Thinking about a 645zi

[ampguy]

With 35mm I've always shot a lot of verticals, and even with the Pen, I think I like the vertical type format for a lot of stuff.

I've always wanted to try MF out, to "slow me down" a bit.

I did get a WLF for my F3, but find that it's awkward, so never went the TLR route although I am amazed at the street photography some folks did with those.

The thing about the 645zi is while the zoom range is the range I like for misc. travel, landscapes, daylight stuff, the far end of that zoom is darned slow.

Are there any other MF RF's recommended? I don't think I want the hassle of removable lenses, so a good fixed lens, or better a good fixed zoom would be great.

 

[Abbazz]

The 645zi is a fine camera. The lens is tack sharp and the whole thing is a great pleasure to use. F/6.9 at the tele end is not much of a problem in medium format IMHO. You can use Fuji Pro 800z with outstanding results and, as the shutter release is silky smooth, take handheld pictures at 1/8 sec.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Debusti Paolo]

wELL GO FOR A BRONICA RF645 kit

 

[kuzano]

Go for it....

Go for it....

Last one I sold had 32,400 clicks on the shutter and passed a service at Camera Wiz a little over a year ago when I had the LCD on the back replaced by Frank Marshman. He still services all the Fuji models and can get parts from Fuji.

Decent zoom range. Not overly large... more compact than any of the interchangeable lens 645's, although I've used Mamiya and Bronica SLR 645. Bigger than any 35mm however.

Spot on Auto Focus and metering. Has manual over-ride but a waste of time. It's the best P&S medium format I've ever used and had three of them over time.

Major point not often mentioned. Quietest shutter and transport I have ever used. I constantly had to look at the frame count to see if the camera had advanced. Same with all three.

Good pricing if you can spend a little time looking.

While they look a bit big, it's deceiving. I had a couple of the GS645 folders and the Zi is only slightly bigger than that early folder.

As with all horizontal transport 120 roll film cameras, you must make sure the film is tight when closing the back to prevent film bunching on the takeup spool... Same with Bronica RF645, The big Fuji's and Pentax 67. This is often mentioned in the user manuals... You Know! RTFM!😛

 

[Jamie123]

If you want to get into MF in order to slow you down, I'm not sure a P&S is a good idea.

Maybe you should consider getting something like a Mamiya 7 with one lens. Just because a camera has interchangeable lenses doesn't mean you actually have to use more than one lens. Since it's 6x7 there's quite a lot of "zooming" you can do by cropping while still having the same frame are as 6x4,5.

 

[Bobfrance]

I've got the 645zi.
As said above it's a very fine camera and whilst I don't normally do zooms I find its zoom is in the perfect range.
To me it's like a medium format Contax G - which can't be a bad thing.
It's also worth noting that it has a proper autofocus and can focus in darkness not like the modern contrast autofocus systems.

If you shoot street like me. Then you will have to slow down a little to accommodate the focusing. There's no appreciable shutter-lag but the focus needs maybe half a second to get a lock. So no grab shots. 😉

Bob.

 

[draka]

I am late to the discussion here, but I thought I would share my initial experience. I have been using this for two weeks now. I still have to get my slides back, but the camera carries well - I strap it using s-biners to my backpack and it is readily available when I am hiking. Other MF cameras can be a bit heavier. The noise the film advance mechanism makes is a bit loud, but that is not an issue for me in the outdoors.

Another point in favor of the GA645 family is the favorable price differential between this and the Mamiya 6/7 MF cameras (although it is a apples-to-oranges comparison)..

 

[Doug]

Ted, you might also consider the 645Zi's immediate predecessor, the 645i with fixed 60mm f/4 lens. I have the companion 645Wi with 45mm f/4 and like it a lot. I'm already using NPZ800, so a f/6.9 lens is still, well, slower! I've thought about the Zi on occasion, and figure it would be fine in good light, but there's always poor light to consider.

The camera won't slow you down much, I'm afraid, with autofocus and motor film advance. It's a big well-made point'n'shoot... and it's capable of very fine results.

Consider the Bronica RF645.... sure it has interchangeable lenses but they're hard to find anyway, so you could just stay with the standard 65mm f/4. Sometimes manual focus is a relief, as you know where you put the focus. Manual advance too. It's very quiet.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks all for the great comments. Film always slows me down, even 35mm $1/roll, that I process at costco. It's just that I know every frame is costing so I take a bit more care, and even more so when I know the processing is going to be more than costco (~$6/roll of 36).

I can get by with f4 lenses, but barely, and I guess I can't really get much faster with MF affordably or carry friendly wise.

I've gone out on day trips with the CV 21/4, as well as with the HAF f2 with K25 and was fine until either indoors, or night fall.

I'll keep my eyes open for a 645i or any MF with f4 or faster. Thanks!