Hello everyone!
When you hear "medium format camera," what image comes to mind?
"Heavy and big."
"Focusing and exposure look difficult..."
Many of you may feel it is a little intimidating for those reasons.
However, there is a classic that completely changes that image of medium format cameras.
It is the one we are featuring today: FUJIFILM GA645 Professional.
The FUJIFILM GA645 Professional we are featuring today. Its charm is a stylish, solid-feeling black body that you would never take for a medium format camera.
At first glance, the GA645 looks like a slightly large 35mm compact camera.
But inside, it is a genuine medium format film camera shooting the "6x4.5" format, with about 2.7 times the area of 35mm film.
With autofocus, automatic exposure and automatic film advance, it is truly a medium format camera you can handle like a compact camera.
In this article, we look at why the GA645 is still so popular on the used market, covering its features and the rendering we saw when we actually ran film through it, along with sample photos.
Three Key Features of the FUJIFILM GA645 Professional
There are three main reasons the GA645 is called "one of a kind."
1. Autofocus in a Medium Format Camera, Said to Be a World First
Until then, medium format cameras were mostly models where you took your time focusing manually.
The GA645, however, is a medium format camera with autofocus.
Just press the shutter button halfway and it snaps into focus.
Once you experience this nimbleness, you will be hooked.
2. Fully Automatic: Exposure and Film Advance Are All Taken Care Of
The GA645 offers Program AE and Aperture-priority AE, and the camera determines exposure automatically.
It also features auto-loading, winding the film automatically to the first frame after loading.
Even if you want to try 120 film but worry about loading it or operating the camera, you can enjoy shooting with a feel close to a 35mm compact camera.
It is a camera that, in a good way, betrays the image that "medium format looks difficult."
3. The Fun of Naturally Shooting in a Vertical Composition
When you hold the GA645 in the normal horizontal way, you get a vertical (portrait) composition.
This is because the film travels sideways inside the camera.
For those of us used to smartphone screens, this feeling of "hold it up and get a vertical frame" is actually very intuitive.
It is fun to snap people, street corners, flowers and travel scenery with a good rhythm.
Hands-on Review: The Rendering of the SUPER-EBC FUJINON 60mm F4
The lens mounted on the GA645 is Fujifilm's pride,
SUPER-EBC FUJINON 60mm F4.
It offers an angle of view equivalent to about 37mm in 35mm terms, a slightly wide-leaning standard view that is easy to use for snapshots.
This time, I took the camera to a park filled with spring light.
Please enjoy the rich rendering unique to medium format film.
Vivid pink cherry blossoms in full bloom against a blue sky. True to the SUPER-EBC FUJINON, contrast is maintained even in strong light, and the gradations of the petals are expressed clearly.
The tonal richness unique to medium format is easy to see in the contrast between the blue of the sky and the pink of the blossoms.
Detail holds on tenaciously from the highlights to the shadows.
It has a depth and richness unique to film that is different from digital.
People enjoying a spring moment in the park. Holding the camera horizontally gives a wide horizontal composition that opens up the view. The sense of depth running from the sharp detail of the plants in the foreground to the buildings in the back is striking.
Its mobility as a snapshot camera is outstanding, too.
Just point the camera at a moment that catches your eye and press the shutter.
Because the camera controls focus and exposure, the photographer can concentrate on "composition" and "timing."
A close-up of the blossom details. The smooth blur in front and behind is an expression you can only enjoy with a medium format camera and its large film area.
The viewfinder displays the aperture value, shutter speed, distance to the subject and more, which also gives you peace of mind while shooting.
Cherry blossoms in full bloom, filling the sky. Every corner of the frame is rendered naturally, and you can feel the high resolving power of the Fujinon lens.
Another variety of cherry blossom, predominantly white. Even the complex overlapping of thin branches is separated sharply one by one, showing the sheer amount of information in medium format film.
Who Is It Recommended For?
The FUJIFILM GA645 Professional is a camera we recommend to the following people.
- Those who want to try a medium format film camera but are worried about operating it
- Those who want to capture high-quality film photos on everyday walks or trips without adding to their luggage
- Those who want to enjoy snapshots with a good rhythm, with a vertical-composition feel
- Those who want the reassurance of autofocus and automatic exposure
Combining the ease of "full auto" with the high image quality of "medium format," the GA645 is a very sensible choice even now that film prices are soaring, letting you cut down on failed shots and reliably capture beautiful images.
Not pocket-sized exactly, but a medium format camera you can carry in a small bag.
Easy to carry around, yet serious in image quality.
That is the appeal packed into the GA645 Professional.
Points to Check When Buying Used
The GA645 is a heavily electronically controlled camera, so checking that it works properly is very important when choosing a used one.
AF operation, lens extension, LCD display, film advance, shutter and viewfinder display are all points you will want to check thoroughly beforehand.
At Five Star Camera, we carefully check these basic functions when items arrive, and we offer units you can use with confidence.
For anyone who wants to enjoy medium format film both casually and seriously, the FUJIFILM GA645 Professional is still an attractive choice.
If you are interested, please check it out.
About the FUJIFILM GA645 Professional
A 6x4.5 medium format film camera released in 1995.
Although it is a medium format camera, it has autofocus, automatic exposure and automatic film advance, and a major feature is that you can handle it with a feel close to a 35mm compact camera.
The lens is the SUPER EBC FUJINON 60mm F4. Its angle of view is equivalent to about 37mm in 35mm terms, a slightly wide-leaning standard view that is easy to use for snapshots and travel photography.
It can take 16 shots on 120 film. It is a camera that lets you casually enjoy the rich tonality of the large film area and the sharp rendering unique to Fujinon lenses.
Width x Height x Depth: approx. 166mm x 110mm x 66mm
Weight: approx. 815g (without batteries)
View all FUJIFILM GA645 Professional products here
If you are looking for used cameras and lenses, leave it to our store, Five Star Camera!
We don't just sell; we also buy used gear.
At both our Shinjuku and Toyama stores you can check the actual items before you buy, and we inspect every item we purchase carefully, one by one. Please feel free to get in touch!