Fuji GA645ZI concerns

[williams473]

Question to you technical people out there - I just bought a GA645ZI from KEH. I have a few concerns after fiddling around with it last night. The biggest of which, is that as a traditionally all-manual photographer, I find it hard to judge when the shutter is actually releasing, it's like me ans the camera aren't on the same page as to when I want to make an exposure. It goes like this - I depress the shutter release, the autofocus hunts and locks, the camera beeps, and I hear the film advance, but I can't hear that reassuring "click" that is so important in timing a photo in say, a street situation, or when getting a fleeting facial expression is crucial. I'm sure it's great when timing isn't critical, but that's often not the case for me. I am wondering if I just bought the wrong tool for what I do?

My second concern is that, normally I get great stuff from KEH, even in "bargain" condition, as this one is. But this bad boy is in really bad shape - I would have put it in "ugly." It also has a big hair in the viewfinder, The viewfinder itself sometimes goes out of focus when zoomed all the way in. I don't mind all the wear on the body, but this looks like someone absolutely rod it hard and put it away wet - they beat the life out of the camera. I'm not sure I shouldn't return it (God bless KEH for that) and get a simpler, cheaper fixed lens GS645S in excellent condition for less than I paid for the Zi in bargain shape. Is the lens on the GS as sharp as the Zi in your opinion? The lens, and the ability to go between wide and normal focal lengths is the primary reason I decided on the Zi, so if it is decidely better in optics, maybe it's worth sticking with it?

Just open to opinions...

 

[tripod]

One of the great things about simpler mechanical cameras is the immediate response times and tactile feedback that they give compared to auto focus with their shutter lag times. KEH has a good return policy. If you don't like it, send it back. Or get used to it. It is what it is.

 

[Tuolumne]

I've used my zi mostly for landscape so I haven't paid critical attention to the timing of the shutter release. I don't seem to remember being particularly annnoyed by it, though. I think it's more of a tactile feel than audible sound upon release, followed by the swish sound of the motor.

As far as condition, yours sounds particularly bad. I probably would not accept such a camera and would return it. As far as the sharpness of the zi lens, it is remarkable to me, especially considering it is a zoom. As good or better than my sharpest prime lenses. I can't speak for the other Fuji 645 cameras, since I haven't used them.

/T

 

[Monte920]

I also have a 645Zi. Your description of shutter release sounds quite normal to me. To confirm whether the shutter is really working, you can simply opern the back, and set to manual, and test for different speeds. You should be able to see the shutter in the lens opening and closing from behind the camera. If this is the case, then don't worry.

As for hair in the viewfinder, this seems to be pretty common in Fuji cameras. My 645Zi also has one hair. Other people reported hair in the viewfinders in Fuji Natura S, Natura Classica, Klasse W, etc, etc. We were joking that Fuji factory must be very stressful. So the workers kept pulling their hairs when they assembled the camera!!! 😀

 

[williams473]

HA! That's funny - guess Fujis could just be described as "hairy." Thanks for the input - I think maybe indeed it is not only a bad example of the Zi which should be returned on condition alone, but also maybe the full manual Fuji might be a better fit. Although I hate to give up the promise of that lens. Thanks again.