I found the perfect camera and it is cursed [Fuji GS645W]

[jwicaksana]

Welcome to APUG

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Have registered for a long time now but mostly just silently reading. Thanks for the warm welcome.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I am not one to usually bump an ancient thread but I think the question is pertinent and the OP is still an active so here goes...

@adelorenzo how are the cameras holding up after their repair 6 years ago? Did they become reliable or revert to their unreliable ways?

 

[adelorenzo]

I am not one to usually bump an ancient thread but I think the question is pertinent and the OP is still an active so here goes...

@adelorenzo how are the cameras holding up after their repair 6 years ago? Did they become reliable or revert to their unreliable ways?

Well, when I posted this thread I was just about to head out on a 10-day paddling and hiking trip. My camera shutter died on that trip but not until the last roll when we were in the airplane headed home. Here is my trip report with photos. I got both my copies of the GS645W repaired by Frank Marshman near the end of 2015. I continued to use them for another year or two and honestly, a lot of my best work for 3-4 years was done with those cameras including this entire series that I exhibited in 2018.

On one copy the film counter started stopping at 11 but it otherwise worked fine. Then I dropped the other one and knocked the lens slightly loose. In the the end I decided to part ways with both of them in early 2017.

I have to say that IMHO this is still the best backcountry camera ever made in terms of usability, packability and image quality. If someone would make a new film camera for sale I would want it to be a new GS645W. It's a camera that I miss to this day but I've never had reliability issues with any other cameras I've taken into the backcountry. I really don't know if it's due to the camera or simply bad luck on my part.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Well, when I posted this thread I was just about to head out on a 10-day paddling and hiking trip. My camera shutter died on that trip but not until the last roll when we were in the airplane headed home. Here is my trip report with photos. I got both my copies of the GS645W repaired by Frank Marshman near the end of 2015. I continued to use them for another year or two and honestly, a lot of my best work for 3-4 years was done with those cameras including this entire series that I exhibited in 2018.

On one copy the film counter started stopping at 11 but it otherwise worked fine. Then I dropped the other one and knocked the lens slightly loose. In the the end I decided to part ways with both of them in early 2017.

I have to say that IMHO this is still the best backcountry camera ever made in terms of usability, packability and image quality. If someone would make a new film camera for sale I would want it to be a new GS645W. It's a camera that I miss to this day but I've never had reliability issues with any other cameras I've taken into the backcountry. I really don't know if it's due to the camera or simply bad luck on my part.

Those are gorgeous pictures, of such a beautiful desolate area. I think the black and white picture with the soft and fluffy flowers in the foreground and the mountain in the back is particularly lovely. I would love to go there some day. I am lucky to have a partner who is an AT thru hiker, who is always looking for long trails to do so there is maybe a chance! My only experience so far backpacking in Canada was at Mt. Assiniboine and it was breathtaking.

Usually when I hear someone say that a camera is unreliable because theirs broke I think it's just one data point among many and should be taken into consideration, but I think you really do have some serious data on these cameras. They certainly do seem more fragile than others, if all three of yours have broken. And all in different ways no less! Nevertheless, I might take the chance with mine anyways...

Out of curiosity, what other cameras have you tried taking with you backpacking?

 

[Huss]

Loved the pics.

 

[fabulousrice]

Well, when I posted this thread I was just about to head out on a 10-day paddling and hiking trip. My camera shutter died on that trip but not until the last roll when we were in the airplane headed home. Here is my trip report with photos. I got both my copies of the GS645W repaired by Frank Marshman near the end of 2015. I continued to use them for another year or two and honestly, a lot of my best work for 3-4 years was done with those cameras including this entire series that I exhibited in 2018.

On one copy the film counter started stopping at 11 but it otherwise worked fine. Then I dropped the other one and knocked the lens slightly loose. In the the end I decided to part ways with both of them in early 2017.

I have to say that IMHO this is still the best backcountry camera ever made in terms of usability, packability and image quality. If someone would make a new film camera for sale I would want it to be a new GS645W. It's a camera that I miss to this day but I've never had reliability issues with any other cameras I've taken into the backcountry. I really don't know if it's due to the camera or simply bad luck on my part.

Congratulations on the photos, they are really beautiful. I was reading the post with interest, because in your first message it said you weren't satisfied with 35mm.
I find that I go back and forth between 35mm and 120, 120 doesn't really have the fast lenses I enjoy using with 35mm but usually packs up more or finer details. But I've gotten stellar results with 50 or 100 iso film in 35,,.
As far as portability goes, the folding cameras such as the ones Zeiss Ikon made are very portable and convenient and if you take a lot of landscapes the manual focussing wouldn't be a problem.

 

[jssaraiva]

Glad this old topic came up again, that trip report is amazing, well done!

 

[adelorenzo]

Thanks everyone!

Out of curiosity, what other cameras have you tried taking with you backpacking?

The past 3-4 years the Nikon F3 has been my most used camera in the backcountry. Understandably as it's basically bombproof. I usually pack a 35mm or 24mm prime lens or oftentimes both. It's also proven itself on cold winter trips. The negatives are not as good as medium format of course.

On various trips in the past ten years I have also packed a Fuji GSW680III, Mamiya C330, Nikon F5, Pentax 645, Kodak Medalist, Holga and a slew of 35mm compact cameras.

On our trips we tend to go light and fast so weight is a big concern. Also needing to be able to deploy the camera quickly as we don't really stop to get shots it's a lot of run and gun.

If you are interested in the Canol trail I made a guide for it. I have biked it twice, hiked parts of the trail once on our paddling trip and am planning a full hike for this summer if travel is allowed.