Is it impossible to find a Fujica GS645 with good "not sticky" shutter

Radost · May 16, 2021

Just received a camera from Japan. Advertised working and with new bellows. The bellows were not new just covered in black paint.
The shutter mostly does not fire or fires after a delay.
I really want to have this camera but now I am paranoid about it.
Other users. How good is the reliability of the camera? Is it expansive to repair?

shutterlight · May 17, 2021

Radost said:
Advertised working and with new bellows. The bellows were not new just covered in black paint.

I don't understand this. They know people are going to notice this, right?

Huss · May 17, 2021

Radost said:
Just received a camera from Japan. Advertised working and with new bellows. The bellows were not new just covered in black paint.
The shutter mostly does not fire or fires after a delay.
I really want to have this camera but now I am paranoid about it.
Other users. How good is the reliability of the camera? Is it expansive to repair?

You're not actually considering keeping this are you?
The seller lied about the condition, and you have no idea what else is wrong with it.
And believe me, if he painted the bellows but passed them off as new, there will be plenty else messed up.
He's a crook. File a complaint with ebay and get your money back.

Radost · May 17, 2021

Huss said:
You're not actually considering keeping this are you?
The seller lied about the condition, and you have no idea what else is wrong with it.
And believe me, if he painted the bellows but passed them off as new, there will be plenty else messed up.
He's a crook. File a complaint with ebay and get your money back.

Hell No!
Sending it back. Seller accepts the return.

Radost · May 17, 2021

The question is should I continue my pursuit of GS645?
How many full time users are out there?

wjlapier · May 17, 2021

I purchased my GS645 from a US seller with known issues. Off it went to Frank Marshman for new bellows and full CLA. Working like new but now I’m thinking a GA645 would suit me better ( a companion to my GA645Zi ).

if you’re seriously interested I might be persuaded to let this one go.

gone · May 17, 2021

I had one and loved it, but the shutter started falling apart. The aperture ring became really loose and wouldn't hold the setting. I sent it back to KEH and they fixed it, but a month later it started the same thing. Sent it back to them and they refunded my money because "no replacement parts are available for the shutter anymore". This was 10+ years ago, so I don't think there's been any change on this. Nice cameras, but this is a real issue.

Radost · May 17, 2021

wjlapier said:
I purchased my GS645 from a US seller with known issues. Off it went to Frank Marshman for new bellows and full CLA. Working like new but now I’m thinking a GA645 would suit me better ( a companion to my GA645Zi ).

if you’re seriously interested I might be persuaded to let this one go.

Price?

Radost · May 17, 2021

Is the Makina 67 better as far as reliability and repairability?
What folding medium format camera would be the most reliable?

itsdoable · May 17, 2021

Radost said:
The question is should I continue my pursuit of GS645?
How many full time users are out there?

I bought mine ~1990. Bellows started cracking in about 10 years, but at that time, it was pretty easy to get a decent after-market replacement. There would be no intact Fujifilm GS645 bellows today, the plastic material they used has since degraded. The shutter speeds started sticking at about 20 years - which is a pretty reasonable life for oil drying out. CLA was all it needed.

I can almost guarantee that any working GS645 today would have to have been serviced sometime in their life, which is an unknown when buying used. The plastic used during that era of Fujifilm products did not age well.

Radost said:
Is the Makina 67 better as far as reliability and repairability?

Yes, in that the Copal shutters are known for going a long time without service, and there are no bellows degradation issues
No, in that they are quite complex to fix compared to the GS645.

Radost · May 17, 2021

What about parts on both?

Radost · Nov 28, 2023

wjlapier said:
I purchased my GS645 from a US seller with known issues. Off it went to Frank Marshman for new bellows and full CLA. Working like new but now I’m thinking a GA645 would suit me better ( a companion to my GA645Zi ).

if you’re seriously interested I might be persuaded to let this one go.

Do you know if Frank Marshman is still in business?

wjlapier · Nov 28, 2023

Radost said:
Do you know if Frank Marshman is still in business?

I have no idea. It’s been a while since I contacted him.

Radost · Nov 29, 2023

Anybody else in the USA who fixes those?

guangong · Nov 29, 2023

I own a GS645. Bellows that leaks light from every surface, not just at folds. Plastic body does not give sense of durability (plastic definitely not of the quality of a Glock)..
My solution was the purchase of a later model recently serviced Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta A with coated lens. Much more robust construction with a much smaller more portable pocketable size.

OAPOli · Nov 29, 2023

Radost said:
Anybody else in the USA who fixes those?

I think @Mamiya_Repair fixes those.

OrientPoint · Nov 29, 2023

Frank Marshman is still in business and does great work. Very reliable. His email address is camerawiz@msn.com

Radost · Nov 29, 2023

OrientPoint said:
Frank Marshman is still in business and does great work. Very reliable. His email address is camerawiz@msn.com

thanks emailed

Radost · Nov 29, 2023

OAPOli said:
I think @Mamiya_Repair fixes those.

is he in Las Vegas?

Radost · Nov 29, 2023

guangong said:
I own a GS645. Bellows that leaks light from every surface, not just at folds. Plastic body does not give sense of durability (plastic definitely not of the quality of a Glock)..
My solution was the purchase of a later model recently serviced Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta A with coated lens. Much more robust construction with a much smaller more portable pocketable size.

I have perked 1 2 E. Other folders. I crave a modern one. The voigtlander/Fuji 67 is too big and too expansive.

xya · Nov 29, 2023

I had both, GS and GA models. I gave up on the GS, nice, but too many issues. The GAs have no bellows, so no problems here. And yes, I use mine still quite often. And another yes, the Makinas are more solid. But they are heavy as a brick and they are more expensive.

OAPOli · Nov 29, 2023

Radost said:
is he in Las Vegas?

Not sure. Here is the site: https://mamiyarepair.com/

Radost · Nov 29, 2023

xya said:
I had both, GS and GA models. I gave up on the GS, nice, but too many issues. The GAs have no bellows, so no problems here. And yes, I use mine still quite often. And another yes, the Makinas are more solid. But they are heavy as a brick and they are more expensive.

isn’t the shutter the same ?

OAPOli · Nov 29, 2023

Radost said:
isn’t the shutter the same ?

GS uses a mechanical #00 shutter, GA uses a special electronic shutter with solenoids.

Radost · Nov 29, 2023

OAPOli said:
GS uses a mechanical #00 shutter, GA uses a special electronic shutter with solenoids.

makes sense. is yours the 60mm?

Is it impossible to find a Fujica GS645 with good "not sticky" shutter

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