6x4.5 format

[pdx138]

Well, I've shot 6 rolls through my new Fuji GS645S and although the camera feels a little cheap, I am blown away by the sharpness and image quality. It definitley compares favorably to the Hassleblad that I tried out before purchasing the Fuji. I really do like the aspect ratio of the 645 format, so over all I am happy to have picked this up. It is a lot of camera and image quality for the price - It cost less than almost any of my 35mm lenses! Thanks to all who chimed in with their opinions and advice.

 

[Bryce]

Kyle-
Glad to hear you're happy with your purchase. After owning and routinely using the same model, I still feel the same way. Overall the best camera I've owned; must be, I use the hell out of it.

 

[AusDLK]

I'm about to join this club.

I bought a Bronica RF645 and two lenses from Gid in the UK. I won't get it for awhile yet but it I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with it.

 

[Turtle]

If the RF645 were not about I would have saved for a Mamiya 7. RFs are real winners when it comes to portability. I like teh 645 format because you get 16 frames to a roll which means it can be used in a flurry more easily than 6x7. There is a substantial improvement on 35mm, but 6x7 does have a clear edge with bigger prints. It is a great compromise between speed, economy and size and so great for travel. I personally do not find 645 SLRs appealing due to the relative bulk and poor handling compared to teh RF645.

You will notice an improvement in technical quality over 35mm, very clearly.

 

[Jim Simon]

645 revisited

645 revisited

Hello all. I stumbled across this thread by searching the forum, and have read it all with interest.
I have gravitated in 35mm world to a 35mm lens on my M2, and never want a different field of view or perspective. In MF this would mean that a fixed lens is no problem and that, therefore, a Fuji GS645s Professional would do the trick.
I have a Yashica Mat and did carry it and 35mm gear about for a while, but now don't bother as the bulk is just too much.
I am interested in a longer term perspective from those of you who bought into or had the Fuji GS645s Professional as, if this is a one-box solution, I'd then probably leave my M2/Summaron/Weston meter bundle at home and go out with one box to do the business with.
I am assuming the Mamiya 645 Super is bigger to carry about? I like the idea of one smallish item that does the lot.
Any thoughts that occur to users having had a couple of years since this thread was alive?
Thanks,
Jim.

 

[Doug]

Jim, still a good choice I think. Not much to add to comments already in this thread including my own. The camera is surprisingly light and compact, so it's very easy to have with you. The 60mm lens has a 60° angle of view on the Fuji. Your Summaron 35 should have an angle of 63°, but it's hard to compare directly when the film formats have different proportions. The Fuji is comparable to using a 28mm on an M8 or a 75mm on 6x7... just about ideal in my opinion for a one-lens solution.

I've had my GS645S since 2002 and don't use it as often as other rigs like the Bronica RF645, partly because of the shutter-tripping clack and partly because its user interface is more typical of folders and other traditional leaf-shutter cameras and less like the Leica/Voigtlander/Zeiss Ikon (and the Bronica) that is more familiar to me.

Still, it has not only parallax-compensation but also field-size correction, and is so light and compact i just have to choose it at times. FWIW, the viewfinder is 0.5x magnification and shows 91% of the lens coverage, focuses to 1m and takes common 49mm filters. The viewfinder is bright & clear, shows areas outside the framelines, but the focusing spot is fuzzy around the edges, not a sharply-defined spot like Leica.