Help me find a ga645i. [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

ls7corvete

10-02-2008, 11:29

I currently have a mamiya 7, which is awsome, but I am interested in getting something smaller/cheaper/more point and shoot. I plan on going to St. Kitts in January for school and can use the extra money and ease of use. I am optimistic that there will be plenty to photograph on the island.

I have been watching ebay but there seems to be much less posted recently than anticipated. A few weeks ago there seemed to be a nice selection, now there is almost none. I have been watching photo.net, KEH, ebay, rff classifieds, etc.

Thanks for the help in advance!

Abbazz

10-02-2008, 17:56

I have been watching ebay but there seems to be much less posted recently than anticipated. A few weeks ago there seemed to be a nice selection, now there is almost none. I have been watching photo.net, KEH, ebay, rff classifieds, etc.

There is one on Keh.com: http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=FM04999037175N&brandcategoryname=Medium%20Format&Mode=searchproducts&item=0&ActivateTOC2=false&ID=&BC=FM&BCC=5&CC=&CCC=&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=&KW= (http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=FM04999037175N&brandcategoryname=Medium%20Format&Mode=searchproducts&item=0&ActivateTOC2=false&ID=&BC=FM&BCC=5&CC=&CCC=&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=&KW=)

Out of curiosity, why didn't you opt for the GA645zi? I find the -- admittedly rather limited -- zoom quite useful. It goes a little wider than the fixed focal of the GA645i and zooms up to 90mm for portraits or architectural details. Image quality is superb throughout the zoom range. The limited aperture isn't much of a problem with Fuji Pro 800z film. The zoom lens at 55mm is only half a stop slower than the GA645i -- or the Mamiya 7 lenses -- anyway. There a few available GA645zi from Keh.com at $525 right now...

Cheers!

Abbazz

aizan

10-02-2008, 20:42

what's the viewfinder like on the ga645zi? that would be my main concern.

Abbazz

10-03-2008, 01:57

what's the viewfinder like on the ga645zi? that would be my main concern.

Basically, it is a zooming inverted Galilean type, like on most compact zoom cameras. It is bigger and brighter than the average point & shoot viewfinder though. Framing is accurate thanks to a moving frame that adjusts according to subject distance. There is no hard to see focusing patch for obvious reasons. Aperture and shutter speed are displayed next to the image in the viewfinder. Of course, the finder is vertically oriented as the Fuji, like most 4.5x6 cameras, shoots in "portrait" mode.

Cheers!

Abbazz

williams473

10-03-2008, 05:20

Yeah I would go KEH if I were you - In fact I just bought a 645i in LN condition and man am I satisfied. On Ebay, by the time the bidding is over you aren't going to save much money, and you won't have the KEH return policy and peace of mind that the camera has been thoroughly inspected. And their service is great - when the camera arrived it was missing the diopter for the eyepiece. I called them up and they apologized and are sending one out right away - I always get good service from them.

ls7corvete

10-03-2008, 06:28

I was hoping to pick one up on ebay or similar a bit cheaper than KEH, that may not happen though.

I was not looking at the zi as they are a bit more pricey, the price difference on keh for the zi does not seem that big so If I do buy one there I may go with the zi.

aizan

10-03-2008, 08:11

gh. Framing is accurate thanks to a moving frame that adjusts according to subject distance.

are the framelines reflected or illuminated?

Abbazz

10-03-2008, 15:42

are the framelines reflected or illuminated?

The framelines are illuminated. All the items displayed in the viewfinder (aperture, speed, AF distance, IL correction, framelines, etc.) are reflected off an illuminated LCD display through a semi-transparent mirror.

You can find the user manual here: http://66.49.230.119/prof_pdf/fuji_ga645zi.pdf

The viewfinder layout is on figure 28, page 8.

Cheers!

Abbazz

Ben Blacket

10-13-2008, 21:57

Corvete, any luck finding a camera? If so, which one did you go for?
I'm also looking for a GA645/i for the fixed lens.
Was planning on buying from KEH, but postage to Oz has increased to $100.
Anyone here selling one?

williams473

10-14-2008, 04:00

Ben,

I am considering selling one I just purchased from KEH in LN condition, but I'm still undecided. I am trying to raise $1000 for a trip I'm making this winter to shoot a project, and I ironically may have to sell the camera I bought for the project to fund the freakin' hotel and gas expenses! May have to shoot the whole thing on my old Maimya C220. Anyway, like I said I'm still waiting to see if I can raise the money another way rather than sell my new 645i, but file my email address away and if you haven't found one in a month, float me an email and maybe I'll have a better idea at that point.

Matt

Ben Blacket

10-14-2008, 04:24

Thanks Matt, much appreciated. I'll let you know how I go. Good luck with your project!

ls7corvete

10-16-2008, 13:22

No luck yet, I have been watching ebay and I always have KEH if I dont find one I like. I have been watching the zi version alot more, plenty of them on ebay.

Tuolumne

10-16-2008, 18:05

I'll second the recommendation of the zi. Mine is great, but I don't like the portrait orientation of the view finder. But, that's life with 645 format.

/T

aizan

10-16-2008, 20:44

all this talk about the ga645zi, and today i see a picture of karl lagerfeld in W holding one with his leather gloved hands.

Debusti Paolo

10-17-2008, 09:00

May I suggest you a Bronica rf645??? the viewfinder is simply great (I think better than my m6 titan) is poketable,great 3 set lenses, and a small but powerfull flash. The 3 lenses I've got (100mm included) are razor sharp and with a pleasant bokeh (out of focus areas). Now prices of MF RF are dropped....rgrds

sooner

10-17-2008, 12:36

Debusti, I just got a Bronica RF645 and agree it's a beautiful camera. But I wouldn't say it's pocketable. It's quite large, in fact, and very heavy--certainly heavier than the Fuji Zi, which I also own. Neither camera is pocketable, though the zi is less deep so it is more pocketable. I second the recommendations on the zi, great camera.

Ben Blacket

10-18-2008, 01:20

I found one - a GA645i at mainline photo.com here in Oz.
One problem though - when changing aperture & shutter speed by turning the control dial, the values displayed on the lcd can flicker & jump around, skipping from, say, f4 to f22. With patiece, I can eventually select my desired shutter speed/aperture. Once I take my finger off the dial, the problem stops.
Has anyone experienced this?
No, I don't want to use aperture priority or program modes.
By the way, the focussing is no worse or louder than a Hasselblad H2!

gohaj

10-18-2008, 21:12

does ga645i has wider lens than gs645s?

Ben Blacket

10-18-2008, 22:31

ga645/i & gs645s share the same 60mm lens.

Doug

10-19-2008, 09:20

does ga645i has wider lens than gs645s?As Ben said, both have 60mm f4, but there are wide versions of both GS and GA as well. The GA645Wi has a 45mm f4 and is otherwise the same camera as the 60mm model. The GS645 wide has a 45mm f5.6 and no rangefinder... scale focus only, but is in demand for its small size and light weight.

ls7corvete

10-21-2008, 18:07

Ben Blacket

10-22-2008, 01:25

Dan has taken the time to compile this table which helps when comparing the variuos Fuji 645's:
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fujirf.htm

ls7corvete

10-28-2008, 17:12

I ended up winning a ga645, 210$ after applying an ebay coupon. Hopping everything works well when it arrives!

I will have to live without zoom, printing on film and auto film speed settings.

williams473

10-29-2008, 04:41

Congrats - well let us know how you like it!

ls7corvete

11-05-2008, 08:38

I have the camera. Havent put any film through it yet so no comments currently. My only concern is that the noise while it is focusing seems excessive. Anyone have one and can comment on how loud it should be?

williams473

11-05-2008, 10:05

It's certainly not silent by any means. It won't seem as loud when you are using the camera outdoors. I sorta like to hear it adjusting because since it's a rangefinder, that's your only immediate clue that it is refocusing on what you're pointing at, aside from the digital readout. I wouldn't worry about it unless it sounds as if something is grinding. The "whir" of the focus is normal. Enjoy the camera.

djonesii

11-07-2008, 04:36

Dear all;

Here is one from my GA645, scanned with a cheapo epson 4490

http://www.jonesii.net/2008%2010%2033%20Boys%20Web/images/kodak_160_170.jpg

Most of the photos in this set were taken with the GA645, all the B&W were with the contax G1

Of course, looking at the image again, I think I could have done a better job on the crop, the lamp is distracting!

http://www.jonesii.net/2008%2010%2033%20Boys%20Web/index.html
Please feel free to have a look.

Dave

gohaj

11-08-2008, 18:53

can ga645 control the shutter speed and aperture?
is ga645 consider a RF or SLR (basically, question also mean if there is a mirror slam or not)?

djonesii

11-09-2008, 08:24

gohaj;

The GZ645 has A P and M modes. In m, you control it all, in p, it controls it all, and in A, you set aperture , and the camera sets the shutter speed.

The camera is a rangefinder. There is no mirror. That means, you can see though the view finder with the lens cap on! ( cough, got a whole roll of film that way once )

What is is not is a rangefinder with a focusing patch ala Leica. It is autofocus, or focus by distance in a fly by wire method, not a move the lens ring method.

I just shot a few rolls in a studio setting, as soon as I get them images back and scanned, I will post.

Dave

Doug

11-09-2008, 16:25

I will have to live without zoom, printing on film and auto film speed settings.Too bad about living without zoom! (not so hard) ;)

But you CAN set the film speed manually. It's done with the mode selector on the back plus the jog dial. And you need to do the manual setting for each roll loaded even if you want to use the same speed as the previous roll.:(

So I set the film speed manually each time I load the camera, as I always want color neg film set 2/3 stop lower than box speed. Good luck and enjoy!

Abbazz

11-09-2008, 19:05

The camera is a rangefinder. There is no mirror. That means, you can see though the view finder with the lens cap on! ( cough, got a whole roll of film that way once )

On my GA645zi, there is an alarm (light or buzzer) when I try to shoot with the lens cap on. I love this feature and I thought it was also available on the GA645.

Cheers!

Abbazz

djonesii

11-10-2008, 04:18

Abbazz;

I have the manual, I'll give it a read, but when I shot the roll, I was newer to the camera, I'm about 20 rolls on now, and I have not done that again. The camera could have been sending me a signal that I missed! On my version, the lens cap is screw-on, on the ZI is it pinch on or screw mount? Maybe that is a change in feature??

Dave

williams473

11-10-2008, 04:24

On my 645i I just leave the lens cap off all the time, so as to avoid making that mistake. Assuming you have a filter of some kind on there, you're not risking damaging the lens, and if you have the rubber lens hood, there's even more up there to keep things from being damaged. That way, you never have to remember to take the cap off, and you don't risk losing a shot.

And by the way, that lens hoos is great - get one if you don't have one. Apart from serving the function lens hoods always serve, it makes an excellent "foot" to set the camera on when loading film. Much easier than trying to do it with camera in hand. Just a suggestion.

djonesii

11-13-2008, 04:27

As near as I can tell from the manual, on the GA645, there is no alarm for lens cap on.

Good ol' K E H has a hood/cap, and next time I buy something, I will be getting them. Thanks for the good idea.

I just used this camera in a studio setting with both Kodak Portra 400 BW C41 and some Fuji NPC (S?) 160, and have the rolls at the lab, more details to follow!

Dave

ls7corvete

11-16-2008, 00:09

Thanks for all the input, you guys make me embarrassed to say that I have not put any rolls of film through this camera yet. I will have to use my friends as test subjects soon. I do enjoy portraits and I can use my cheap film+developer on them, save the good film for when i go off to school.