Fujifilm GA-645i Medium Format

Fujifilm GA-645i Medium Format 

DESCRIPTION

World's first 6 x 4.5cm fully automatic autofocus medium format camera, provides almost three times the picture area of a full-size 35mm camera with its Super EBC Fujinon 60mm f/4 lens. Now incorporates the innovative BCS technology, which utilizes a sensor in the camera body to read bar code information on the film leader for automated camera settings.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 10  
[May 31, 2003]
hughie
Expert

Strength:

Perfect focus everytime. Razor sharp, even at f/4, all the way open. No red eye ever because of proper built in flash placement. Prints date and exposure data on the negative out of the picture frame! Built in flash covers perfectly entire frame with no dimming at corners, truely professional.

Weakness:

No backs, no interchangable lenses. Matching separate flash does not work "automatically" with camera. Very annoying and hard to understand.

Point and shoot medium format. That's what this is. If that's what you're looking for this is the best. It is not an SLR. Just one lens, not interchangable. I've seen a lot of 35mm photography and there is no 35mm camera in the world that can even come close to this medium format beauty. Yet it's priced like 35mm. Super super sharp. Is this lens as contrasty as a zeiss lens? Hmm...maybe, maybe not but every bit as sharp. I am spoiled, bouncing back from my Rollei 35mm with zeiss optics and this camera. Zeiss does what few other lenses can but still my 35mm images are not in the same league as these 645 negatives. Took to Disney and my pictures could be in their brochure. With no credit on my part, I just left the camera on auto.

Customer Service

none needed so far knock on wood

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Rollei

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Oct 22, 2002]
BRUNO CATALUCCI
Expert

Strength:

intuitive use, SHARPNESS!, lightness, bright and big viewfinder, useful 60 mm focal lenght, relatively inexpensive

Weakness:

Shutter a little on the noisy side, little rangefinder area, a bit too plastic, meter not always precise

Took up an used one (older mechanical model) two weeks ago,and shoot two rolls of Portra and one Velvia. Very high resolution and beautiful color rendition, astonishing results!Can't wait longer to take some B&W ROLLS!! Sharp as my ROLLEIFLEX 3,5 F !(but lighter and faster to use). Very light and ideal travel camera. The lack of vibration of the leaf shutter and the lack of mirror vibraton make for very good sharpness also with handheld shots at 1/30th.

Similar Products Used:

ROLLEIFLEX 3,5 F KONICA HEXAR

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 17, 2002]
Steve
Expert

Strength:

Lens quality, exposure quality

Weakness:

None.

This is a great camera! I've also used Hasselblad and Leica gears, so I expect a lot. The pictures with the Fujica can hold their own with the Hasselblad - and that's saying a lot! Leica lenses still beat them all, but 35mm negative can't compete with medium format when blown up to say 20x24. So there you have it.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad, Leica

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 22, 2001]
Zemlinsky
Casual

Strength:

Lens! Very light weight. Automatic. Easy to use.

Weakness:

Noisy. No rangefinder.

I borrowed this from my uncle. I think that the lens is great even at f/4.0. And very easy to use and handle.

Similar Products Used:

2 Seagull, Minolta Autocord, Voigtlander Superb.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 01, 2000]
Benjamin Yap
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: GA-645i 6x4.5 Medium Format Camera

Strength:

Looks like a toy!
Feels like a toy!
The pictures are...
O BOY!!

Weakness:

It's just me but every now and then I forget to take the lens cap off.

Excellent entry level MF.
Highly recommended.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 29, 2000]
Peter McArthur
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: GA-645i 6x4.5 Medium Format Camera

Strength:

Size
Optics
Convenience

Weakness:

Noisy

I bought the camera used and so far it has not let me down. It's great to have a medium format camera that is so portable. The optics are very good and the auto focus works well. The one thing that bugs me is the noise the the focus and drive makes, discreet it isn't !

Customer Service

Slow !!!!

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya C330

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 23, 2000]
Ed Oliver
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: GA-645i 6x4.5 Medium Format Camera

Strength:

Lens is first class. Ergonomic design means it fits naturally in hand. No bigger than F5 and far superior image quality.

Weakness:

Lens hood fiddly. Wife thinks it looks like a toy!

It is absolutely brilliant. The image quality is second to none (and that includes Hassleblad) and it is quick and easy to use.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

no competition

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 21, 2000]
Karl Siebrecht
Professional
Model Reviewed: GA-645i 6x4.5 Medium Format Camera

Strength:

Easy/fast to use
Great lens
Simple enough to "hand off" to others
lens retracts in to body for compactness
Viewfinder display is very comprehensive

Weakness:

Rangefinder not SLR
Winder is a little loud
Can't change lens (but it is a great lens)

This is basically a very high quality 'point and shoot' camera that has winder and strobe built in.
Some would rather have an manual medium format but you can't argue that this camera takes great photos!
I use this not only for business, I will often take it along on vacation for some of the best quality snapshots ever.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

GA 645W
Mamiya 645J

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 11, 2000]
Bart
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: GA-645i 6x4.5 Medium Format Camera

Strength:

Great lens, easy handling, good meter, silent operation

Weakness:

non-interchanhgable lens

Easy MF for travel, weddings, landscapes

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Oct 12, 2000]
I Kuusisto
Expert

Strength:

* Superb lens
* Date and exposure info on negs (outside th picture area)
* Distance info in finder. Very useful for an AF rangefinder.
* Compact size
* Bult in flash is good to have as a spare. Not to be used except in emergency (small power, but when you need it, it is good to have it).
* Reasonable price for a top quality 645.

Weakness:

* Somewhat slow AF. Makes it difficult to get pictures at 'decisive moment'. Even the manual recommends using focus lock in situations like that, but that is not always possible.
* manual distance setting in steps, which makes hyperfocal focusing difficult. You can set the distance to 3 m or 5 m or 10 m, but not in between. It turns out that 5 m is the hyperfocal distance for f/16 (giving everything from 2.5 m to infinity sharp)and 10 m for f/8 (5 m to infinity). But you are out of luck if you want to use f/11 or f/5.6, for example. It should be an easy matter in an auto everything camera to have a button or set of buttons that automatically set the camera to correct hyperfocal distance based on pre-selected aperture.
* No double exposure possibility. Admittedly not often needed, but would add to creative possibilities.
* Focusing makes quite a noise. Unlike some others, I don't find the film winding too noisy, though.

* Very good landscape and travel camera.
* Compact camera for serious photographers. (If you want to take pictures, why not take good ones at the same time).
* Lens has adequate speed. F/4 beats the Zoom version's f/7 (at 90mm) hands down. That's almost a two stop difference. My advice is to buy this fixed lens alternative, deciding on wide (60 mm) or ultrawide (45 mm) and then take a step or two closer instead of zooming to 90 mm...

Customer Service

I have heard bad about them but only once used Fuji's Ginza service center in Japan to buy a lens hood and replace a lost lens cap.
They were friendly and efficient.

Similar Products Used:

Several 6x6 SLR's and TLR's

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 10  

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