Can someone tell me about the Fuji 645 Rangefinders?

JJW

JJW

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I recently went to a photo exhibit of a local photographer's work. The prints were all 20x24 color. I was very impressed by the quality and sharpness.

When I was able to speak with the photographer, he told me he used a "Fuji 645 rangefinder" camera. He didn't want to get anymore technical than that.

I googled "Fuji 645", but all I got back was a lot of confusing information. It appears that there were many Fuji 645 rangefinder camera models.

Can anyone here give me a rundown on what cameras Fuji made in this format? I went to Fuji's US webpage and found nothing except digital... then searched around the Japanese Fuji site and didn't see any info on rangefinder cameras at all, although I did see some film cameras. (I assume they don't market film cameras here in the USA anymore.)

Thank you.
 
JJW-
I own a gs645s; it's my favorite camera! Very simple, a manual everything rangefinder with a permanently attached 60mm lens and leaf shutter. Pluses? It's almost like shooting a 35mm camera- small, light etc. And if the lens is somehow less than perfect, I sure can't detect it. Minuses- build quality leaves plenty to be desired, no multi exposure, and an annoying time exposure setting. And no bulb position! Also, the depth of field scale is wildly optimistic. I don't have any experience with other models.
 
I played with a Fuji GA645zi once. Very well built. The glass is apparently fantastic, even for a zoom lens. Heavyish for its size compared to the other Fuji 645s.
 
Welcome to RFF, Bryce! Your GS645S has a time-exposure button, though... It's a grey plastic tab inset in the housing to the right of the lens. With the shutter cocked, it will be flush; press it down and the shutter will open, and stay open until you press the shutter release. I agree with you that it's a great little camera, light and compact for easy carry. But it will not withstand rough treatment well!
 
Doug-
Thanks for the welcome!
I bought the Fuji for a compact thing to use taking pictures in abandoned mines... So far it's held up to that use, surprising. Other than a rangefinder repair (sticky mirror) there have been no failures.
The time exposure button is hard to use without jarring the camera unless it is used in conjunction with the self timer. That's my only real complaint. I'd just rather have a "B" feature and a cable. The primary purpose of the camera was to take time exposures, though it's become my primary tool.
One of these pictures is still in my folder at the Fuji Rangefinder Pages
http://www.fujirangefinder.com/folder.php?id=314
but I plan to add more soon.
 
I like that mine shot, Bryce... I particularly appreciate the extra effort and thought in that lighting in the rear from the left, giving it a better three-D appearance. I do agree the awkward T feature is not a replacement for a simple B setting.
 
The Fuji 645 are, in general, all excellent cameras - I prefer the Zi.

However, the first Fuji model from 1983, the GS645 with 75mm 3.4 lens has a very POOR reputation for repairs. The bellows leak light, the shutter mechanism is weak and prone to break, and winding mechanism is also known to be an issue. While a very cool camera with excellent optics, its not worth all the trouble ( to me ).

The other common issue with these cameras is that you MUST load film carefully and leave no SLACK, otherwise you will get loose rolling and fogged film.

Back to the positives....the entire line of Fuji 645's seem to have great lenses...Sharp & contrasty with neutral bokeh. The later electronic models have some incredible features....the Zi, found used from $ 500 to $ 700, has:

1. 4 stage "zoom" lens
2. Date and exposure information printed on the negatives !
3. Lens cap sensor
4. Auto Focus and psuedo-manual focus
5. 4 Exposure settings ( P, A, As, M )
6. Auto parallax lines
8. Great, tiny, on board flash ( perfect for most fill flash shots )
9. Flash Sync at ANY shutter speed !! Great outdoor portrait camera !
10. Light. Doesnt weigh any more than my Contax G2 with 90mm lens.
11. Almost perfect ergonomics
12. So cheap on ebay now, you can buy two ( one for color, one for BW )

Fuji 645 Page:
http://www.antiquecameras.net/fuji645cameras.html


Dan
 
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Meleica said:
The Fuji 645 are, in general, all excellent cameras - I prefer the Zi.

However, the first Fuji model from 1983, the GS645 with 75mm 3.4 lens has a very POOR reputation for repairs. The bellows leak light, the shutter mechanism is weak and prone to break, and winding mechanism is also known to be an issue. While a very cool camera with excellent optics, its not worth all the trouble ( to me ).
Dan
Click to expand...

Yup Dan these were the problems I had, I bought mine in 1983, and it was a huge disappointment. I loved the idea of a modern Super Ikonta, and when it worked it took great pictures, but it nearly drove me to drink and bankruptcy!!!! The first "wide" model the 645W had all the same faults without the bellows problem obviously!!
Camera Mate has a bellows model for sale
http://www.cameramate.com/product_info.php?products_id=858

Have a look at the condition of the bellows in the close up pictures!!!:bang:
 
Thanks guys!

Dan Colucci's 645RF page was just what the doctor ordered.

I wonder what he means by "so cheap"... ?
 
I'm pretty sure he means that it is "so cheap" compared to new (~$1400) as with a little luck & searching you can find one for 1/2 to 1/3 of that price. I hope to eventually get one as I think it would be a marvellous complement to the cameras I expect to be using over the long run (CL & Speed Graphic)

William
 
I love my Fuji GL690 rangefinder camera with its super sharp 100mm AE lens. Where else can you get AE flash photography in a 6x9 format?
The sharpness is awesome, even when compared to "legends", such as a Rolleiflex TLR withthe 2.8 Planar taking lens.
Its film size is much larger than that of the Fuji 645 :)

Raid
 
John Robertson said:
The first "wide" model the 645W had all the same faults without the bellows problem obviously!!
Click to expand...

I've had a GS645W since around 1990, I've taken by my rough calculations 960 rolls of film with it, which works out to 13500 shutter and wind cycles (plus, it was used by a pro before me) and other than replacing the foam light seals along the back door it's never been serviced or given me any problems. According to the guy who did the seals, I think his name was Marsden or Marchman, in Virginia, the GS645W and GS645S (the 60mm model) aren't afflicted with any of the reliability problems of the folding model.

I bought mine to have a small/light wide angle to take along with my Rolleiflex. The lack of a "bulb" setting is something I've never missed, as I don't think I've ever shot slower than 1 sec and at that probably only a few times. The only annoying feature, and it still annoys even after all these years, is that the picture orientation is vertical, so for 90% of my shots I have to hold it as I would hold a normal camera for a vertical shot. It's a small price to pay though for not having a reverse-curl loading path, since I tend to take a few days to go through a roll when I'm travelling.

PS nobody's mentioned it but these cameras have built-in coupled light meters with LED diodes. They're not TTL though, and while mine works fine (at least it did the last time I had batteries in it) I've always used a handheld meter with it since I use the Rolleiflex alongside.
 
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Yes, that must have been Frank Marshman at Camera Wiz, an expert with Fuji rangefinder repair
Camera Wiz Camera Repair
169B Pleasant Hill Road
Harrisonburg VA 22801
800/471-813

His last name is similar to that of an old girlfriend (hers was Marshment), so I find it easy to recall. :)
He fixed a GS645S, doing a beautiful job at modest cost... It had broken plastic parts in the lens mount despite the protective bumper, a sticky RF and inaccurate meter. Fixed it like new.

I know the picture orientation is an issue for some, but I shoot a lot of verticals so it's fine by me. But while having the shutter speeds on the lens barrel has a long rich tradition, it's different from all my frequently used cameras, so that slows me down with the GS.
 
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