Fujifilm GA645Zi, good, bad, indifferent or just an electronic masterpiece, in depth look
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- Опубликовано: 3 фев 2022
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This is a fully fledged auto every thing camera, some love it, some hate it, see what I think after owning one for several years , see my images taken with it past and present and a close look at its feature set, a video full of helpful content, enjoy
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I have owned and used one of these since buying it new 25 years ago. It is an excellent camera and the lens is superb. As it says in the manual, it's useful to use 800ISO film in anything but bright conditions Recently, my rear display LCD started behaving erratically owing to the flexi-circuit weakness, but I will have it repaired.
Another great video, Martin. Fascinating camera, you've tempted me to get one. I love the look of the Pyro as well.
Thanks, sorry I tempted you lol
Great video man, I really enjoyed it. Also I love the pictures you took with this. Might have to try out some B&W in the future with this badboy. Much love, Camiel
Love how you discover images time and again in your own local area. Incidentally, I fixed my light leaking Holga 120N using the technique on one of your videos, and it worked a treat. Thanks
Aww thanks, glad the Holga is working OK
Lovely video Martin. I've been lugging around a GX680 for a while, but I have a GS645W as well which I love to bits, but it just is too wide for a lot of compositions! So I was going to get a GS645 with the 75mm, but then happened across these. Picked one up and I'm excited to give it a go. I appreciate the in-depth information in your video and example images.
The big cloud over the GA645Zi is failure of the flexible circuit board which connects between the main camera body and the LED display. With less than careful opening of the back, the 20 or so electric circuit leads can start breaking after some use, leading to failure of the LED elements and loss of readouts. Martin reports that this failure turns the camera into a "brick". Perhaps so in the past, but no more. There is a company in Poland which will take your camera, pull and replace the flex-circuit board, transplant the numerous electronic elements from your board to the new one, reassemble, test and adjust as necessary - ready to go. Recently, they were charging about $200+ to do the whole job, or they would sell you the replacement circuit board for $100 and you could do the work yourself. They have a YT video covering the whole process, and IMO I would gladly pay them to do the work. The amount of fine motor skills required is numbing. (And in my youth, I used to build full blown audio electronics from scratch, so "been there, done that".)
I have seen that now you mention it, so it can be fixed at a cost but good to know
I'm about to send out my camera for this exact repair. It's 350 Euro now + shipping, but still worth it, considering I bought the camera originally for about the same amount. These cameras go for about 1000 euro now, so it's definitely worth it imho (and it's too nice of a camera to leave it broken).
@@Renzsu When I first learned of this repair service, I considered a side-hussle by buying a bunch of LED-challenged GA654Zi units, then going on eBay for $250 each or so, having them repaired, and reselling for a nice profit. I was too lazy to follow through with that, but given prices that followed, it would have been very profitable. I see supply and demand has hit the Polish pricing rather hard.
The photographs you’ve taken are exceptionally good. Beautiful B&W work.
Thank you
A fun camera to use and nicely reviewed, Martin. I have the GS645S all mechanical with just the electronic light meter and as you rightly say just trust the camera and take pictures. The lens is quite amazing.
Thanks Tommy
Magnificent photos. Well done.
Great Review Martin. Love 645 myself.
Yes a similar size to 10x8 dimensions, square is my fav but this is second
Beautiful video and photos! Congrats.
Thanks
Nice video, very nice images, great information and informative. Thanks for the work! Best wishes!
Thank you
great video Martin , I would say that tbf the manual mode isnt too difficult to get involved with if you really want to have a comparison , but 100% agree you come away with shots you wouldnt normally take , the AF is exceptional , and the stability and feel of holding the camera seems to steady the shots ive taken up to 1/20 so I really taken with it
Great video, really nice camera. Funny I was looking for one on ebay a few days ago, still looking.
Damnnnnn you’re Good!!! Wonderful inspirational stuff
what a beauty
Looks like a nice camera. The main thing I liked about your video though was the wonderful images you created. It is never the camera, always the person behind the lens that matters. Brilliant video, thanks for posting.
Thanks for your kind comment
I had this camera for several years and loved it. Unfortunately the led screen started to fail and at the time there was no fix for it so I basically sold it for parts. It had a great lens and shot wonderful pix. Also, I prefer the square format over a 4.5 x 6.
Great video Martin. Looks a nice camera, just a heads up, Shanghai film are now making their 100asa GP3 B&W film in 220 format, that 32 frames on your camera, if you could find 32 shots in one go, I always tend to struggle with anything over 24. But it is there again if you want it.
Good to know, thanks
That was the best review ever on this camera ! Seriously ! Great photos too. Thanks Martin. That ribbon problem is the only reason I haven't bought this camera and Fuji should really have a repair service available because this is a screw up on their end ! People love every version of this camera and nobody will repair it and that sucks ! I would have to get the wide version and someday I might. I'm a big point and shoot guy, I have many. My favorite is the Nikon L35AF and the Yashica T3. But they're not medium format. Wish they would have made a 6x6 too ! That's my favorite format. Thanks for a great, very informative video Martin. LarryMac
Thanks, this company does that ribbon repruclips.net/video/hn79AYlDR_4a/видео.htmlir
I love my GA645Zi and agree with your fair and honest assessment of this camera. I have the black one and cannot believe what these are selling for nowadays vs when I bought mine many years ago. Of course, I'll never sell mine! ;-)
It does get some negative reviews from some people but in reality its a great MF camera for holidays etc and serious photography ,capable to compete with the best out there, thanks Alan
Shanghai produces GP3 in 220 also in 620. Fine video again, Martin
Again lovely video and fantastic images! Totally agree with you on the benefits of 645. I have come to really like the format and the different aspect ratio as well. The images look nice and with a lens like this Fuji one I'm sure they are super sharp.
The Fuji GA645 line have fascinated me for a while but unfortunately I already have the Bronica RF 645 which while lacking af and portability is similar enough in function I probably shouldn't buy this haha. That said I've heard they are very handy pretty much point and shoot medium format cameras. The older Fuji 645 ones seem equally portable but ofc lack the af.
For anyone that wants something less pricey but super portable can I recommend the Zeiss 645 folders? (The Super Ikonta 531). It is so small! Of course there's no meter or af but it has a rangefinder and is absolutely tiny for the 645 negatives it can make. Really liking mine (still need to finish my first roll though).
I also have Bronica RF! Awesome camera!
Another enjoyable video Martin,
I like the equipment but your photos are what does it for me, the lions head was excellent, the wood above the face looked like the mane.
The Fuji seems a good camera too, especially being pocketable, the size is usually one of the downsides of large format cameras, I found that with the Pentacon Six, especially with a Flektogon fitted, just too heavy.
The good thing is that a Pentacon Six can still be serviced, but the electronics on the Fuji would worry me if Fuji no longer service these cameras. They are expensive to buy as well, £800 upwards seems to be the norm.
Yes they are getting expensive, apparently they can be fixed as someone mentioned in the comments by a Polish company, I have a Pentacon six and the 6X6 Arax M/F cameras and they are heavy , thanks
I don't think any camera should exist without shutter priority. 99% of my shots are with shutter priority. most of the time I don't care what the aperture is as long as I can use the shutter speed I need and I get my focal plane right :-) I tend to shoot "fast" things. when I need the shutter to be 1/1000 or 1/2000 it MUST be that fast. a rocket popping off at 40g's sometimes even 1/1000th is not enough. if I want a daily use cam I would likely turn down a cam without shutter priority.
Love the video. very neat cam. sadly they are quite expensive today (typical price $1000 US) about the cheapest I found was $500.
Your pictures with any sort of mist fog or visible light (shining through tree's etc..) are simply stunning! black and white really shines for those kinds of pictures where color might hide how beautiful the light itself is!
Thank you
Thankfully I'm not tempted by it. I got my GAS under control.... I think. Did pick up two lovely lenses for the bronica S2a the other day at a good price. I managed to get out yesterday with the 5x7 linhof and shoot two shots at the lake. Did all the video on the first location but when I got to the second location I was so amazed by the possible shot that I completely forgot to film it!! I really dont know how you do it Martin. Making RUclips videos is time consuming and hard work. I loved the photos you showed. As they say you have got the eye for it.
Thank you
I love that camera, I have one just like it except I misplaced the hood. I shoot mostly in program mode. It really is a wonderful image maker. I always take it on vacation. My LCD is wonky, I wish I could fix it.
Hope it keeps going for you , thanks
Great video. Thank you for sharing our repair video! We will be happy to repair yours if it fails.
Your welcome, mines OK so far but I know were to go now
Beautiful eye for composition Sir ! I’ve just decided to get this out of the cupboard again. I put it away because some of the shots it took were out of focus. I’ve had it from new and it’s always been an issue. You have to keep an eye on the distance indicator and refocus if you think it hasn’t focused right which is a pain. Have you experienced this with yours ?
No can’t say I have , thanks
I bought a GA645Zi about 18 months ago after overcoming my two concerns: (1) The slow maximum lens aperture. I decided that the 645 film format is large enough to let me use 400 speed film, which largely overcomes that limitation for my uses. (2) Zoom lens (lack of) quality. There is one on-line pixel peeping comparison of this lens with the 60mm in the GA645. Amazingly, the lens in the Zi at 55mm for same apertures is clearly superior in resolution and contrast. This lens is just stunning.
Yes its a superb lens,
Nice camera but I watch Mr Hanson's videos to see his photos
Thank you
I am using a GA 645 (Later Version) but I suppose other than the fact that it's a fixed lens the rest of the mechanicals should be the same as the Zi. The later version of the GA 645 shoots 16 exposures for 120 film. However I find that I could get 16 exposures with HP5+ while with FomaPan 200 and Roller RetroS or Superpan, it is only 15 exposures. I have tried to do all the necessary like tightening the film leader at loading and aligning the arrows with the dot but to no avail. I wonder whether you have had encountered this strange behaviour.
Hello Martin, I do have a question..I found this camera today on ebay for $700, the seller was upfront and said the rear lcd screen is dead, he went on to say the same information that would have been on the rear screen can be seen in the viewfinder..is he correct or just out to get cash?? PS Brillant camera and photo presentation. 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
It does. I have one.
To be totally honest Im not sure, however, you wont be able to set the date printing, how much exposure comp you have set, or whether the self timer is set or not etc.
For me 700 is a lot for a broken electronic camera, I would stay well clear as it will spoil your experience using it, I think he/she is trying to get rid with no thought of how it actually affects the new owner
@@martinhensonphotography thank you..I will keep looking for one fully functional
To expand on the other replies, the biggest issue from a failed LED screen is inability to see the film ISO set or how you would change it. You can reset the ISO, but you have to dial it back to the minimum setting, then count your "clicks" as you advance though the sequence of ISO settings to the speed you want, and hope that you didn't screw it up. See my comment above on repair of this issue.
So does it synch with flash at all shutter speeds ?
Yes it does Peter, leaf shutter 1 sec to 1/700 sec
There is a small error in the video concerning film loading. Contra the demonstration, once you load the film roll and connect the leader to take-up spool, you do not have to line up the "start" arrow on the backing paper with the start index mark in the camera. The camera has a sensor which faces the leader paper and film. You just thread on the leader, close the back and turn on the camera. The camera will automatically advance the leader until it reaches the first frame and then stop, ready to go. There a number of such conveniences built into the camera systems. You really have to study the long user manual to find all of the little tricks.
The manual does state that you align the starting arrows with the red dot then close the back, it might work without aligning but that's what the loading instruction in my manual says "Line up the start mark with the red pin", thanks
@@martinhensonphotography Martin, are you looking at a manual for the GA645Zi or perhaps a manual for one of the earlier, non-"i" model;s? The auto load registration feature was one of those added for the "i" models. Anyway, GA645Zi manual, page 21, paragraph 8 in part: "Wind leader until start arrow appears"...."Exact start mark is not required because the film tip is detected by the film sensor." There is further caution not to wind the start arrow beyond the red dot on the camera, as doing so may bypass the film sensor and cause the film to over-wind for the first frame. Keep it up. I love the channel's subject variety.
Yes it does say that and also says the leader must be wound securely around the take up spool, I do take your point though that you can load it before the start mark aligns up with the red dot, however, aligning to that red dot if you don't have the manual will ensure it loads correctly each and every time and not cause any confusion for first time user as I say with no reference how to load it , thanks for making that point though
Loved the photos, the camera however, is not for me.
should i get a 645 GA professional or this GA645zi?
Lol I can’t choose for you, if you want complete automation and a cracking zoom lens, little bit slow at the longer end though, the Fuji GA645zi will deliver
Looking one up on ebay, and the cheapest one currently is almost 800 quid. Seems like a mental price just for a bit of autowind. and all the awkward one handed juggling to get anything done is a big downside to me. Not to mention the fixed lens. If I'm gonna spend that much, I definitely want the modularity that I can really put the top of the top glass onto it. None of that 6.9 max aperture nonsense.
Its a camera designed for a specific purpose such as traveling etc, small , light, M/F quality, superb lens, they are getting expensive though, thanks
Regrettably sold mine.
With prices going up and can see why , thanks
That looks like damn complicated camera, and no good shutter, aperture, controls. Would never buy that drugstore point&shoot.
Ha Ha its not complicated just automated lol , thanks
Lol. This comment got me dying lol. Funny. I do own this camera now. Great back up camera/point & shoot