These cameras are notorious for having a dim focus patch. The best fix I found was cutting a SUUUUUUUPER small square of gaffer/electrical tape and placing it in the middle of the viewfinder(the front/lens side of the viewfinder, not the back side that you look into). The tape is so small I had to use tweezers to put in place and then I gently used the edge of my fingernail to adjust it accordingly. There's also a method where you cut an ND filter and cover the front of the viewfinder and attach it with tape but this will affect the light meter readout. I originally used an ND filter meant for polaroid 600 film and the metering was off by 1 stop when comparing with my external meter, but the gaffer tape method was by far so much more helpful. The focus patch was so much more brighter and metering was not affected at all.
@@FrankDavalos No, because it is a SUPER small piece of tape lol. Not familiar with the build or mechanics of the rangefinder patch, but when you add that little piece of tape, if it's small enough it only affects the area of the viewfinder that the rangefinder patch is in and makes the patch way brighter. Of course if the tape is bigger than it needs to be, then it starts to block part of the viewfinder and will make it a little harder to focus. rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html
@@FrankDavalos if you search up “How to fix dim rangefinder patch” video here on TH-cam by Manuel Guzman, that shows the tape mod that I’m talking about. That video was for Olympus XA, which I also have and have done the tape mod on that camera as well. Apparently the mod works on most if not all rangefinders.
@@FrankDavalos It does obstruct the view and the light through the viewfinder.. You end up trying to focus by matching the image edges around the RF patch rather than using a double image. Since the internal meter reads light through the viewfinder. doing this will also throw off the accuracy of the meter a bit.
Hey Yuan! Stoked you’re joining the club. You should let me know how you get on with it. It’s a beautiful camera. And thanks so much for the kind words. I suppose I should get on making more videos! Practice makes perfect, but comments like yours definitely light the fire under my fat ass! Cheers man, enjoy your new camera 🤙🏼
Look again and pay attention. The reviewed camera if the GS645S (note ending "S"). The GS645 is a related but much different camera, being a folding camera with a remarkable 75mm lens. Please check my general comment for an issue common to the GS645S before you leap in.
Beautiful man, hope you like it! I use to live with a guy from Montpellier, and had a big friend group from the South of France. Some of the best people I've ever met! Cheers from Canada, thanks for watching
@@FrankDavalos waooooooo ! (I've done my two first films, need to scan them; The sharpness seems amazing. I was a little anxious before putting the films in the tank but it was okay) Cheers ! ;)
@@CyrilBezeMaZaK34000 Dude! It's SO sharp. Sometimes I feel like it's even too sharp haha. Stoked you like it man, and thanks for the support on my FB page!
A perfect bypass for the shake of the Timer mode! -Set a self timer, then press the Timer button for long exposures, so the camera will help u take the shot automatically after a few secs of self timer! Then use the shutter release cable to stop the shot!
That's a good suggestion man, but as I mentioned in my review... for some reason my cable releases aren't releasing the shutter mechanism when I press down on it. I am going to keep trying to figure this out!
^^^This. This is exactly how I use the T mode with cable release too. Tricky but works well once you;ve done a couple of shots. Used it a few weeks back shooting some sweet sweet Ektar at night...listening for the grind of the timer to finish and the click of the shutter opening, then timing with a phone the long exposure for the nightscape and holding the cable release to close the shutter when ready. Easy peasy after 1-2 snaps :)
Thank you for the review it's also my fav 645 camera I can normally use it with a cable release. maybe your copy has something wrong but still good portable 645 camera tho
@@FrankDavalos Between the GS645S and the GS645W, the lens and focusing mount on the "W" is compacted into the body much more and not so exposed. The lens on the S is not so exposed that it would normally require the protective ring, however Fuji saw fit to use a very lightly built lens mount, using plastic threads to focus. As a result, any significant end-on hit to the lens can crack or fully break the focusing threads and/or the linkage between body release and shutter. Back in the late 1980s and thereafter, I hung out in our local camera shop (always on the lookout for a goody), and I handled many GS645S cameras which came through with this type of damage. The only repair is to replace the broken parts, and those have not been available for 20 years. So, (1) if you would buy a GS645S, have it fully inspected by someone competent before you walk it out of the shop, because if you get it home and find it's damaged, the shop is going to say that you did it and refuse to accept its return. (2) If you buy a GS645S, after use, focus it to infinity (which retracts the lens front behind the ring) and first remove anything on the front of the lens except a lens cap. Better option, buy a GA645. You loose the breakage issues of the GS645, use the same excellent lens, and add auto-focus and auto-exposure options. Folks question whether the GA models are too sensitive to electronics failure. I guarantee you that there are far more GS645S units out there with damaged lens mounts than there are GA645 units with failed electronics.
I’d say depends on what you shoot. For me I like the GS645s as its lens isn’t as wide as the w. I think it’s more versatile for most situations. But if you’re a huge fan of ultra wide prime lenses, the w might be for you.
The mechanics and metering are the same. The lenses are different,l in that the GS645S is roughly a 35-37mm equivalent to a 35mm camera. The GS645W uses a 45mm 5.6 lens (about a 28mm equivalent) and omits the rangefinder. It is a "guess the focus distance" camera.
I use a Sony A7IV and 90mm macro setup which is probably better than the Plustek, and it still doesn’t give me those MF vibes! I shoot mostly 35mm but it’s still nice to whip out the 645 in such a small form factor!
I had a bit of this reaction too, but I give the guy a break because it's his maiden voyage into YT production. There is an excess of production shtick which gets in the way of useful info and makes the video twice as long as needed for what is a light weight camera presentation. Frankly, much of the content reflects his personal issues with leaf shutter equipped rangefinder cameras in general rather than features unique to the GS645S.
These cameras are notorious for having a dim focus patch. The best fix I found was cutting a SUUUUUUUPER small square of gaffer/electrical tape and placing it in the middle of the viewfinder(the front/lens side of the viewfinder, not the back side that you look into). The tape is so small I had to use tweezers to put in place and then I gently used the edge of my fingernail to adjust it accordingly. There's also a method where you cut an ND filter and cover the front of the viewfinder and attach it with tape but this will affect the light meter readout. I originally used an ND filter meant for polaroid 600 film and the metering was off by 1 stop when comparing with my external meter, but the gaffer tape method was by far so much more helpful. The focus patch was so much more brighter and metering was not affected at all.
Whaaaaaaaaaat?! Wont the gaffer tape obstruct your view? How does it make it brighter?
@@FrankDavalos No, because it is a SUPER small piece of tape lol. Not familiar with the build or mechanics of the rangefinder patch, but when you add that little piece of tape, if it's small enough it only affects the area of the viewfinder that the rangefinder patch is in and makes the patch way brighter. Of course if the tape is bigger than it needs to be, then it starts to block part of the viewfinder and will make it a little harder to focus.
rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html
@@FrankDavalos if you search up
“How to fix dim rangefinder patch” video here on TH-cam by Manuel Guzman, that shows the tape mod that I’m talking about. That video was for Olympus XA, which I also have and have done the tape mod on that camera as well. Apparently the mod works on most if not all rangefinders.
@@_Pandatron Sounds good brother I will do that!! Thanks again dude! I own an XA2 so it might be helpful for that cameras as well!
@@FrankDavalos It does obstruct the view and the light through the viewfinder.. You end up trying to focus by matching the image edges around the RF patch rather than using a double image. Since the internal meter reads light through the viewfinder. doing this will also throw off the accuracy of the meter a bit.
My favourite video on the gs645, I will be buying it. Continue with the youtube channel, you're a natural
Hey Yuan! Stoked you’re joining the club. You should let me know how you get on with it. It’s a beautiful camera. And thanks so much for the kind words. I suppose I should get on making more videos! Practice makes perfect, but comments like yours definitely light the fire under my fat ass! Cheers man, enjoy your new camera 🤙🏼
Look again and pay attention. The reviewed camera if the GS645S (note ending "S"). The GS645 is a related but much different camera, being a folding camera with a remarkable 75mm lens. Please check my general comment for an issue common to the GS645S before you leap in.
Very good 1st video. I love the GS645, amazing and portable medium format.
Years later and still as happy as I was when I first purchased it!
My dad just gave me that stuff few days ago. I'm shooting my first medium format film today. Greetings from south of France. Great video.
Beautiful man, hope you like it! I use to live with a guy from Montpellier, and had a big friend group from the South of France. Some of the best people I've ever met! Cheers from Canada, thanks for watching
@@FrankDavalos waooooooo ! (I've done my two first films, need to scan them; The sharpness seems amazing. I was a little anxious before putting the films in the tank but it was okay) Cheers ! ;)
@@CyrilBezeMaZaK34000 Dude! It's SO sharp. Sometimes I feel like it's even too sharp haha. Stoked you like it man, and thanks for the support on my FB page!
fire! yeah, I need to level up to the Medium format game too!
A perfect bypass for the shake of the Timer mode! -Set a self timer, then press the Timer button for long exposures, so the camera will help u take the shot automatically after a few secs of self timer! Then use the shutter release cable to stop the shot!
That's a good suggestion man, but as I mentioned in my review... for some reason my cable releases aren't releasing the shutter mechanism when I press down on it. I am going to keep trying to figure this out!
@@FrankDavalos perhaps ur cable's needle isnt long enough? Or when u screw in the cable to the thread of the button somehow locked it?
@@nthnth1815 Yeah your guess is as good as mine my friend. I've tried two cables already haha
^^^This. This is exactly how I use the T mode with cable release too. Tricky but works well once you;ve done a couple of shots. Used it a few weeks back shooting some sweet sweet Ektar at night...listening for the grind of the timer to finish and the click of the shutter opening, then timing with a phone the long exposure for the nightscape and holding the cable release to close the shutter when ready. Easy peasy after 1-2 snaps :)
Why can’t you just use a cable release to take the shot though? Like my cables releases don’t even work to take a normal photo!
I literally just received this camera today.
That's awesome man! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Thank you for the review
it's also my fav 645 camera
I can normally use it with a cable release.
maybe your copy has something wrong
but still good portable 645 camera tho
The gs645w does not have that wire frame around then lens. Maybe the 45mm version is stronger or maybe it was added after the fact on newer models ?
Could just be a stylistic thing more than anything else.
@@FrankDavalos Between the GS645S and the GS645W, the lens and focusing mount on the "W" is compacted into the body much more and not so exposed. The lens on the S is not so exposed that it would normally require the protective ring, however Fuji saw fit to use a very lightly built lens mount, using plastic threads to focus. As a result, any significant end-on hit to the lens can crack or fully break the focusing threads and/or the linkage between body release and shutter. Back in the late 1980s and thereafter, I hung out in our local camera shop (always on the lookout for a goody), and I handled many GS645S cameras which came through with this type of damage. The only repair is to replace the broken parts, and those have not been available for 20 years. So, (1) if you would buy a GS645S, have it fully inspected by someone competent before you walk it out of the shop, because if you get it home and find it's damaged, the shop is going to say that you did it and refuse to accept its return. (2) If you buy a GS645S, after use, focus it to infinity (which retracts the lens front behind the ring) and first remove anything on the front of the lens except a lens cap. Better option, buy a GA645. You loose the breakage issues of the GS645, use the same excellent lens, and add auto-focus and auto-exposure options. Folks question whether the GA models are too sensitive to electronics failure. I guarantee you that there are far more GS645S units out there with damaged lens mounts than there are GA645 units with failed electronics.
Which one better Fuji gs645s or gs645w ?
I’d say depends on what you shoot. For me I like the GS645s as its lens isn’t as wide as the w. I think it’s more versatile for most situations. But if you’re a huge fan of ultra wide prime lenses, the w might be for you.
The mechanics and metering are the same. The lenses are different,l in that the GS645S is roughly a 35-37mm equivalent to a 35mm camera. The GS645W uses a 45mm 5.6 lens (about a 28mm equivalent) and omits the rangefinder. It is a "guess the focus distance" camera.
How stiff is your shutter dial? Is it smooth or somewhat stiffer than your focus dial?
It’s definitely stiffer man. And it clicks into each shutter speed!
Great video, capitan. Keep on shooting and promoting film photography!
Jufler desto mindre användning för uu
Decent vid bro
Get a Plustek scanner and your 35mm negatives will be the same res as 645 negs on the V600 (645 still better though with that MF look)
I use a Sony A7IV and 90mm macro setup which is probably better than the Plustek, and it still doesn’t give me those MF vibes! I shoot mostly 35mm but it’s still nice to whip out the 645 in such a small form factor!
0:32 “a boat”
Lololol 🇨🇦
Moer like a very poor comedy video!!
I had a bit of this reaction too, but I give the guy a break because it's his maiden voyage into YT production. There is an excess of production shtick which gets in the way of useful info and makes the video twice as long as needed for what is a light weight camera presentation. Frankly, much of the content reflects his personal issues with leaf shutter equipped rangefinder cameras in general rather than features unique to the GS645S.