Fuji GA645i review

[tsiklonaut]

Surfing though this subforum I suddenly remember I posted a short review of Fuji GA645i camera in case anyone's looking for info or planning buying one will hopefully find it useful:

http://4nalog.blogspot.com/2013/08/fuji-ga645i-first-roll-review.html

Cheers,
Margus

 

[crsantin]

Thank you. Useful review. I`m currently looking for one of these cameras and doing my research. How does it handle the focus and recompose technique.

 

[tsiklonaut]

How does it handle the focus and recompose technique.

Very good I reckon. This is how I use it most of the time anyways.

You have to compensate for MF shallow DoF though when shooting with larger apertures - i.e. if you do close-up portrait shot by focusing from the middle point and re-frame the face into corner you need to "step" back for some little 10-15cm or so since the (MF's shallow-) focual plane has moved over the subject if you just turn the camera from where you stand. With the 35mm format cameras this focal-plane-angle change effect isn't so big. So beware if coming from 35mm world, for a f4 (equivalent to around f2 on 35mm) lens it has considerable DoF. You can always stop the lens down but i.e. for portraits you mostly don't want that and I've managed pretty good so far doing this "little-move-back" trick on re-framing the close-focus subject into the corner. (and this is not important on far-focus subjects though)

Very happy with the camera so far. Hoping to write a second part soon with more thoughs on it's longer use.

Margus

 

[rhl-oregon]

Thanks for your detailed and thoughtful appreciation, Margus.

I'm another late adopter of the GA (just this August), and aside from a very kind price on mine, what persuaded me was the notion of having a Contax G in MF. I haven't been disappointed, though the motor makes me want to use earplugs! I'm used to 645 vertical view with the Bronica 645, but having the AF made it possible to more easily shoot figures in a busy parade.

I don't recall whether these were in Program mode, but with FP4 the AF/AE left in some detail to work with in the sky-highlights.

 

[Prest_400]

Just done a quick read (will reread later). Nice review!

I am quite busy lately but if I get some time I will have to read through your blog well. You wrote some interesting points in there.

I used to want this camera, so did much research; as the format is suitable for travel (more frames with great quality) but the P&S thing might make it a bit dull at times. For me MF should be for full control (of course varies if you got another big one).

As for the focus/recompose, all RF's should have the same issue.

And hey, didn't you crave a GW690 too? Heh. I just have it as an option for a future upgrade to MF. Price is similar to the GA645 for the mk I-II models, RF, biiig negative and not so heavy (compared to the P67).
I see where is the wage of the summer job going to...😀

 

[tsiklonaut]

I haven't been disappointed, though the motor makes me want to use earplugs!

I don't recall whether these were in Program mode, but with FP4 the AF/AE left in some detail to work with in the sky-highlights.

Lovely shots there!

I've heard the older GA645 (the non-"i" ) supposed to be louder than the GA645i. The "i" I have isn't that loud, focus motor does squeeze a little bit on focusing but nothing noteworthy and the the film advance motor I can hardly hear since it's a short mild "squeak". The newest "Zi" should be even more silent in operation, but the problems with their LCDs and an average viewfinder put me off of Zi model personally. If I can find one very cheap I might be tempted to try Zi the future though...

GA645i seems to measure slightly to under-exposure side (probably to tame those contrasty Fuji E6 films with the compromised center-weighted metering it has), hence you have usable highlights.

Just done a quick read (will reread later). Nice review!

I am quite busy lately but if I get some time I will have to read through your blog well. You wrote some interesting points in there.

I used to want this camera, so did much research; as the format is suitable for travel (more frames with great quality) but the P&S thing might make it a bit dull at times. For me MF should be for full control (of course varies if you got another big one).

As for the focus/recompose, all RF's should have the same issue.

And hey, didn't you crave a GW690 too? Heh. I just have it as an option for a future upgrade to MF. Price is similar to the GA645 for the mk I-II models, RF, biiig negative and not so heavy (compared to the P67).
I see where is the wage of the summer job going to...😀

Yep, the biggest pro for the RFs are their mobility and quick setup - perfect travel cameras. SLRs and view cameras are better for more "analythical" photography approaches, careful framing, using graduated filters etc.

I do fancy my own GW690! I've ocasionally used my friend's so far. But my budget is definitely finished for this year, with the hard work maybe next year the Santa will bring me one nice s&h proper 690 😀

For lightweight and quick operation the GA645 would suit much better, but for the ultimate MF quality: it's hard to beat the mighty GW690 IMO!

Margus

 

[mdwsta4]

Nice write up!

 

[jvan01]

I have a GA645 and it make great photos. The only thing I could never get used to was the portrait orientation.

 

[hcdcmd]

Great image maker, sharp lens and all...
just too noisy for me!

hcdcmd

 

[Pioneer]

Nice review Margus. I think you about nailed it. I love mine.

I really have only two complaints. First, on mine I can't tell if I have exposure compensation dialed in or not in the viewfinder. I have to glance at the LCD on top.

Second, quiet it ain't. That shutter is probably pretty quiet but with the noise of the focus motor on one end and the film transport noise on the other I can't really tell. But it really doesn't seem that noticeable to others when I am walking around.

Besides, if I need things a little more quiet I'll carry the GF670 folder or the Rolleiflex.

 

[tsiklonaut]

just too noisy for me!

Second, quiet it ain't.

Dudes, you ought to shoot a Pentax 67 to apreciate GA645i (it's more silent than the non "i" as I've heard anyway) 😀

Anyways, I've added some more thoughts on the GA645i here. Got to say I love mine, and it's more silent than anything I've had. Maybe because I have no reason to hide from anybody. 😛


Some random GA645i shots:

 

[Takkun]

Well, now I know what I want to get with my christmas money...
Stunning shots. That last one makes me want to take up color again.

 

[Shab]

tsiklonaut, really like your photos.

I don't have a Fuji GA645i and now I'm not interested in one of them but I enjoyed a lot looking at your photographs.

I have a questions for you: which scanner do you use?

Thanks,
Xabier.

 

[Pioneer]

@tsiklonaut: I have shot the P67 and P645 and neither are particularly quiet either. It sounds like my non-"i" is a bit noisier than the "i" model is, but I really don't mind all that much. They are still pretty wonderful cameras. And that medium format negative is amazing.

 

[tsiklonaut]

Cheers guys! Looks like GA645 series still receives a lot of hate but at least some guys started to apreciate this camera.

I have a questions for you: which scanner do you use?

I run two drum scanners. Some info here.

 

[Maczero]

Hi, I picked one of these (645zi) up second-hand and am very pleased with it. Unfortunately it came without a lens hood. How much an issue is this in your opinion and any suggestions on what might be a suitable replacement (I can't seem to find an original one available on eg eBay).

 

[tsiklonaut]

I reckon most of the 52mm lens hoods should do the trick for you. It's around 35mm @ 35mm film measure thus slightly wide-angle but nothing extreme so most lens hoods ment for normal or wide-angles should fit without vignetting your frames. You can get 'em fairly cheap these days - 10 bucks or even less.

Good luck.

 

[ssmc]

One thing you need to watch out for with non-original hoods is that they may block the AF sensors. I just measured the hood that came with my GA645 (it's marked as such on the rim) and while it's 20mm deep (from the front of the filter threads) it's only 68mm OD, which is pretty "tight". A Nikon HR-2 52mm rubber hood is 25mm deep and a whopping 85mm in diameter.

HTH,
Scott

p.s. I enjoyed your take on the GA645i and especially the colour pics - I really need to try to use mine more often!

 

[Domenico]

@tsiklonaut: I have shot the P67 and P645 and neither are particularly quiet either. It sounds like my non-"i" is a bit noisier than the "i" model is, but I really don't mind all that much. They are still pretty wonderful cameras. And that medium format negative is amazing.

Some time ago I played with a GA645 non "i" in a shop and it was really noisy, last week I bought an "i" version and I can confirm this is an other world, really quiet. If the noise is an issue, pick up an "i" version and you're set.
Great camera!