Affordable Medium Format Rangefinder? | Fuji GS645S Review

[@StrangerSinTV]

this is the first video for the GS645 family that has made me consider getting one. the quality of your photos for this camera are many levels better than other people on KZbin trying to sell us on this camera.

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks! It really is a great camera if you can live with the few quirks that it has.

[@carlosgrajeda1986]

Shhh! 🤫 Every time someone makes a video about this camera it becomes less affordable! 😁 Super underrated camera. Great photos!

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Carlos!

[@stuartrook2551]

I've had a bout of film GAS during the covid lock downs and bought several (11 !) film cameras. I shot film back in the 1970s and it's nice to buy gear that I couldn't afford back then. Despite having a bag full of Mamiya 645 Pro TL gear and a Yashica 124 G I tend to reach for the Fuji 90% of the time. It's so light, easy to use and, as you said, the lens is very sharp and the built-in meter is extremely accurate. I love the Mamiya 645 but the bag is sooo heavy! If I want to shoot film at the moment it's the Fuji for medium format and my Canon A1 for 35mm.

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Yeah, I'm with you Stuart -- my first medium format camera was actually a Bronica ETRSi. Nice camera but for the size/weight, I'd rather just shoot 6x7.

[@paulkerruems]

Really appreciate this, so many of the videos on these cameras don’t include enough sample images. Nicely paced and not too long!

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Paul, glad you found it helpful.

[@MLeeT21]

I have this camera and agree with everything. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to just go out and shoot without lugging around extra accessories. And I recently took that plate off mine to fix the same issue

[@PhilippHofmann28]

I'm loving to shot 4:3 in portrait mode and really rearly use it in landscape mode so I'm searching for a camera like this which gives me an easy way to shoot 4:3 in portrait mode. I think I have to buy one. You're images where lovely... Like the whole review. Thanks for that

[@TGCid01]

Great review. Love your sample images as well, with the one at 7:45 being my favorite.

[@deadpool6072]

Please keep making videos. This channel is such a gold find! Subbed

[@brentmiller3250]

I really liked your shots. Well done.

[@nathalielima2184]

Appreciate this review! And the photos are so beautiful!

[@randallstewart1224]

Nice summary of the GS645S. I own the other two companions to this camera, but I never had any interest in the GS645S because of its fragility. That's not because I beat on my cameras, but because I rarely came across one that someone else had not damaged to some extent. In my mid-sized city, my office was next to the pro-class photo store (in the early 1990s before they all died), which was my hang-out between crazy clients. I estimate that more than half the GS645S units that came through the store had impaired focus mechanisms because someone left the lens focused out beyond the front of the crash-bar, then gave it a smack. The symptom is a sticky, ratchety, focus action, usually with a bit of grinding noise. That is the focusing threads self-destructing. Hit it hard enough, and you also break the linkage between shutter in the lens and release on the body. If you can find a good one, they are outstanding instruments. Today, even with all the hoopla over electronics packing in, I'd go for a GA645 (same lens; not as small or light, and oddly, not much more expensive). Do not buy a damaged GS645S for cheap with the idea you'll get it fixed; they do not "fix". Do not buy one with damage to the two plugs on the front panel next to the base of the lens. This is evidence that some amateur tried to do a lens/focus repair. (The plugs cover the access screws and are necessarily damaged if someone dives into the body. They were meant to be replaced, not reused.) Read the camera manual: When not in use, remove any lens accessories (filters, hood) and attach nothing other than the Fuji lens cap. Focus the lens back to infinity, placing it behind the protecting bar. Never place the camera face down on the lens, as when loading film.

[@GindahouseC]

Just serviced and repaired mine and decided to randomly watch some reviews while I put everything back together. I'm sure this will get lost but for anyone interested, the follower cam actually does NOT need to be lubricated. What you really need to fix this is a proper service, which means taking off top, bottom and front covers. You'll be able to remove the front (including lens assembly) from the body so you can remove the lens assembly. After this, you have full access to the follower cam and you can take it out and properly clean both the cam and the tube it slides in. Just randomly putting oil in there can eventually clog it up again (as it attracts dirts etc). So yea, as 'fragile' as these things are, it really doesn't help to blindly follow people on the internet. Especially the ones who recommend WD40 are people to not trust ;) Anyways, enjoyed the video. Can't wait to put a roll through mine one I get out of quarantine.

[@AlexanderHernandez-sb7lq]

Did you send it out for repair or did it your self?

[@GindahouseC]

@@AlexanderHernandez-sb7lq I repaired it myself. But I have to proper tools and equipment to calibrate and adjust everything so definitely not something for everyone.

[@benoitdochy8316]

Thanks ! I have since 10 years this camera, and i love it ( but i must use a lot more ...)

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Nice! I guess that's some evidence against the camera breaking so easily.

[@greglusted1718]

Nice photos! And thanks for sharing the fix for the focusing issue - my camera has it too. Apart from that (and the dimness of the rangefinder patch), it's a fantastic camera.

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Greg. It seems to me like the rangefinder can get a bit sticky again when the weather gets cold. But luckily its an easy fix!

[@NguyenTran-ew4vo]

hi Kevin, its so good video. Btw, do you notice that the photo of the tree that you took has the face? 0:25

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Came for the camera, stayed for the pictures, they're awesome!

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Ross! I appreciate it.

[@Raevenswood]

There fuji rangefinders are sweet machines. A while back I was shopping for a 6x7 and I was strongly considering the Fuji GW670 rangefinder but I ended up getting a smoking deal on a Pentax 6x7 MLU which I can't fault at all aside from it being pretty big and heavy. I hadn't even looked at 645 because I haven't shot 645 in a long time but lately I've been wanting something for walking around with a few more frames than 10. I was even thinking of starting to shoot more 35mm again but after reading a few articles and seeing your video review I think I'll be picking up a GS645 to serve that purpose. I hadn't realized how relatively inexpensive these are compared to other cameras in the same class.

[@iangilbert6518]

great review but i came to say i loved your sample images from a photography standpoint some great shots!

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Ian!

[@marnikovic]

Great video mate. Good information.

[@marnikovic]

Just subbed, looking forward for future content.

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Mark! Glad to hear it was helpful.

[@martiningram8799]

Hey Kevin, great video, thanks! I have one of these and was a bit down on it, mostly because I find the viewfinder to be a bit dim and distorted. Your great results motivate me to give it another go. Went out the other day and quite enjoyed it. So thank you for the motivation! :)

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Glad to hear it! Did you try putting a little piece of tape in the middle of the rangefinder window?

[@martiningram8799]

@@KevinMcGurganYT I have not tried that! Have you found that helps with the rangefinder patch?

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Mine is actually pretty bright. But I’ve often read it can help with dim ones.

[@josephoxandale]

I don't think I would choose this camera but I do love the guy's photographs.

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Joseph!

[@freddieboreham3499]

Your images are so satisfying and your colours are gorgeous! Do you scan negatives yourself (and if so, details please!!) or are they done at a lab?

[@jensstobe7510]

great shots!

[@ascetue]

helpful video, thanks mate

[@RobMoses]

Looks like a pretty cool camera. You got nice pictures with it.

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Thanks Rob!

[@amirboydmov]

awesome video!

[@Saksikoipi]

It's a real plastic fantastic. Doesn't feel like a quality camera at all, but the results speak for themselves. I paid about $400 a couple of years ago, now they're going for about triple the price after a professional checkup. Mine has the rangefinder issue as well, but as I mostly shoot landscapes it hasn't been too much of a problem.

[@SamCyanide]

I got a 645W for $350 in mint condition in Japan and shot a bunch of velvia on it

[@eatenbyopium]

is this zone focus or does it have a rangefinder patch?

[@ferdamusonthebeatz7891]

Hey do you still have this camera ? If so how’s it been so far ?

[@johnharrison8045]

What Rolls do you recommend using with Fuji GS645S?

[@plestj]

Looks like a nice easy to use medium format camera. Not cheap though. I found a few samples on eBay for between $550 and $750.

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Yeah it could probably only be considered “cheap” in the context of rising film camera prices!

[@Raevenswood]

thats actually cheap but more expensive than normal because of todays inflated market. Some of the other Fuji rangefinders are taking more than 1000$ up to 2000$ on ebay lately. to get one of these for around 600$ I think it worth it especially in the context of other rangefinders like the Mamiya 6 or 7 that cost around 4000$ right now.

[@johns1139]

Yours is in great condition

[@AlexanderHernandez-sb7lq]

Hi, can I get a link to the rangefinder fix?

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Sure, here you go: www.photo.net/discuss/threads/slow-rangefinder-on-gs645s.298892/ Good luck!

[@AlexanderHernandez-sb7lq]

@@KevinMcGurganYT thank you

[@lauuura007]

For me, the best Medium Format Rangefinder is the Iskra. 6x6, but man, what a camera, and costs ruffly 150 Dollars

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

Interesting, thanks for the recommendation!

[@geofff6671]

Ok, so it has been two years. Is it still working?

[@randallstewart175]

I do not get why reviewers always say that the portrait orientation of the image frame and viewfinder is "unusual". I know of any number of rangefinder 645 cameras, most from the 1930-50s, and they are ALL vertical format. It's the 645 SLR cameras which run the film through vertically which show a landscape format. The fragility of the GS645 poly-carbonate

[@randallstewart175]

(cont.) is based on its focus threads, which are poly-carbonate (Plastic). Any hit on the lens from the front or side can break some of those threads and ruin the camera. DIY repair efforts are indicated if the two plastic plugs in a front of the body next to the lens are damaged, as they cover disassembly screws. When storing the camera, focus to infinity and remove any filters or hood which would extend beyond the protection of the crash-bar. If you see any of these indicators when considering a GS645S, drop it and move on. There are no parts for any repair. If you put the camera face down on something to change film, make sure its resting on the bar, not the lens. I'm a big fan of the Fuji 645 cameras, I own a GS645 (folder) and GS645W (28mm eqiv wide angle), as well as a GA645Zi (point-n-shoot). I'd never consider a GS645S for myself.

[@rickylee1894]

Perhaps the camera was intended to be used mainly as a portrait camera.

[@randallstewart175]

@@rickylee1894 Nope. The 60mm lens has the perspective of a 35mm lens on a 35mm format camera. That's much to wide to avoid facial distortion for a "head and shoulders". It's target usage was for travelling. It's use and purpose is very much like the numerous 35mm, fixed lens compact rangefinders of the 1970s adding the benefit of the larger format.

[@cristian82h]

Easy to setup. A little difficult to get used to using.

[@mcdo0gal1985]

still have it? Interested in selling?

[@_brushie]

Damn that shutter sounds like a nail gun.

[@pest5373]

Damn what a long name for it

[@LILSLUGBUG92]

Does anyone else see the face in the tree @ 0:24 😳

[@ElReySupr3me]

Shutter sounds like a gun

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

😂 I've heard it described as sound like a mousetrap too...

[@s_t_r_a_y_e_d]

*literally larger than both his hands* "Compact and lightweight" bruh

[@aredesuyo]

WD-40?? OMFG

[@KevinMcGurganYT]

😆 I didn't use WD-40 for the record!

[@AlexanderHernandez-sb7lq]

@@KevinMcGurganYT what's you use?

[@olaf_industries]

Cheap.. 500-900€

[@Narsuitus]

I shoot with 35mm, 6x6cm, 6x7cm, 6x9cm, and 6x12cm cameras. My 35mm, 6x7cm, and 6x9cm cameras are rangefinders. Sorry, but I have never felt the need for a 6x4.5 cm rangefinder camera.