MF RF (645) as P&S?? Just GAS or a real need??

morkolv · Sep 16, 2005

OK.. No "misposting" here! Intended to be for the LF forum!!

My major photographic fun & quests are the 5x7 ((there was a url link here which no longer exists) ) and my pretty 4x5 Zone vi.

However, there are times where viewcamera are just to much stuff & kit, and so are also the not to be mentioned animal starting with d ending with SLR.

Would a MF rangefinder like the Fuji GS645S be the thing (brick) to put in the (big) pocket whilst taking the dog in one hand and the baby pram in the other for a small walk?? Loaded with something 400ish ?? Does the 120 645 negative enlarge nicely? as queried by the 4x5 negative?

Seems like I really needs this NOW!!! Do I?? (or is it just GAS?)

Your kind advice are as always much appreciated..

Best regards
((there was a url link here which no longer exists) ) Morten!

Tom Hoskinson · Sep 16, 2005

morkolv said:
OK.. No "misposting" here! Intended to be for the LF forum!!

My major photographic fun & quests are the 5x7 ((there was a url link here which no longer exists) ) and my pretty 4x5 Zone vi.

However, there are times where viewcamera are just to much stuff & kit, and so are also the not to be mentioned animal starting with d ending with SLR.

Would a MF rangefinder like the Fuji GS645S be the thing (brick) to put in the (big) pocket whilst taking the dog in one hand and the baby pram in the other for a small walk?? Loaded with something 400ish ?? Does the 120 645 negative enlarge nicely? as queried by the 4x5 negative?

Seems like I really needs this NOW!!! Do I?? (or is it just GAS?)

Your kind advice are as always much appreciated..

Best regards
((there was a url link here which no longer exists) ) Morten!

YES! You must have one NOW!

NO! These feelings are not the result of GAS. Your longing is most likely the result of deeply felt and unrequited lust (or possibly a glass or two of "green" beer).

I felt so much better after buying my Fuji 645S that I bought a Fuji 645W as well...

waynecrider · Sep 16, 2005

Personally I shoot a 35mm with my 4x5. I find the quick metering, (backup meter as well) incorporated flash on my N80 and ability to use telephoto lenses a big plus. In addition 36 frames gets me some + & - E6 shots and cheap easy scans if needed, not that I would ever need a scan, just that it's available. :rolleyes:

Kevin Roach · Sep 16, 2005

for normal sized pockets

I use an agfa billy record folder. fits IN my pocket. shoots 6x9, takes great pics compared to 35mm. and its soooo cute.

of course I'm also a bit of a cheapskate and I prefer vintage equipment over plastic. My CLAed agfa just might outlast a new fuji.

laz · Sep 16, 2005

morkolv said:
Seems like I really needs this NOW!!! Do I?? (or is it just GAS?)

Your kind advice are as always much appreciated..

Best regards
((there was a url link here which no longer exists) ) Morten!

He who dies with the most toys wins!

david b · Sep 16, 2005

"He who dies with the most toys wins!"

This is what my father says and he keeps spending my inheritance!!!

jd callow · Sep 16, 2005

you need a 6x6 or 6x7 rangefinder. Your LF standards will always question the incomplete usage of the image circle of a 645. In any event you do need the 'ps' camera for when a quickie is enough to satiate your photographic desires.

Tom Hoskinson · Sep 16, 2005

Kevin Roach said:
...I prefer vintage equipment over plastic. My CLAed agfa just might outlast a new fuji.

And then again maybe not. My Fujis have over 15 years of field use with zero problems. The Fuji MF lenses (and shutters) are far better designed and outperform any of those mounted on the Agfa Billy or Isolette cameras. The only weakness of the Fuji 645 cameras was the bellows on the early models and they can be replaced - just like those on the Agfa cameras (most of which are full of holes).

Kevin Roach · Sep 16, 2005

Tom

You're probably right. I had an old fuji 690 and that thing was a tank! very tough camera. The new ones are probably just as well made. (and the agfa did need a new bellows)

laz · Sep 16, 2005

david b said:
"He who dies with the most toys wins!"

This is what my father says and he keeps spending my inheritance!!!

Perfect financial planning is that the check to the undertaker bounces!

sanking · Sep 17, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
And then again maybe not. My Fujis have over 15 years of field use with zero problems. The Fuji MF lenses (and shutters) are far better designed and outperform any of those mounted on the Agfa Billy or Isolette cameras. The only weakness of the Fuji 645 cameras was the bellows on the early models and they can be replaced - just like those on the Agfa cameras (most of which are full of holes).

Yes, same here. I have owned Fuji rangefinders going back to the first interchangeable lens 6X9 Fuji. Never had a problem with any of them. The early ones were of metal and of very robust construction -- and fairly heavy. The last models, the GW670III/GW690III, and the GSW670III/GSW690III, are much lighter and of polycarbonate construction, and also very trouble free. I have a GW690III and GSW690III. To say that I love these cameras would be an understatement. I would not sell either of the ones I have at 2X the original purchase price, which was around $1200.

I have also done a fair amount of work with old folders. This includes Bessa 6X9, Super Ikonta C, and some of the Russian 6X9 folders, and a Chinese imitaton of the Super Ikonta. Most are good performers and usually give results much superior to what you could achieve with the very best 35mm cameras, even Leicas. But believe me on this, the results from the Fuji 6X9 rangefinders are so superior to that of the old folders that there is really no comparison.

Sandy

MurrayMinchin · Sep 17, 2005

If disposable income were a part of my life... ...a Mamiya 7!

Murray

Joe Lipka · Sep 17, 2005

Consider the Fuji 645Zi. A MF (that's medium format) PS on steroids. Wonderful camera. I had to get rid of mine because I had too many undeveloped spools of film, negatives with no contacts and too many incomplete projects.

THAT is really stupid...

But still a wonderful camera.

craigclu · Sep 17, 2005

The little folding Fuji is a wonderful tool. I've owned them since about the time they came out and it's the perfect pocket companion. Some of my favorite things done over the years have come from that little rig. The optics are one of the best kept secrets of your options and I've had zero trouble but had the bellows replaced when one corner started to look a bit suspect. I'd still have my first one if it hadn't been stolen. The meter is quite good and although I'm an incident user, I tend to go with the in-camera meter when traveling light with the Fuji. They seem to float through eBay quite cheaply so it would certainly be an inexpensive experiment for you to try one out.

morkolv · Sep 17, 2005

Thank You for all replies.

I appreciate the advise for 6x7 or 6x9 instead of the 6x4.5 but that will be a larger camera and thus not give me the light P&S effect?? or not ?? I mean if really need a tripod etc.. why not bring the 4x5 or larger ??

Morten

David Brown · Sep 17, 2005

Morten:

I have a GS645. I was out shooting a while back with three LF APUGGERS and one of them described the Fuji as the "perfect walking around camera". I agree, and it sounds like that is exactly what you need.

Cheers.

David

luvcameras · Sep 18, 2005

Fuji 645 Page

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fujirf.htm

Dan

sanking · Sep 18, 2005

morkolv said:
Thank You for all replies.

I appreciate the advise for 6x7 or 6x9 instead of the 6x4.5 but that will be a larger camera and thus not give me the light P&S effect?? or not ?? I mean if really need a tripod etc.. why not bring the 4x5 or larger ??

Morten

It is of course true that the 6X7 and 6X9 rangefinders are muc larger than the smaller 6X4.5 cameras. However, I find the big Fuji 6X9 rangefinders very easy to carry around and use hand-held, in fact this is how I use them about 95% of the time. Although big they are not very heavy, and the weight distribution is very nice. In fact, I actually find them about as comfortable to use in this way as much smaller camereas. The Fuji GA645 Zi is much easeir to use, but it is a point and shoot fully automated camera.

Sandy

vet173 · Sep 18, 2005

I vote for the 6X9 fuji I had a GSW690. I found that after doing LF I just couldn't be satisfied with minimum/medium format

Robert Budding · Sep 18, 2005

Other MF Rangefinder Choice

The Bronica RF645 looks like a very nice camera - if you don't mind portrait mode because the film path is from side-to-side.

Ryuji · Sep 18, 2005

morkolv said:
Would a MF rangefinder like the Fuji GS645S be the thing (brick) to put in the (big) pocket whilst taking the dog in one hand and the baby pram in the other for a small walk?? Loaded with something 400ish ?? Does the 120 645 negative enlarge nicely? as queried by the 4x5 negative?

Already some thoughts are put out there, btu I have GA645i and routinely blow up the negs to 20x24. The negs enlarge very nicely , though not as nicely as what you expect from LF. But I can say the result is nothing like what you get from 35mm even if you use slow film and a tripid. With GA645i I can use Acros or Tri-X and handhold, and enlarge very comfortably. GA645i is usable as a p&s but the automation is not as smart as some of the 35mm cameras. (But I like 35mm cameras like Konica Hexar black and Ricoh GR-1v so I do like center focus and center weighted metering, if not spot metering. You can think of GA645i along the same line except the format.)

I am probably selling my GA645i soon because I also have Mamiya 6 system. At this point I don't see much reason to have both, but I'd rather get a spare body of 6 than keep GA645i. But the lens on GA645i is fantastic. I like that more than 75mm on Mamiya 6.

Mamiya 6 is a fairly fast operating camera, but I wouldn't use it if I had my dog (shiba) with me.

Those Fuji 6x9 cameras are also VERY nice and I also considered building a system around them but I chose M6. I think they are farther away as a p&s camera. They would require a separate meter (which can sit on the flash shoe), and not as fast working as M6 or M7.

One thing that is sometimes a trouble is that GA645i as well as Mamiya 6 require to remove the lens cap, unlike Ricoh GR-1v and Contax T series. Usually not a problem. But with my dog, it would make a difference.

Mongo · Sep 18, 2005

I got a Fuji GA645 Pro for exactly this reason - a walking-around camera that gives a negative larger than 35mm. The Fuji is with me every day...it's the camera that lives in the bag that I carry back and forth to work every day and I stick it in my pocket when I go for lunch or after work.

The negatives won't match LF negatives, but the difference isn't so great that you won't want to use them. I've been very happy with the images I get from the GA645. I have shot images with the camera that I wish I had shot on 4x5 or 8x10, but the simple reality is that I wouldn't have taken the effort to carry one of those with me at the time. The Fuji's a wonderful compromise for me. The lens is first rate, the autofocus and exposure are well implemented, and the camera handles as closely to a point-and-shoot as you could wish for in MF. The only downside is that you won't want to use the manual features (especially manual focusing, which feels like an afterthought), but if you use the camera as a point-and-shoot, you should be very happy with it.

Best of luck.
Dave

p.s. When I bought this camera, it was definately a case of GAS for me. But I won't give it up without a fight.

MF RF (645) as P&S?? Just GAS or a real need??

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