Thoughts on the Fuji GA645 as a travel camera

[DougK]

Well folks, I just got back from my Florida trip. After much agonizing over which camera to take I decided to just grab the Fuji and play with it. I'll be taking the film in tomorrow for developing so I don't know how anything came out yet, but I thought I'd post my thoughts on using this camera as a travel companion.

• It's LARGE. This is by no means the heaviest camera I own but it's up there in terms of bulk and is obviously not pocketable. While I didn't find it burdensome to carry, I definitely would have preferred to carry something that I could shove in my pocket with an extra roll of film.
• It's noisy. Surprisingly, though, no one seemed to even notice except me. I had expected with the bulk and noise of the camera that "street" shots would be impossible, however, it certainly wasn't any larger or noisier than the SLR outfits I saw all over the place.
• I forgot how quickly you can burn up a roll of 120. It seemed like every time I was just getting into a good groove, I was on my last exposure and needed to change film... grrr....
• With 400 speed film loaded I could shoot in all the light conditions I wanted without having to worry about flash. I never even got a "flash suggested" indicator from the meter, very nice.
• Autofocus and autoexposure are wonderful to have. My companion was not nearly as photography-friendly as she had claimed to be, so these features allowed me to speed up my shooting tremendously. I ran into a number of situations where my Olympus Trip 35 would have been much faster, however, and I really found myself wishing for a convenient way to set the hyperfocal and just shoot

My conclusion? The Fuji GA645 is a lot of fun to shoot with and if I did or do get a "keeper" I know that I can blow it up as big as I want to. Would I take it with me again? I'm not sure. For a long trip, probably not as I'm sure I'd find an excuse to leave the camera behind and regret the decision later. I also found that because of my burn rate I didn't have nearly enough film with me (six rolls for the weekend, I shot five in one day) nor did I have room in my bag for much more. I think for the next trip it'll be back to 35mm with one of my fixed-lens rangefinders, a small half-frame camera, or maybe a high-end P&S like the Leica CM.

 

[Doug]

LARGE: Hmmm, yeah, it is moderatley large. 🙂 But then the Bronica is about the same, and Pentax 67 definitely moreso. The GA does not pretend to be pocketable, but then none of my cameras are... well, maybe a big jacket pocket might safely hold the Olympus 35RC but I don't have any pockets in any clothes I'd wear in Florida in which I'd want to carry any camera... And the camera on a reasonably wide strap over a shoulder is fast and convenient for me (I set the strap length so the camera is restrained by my elbow).

NOISY: Ok; motor noises... So many SLRs and digitals do the same these days it must now be normal!

120 FILM: Yeah, short rolls, and that's why I prefer to use 220. I like Fuji NPZ, and my GS645S is now loaded with Tri-X Pro 220. ISO ~400 is pretty versatile...

SPEED is a useful attribute, but it sure is nice not to be rushed. 🙁

Will the GA645 be your preferred every-day camera when you're NOT traveling? It could become a favorite... But, whatever suits you best of course! 🙂 I use mine a lot normally and it's been a fine travel camera too.

Looking forward to seeing your travel pics!

 

[DougK]

Doug, I probably came across a little harsher on the camera than I intended with my initial comments and I should probably clarify myself a little bit. Knowing me, this will probably get a little long-winded 🙂.

The Fuji is undeniably a fine camera and I knew about the potential drawbacks when I decided to take it with me. For all of its size and my small hands, the camera never felt unwieldy or hard to handle, just unfamiliar. I know I lost at least one shot to the dreaded lens cap as well. None of the drawbacks I mentioned in my original post were really any worse in practice than when I hauled my digital outfit (burn up batteries or burn up film) or SLR outfit (bulky camera bag) around.

One thing I had no trouble getting used to at all was the focal length / field-of-view. Maybe it's a side effect of spending so much time with my 35-40mm fixed-lens rangefinders but I had no problems visualizing the Fuji framelines before I lifted the camera. And that viewfinder is gorgeous: nicely tinted, easy to see everything even with my glasses on, automatic parallax compensation... sure made my life a lot easier. 🙂

The Fuji's already on my short list of cameras to grab when I walk out the door and traveling with it wasn't all that bad overall. I think it's going to wind up depending on the purpose of the trip (mainly photography or mainly "other fun") to determine whether I haul it with me (and maybe a secondary camera as well) or not. For the shooting I do around home? Hell yeah, I'll grab it in a heartbeat.

 

[Doug]

When we went to Hawaii last November, I took a modest LowePro bag about 8x9x13 or so, and in it went the Fuji GA645W, and the Bronica RF with its three lenses, 45 viewfinder, Gossen meter, film, batteries, etc., and it fit inside my carry-on baggage. While driving around over there I had it in the car trunk... I could hop out, pop the trunk, and grab a camera pretty quickly! I kept NPZ800 in the Fuji for interiors and NPS160 in the Bronica for landscape shots. If I set out for a walk, I'd pick the Bronica and one lens. It was really quite a compact kit. What made it possible I think was the lack of motor drives, batterypacks, chargers, and big fast zooms!

Here's one from my Fuji -- Let's see what you did with yours! 🙂

 

[DougK]

Dropped off the film at the lab today Doug, they'll have to send it out but I should get it back next week. I had one roll spool rather loosely on the take-up; I kept it covered the whole time out of the camera so hopefully it will develop ok. That's the only roll I had it happen to out of the five I ran through the camera, not sure why.

 

[wlewisiii]

This thread is very interesting to me. I keep desiring a Fuji and so hearing the practical side is always useful. My biggest problem will probably be in deciding which one to get 🙂

Probably either the GA645ZI or GS645 if I can find one with a good bellows when my wallet reads something other than empty... Ah, well, someday.

William

 

[DougK]

William, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this camera to anyone. I got really lucky, found one for a great price and snapped it up. If it's financially feasible for you, DO IT! My gripes about it are mostly nitpicking. I'm waiting until I see the actual photos to decide if it's my number one or number two camera... I suspect that once I get fully comfortable with it I'll be using it most of the time.

The one nitpick I can't fix and will just have to live with is Fuji putting both strap lugs on the LEFT side... who thought THAT one up? I'd really like to be able to attach a hand strap to the grip like I use with my SLR.

 

[Doug]

My biggest problem will probably be in deciding which one to get 🙂

Probably either the GA645ZI or GS645 if I can find one with a good bellows...

These are two pretty desirable models, and I've been tempted too. But I have fought off the creeping GAS by considering how slow that 50-90 zoom is on the Zi, varying between f/4.5 and f/6.9. Except at the wide end, and sometimes even there, that's just too slow for interior shots even with 800 film. If you just accept the need for flash, though (which I avoid), then it could be fine.

The folding original GS645 model is pretty cool, too, very compact when folded. It might be fun to get familiar with one. I wonder if I'd unfold it for each photo op and then fold it back up again, which could get irritating, or walk around with it unfolded. I have a GS645S too, the one with the fixed 60mm lens and "cow catcher", and it's a nice rig except for the fuzzy dim RF spot.

 

[Doug]

The one nitpick I can't fix and will just have to live with is Fuji putting both strap lugs on the LEFT side... who thought THAT one up? I'd really like to be able to attach a hand strap to the grip like I use with my SLR.

Indeed! They should have put the two strap lugs on the RIGHT instead. My old GS645S has 'em there. 🙂 Or better yet follow Pentax's lead and put two lugs on each end. FWIW, the Bronica RF has two on the left and one on the right. I do like vertical carry, preferably on the right.

 

[Nick R.]

One thing I've found helps carry around a medium format like the Bronica or Fuji is a short neck/shoulder strap. When I bought my Fuji670 II, it came with what I thought was a ridiculously short strap. But after trying it, I realized that the short strap made it much easier to walk around comfortably while carrying such a large camera (and the 670 is large). The strap should be just long enough that the camera rests on the left (or right) rib cage about even with the elbow joint when hung around the neck and shoulder (one arm through the strap). Much more comfortable than having the camera around either the neck or shoulder alone. And in the same motion as bringing the camera up to the eye you can slip your arm out from the strap. Keeps me from having to carry a bag, which I don't like.

 

[wlewisiii]

These are two pretty desirable models, and I've been tempted too. But I have fought off the creeping GAS by considering how slow that 50-90 zoom is on the Zi, varying between f/4.5 and f/6.9. Except at the wide end, and sometimes even there, that's just too slow for interior shots even with 800 film. If you just accept the need for flash, though (which I avoid), then it could be fine.

It does seem a bit slow, but OTOH my folders aren't especially speedy in the lens department either. Tri-X@EI1600 and Diafine are my prefered solution to the problem 😀

The folding original GS645 model is pretty cool, too, very compact when folded. It might be fun to get familiar with one. I wonder if I'd unfold it for each photo op and then fold it back up again, which could get irritating, or walk around with it unfolded. I have a GS645S too, the one with the fixed 60mm lens and "cow catcher", and it's a nice rig except for the fuzzy dim RF spot.

I have a soft spot for folders in general, so it's high on my list. IIRC the 75mm on it is a little faster too. I can't seem to find if that model had any kind of meter? Just a curiosity for me as I have a VC Meter II that would clip on just fine.

William

 

[Doug]

I have a soft spot for folders in general, so it's high on my list. IIRC the 75mm on it is a little faster too. I can't seem to find if that model had any kind of meter? Just a curiosity for me as I have a VC Meter II that would clip on just fine.

William, I believe you're right, the lens is f/3.4, a bit faster. My GS645S has a meter whose cell is located in the viewfinder. The folder probably does too...

 

[wlewisiii]

Yes, I finally found an old for sale ad in google groups that gave me these specs:

6x4.5 cm format (same as Mamiya 645),
15 shots per roll of 120, 30 shots per 220.

Camera folds up into compact, pocketable package--
about 5 3/4" wide by 4 1/2" high, and about 2" folded.

Weight is 820 grams, which I believe is about 1.8 pounds.

The lens is a 75mm F:3.4 Fujinon, focus 1 meter to infinity.

Copal 00 shutter, 1 sec. to 1/500th of a second, plus T
and self-timer setting. X sync from PC terminal and hot shoe.

Built-in match-needle (well, match-LEDs) metering.

I like the idea that it takes 220 as well as 120 and the rest sounds just about right. Now if only I could find one I could afford... 😀

William

 

[choozart]

Dropped off the film at the lab today Doug, they'll have to send it out but I should get it back next week. I had one roll spool rather loosely on the take-up; I kept it covered the whole time out of the camera so hopefully it will develop ok. That's the only roll I had it happen to out of the five I ran through the camera, not sure why.

THe loose roll has happened to me a couple of times, but only the last few shots were fogged. Hasn't happened since I now am careful when loading, making sure the take up spool is tight.

I prefer 220, get 32 shots a roll.


Patrick

 

[DougK]

The bizarre thing is that I made sure the roll was tight when I loaded it. I think it might have loosened up when the end came off the supply spool. It happened to me once on my Seagull TLR too, so I'm willing to call it a flaw in my loading/unloading technique. Just something to keep in the back of my mind, I guess. I'll have to consider switching to 220 film if this camera turns into a heavy-use camera (which it probably will).

 

[JonasYip]

I've travelled with just a GA645i and was perfectly happy, both in terms of getting the shots I needed and in terms of the resulting images.

I've also travelled with a GS645 (the folding one... nice and compact) and was less happy. I found I was too slow with it, but that was probably just due to not being used to the controls. With the cameras I use a lot (e.g. Leica) I can pretty much set all the controls w/ minimal thinking and fiddling and w/o looking.

The GS has shutter speed, aperture, and focusing all on three narrow rings at the front of the lens, and (on mine at least) it's difficult to change the shutter-speed w/o moving the aperture at the same time. And the rangefinder patch is not the best. So all-in-all I was too slow with it, especially in a travel situation (when I don't necessarily have time to fiddle). That said, I was quite happy with the resulting pictures.

j