My New Medium Format Rangefinder // The Fuji GS645s Wide

[@randallstewart175]

Tip for glasses wearers. Fuji never sold diopter eyepieces for the GS series of 645 cameras. However, they did thread the viewfinder to accept one. You can screw in any diopter eyepiece built to fit the Nikon camera series FM/FE and several of the AF models like the 8008. Common as dirt on Ebay and not too expensive. For myself, I install a Diopter "0", to remove the built-in eyepiece bias, then wear my normal glasses to adjust my eyesight.

[@aristoioannidis7490]

Hey Zach. I am excited for you too my man. Great shooting and may your GS645 give you endless outstanding images.

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Thank you! I’m certainly enjoying it. It’s an amazing camera. Especially, for the price.

[@randallstewart175]

The GS645S is probably more commonly available than the other GS versions, as Fuji probably sold 4x as many of them as the earlier GS645 folder, and the GS645W probably sold fewer than the folder. Note that these were very expensive cameras when new and Fuji never made a huge marketing effort to sell them (or anything else). Therefore, not too hard to find one, but the extremely fragile lens mount means that a large percentage of them have been damaged beyond repair and discarded, or worse, are lying around on ebay waiting to hook the next victim. I've seen so many GS645S with damaged lens mounts that I would not buy one off ebay at any price. I'd only buy one from an established dealer (Midwestern, KEH, Adorama, B&H) with right of return or from a private party where I could personally check it out before money changed hands. .Tip for safe use: When using, put no filter or other accessory on the lens and set focus to infinity when not in immediate use. Otherwise, screw a soft rubber lens shade into the lens; it will absorb those light bangs which can break the lens mount. When finished, remove everything from the lens except a lens cap, and set the focus to infinity, which withdraws the lens behind its protective crash bar.

[@waynesimon2963]

Sweet purchase Zach. Fuji has some great glass. Definitely does not have the RB67 shutter sound :) Looking forward to some B&W images as well. Thanks for the video and information on your new purchase Zach. Enjoy....

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Thank you Wayne. I’m certainly enjoying the camera.

[@JayGrapherTh]

awesome pictures, really want this camera to be the first medium format film camera to get

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Thanks. It’s a great camera. However, they are a bit fragile. I managed to break the inside mechanics of the film advance just from every day use. I do tend to be a bit rough on my gear though.

[@JayGrapherTh]

@@ZachParksPhoto thank you , ill be sure to check the quality of the camera before buying it when the time comes :)

[@EdmundKBoateng]

Have never owned one but I borrowed that of a friend few months ago and it was fun shooting it. Didn’t really get any good photos but the camera was fun to shoot!

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I’ve really been enjoying it. Looking forward to using it more.

[@EdmundKBoateng]

Zach Parks enjoy and keep them videos coming!

[@ZachParksPhoto]

TheFilmDigit much appreciated, my man. 🙏🏻

[@brettwood737]

Nice one Zach, you seem to love this camera. Some really nice shots on this roll too. Keep them coming.

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Thanks Brett. I’m definitely enjoying it. Haha

[@ChristopherVisser]

Watching this made me miss it, haha. But I am glad that it went to a good home! When I bought it, there wasn’t a ton of info out there. Glad you have made the video I would have wanted to see beforehand! Also, this camera went with me my trip to Japan last year. Shot 7 rolls. It was great to have that medium format quality in a small package that travelled so well.

[@ZachParksPhoto]

That’s so rad man. I’m really loving it. It really is just a great camera to carry around. I’m looking forward to making plenty of images with it. Thanks again for the sweet deal.

[@Dylanwade_]

Curious as to if you still have this bad boy and how its held up after a year+ if you do. Thanks!

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Unfortunately, I do not. I managed to break it shortly after getting it. Really great camera, but they are quite fragile

[@FabrizioZago]

I like these Fuji cameras a lot, I have the GA645 and it's great fun to use. Nice first results!

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I’m really enjoying it. It’s nice to finally have a medium format rangefinder that didn’t break the bank. Haha

[@patcormick]

nice shots again man, looks like a super crisp shooter you got there

[@81springbrook96]

i have the GA645zi but after watching your video I kinda wanna try this one too

[@ZachParksPhoto]

It’s a great camera. Never tried the GA645 models, but I love my GS.

[@randallstewart175]

Over the years, I've acquired the GS645 (the folder), GS645W, and a GA645Zi. The GA645Zi is a distinctly different brand of cat, far more complex, but also offering far more functions and automation. There is a well done, pixel peeping YT video comparing the Zi lens performance with the GS645S. Although conventional logic would indicate otherwise, at similar focal lengths, the zoom lens on the Zi is clearly sharper than the fixed 60mm on the GS645S. Not by too much, but it's there. These Fuji medium format lenses are hugely under-rated.

[@issiport5978]

hey Zach! so good to hear u ALSO have an RB like me. im tossing up between the GS645 or the GS645S. i prefer an 'normal' lens and not so much wide angle. BUT the 645S is cheaper, and i prefer without bellows. how does the 60mm lens go with portraits? I plan on using it in the streets for fast shooting, but if i did street portraits.... i would usually want something not so wide. let me know! cheers!!

[@rumblerodz13]

Clean shots Zach! Looking like you found your new favorite camera.. Nice👌

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Thank you! I’m definitely enjoying it.

[@mezayrapetyan131]

Really considering getting this camera. I had a mamiya 6 previously, but didn’t really enjoy the 6x6 format and didn’t use it enough given the expense. I think this is a much more reasonable medium format rangefinder. Will be on the lookout for a good one at a good price for sure. Thanks for the video.

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I can feel that. I had a Rolleiflex years back and just couldn’t click with the 6x6 format. I did take a Yashica Mat 124g for a spin recently and really enjoyed shooting the 6x6. However, I don’t think you can go wrong with this camera. I’ve really enjoyed the results I’ve gotten from it.

[@mezayrapetyan131]

Zach Parks I recently bought a Yashica mat 124g. It needs a bit of restoration, but just finished my first roll. Looking forward to the results. The lens has a bit of balsam separation, so I’m interested to see how good the image quality will be.

[@loganlomeli1146]

I love mine and it pairs well with my fujica 6x9 but awesome job!

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Thank you. I’d love to get my hands into the 6x9 at some point.

[@loganlomeli1146]

Getting it repaired. But I'd love to see you review it for sure.

[@fresnoz]

Looks like a fun one for sure, especially for it’s going price

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Very hard to beat for the price.

[@andykiss6690]

Hi, thanks for making this video. Many of your sample photos look a bit overexposed on my monitor (which I think is calibrated properly), so my question is about the accuracy of the light meter. Since you didn't comment negatively on it I guess you found it accurate. Obviously this is subjective, but I wanted to get your thoughts on it. Thanks.

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I found the meter to be very accurate. If I recall correctly, I was leaning on a bit of over exposure for these shots. Exposure is more of a preference really anyway. I shot plenty of slide film through this camera using only the meter with very accurate results.

[@andykiss6690]

@@ZachParksPhoto OK cool, thanks.

[@sdhute]

Interesting not all of the gs645w have that metal brush guard in front of the lens. So some not need it ?

[@randallstewart1224]

When Fuji designed the three GS645 variations, it was experimenting with use of polycarbon materials to replace brass panels and parts to reduce weight. The external body panelsof all three cameras use this material, making them quite light for their size and purpose. The GS645 (the folder) uses a focusing system completely different that the other two versions. For some unknown (?) reason, Fuji used polycarbon parts in the focusing helicoil on the GS645S, and possibly also in the linkage between shutter release on the body and leaf shutter in the lens. Even before the GS645S launched sales, Fuji determined that these plastic mechanical parts were vulnerable to breakage if the lens was hit from the front or side, so instead of replacing them with parts made of traditional materials, Fuji added the crash bar to protect the lens. The problem is that the bar only protects the lens if it is focused to infinity and has nothing except a lens cap mount on its front. A lot of folks were used to putting the camera face down on a table to reload film, without focusing the lens back to infinity, causing a lot of breakage. Probably recognizing a serious design error, when Fuji launched the GS645W a year or so later, they used normal lens mount materials, so that version does not have those vulnerabilities and does not need a crash bar.

[@sdhute]

@@randallstewart1224thanks

[@theundefinedphotographer]

That camera looks pristine. I was looking into the 645 as well, but I ended up getting the 6x9, but in general I really enjoy the fuji rangefinders

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I’ve never tried the 6x9, but you’re right about that. Fuji makes some amazing rangefinders.

[@smallbirdsongs]

This is a very helpful review, thank you truly! One question, if you don't mind: do the self-timer and T switch work together, so that one can take long exposures without shaking the camera? Many thanks!

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Thank you. Unfortunately, I don’t think so. You have to trip the shutter with the T button and close it with the shutter button. Or vice versa. Sadly, I broke the camera, so I never got to try this out myself.

[@bernardlim8418]

What happened? How did it break?

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Apparently the film advance is fairly fragile. I somehow managed to screw it up. The film wasn’t advancing properly and the camera wasn’t registering the film being on it.

[@randallstewart175]

No, the T (Time) shutter release operates independent of the normal shutter release, which is tied to the self-timer. Likewise, you cannot trigger the T mode with a cable release. My Recommendation: You are using the T mode in low light with extended exposure times. Hold a card or the like in front of the lens, trigger T, remove the card to time out your exposure, return the card to the lens to stop the exposure, then operate the film advance to release to close the shutter. Out in the boonies taking landscapes with view camera, I've done this many times, using my hat instead of a card.

[@Paramocinema]

Love the video, love the photos. I got the same camera I always take it to multi day hiking and biking adventures. 👌🏼

[@ZachParksPhoto]

That sounds awesome. It’s definitely a camera that’s easy to take along on adventures.

[@geofff6671]

Curious to know if this is still working?

[@seijitakahashi89]

Hey! I have a FUJI GS645W (slightly different camera) but I'm having problems with the film counter. The counter is stuck at frame 11 and I can't reset to S either. Do you have any thoughts/tips on how I could get past this?

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I hate to hear that. I really wish I had some advice. Unfortunately, I do not though.

[@randallstewart175]

Go on line and check out Camera Wiz in Virginia. Their main repairman has vast experience with the Fuji GS models. Your problem is not unknown for the GS cameras. They should be able to repair it without much trouble. It's probably in the range of a DIY if you are so inclined, but I personally would pay and let them do it.

[@davidrothschild8913]

Curious how you feel about the camera now after some more time using. Thinking of picking one up

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I loved it while I had it. Unfortunately, it broke. They are more fragile than cameras I’m used to. I couldn’t afford to fix it at the time, so I sold it to someone who could. I would love to my hands on another.

[@davidrothschild8913]

Zach Parks yeah I loved how light it felt but lens fragility concerned me because I shoot in bad weather a lot

[@ZachParksPhoto]

The lens wasn’t the problem with mine. It was the film advance mechanism. It just stopped working accurately, and the camera would recognize the film being in it. It was weird. Sucks because it really is such an enjoyable camera to shoot

[@iqbalpribadi4112]

hi. did you struggle to see through range finder patch?

[@ZachParksPhoto]

It hasn’t been an issue for me at all.

[@JamieMPhoto]

The GAS is real, haha. I've wanted a rangefinder and got a bit tired of having to reload the Mamiya 7 so much years ago, but 645 is a nice compromise between negative size and having more frames.

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Haha. Yeah. I would love to have a 7, but I feel like I would burn through rolls so fast. 15 shots is a very nice trade off. I’ve printed my 645 shots before up to 16x20 with great results.

[@JamieMPhoto]

@@ZachParksPhoto Awesome. Yeah, I wound up needing to sell it, but 10 shots at a time got frustrating for sure. It's a faster camera so it's not like an RZ or Hasselblad where you are used to going through a lot of steps so you don't really notice that it takes longer to reload. 645 still looks extra nice in the digital age, too.

[@AlanExtinct]

This camera is in a real goood condition 🔥

[@ZachParksPhoto]

Yes. It. Is. Haha. Chris takes very good care of his cameras.

[@LosPeregrinos51]

Not surprised you broke the winder - you were being kinda rough with it! I've had mine 25 years and never had a problem. Groundhog tip: stand with the sun on your shoulder and you won't photograph your own shadow!

[@kylewood8327]

Personally I’m not a fan of the orientation sequence, unless you shoot a ton of portraits. And that front metal bumper thingy is also weird and plan ugly. Now those are definitely just minor issues for me that might steer me clear but other than that it looks like a great addition to your camera collection.

[@randallstewart1224]

FYI the 645 format originated in the 1930s. The great majority of 6455 cameras over the years shot the format in portrait orientation. That is because they move the film roll horizontally. To get a normal, horizontal 645 format, the film has to move vertically, which is only found on the 645 SLR cameras like Mamiya 645 or Bronica Etrs models. In terns of total numbers made over the years, those SLR models are relatively recent inventions, and the distinct minority. As for the crash bar surrounding the lens, on the GS645S it is a necessary evil. Without it, there wouldn't be a single camera working today.

[@Ineedahandle75]

Have you had any issues with it?

[@ZachParksPhoto]

I actually managed to break film film advance / frame counter. That was my fault though. I can be a bit rough on my gear. I will say it’s not as sturdy as other cameras I own.

[@mkphotonet]

Why do you call this Fuji GS645s "Wide"?

[@ZachParksPhoto]

There are a few different models. This happens to be the “wide” model with a 60mm f4 lens. I think the standard GS645s has a 75mm.

[@randallstewart175]

Because "Wide" is printed on the front of the camera. This leads to some confusion, as the GS645W has a much wider lens focal length. (45mm)