From a Fuji GA645i to a Zi??

[trev2401]

Hello to all,

i just pulled the trigger on a minty GA645Zi, and am terribly excited in getting a roll through.

I've been studying all resources here on RF and the web, and was wondering if anyone had any pointers to look out for when using/checking the GA645Zi?

Also, i tried checking the frame counter within the camera, by holding down the exposure +- button, and turning the dial from off to the ISO selection. The counter at the back Read 00. Could this be a brand NEW spanking camera, or could this counter have been reset by the previous owner/factory? (not that i know of.)

thanks!

 

[kuzano]

Have had a couple of Zi>>>

Have had a couple of Zi>>>

Plus a few of the earlier GS series. Since you had a GA, you probably know about holding pressure on the film roll during loading to keep the film tight while loading. If not, the film will bunch up as the roll progresses. I know this was spoken to directly in one of the 645 Fuji rangefinder manuals. Common situation, which need not be an issue if you are cautious on loading.

I have heard the counter is easily hacked on the Zi. By the same token, I had a Zi with 6400 (64) on the counter. I called Fuji about service and they suggested that the Zi shutters are quite long lived and I should not proceed with a service if the camera was functioning properly. It was and did for some time after. Was still working well when I sold it.

You will like the transition. It's a great camera, and some complain about the narrow range on the zoom. I thought it was perfect, and a huge improvement over a single fixed lens focal length. Both of mine worked flawlessly in all respect, and like all the Fuji's I have owned, excelled in sharpness and flare resistance. Among the best lenses in the market, IF you like tack sharp images.

 

[tensai]

Did you buy it in Nakano from Fujiya by any chance? I was there yesterday and they had 5 or 6 GA645Zi's there. All around ¥60.000.


I love this camera, I have nothing you need to look out for. Only thing I do when shooting primarily in dark places (back alleys etc) is that I rate the film about half a stop slower (eg. iso 160 set at 125). For the rest, I love how easy it is to look for light, subject, and focus on compose and just shoot. Great meter, and love how the framelines move when you focus close or far. Just took some shots handheld 55mm 1/10 of a second and it was real sharp..

Have fun

 

[trev2401]

Did you buy it in Nakano from Fujiya by any chance? I was there yesterday and they had 5 or 6 GA645Zi's there. All around ¥60.000.


I love this camera, I have nothing you need to look out for. Only thing I do when shooting primarily in dark places (back alleys etc) is that I rate the film about half a stop slower (eg. iso 160 set at 125). For the rest, I love how easy it is to look for light, subject, and focus on compose and just shoot. Great meter, and love how the framelines move when you focus close or far. Just took some shots handheld 55mm 1/10 of a second and it was real sharp..

Have fun

Yes you are RIGHT!!!

I snapped up the last of the 2 that were remaining there this morning, rated A with 00 on the shutter. (not sure if it's true..)

Thanks for the tip.. I love my new GA... =)

 

[Matus]

Just a quick question on the GA645 vs Zi. Namely - how does the viewfinder compares? I had once the Zi in hand and did not like the viewfinder too much (very barrel distorted) - is the one of GA645 better? thanks.

 

[mathomas]

Hello to all,

i just pulled the trigger on a minty GA645Zi, and am terribly excited in getting a roll through.

I've been studying all resources here on RF and the web, and was wondering if anyone had any pointers to look out for when using/checking the GA645Zi?

Also, i tried checking the frame counter within the camera, by holding down the exposure +- button, and turning the dial from off to the ISO selection. The counter at the back Read 00. Could this be a brand NEW spanking camera, or could this counter have been reset by the previous owner/factory? (not that i know of.)

thanks!

I have a video on YouTube that may be of use to you. Nothing earth-shattering, but worth a look, IMO. I love my GA645Zi. A very well-designed, sleek, and high-quality 645 camera, IMO. If I had to sell all my medium format cameras but one, it one might well be the one I'd keep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_pybwbc0tQ

 

[splitimageview]

I bought a GA645 and a GA645zi at almost the same time, in order to a shootout, choose one, and sell the other. The Zi won.

I have to admit I preferred the viewfinder of the 645 over the Zi...less distortion, and somewhat brighter to my eye. However the other features of the Zi overwhelmed this, and now that I don't have a camera to compare it to side-by-side, I find in practice the Zi viewfinder is plenty good.

The Zi viewfinder has to zoom, so I suppose the optical design is much more complicated than the single focal length optics of the GA645.

 

[shambla]

Just a quick question on the GA645 vs Zi. Namely - how does the viewfinder compares? I had once the Zi in hand and did not like the viewfinder too much (very barrel distorted) - is the one of GA645 better? thanks.

I started with a 645Zi and sold in in favour of a 645i, with one of the main factors being the small and dim viewfinder on the Zi - to me the finder on the 645i is very substantially better (brighter, larger and sharper), but maybe you will get differing opinions from other folks.

I don't miss having the zoom either - when I did have the Zi I used it at the 55mm setting at least 95% of the time anyway and the 60mm lens on the 645i is to my eye better than the Zi lens set to 55mm.

 

[tsiklonaut]

I started with a 645Zi and sold in in favour of a 645i, with one of the main factors being the small and dim viewfinder on the Zi - to me the finder on the 645i is very substantially better (brighter, larger and sharper), but maybe you will get differing opinions from other folks.

I don't miss having the zoom either - when I did have the Zi I used it at the 55mm setting at least 95% of the time anyway and the 60mm lens on the 645i is to my eye better than the Zi lens set to 55mm.

Some good info, I've been looking into GA645 too as a travelling camera. I'd love to have some focal lenght that the Zi zoom lens offers but if you say the viewfinder is not so good then it makes me rethink.

How's the battery life on GA645 series cameras - sufficent for many rolls of film and cold conditions?

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

I tried two or three AF Fujis. The zi was the first, and unfortunately, the AF was faulty. And, of course, you can't tell until you've already burned the film and lost the occasion. After similar experiences with another camera, i gave up on them.

When you get it, definitely run a test roll through it and inspect/scan the negs for critical focus. In my case, it wasn't that the images were 'completely' out of focus. Nothing that would give you concern if you were paying attention to the distance indicator. But, all the images were soft unless DOF happened to cover the range. My experience seems to be unique, though, as most people seem to be happy with their cameras. Which is why i tried twice more.

 

[Spanik]

Weakest point of the Zi is the lcd at the back. Mine has a few lines missing but nothing that keeps it from working. The lightmeter gets problematic when you're in the shade and the background is well lit.

And the silly pouch. Anyone got a better alternative?

 

[ssmc]

I tried two or three AF Fujis. The zi was the first, and unfortunately, the AF was faulty. And, of course, you can't tell until you've already burned the film and lost the occasion. After similar experiences with another camera, i gave up on them.

When you get it, definitely run a test roll through it and inspect/scan the negs for critical focus. In my case, it wasn't that the images were 'completely' out of focus. Nothing that would give you concern if you were paying attention to the distance indicator. But, all the images were soft unless DOF happened to cover the range. My experience seems to be unique, though, as most people seem to be happy with their cameras. Which is why i tried twice more.

Slightly OT - did you ever notice a correlation between camera orientation and OOF pics? I have a GA645 (not the -i or -Zi) and despite the "Heath Robinson" way it functions I have found the AF remarkably accurate except when shooting in landscape orientation. In one example, the focus indicator showed "INF" (since this was indeed a landscape at some distance) but the whole image is soft (I suspect front focus), while the portrait oriented image of the same scene shot a minute or so before was tack-sharp. I know the manual warns about something like this but I can't recall the exact details (I think it had to do with stray light getting to the sensors).

If the GA645 is anything to go by I'm sure the OP will be very happy! As others have said, those Fujinon lenses are sharp! These cameras are super-easy to use (with the exception of manual focusing, IMO), the metering is great and they make MF shooting about as painless as it could possibly be given the inherent issues with roll-film.

Scott

 

[frank-grumman]

I've now gotten a roll through my Zi and another I'll finish up with today, and then off tomorrow to the lab for processing. I'll have em back by Friday so I can follow up here with some responses to the Q's you all are asking.

In the short time I've had it, I can offer the following:

For me, compared with my G2's and my F5, I find the following to be true for me: the VF abysmal. It's relatively much darker. I don't like the default Portrait orientation, though I'm sure others' mileage may differ. The lens motor sounds like screwdriver running over a sewer grating 😀. I have not tried manual focusing. I really like how relatively light and compact it is, and the popup flash extends the versatility of the camera. As usual from KEH, the Ex+ rating is its usual conservative value.

 

[RattyMouse]

I've now gotten a roll through my Zi and another I'll finish up with today, and then off tomorrow to the lab for processing. I'll have em back by Friday so I can follow up here with some responses to the Q's you all are asking.

In the short time I've had it, I can offer the following:

For me, compared with my G2's and my F5, I find the following to be true for me: the VF abysmal. It's relatively much darker. I don't like the default Portrait orientation, though I'm sure others' mileage may differ. The lens motor sounds like screwdriver running over a sewer grating 😀. I have not tried manual focusing. I really like how relatively light and compact it is, and the popup flash extends the versatility of the camera. As usual from KEH, the Ex+ rating is its usual conservative value.

I have a GA645 and struggle with the portrait orientation being standard too. I wish I had the GA645i which has a second shutter button for landscape use. I really need that!!

 

[tsiklonaut]

I have a GA645 and struggle with the portrait orientation being standard too. I wish I had the GA645i which has a second shutter button for landscape use. I really need that!!

Damn guys, you really lean me forward to "i" instead of "Zi" that'd be more practical as an allround camera. But I've shot years with Sigma DP2 compact digital as my documenting camera so I'm pretty much used to a single lens.

Is the viewfinder that drastically better on "i" than on "Zi"?

 

[jbielikowski]

Dunno about "Zi" but the "i" is a huge improvement over the original GA645. 16 frames over 15, and AF is so much quieter...

BTW fast prime is IMO more practical than a slow zoom lens.

 

[sevo]

BTW fast prime is IMO more practical than a slow zoom lens.

The speeds at the wide end are quite similar, though (f/4 vs. f/4.5). And the zoom is excellent.

 

[Spanik]

BTW fast prime is IMO more practical than a slow zoom lens.

Haven't seen much medium format rangefinders having a lens faster than f/4, often only f/8.

 

[Dante_Stella]

Dunno about "Zi" but the "i" is a huge improvement over the original GA645. 16 frames over 15, and AF is so much quieter...

BTW fast prime is IMO more practical than a slow zoom lens.

The 15 tp 16 frame switch came before the GA645i; it is in the version of the GA645 with the ridge around the +/- button. It was a motherboard change. The GA645i added a secondary shutter release and a barcode reader.

As to GA645zi vs. GA645, I had both at the same time for about a year. The Zi was heavier and much quieter (and, frankly, better looking in its black metal finish than the GA645's plastic). Being one who shoots primarily at 55-60mm, the squinty zoom finder was a little much - I also liked the Nikon-style diopters on the GA645 better. The other thing, long-term, that worried me was the LCD mounted to the back of the -Zi, which seems to be a very vulnerable place for a display critical to a lot of functions.

I did not find the zoom range to be that helpful (at least to me), and the image quality was pretty much exactly the same. Notwithstanding its nits, I think the Zi is a lot of fun (and I took one all over South Africa nad Namibia), and you won't be disappointed with it.

Dante

 

[kuzano]

The other thing, long-term, that worried me was the LCD mounted to the back of the -Zi, which seems to be a very vulnerable place for a display critical to a lot of functions. Dante

I've owned about five of the Zi model. I never owned any GA645 models. I used the GS models before the Zi.

I really liked the Zi a lot. Hence 5 of them. But I can't compare them to the GA645 model.

Regarding the silence of both the shutter drive and the auto transport, I often had to look at the frame count to see if the camera had tripped and transported. Seriously.

I've shot 645 for many years and I have not had a better overall 645 experience including exposure, focus and image quality combined than the Zi. I don't seem offended by the niggles I read here.

Speaking to the back lcd, I only had one with a bad back lcd. Frank Marshman replaced the lcd for me about two years ago. The LCD was still available from Fujifilm and the whole replacement was about $85. The problem for the back lcd occurs at the fold in the cable where it comes through the back hinge on the door, according to Frank. In addition that camera had 234,000 actuations displayed on it both before and after the new LCD.

FWIW, I just received my G690bl back from Frank last month for a door latch repair and full CLA, including the 100mm lens.