Fuji GS645 pro worth repairing ?

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om.ch

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Aside from the slowly failing bellows :bang: my camera took a tumble the other day and the film advance lever is stuck and I'm pretty sure the rangefinder will need to be adjusted.

Now I'm wondering, is it worth repairing it all? 🙁

The reason I'm asking is because I keep seeing kits like Bronica ETRS ii for about 300-500.- EUR and I have the sneaky feeling getting my GS645 fixed will cost in the vicinity of that, with all the talks of hard to find bellows etc etc.

Thank you!
 
Getting the bellows is not impossible, but it takes its time - it can take a few weeks for Custombellows to make one on order, and the usual Chinese/HK sources don't appear to have them off the shelf.

The going ebay rate for the GS645 series is in the 300-500€ range (including import tax and shipping from Japan), so I would not bother having one repaired if that really turns out to be not any cheaper.
 
It really depends on how much you like the camera. I had one and they're really fine cameras. The Bronica is going to be bigger and parts will most likely be or become scarce for them.
 
sevo said:
The going ebay rate for the GS645 series is in the 300-500€ range (including import tax and shipping from Japan), so I would not bother having one repaired if that really turns out to be not any cheaper.
Click to expand...

I guess that I will just have to see, will bring it to get an estimate for repair and see whether I leave it behind or not.


x-ray said:
It really depends on how much you like the camera. I had one and they're really fine cameras. The Bronica is going to be bigger and parts will most likely be or become scarce for them.
Click to expand...

I like it but I'm not crazy about it either, on paper it has it all, in practice it ended up more times at the repair shop that I care to remember and it is this close to be cursed for me now.

It is just too fragile I'm afraid and it actually put a big doubt on me putting money aside to buy a Plaubel Makina 67. 🙁
 
Folding cameras cannot be as robust as rigid cameras. It's the price to be paid for compactness. I think its worthwhile, owning both Fuji GS645pro and Plaubel Makina.
 
Frank Marshman...

Frank Marshman...

My best option for a "go to guy" for all Fuji's has been Frank Marshman, Camera Wiz in the East or (right side US).

He's done three of the bellows for me... (I buy em cheap, have Frank CLA and bellows them)

Frank has an improvement he does on the shutter linkage, does the bellows routinely. However, I did find that the shutter on the GS645 Pro can become a "non performer" in extreme cold, and Frank has said that is not something he will try to improve, just bad design.

So, I think a non functional GS645 Pro is worth about $150, and with a replacement bellows, CLA and notwithstanding the shutter temp problem, likely worth about $500.

I would NEVER buy a GS645 Pro that purports to have one of the original "synthetic" (read paper) bellows. They were only made for one year because of that bellows.

The Fuji 645 that I switched to, which is only a tad bit bigger, offers AF and 55-90 zoom and quite reliable is the GS645zi. Great camera.

Also so quiet I often had to look at the frame count to see if it advanced. It always did!
 
Hello,

Thank you for your answers, I will see how much it is going to cost me to get it fixed and will advise on what to do next.

FrankS, I agree that the compactness of such systems is what drew me into buying a GS645.

I guess, if I get it fixed, I will need to work towards trusting that little camera again.

Kuzano, thank you for the contact. Would you, by any chance, know of someone that is Europe based as I live in Paris? Or would you still send it to Frank Marshman?

Thank you all for your help again!
 
I had one of the GS645 for several years and never had the bellows fail but had the shutter linkage go out. Other that that it was a fine camera. This year I got the bug for another and bought a GS645S and couldn't be happier. It doesn't have a bellows so there's nothing to fail there and the meter and RF are on the money. I find I like the slightly wider lens that's about the same as a 35mm on 35 format. It's every bit as sharp as the one on the folder. I have no complaints.

I had a GA645zi but just couldn't warm up to it. It was cumbersome feeling to me, larger and noisy when advancing. Sharpness was ok but I never felt it was as good as the folder. I know a lot of people like GA cameras but I just couldn't warm up to it.
 
I've just gotten my personal GS645 Pro back from Frank Marshman. It's perfect. I bought bellows online from a UK dealer and sent them along with the camera a few weeks ago. Frank had it done quickly for under $200 - including a CLA, meter calibration, shutter replacement, and bellows installation. He's great, as is the camera. Get it fixed!

Andy
 
x-ray,

Yes, the reason I originally went for the GS645 is that I do prefer having a mechanical and manual focus camera, as the battery is only for the meter the GS645 fit the bill nicely.

I have now a few leads for the bellows and trying to find the repair manual for the stuck winder and misaligned viewfinder.

Will KYP.
 
awbphotog said:
I've just gotten my personal GS645 Pro back from Frank Marshman. It's perfect. I bought bellows online from a UK dealer and sent them along with the camera a few weeks ago. Frank had it done quickly for under $200 - including a CLA, meter calibration, shutter replacement, and bellows installation. He's great, as is the camera. Get it fixed!

Andy
Click to expand...

How long ago is just? I and some others tried to contact Frank about a month ago with no success. If he is back to answering the phone and repairing, I have some work for him as well.
 
om.ch said:
x-ray,

Yes, the reason I originally went for the GS645 is that I do prefer having a mechanical and manual focus camera, as the battery is only for the meter the GS645 fit the bill nicely.

I have now a few leads for the bellows and trying to find the repair manual for the stuck winder and misaligned viewfinder.

Will KYP.
Click to expand...

Tge GS645S is all mechanical and has the same rangefinder as the GS645 folder. The meter is the same as the folder too. The only reason for the battery is the meter. You may be thinking about the W model. It has the same meter but no RF just frame lines and scale focus. Tge lens on it is a 45mm f5.6. The S is a 60mm f4. The GA series is totally battery dependant.
 
I have two GS645 folders in getting new bellows now. Nice shape; probably going to list one here eventually.

The Bronica GS645 is bulkier and heavier by far.

The GS645S is actually more fragile than its brother. It also doesn't have the 75mm (normal) lens - it has a wider 60 that is not the best for close-range pictures of people.

Dante
 
oftheherd said:
How long ago is just? I and some others tried to contact Frank about a month ago with no success. If he is back to answering the phone and repairing, I have some work for him as well.
Click to expand...


I received the camera back from Frank (after a nice phone call) about two weeks ago. He should be available. I've had luck with emailing him and calling him.

Andy
 
Dante_Stella said:
I have two GS645 folders in getting new bellows now. Nice shape; probably going to list one here eventually.

The Bronica GS645 is bulkier and heavier by far.

The GS645S is actually more fragile than its brother. It also doesn't have the 75mm (normal) lens - it has a wider 60 that is not the best for close-range pictures of people.

Dante
Click to expand...

I don't bang my camera around and have had no problems. From what I've read the camera is subject to shearing the lens assembly screws if it's treated rough. It appears that it takes an impact to do the damage. Treat the camera with resect and there will be no problems.

I personally like the slightly wider FL. I wouldn't buy a camera of they type for close work anyway. I much prefer an SLR like my Hasselblad for people or at a minimum a Rollei TLR. The small size make it nice but it also brings compromises.
 
I had the advance mechanism lock up on my GS645 a few years ago . I sent it to Camera Repair Workshop in Milton Keynes as they specialise in Fuji Cameras, cost was around £190 - £200. Its been fine since and has become a camera I will hang on too as its compact size and 75mm lens make it very usable.

There was a member on here who was making bellows, not sure if he still does. He made a set for me I put on a previous GS645 I had and they were very well made

There's the thread here
 
I've lusted after that little folder for years. My wife says it's silly as IHHO (In Her Humble Opinion) there are no vertical photographs. Yells at me constantly for doing them on my iPhone.

Good to hear that there are folks who can breath life back into that wonderful little camera.

B2 (;->
 
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