Kawabatnam
Established
Hello, I've just got a Fuji GA645 and after shooting a first roll, playing with and checking the various settings, I realised that it doesn't seem possible to keep the built-in flash switched off in manual and aperture priority mode: it just fires every time, even in full sun light, or focused to infinity for instance. It doesn't make much sense... It is only when in program mode that the flash is not compulsory. Is that correct, normal or specific to my camera? Is there any trick to avoid the flash at least in aperture priority mode? Any information would be greatly appreciated!
fidget
Lemon magnet
My GA645 will not fire the flash if it is not "popped" up. The flash is deployed manually, as far as I can remember. Does your flash pop up automatically?
Dave
Dave
Bobfrance
Over Exposed
Manual here in case you don't have one...
http://mikebutkus.com/chinon/fujica/fujifilm_ga645/fujifilm_ga645.htm
I have a GS645 which I think is great. I'd be interested to hear what you think of the GA.
Bob.
http://mikebutkus.com/chinon/fujica/fujifilm_ga645/fujifilm_ga645.htm
I have a GS645 which I think is great. I'd be interested to hear what you think of the GA.
Bob.
Kawabatnam
Established
Bobfrance and fidget.
Thanks for the link to the manual. It is for the GA645i which I guess is a very slight evolution from the GA645. Checking the manual confirms that, if I understand correctly, the only way to not having the flash firing any time is to stay in the programmed AE mode with good light (it will fire automatically in low light). In manual exposure and aperture priority, the flash will "always fire" to quote the manual regardless of the flash being (manually) popped-up or not. A hint is that in those latter exposure modes, the calculated exposure does not change whether the flash is popped-up or not: in any case, the light emitted by the flash is taken into account into the exposure. Another point is that if the picture is taken, the flash not being popped-up, it seems that it fires anyway and there is a strong smell of heated plastic... I guess I shouldn't do that anymore. I have to check the actual underexposure (film returning soon from the lab) when used that way. So probably there is no official means to override this automatic flash, but I will try to investigate further: maybe cutting a cable somewhere could do the trick?
Compared to the GS645, which I have never held, the overall impression seems very comparable; the main difference being the wider lens (and maybe better coated) on the GA645 and the much finer (at least to my eyes) "mechanical look" of the GS645. And of course autofocus! My eyesight recently declining, autofocus seemed the way to go, over other MF rangefinders I had once considered such as Mamiya 7 (II), Bronica RF6454 and Mamiya 6.
Thanks for the link to the manual. It is for the GA645i which I guess is a very slight evolution from the GA645. Checking the manual confirms that, if I understand correctly, the only way to not having the flash firing any time is to stay in the programmed AE mode with good light (it will fire automatically in low light). In manual exposure and aperture priority, the flash will "always fire" to quote the manual regardless of the flash being (manually) popped-up or not. A hint is that in those latter exposure modes, the calculated exposure does not change whether the flash is popped-up or not: in any case, the light emitted by the flash is taken into account into the exposure. Another point is that if the picture is taken, the flash not being popped-up, it seems that it fires anyway and there is a strong smell of heated plastic... I guess I shouldn't do that anymore. I have to check the actual underexposure (film returning soon from the lab) when used that way. So probably there is no official means to override this automatic flash, but I will try to investigate further: maybe cutting a cable somewhere could do the trick?
Compared to the GS645, which I have never held, the overall impression seems very comparable; the main difference being the wider lens (and maybe better coated) on the GA645 and the much finer (at least to my eyes) "mechanical look" of the GS645. And of course autofocus! My eyesight recently declining, autofocus seemed the way to go, over other MF rangefinders I had once considered such as Mamiya 7 (II), Bronica RF6454 and Mamiya 6.
Bobfrance
Over Exposed
I'm really surprised that the flash is supposed to fire all the time. 
I know MF cameras aren't exactly stealthy, but you certainly don't want a flash popping away constantly!
I nearly bought one on the bay last week. Like you I would be a little put out with the flash.
If you don't mind getting the tools out. I think cutting one of the flash wires and putting a switch in would be the way to go.
I know MF cameras aren't exactly stealthy, but you certainly don't want a flash popping away constantly!
I nearly bought one on the bay last week. Like you I would be a little put out with the flash.
If you don't mind getting the tools out. I think cutting one of the flash wires and putting a switch in would be the way to go.
DougK
This space left blank
I used to have one of these cameras and I almost never used the flash. Unfortunately I can't pull up the manual right now to refresh my memory on how to turn the flash off, but it sounds to me like either the flash is set to fire on every shot or something is malfunctioning in the electronics.
fidget
Lemon magnet
The flash (on mine) only fires when deployed manually. Yours is faulty. I would send it back as soon as possible.
Kawabatnam
Established
Yes, I figured that is how it is supposed to work, at least it makes sense... Anyway I've just got my two first rolls of MF film back, and I am still under shock! It's so good! I wonder if I would ever shoot 35mm film again...
fidget
Lemon magnet
On the upside, it must be failing to contact the switch that senses that it is deployed, so could be easy or cheap-ish to fix.