Successful Fuji GA645Zi LCD repair

Jim Blomfield

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I realize that this service has been posted before, but I would like to add my experience. I highly recommend FOTOTECH Warsaw (Warszawa@fotonaprawa.pl) for the Fuji GA645Zi LCD repair. My camera was just returned to me, in Canada, fully repaired and in excellent working order. Communication with the company was excellent. Repair cost was 400 euros and shipping was to be 70 euros. However, we are in the middle of a postal strike in Canada, so I asked that it be returned to me by another courier and the cost was slightly higher. Still, to have my camera returned to me, working properly for a total of 493 euros, to me, was a bargain. If you contemplate working with this company, make sure that you email them before sending your camera for repair. They will send you valuable information that will save you from paying expensive custom fees.
 

mshchem

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That's a great tip. Thanks for sharing. Yes, repairs cost real money but it's worth it!
 

MARTIE

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Can you tell me if the repair just replaces and fixes the lcd problem OR if it eliminates the same issue from happening again?

If you understand what I mean!
 

chuckroast

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MARTIE said:
Can you tell me if the repair just replaces and fixes the lcd problem OR if it eliminates the same issue from happening again?

If you understand what I mean!
Click to expand...

They replace the flex PC circuit board that is the culprit and move components from the old to the new. According to them, the new flex should last as long- or even longer than the original. I put some rubber bumpers on the body to limit the door swing so I can still load film, but it's (theoretically) not flexing the PC as much.

I am also a happy Fototech customer, though sadly I will probably be selling my Zi (Too Many Cameras Syndrome).
 

MARTIE

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Thanks for getting back.

I was hoping, foolishly it seems, that for that kind of investment the risk of the same problem recurring would be as good as nullified.

I've always pampered my Zi, looks like it's going to have to continue!
 

chuckroast

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MARTIE said:
Thanks for getting back.

I was hoping, foolishly it seems, that for that kind of investment the risk of the same problem recurring would be as good as nullified.

I've always pampered my Zi, looks like it's going to have to continue!
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter how much you pamper it. The problem occurs because you have to open and close the back to load- and unload film. This, sooner or later, undermines the flex PC circuit. I got the better part of 20+ years out of the original. If I get another 20 out of a $500-ish repair, that seems reasonable.
 

yurihuta

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Thank you for this update. They currently have my GA645zi in their shop... hoping they can also repair the flash.
 

abruzzi

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I need to send mine in, but I haven't decided if its worth it. Mine also has an issue with the dial--when using it to load a roll of film, if sometime moves farther than it shouldwith one click of the dial, so I frequently overshoot the first frame. I need to find someone that can fix that as well.
 

MARTIE

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Ah! I've always tried to load film with the door only half open, so to say, to avoid 'over flexing' / breaking the circuit. And many Zi's tend to have cracks or damage to the outer casing, which I've also managed to avoid. So, that's what I meant by pampering!

Fortunately, I knew about the issue before I picked my Zi up, some 15 to 20 years ago, and it's s still going strong. But it may just be a matter of time...
 

destroya

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I have for many years gone back and forth as to the worth of fixing mine. guess it depends on which side of the bed i wake. its a great ravel camera with a awesome lens. I have got along without it for many years as im afraid to use it. the lcd started to go crazy a few years ago and like abruzzi, I have command wheel issues. but when it was working, it was my fav hiking camera as it fit in my cargo short pants pocket. maybe as a gift to myself ill get it fixed.

john
 

MARTIE

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yurihuta said:
Thank you for this update. They currently have my GA645zi in their shop... hoping they can also repair the flash.
Click to expand...

Do you mean the internal built-in flash?

I prefer to use the external dedicated flash. It's a great accessory and I believe well worth having if you use flash frequently.
 

xya

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MARTIE said:
Do you mean the internal built-in flash?

I prefer to use the external dedicated flash. It's a great accessory and I believe well worth having if you use flash frequently.
Click to expand...
+1. I have the GA flash and it's very good indeed. Even if it doesn't look like it, it's made for portrait mode. Remember that GA cameras are portrait mode. Any othe external flash will work as well, but keep in mind the mode...
 

chuckroast

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A little over is no big deal and is normal in my experience.
 

yurihuta

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MARTIE said:
Do you mean the internal built-in flash?

I prefer to use the external dedicated flash. It's a great accessory and I believe well worth having if you use flash frequently.
Click to expand...
Yes, the built-in, pop up flash.

I have looked into the GA flash and the flash bracket, but then it would shift into the 'bulky' category for me and then I just pick up my Pentax 645N with TTL flash at that point.

The appeal of the 645zi for me is much like <destroya> mentioned "it was my fav hiking camera as it fit in my cargo short pants pocket" as well as reviewers liking the built-in flash's abilities.
 

chuckroast

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Yeah, after I got the camera back from Fototech, I stuck two small rubber feet right below the hing to limit how far the door can open. There is plenty of room to load film, it just doesn't swing out all the way flat now.
 

hap

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chuckroast said:
Yeah, after I got the camera back from Fototech, I stuck two small rubber feet right below the hing to limit how far the door can open. There is plenty of room to load film, it just doesn't swing out all the way flat now.
Click to expand...

what's link for Foto tech please.
 

chuckroast

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hap said:
what's link for Foto tech please.
Click to expand...

Fuji GA-645Zi Repair: In Praise Of Fototech

I have a Fuij GA-645Zi that is well over 20 years old. Like so may of these cameras, mine had the dreaded "dead LCD display" problem. The issue is that Fuji used a flex printed circuit board to go from the camera body into the back cover where the LCD lives. Over several decades, that flex...
www.photrio.com
 

abruzzi

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chuckroast said:
A little over is no big deal and is normal in my experience.
Click to expand...

its not a little. Sometimes I move the dial a single click and it advances as much as 4-5 inches. If thats the last click and I need it to advance a centimeter, but the dial gets very confused, I lose several frames.
 

chuckroast

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abruzzi said:
its not a little. Sometimes I move the dial a single click and it advances as much as 4-5 inches. If thats the last click and I need it to advance a centimeter, but the dial gets very confused, I lose several frames.
Click to expand...

It may be that there is some dirt on the contacts of the dial causing noise. With the camera off, work the dial back and forth in full rotations to see if there is dirt that can be dislodged. Absent that, it's needs service.
 

yurihuta

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hap said:
I presume you used Warsaw and not Krakow......
Click to expand...


----- from www.fotonaprawa.pl -----

Hi, If You decide to send it in, Include our form in the package, link to download below.
https://www.fotonaprawa.pl/static/service-form-en.3dfef99b.pdf

If You are sending from outside EU, declare package value as low as 20 EUR, to avoid high customs fees.

Please do not include unnecessary accesories, original retail boxes, straps etc. Remember, for shipping with a plane, they may hold your package if it has batteries inside.

Address is:

FOTOTECH
ul. Sabały
58 02-174
Warsaw,
Poland

tel. (0048) 22 243 0210 Tax ID/ VAT NR PL6842473908 eori - pl684247390800000

-----
 
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