Fujifilm has a storied history with film cameras, having created some bodies that are still beloved by photographers even to this day. This great review takes a look at one of the most unique of those cameras: the GA645.
Coming to you from Negative Feedback, this interesting video takes a look at the Fujifilm GA645. The GA645 is an interesting entry in the history of cameras, as it's a point and shoot medium format. Fujifilm created some excellent medium format film cameras with super-sharp lenses (good luck prying my GW690 III out of my hands), and the GA645 continued that tradition. It had a flurry of excellent features to make shooting more automated, including a built-in light meter, data printing outside the frame, and more. What makes it particularly strange, however, is that in standard orientation, it shoots in portrait format. While that's surely rather jarring and counterintuitive at first, I'm sure the eye and mind adjust after a little time, and the result it puts out are well worth it. It's a particularly good camera for those who are new to medium format film, as it shoots well on auto mode, but still offers full manual control. Check out the video above for the full review.
I have Fuji's first foray into this format, the 1980's GS645. The GS645 may possbly have been the smallest medium format camera. It had a bellows mounted 75mm f/3.4 "normal" lens that would fold into the body, making the whole unit roughly about the size of a Walkman cassette player.
It was my first experience with Fuji gear, and with it I realized Fuji knew their shit when it came to gear and optics. The only Achilles heel of the GS645 was that the bellows would develop light leaks, but it was otherwise a brilliant design, with rangefinder focus and "blue cell" metering. I bought mine primarily for night photography back in the 90s, and it was months before I realized the bellows had pinholes when I finally shot some daytime pictures LOL!
Great series however.
That's a sweet camera.
There's one of these for sale local to me that I keep checking on. If it's there much longer I might have to pick it up. It has so many things that speak to me. Fuji, 120 film, point and shoot... ugh. WANT
I may be wrong as I have no knowledge on medium format cameras in general, but I beleive that my first camera, an Agfa Clack, was a medium format point and shoot originally produced in the 50s and 60s, although I got mine in the 80s, but again, I may be wrong, I was 4 years old then...
Back in the 90's i really wanted to get this camera but went with a Mamiya 6 instead.
Although a 6x7 camera the maximum super camera with bellows was the Plaubel Makina camera with Nikon lenses made in the seventies and eighties, It was my dream camera at the time but something I never could afford, They still go for 2-3000 dollars and this is a 30-40 year old camera. that was a crazy and crazy good camera.
Fuji might argue with the video. All the models of the GA645 have "Professional" on the front of the manual.
I’m waiting for the day technology comes up with high quality instant digital conversion at home or in camera for film cameras like this.
I had one and shot a lot of HP5+ developed in HC110. Great camera, fab exposures, fab fill in flash, very crisp lens. Looked like a large Contax G. Fond memories.