more pressure on the film (by pushing down on the film with my finger) as the film loads, it does not load properly. That is, it winds too loosely to start the first frame properly.

Matesh99 · Jan 17, 2020

Tried switching the batteries and nothing. It seems that the problem Is in the film itself because I just loaded different Foma and again no problems whatsoever. Will try to get my hands on some another 120 film asap to further test it out.

Alan9940 · Jan 17, 2020

Not that this helps, but I just recently shot some Portra 400 through mine without issue. Bad roll of film, perhaps?

macfred · Jan 17, 2020

Two GA645 and a dead GAZi here - they dislike(d) Kodak take-up spools from time to time ... Using the spools from a Fuji or Ilford film as take-up for Kodak branded films causes no problems ...

abruzzi · Jan 17, 2020

Didn't the Zi have a bar code reader in it to read film speed (sort of a 120 version DX coding)? Maybe is getting confused by other markings on the paper, and causing the camera to hang-up. I'd test covering the the reader with some black electrical tape.

Matesh99 · Jan 17, 2020

I tested three other Portras today, one of them had a different color of packaging.. slightly darker yellow than the other ones and that darker one was workin perfectly... had the same problems with those other Portras. I really don’t have a single clue why. Changing the spools didn’t worked out for me. Guess I’ll have to switch to Pro 400H. Will try to cover the sensor and give an update how that worked out! I appreciate all the replies. Thank you very much

MattKing · Jan 17, 2020

What were the "Develop Before" dates on the Portra films that worked and did not work?
I ask because Kodak has recently had to quite radically change their backing paper, due to problems with wrapper offset. The new stuff is quite shiny.
Older film may have used backing paper from Eastman Kodak's inventory from the days when they had the capacity to manufacture it. All new Kodak backing paper comes from a third party.
When Eastman Kodak initially switched to third party supply, there were all sorts of unpredictable problems with wrapper offset.

Andrew4x5 · Jan 18, 2020

There is a ‘door closed’ switch which is on the door and which activates the wind-on motor. Unfortunately, if the corresponding track on the ribbon cable breaks, the film doesn’t advance when you close the door. So, like me, you may have a dead camera.

macfred · Jan 18, 2020

Andrew4x5 said:
There is a ‘door closed’ switch which is on the door and which activates the wind-on motor. Unfortunately, if the corresponding track on the ribbon cable breaks, the film doesn’t advance when you close the door. So, like me, you may have a dead camera.

IIRC the camera works flawlessly with other film (FOMA) - see #4.

Arcadia4 · Feb 9, 2020

macfred said:
Two GA645 and a dead GAZi here - they dislike(d) Kodak take-up spools from time to time ... Using the spools from a Fuji or Ilford film as take-up for Kodak branded films causes no problems ...

Exactly this. With a GA645 've had a fat roll with loading Fuji onto a Kodak Reel as takeup. It will work but needs a bit more care with tensioning the backing paper when loading. I presume there is a fractional difference in size of reel or its due to the kodak backing paper being slightly thicker.

The other problem has been the with camera not stopping winding when the roll ends. It works flawlessly with Pro400h. With Kodak films it more hit and miss, and will sometimes keep winding particularly with a pack of Tmax400, needing to take battery out and then reboot camera which fixed it. With Tri-X recently its often wound on for a bit longer than normal but will eventually stop. Portra is normally ok.

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