Street photography : Fuji GA645i vs Pentax 645n w/55mm

[Amine Sultan]

Hi all,

The question is right in the title : what would you choose between these two cameras/lenses for shooting in the street, assuming that you used and therefore know both systems.
I´m the happy owner of a Pentax 645n (w/75mm and 150mm lenses, both FA) and when thinking about using it in the street, I wonder whether I should just buy a 55mm lens (unfortunately no FA version ever made in this focal length) and may be even happier than I am now or let the Pentax be and buy the MF compact camera Fuji GA645i. I am aware of the pros and cons of both cameras but don´t know how they compare optically in terms of resolution (they are supposed to be both excellent and, of course, very flare resistant - Fuji EBC and Pentax SMC).

What I know about the Pentax 645 w/55mm :

Pros : 1. very well damped SLR
2. WYSIWYG in terms of framing accuracy
3. Pentax 55mm f/2,8 1 stop faster than Fuji 60mm f/4
4. supposed better interface when using a non all automatic mode

Cons: 1. Not exactly a discrete camera, small for an MF SLR but still big, pretty noisy, twice heavier than the Fuji and, above all, more professional-looking than the Fuji (yes, that´s a bad point, you don´t need to impress anybody)
2. It´s a SLR...even when well damped and with a faster lens, the compact/rangefinder should have the edge (pure assumption, as I didn´t ever used/handled the Fuji), except if I need a faster shutter speed in order to freeze the action, then the Pentax wins.

I´m waiting for your experiences and advices,

Thanks a lot,

Amine

 

[wclark5179]

I haven't done too much street photography but I've landed in the gutter every once in a while, especially if I closed down the joint!

I don't own either camera so please forgive me if I don't get it.

The Fuji is a wonderful camera but is different than your Pentax. The Fuji is pretty much like a point & shoot camera. What I mean by that is you load the film, make pictures with whats on the camera and that's pretty much it. It is a very fine camera but it doesn't offer the options you have with a Pentax. You mentioned an important option in your memo, different lenses. How about the back for film. Can you remove it and put on another with different film mid-stream?

I'd keep the Pentax and use it as it's a fine piece of equipment. The Fuji could be better for me, if I were still using film, for weddings. But in case you have one laying around collecting dust send it to me and I will give it a workout! Just kidding!

The Fuji is a fine camera. So is the Pentax. I believe you have more options with the Pentax.

Good luck!

 

[frdrx]

I'd go for the Pentax 55mm. Your Pentax is far more versatile than the Fuji P&S, and the 55 mm is such a capable lens. I planned to sell it after acquiring the 45 mm, but the quality it delivers made me change my mind. I doubt the Pentax impresses most people nowadays, since it doesn't have a large shiny LCD and a lens with a red ring around it.

 

[Pupfish]

I have a 645N that I use exclusively with the one lens I bought to use it with --the 35mm f/3.5 SMC-A, so I can't speak to the 55mm. I really enjoy using it for the beautiful viewfinder and the ergonomics. But the one downside I see to using a 645N for street photography (or anything else that might involve decisive moments) is that the well-damped mirror comes at a penalty of ~250ms shutter lag time.

Leaf-shutter RFs are still good for some uses.

 

[fotch]

Fuji GA645i, faster, stealthier, you will be noticed less.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I have the Pentax but use it with the 45mmAF lens. I just like the AF feature.
I haven't used that Fuji but have used other similar cameras. I think the Pentax is the way to go.

Although not about street photography I shot a protest last winter with it... you can see the video here.... most of the b&w images were with the Pentax unless they're crazy wide and shot with the 15mm on 35mm.

http://www.youtube.com/user/thepicturedesk#p/u/13/AkydckN4jkw


I just like how the Pentax handles. I never worry about stealth.... they see me and see I have a camera... you're never going to go unnoticed. I made some very nice images this past summer in a traditional market in a small town in China, I can pretend to use my stealth gear, but I think I was the only Westerner in the town and everyone new I was there taking photos.

-rob

 

[epig]

I've shot them both and prefer the P645. The Fuji is nice and light weight. Focus is very accurate as long as the subject is in the center. There is a slight lag from the moment you push the shutter and the moment it releases as the AF has to lock on target. Metering is accurate again as long as the subject is dead center. It really is more like a point and shoot/landscape camera and less of a "Decisive Moment" Leica-esque street camera.

Eric

 

[keithwms]

I can't imagine resolution being an issue with either of these. That is a non-issue.

But they are completely different cameras! Very hard to compare.

I had a ga645zi and I think it's quite an attention getter; people may be a bit put off by that in a typical street situation, depending on your style. It does make a substantial noise too! Very fine piece but... at least for what I do, I can't imagine that a lens that slow would fit the bill. I used the GA for event and landscape stuff. In the end I felt that the zoom range was too small to justify the noise of the zoom mechanism, and I have always been more of a manual focuser anyway.

Let me suggest a folder instead. It'll be smaller, quieter, and it will also have the kind of retro look that makes people curious if they do see it. Also consider anything with a waist level, that is a real weapon for shooting from the hip (literally) and capturing unique perspectives.

 

[2F/2F]

I would only use the Fuji for street photography if I literally had NO other choice. To me, it is the medium format equivalent of the Contax G2. Lovely camera capable of nice results, but the use of an AF viewfinder camera is just unfathomable to me for anything would do with it. If for anything, I would use this camera for landscapes and other static shots in which I wanted to have plenty of D of F and be focused at or fairly close to infinity. I would never, ever shoot an AF viewfinder camera in a shallow D of F situation and expect to get good results. An AF reflex camera, absolutely, but never an AF viewfinder camera.

 

[removed-user-1]

If you like the GA645i but want to avoid the automation issues, take a look at the older manual-focus rangefinder Fuji GS645s (60mm f/4).