How do you like the overall feel and handling of the GA645? I am looking at trying a Fuji 645 camera but not sure which variant to get. There are so many versions.
Gary Clennan wrote:
How do you like the overall feel and handling of the GA645? I am looking at trying a Fuji 645 camera but not sure which variant to get. There are so many versions.
The GA645 is a glorified point-and-shoot camera so if you like manual controls or anything like that, look elsewhere.
It shoots naturally in portrait mode. If you want landscape, you have to rotate the camera 90 degrees. There is a version of the camera called GA645i which has a second shutter button for when you shoot in landscape.
The camera's lens is beautifully sharp, with accurate autofocus. The downside is that it is noisy to focus. The film winder is also noisy.
The camera is ultra light and travels well. The pop up flash is very useful at times.
It's not my primary camera, but I like it very much.
Gary Clennan wrote:
How do you like the overall feel and handling of the GA645? I am looking at trying a Fuji 645 camera but not sure which variant to get. There are so many versions.
I love this little camera. It's super light and I can't find any negatives about it. When I travel I bring it and the FUJI GSW690 with me. On my last trip to Iceland it rained every day so I had limited use of the GSW because I like to use it 100% on tripod at F16. So I shot most of my photos with the GA645 (handheld). it's basically like an iphone, except it uses film. I usually leave it in Program mode when shooting handheld and at f16 on tripod.
People say you have to pay attention to the focus meter because sometimes it's not accurate, but I've shot over 100 photos with it and never had one out of focus photo. You just have to pay attention in the viewfinder that what you are focusing on is the correct distance.
When I went to Boston about six months ago I took a bike tour across the city which lasted for 3 hours and halfway into it it started to POUR very badly, to the point that all of us were soaking wet as if we had just jumped into a pool. I had my GA645 with me in my backpack with no rain protection.
When I got back to the hotel room my backpack was filled with water and the GA645 wouldn't turn on!
I thought for sure that I ruined it and was out of $500! I opened it and let it air dry for over 24 hours and the next day it turned on as if nothing had happened.
Here are some photos shot with it from Boston (with the roll that got a bath).
rattymouse wrote:
The GA645 is a glorified point-and-shoot camera so if you like manual controls or anything like that, look elsewhere.
It shoots naturally in portrait mode. If you want landscape, you have to rotate the camera 90 degrees. There is a version of the camera called GA645i which has a second shutter button for when you shoot in landscape.
The camera's lens is beautifully sharp, with accurate autofocus. The downside is that it is noisy to focus. The film winder is also noisy.
The camera is ultra light and travels well. The pop up flash is very useful at times.
It's not my primary camera, but I like it very much.
TheHulk wrote:
I love this little camera. It's super light and I can't find any negatives about it. When I travel I bring it and the FUJI GSW690 with me. On my last trip to Iceland it rained every day so I had limited use of the GSW because I like to use it 100% on tripod at F16. So I shot most of my photos with the GA645 (handheld). it's basically like an iphone, except it uses film. I usually leave it in Program mode when shooting handheld and at f16 on tripod.
People say you have to pay attention to the focus meter because sometimes it's not accurate, but I've shot over 100 photos with it and never had one out of focus photo. You just have to pay attention in the viewfinder that what you are focusing on is the correct distance.
When I went to Boston about six months ago I took a bike tour across the city which lasted for 3 hours and halfway into it it started to POUR very badly, to the point that all of us were soaking wet as if we had just jumped into a pool. I had my GA645 with me in my backpack with no rain protection.
When I got back to the hotel room my backpack was filled with water and the GA645 wouldn't turn on!
I thought for sure that I ruined it and was out of $500! I opened it and let it air dry for over 24 hours and the next day it turned on as if nothing had happened.
Here are some photos shot with it from Boston (with the roll that got a bath).
Gary Clennan wrote:
Thanks - appreciate the information. I am also looking at the GS645S which interests me a bit more...
One thing I did not stress about the GA645 is how small it is. I mean, I can put this camera in my jacket pocket if need be and I often do. Or I can hang it over my shoulder all day and forget about it. it is really small for a medium format camera. The lens withdraws into the body when powered down, making it ultra thin. The GS645S can not get anywhere near as small as the lens is always out and exposed.
rattymouse wrote:
One thing I did not stress about the GA645 is how small it is. I mean, I can put this camera in my jacket pocket if need be and I often do. Or I can hang it over my shoulder all day and forget about it. it is really small for a medium format camera. The lens withdraws into the body when powered down, making it ultra thin. The GS645S can not get anywhere near as small as the lens is always out and exposed.
Just an FYI.
I agree 100%. I have too many film cameras now and I thought about selling the GA645 but I simply can't do it, it's just an excellent small camera. What I also like about it is that it takes portrait photos while holding the camera horizontally which is the opposite of every other camera I have so it forces me to use composition differently (see below).
I am going to sell my F100 though simply because it takes me FOREVER to shoot 36 photos. Thinking about getting a 4 x 5 camera (they are so cheap now)....
What I like about the GA645 is that it's the opposite of the GW690, if I want to take my time using a tripod and setting up the shot I use the GW690, if I want to just take a snapshot I use the GA645 (with Portra 160):
This was with Kodak Type 55 film. Simple processing, 18% sodium sulfite solution. Back when I was a scientist, I made time to extract a flea from my dog and throw it in the freezer. Took it to UW and made a few images. This is a high mag of part of a flea "claw".
