1750Shooter
Established
Getting rid of my Bronica SQ-AM kit & looking for something smaller, still 120-based, just smaller. It has come down to either a Fuji GW670 or a GA645. Any thoughts on either? Or recommendations? I'd like to stay around $450.00 or so if I can. Thanks for any help.
GaryLH
Veteran
I thought the Fuji 6x7 camera was built on a 6x9 camera chassis with a change in the film gate opening for 6x7. If this is case, the how about their 6x9?
The ga645 both smaller and lighter... They are both great cameras.
Good luck
Gary
The ga645 both smaller and lighter... They are both great cameras.
Good luck
Gary
Spanik
Well-known
Quite a lot of difference in film size, both between the cameras and your Bronica. Toughts? Well, I find 6x7 a strange format but maybe that's because I like slide and projecting them. 6x4.5 on the other hand is nice but you need to get used at the portrait format. Some do not get used to it, I don't care because I used about 50/50 portrait/landscape. Just think well about it, the Bronica is a flexible system, the Fuji's are fine but less flexible.
That's only the first generations with the changable lenses.
That's only the first generations with the changable lenses.
Abbazz
6x9 and be there!
If you want to go smaller, I warmly recommend the Fuji GA654zi.
We are a few photographers here using this amazing little camera with great results. It's relatively small and light for a medium format camera — and certainly much more compact than a Bronica SQ setup! I find it quite nice looking too, especially in black:
Picture Credit: Joseph Tröszter
Image quality is superb, and the collapsible zoom lens delivers superb colors and contrast. It's plenty sharp even wide open, thanks to its limited range and aperture.
The GA645zi feels great in the hand and is very easy to use, thanks to its built-in handgrip. The autofocus is always spot on — of course you won't shoot action sports with it, but is this really the point with such a camera? Auto exposure is also very accurate and motorized film transport is quite handy.
Any drawbacks? Well, the max aperture of F/4.5 at 55mm and F/6.9 at 90mm seems rather limiting at first sight. In fact, as stated above, the lens is fully usable wide open and will deliver nicely blurred backgrounds at maximum aperture. In available light, the silky smooth shutter release will easily allow picture taking at 1/30 (even 1/15 if you're not a heavy coffee drinker) and, with the help an ISO 800 film, you should be able to shoot at F/4.5 in quite dim settings. There is a even handy built-in flash should you need it.
The camera seems very sturdy — at least I have never experienced any trouble with mine — but some users report back LCD failure. Anyway this shouldn’t be a show stopper because spare parts are widely available (even on eBay) and not overly expensive.
Cheers!
Abbazz
We are a few photographers here using this amazing little camera with great results. It's relatively small and light for a medium format camera — and certainly much more compact than a Bronica SQ setup! I find it quite nice looking too, especially in black:
Picture Credit: Joseph Tröszter
Image quality is superb, and the collapsible zoom lens delivers superb colors and contrast. It's plenty sharp even wide open, thanks to its limited range and aperture.
The GA645zi feels great in the hand and is very easy to use, thanks to its built-in handgrip. The autofocus is always spot on — of course you won't shoot action sports with it, but is this really the point with such a camera? Auto exposure is also very accurate and motorized film transport is quite handy.
Any drawbacks? Well, the max aperture of F/4.5 at 55mm and F/6.9 at 90mm seems rather limiting at first sight. In fact, as stated above, the lens is fully usable wide open and will deliver nicely blurred backgrounds at maximum aperture. In available light, the silky smooth shutter release will easily allow picture taking at 1/30 (even 1/15 if you're not a heavy coffee drinker) and, with the help an ISO 800 film, you should be able to shoot at F/4.5 in quite dim settings. There is a even handy built-in flash should you need it.
The camera seems very sturdy — at least I have never experienced any trouble with mine — but some users report back LCD failure. Anyway this shouldn’t be a show stopper because spare parts are widely available (even on eBay) and not overly expensive.
Cheers!
Abbazz