after much research knowing the many problems that could occur with these cameras i went ahead and ordered one hoping for the best and of course it shows up with the rangefinder not even moving at all a very stiff focus and even a loose object clanking around on the inside which i want to guess might be the rangefinder cam?...
Unfortunate experience! I bought one of these used at a used-camera fair in 2002, enticed by the light weight and compact size, etc. I didn't check it out carefully enough, as the RF was sometimes sticky... If I bumped it with the palm of my hand the RF would snap back.
I took it to a major repair shop in Seattle, where they said it was not feasible to lube or repair this annoyance, so I sucked it up and put it on the shelf. About a year later I heard of a Fuji repair specialist, Frank Marshman = Camera Wiz, and after a phone call I sent the camera to him. He cleaned out old sticky lube in the RF and replaced a broken plastic part of the lens mount at a very reasonable cost. "Not feasible" huh!
I've enjoyed using this fine little camera since, but have not used it for several years. I picked it off the shelf just now and tried the RF... smooth as can be with no hint of stickiness, so clearly Frank used good lube.
It seems that this stickiness is a result of the RF design where moving the focus one way tracks the RF patch positively on a cam, then relies on a spring to return the other way. Gooey lube can add too much resistance to this return movement, and we know what results!
At this point in time all samples of the RF645S are somewhat elderly, and it seems likely the original lube will have deteriorated. But with a little knowledgeable service, they can be in action for a long time to come. Just factor in the CLA cost with the purchase, and you might restore a bargain-priced shelf queen!
