For a very long time, making the soar as much as medium format cameras from 35mm not solely concerned a great deal of expense, but additionally adapting to greater, heavier and slower cameras – particularly in the event you wished an SLR.
Whereas the 6×4.5cm format had been round for a lot of many years (no less than courting again to the Nineteen Twenties), Mamiya launched the primary SLR system to completely use the picture dimension in 1975 (the M645) and it sparked a revival.
There have been subsequently devoted 6×4.5cm SLRs from Bronica, Pentax and Contax, and rangefinder cameras from Fujifilm and Bronica – the previous’s all fixed-lens fashions. The smaller body dimension not solely allowed for extra compact digital camera our bodies however, logically, additionally extra frames from a roll of 120/220 movie, making it extra economical on a ‘per shot’ foundation in comparison with 6x6cm or 6x7cm.
The smallest of the mainstream rollfilm codecs remains to be 2.7x bigger than a 35mm body, so it’s not arduous to see how 6×4.5cm turned fairly fashionable with enthusiast-level photographers in addition to many professionals who appreciated the improved portability of the cameras (particularly for functions comparable to weddings and on-location portraiture).
The 6×4.5cm picture dimension is half a 6x9cm body so, it finally ends up as a vertically-orientated body on the movie and with a 3:4 side ratio. Consequently, within the SLRs, the movie transport ran up/down moderately than left/proper in order that the framing on the movie returned to panorama (i.e. 4:3 side).
The rangefinder cameras, nevertheless, needed to retain a horizontal-travel transport, that means that the frames stay vertically oriented as in a half-frame 35mm compact just like the Pentax 17. If you wish to shoot within the panorama side, it’s a must to flip the digital camera on its facet to “portrait” orientation. It’s a bit mind-bending at first, however not arduous to get used to in apply.
A 120-length roll delivers 15 frames – or 16, relying on how the movie transport works – in comparison with 12 for the 6x6cm and 10 for 6x7cm. The double-length 220 roll – made potential by solely utilizing backing paper on the chief and lead-out – delivers 30 frames.
This makes it an much more engaging proposition when taking pictures within the 6×4.5cm format. Sadly, there isn’t such a big selection of emulsion sorts except you’re glad to check out expired inventory.
Fujifilm’s 6×4.5cm digital camera line started in 1983, when it was nonetheless utilizing the Fujica branding, with the GS645 Skilled – which was primarily a extra fashionable interpretation of the outdated 6x6cm ‘folder’ design. It was fitted with a Fujinon 75mm f/3.4 lens (equal to 45mm within the 35mm format) mounted on bellows so it might be retracted into the digital camera physique, making for an much more compact bundle.
This was adopted by the GS645S with a rigidly-mounted Fujinon 60mm f/4.0 lens (equal to 35mm) and the GS645W with a 45mm f/5.6 lens (equal to 28mm). The GS645S – the final of this specific sequence and launched on the 1984 Photokina – has a particular curved ‘roo bar’ association which protects the entrance rim of the lens from knocks.
It’s value noting that Fujifilm labelled all its rollfilm cameras “Skilled”, which clearly recognized the goal market but additionally regarded spectacular in the event you have been an beginner shooter.
Sensible traditional
The Fuji GS645S Skilled in all fairness shut in dimension to the brand new digital Fujifilm GFX100RF, though nonetheless a bit bulkier general and round 100g heavier. It’s moreover labelled “Extensive 60” on the entrance panel. The development is sort of completely polycarbonate, each inside and outside, however nonetheless feels solidly constructed, because it’s just about a one-box shell.
The digital camera again is conventionally hinged with a single-action movie advance lever, which robotically recocks the shutter. As famous earlier, the movie is loaded left-to-right, and the strain plate is manually adjusted to both 120 or 220.
It’s good to do that as a result of, with out the backing paper, the longer size movie is clearly thinner, so a slight enhance in strain is required to make sure that it’s saved completely flat within the movie gate.
A change on the digital camera again units the body counter to run to both 15 or 30. The hubs for finding the feed and take-up spools are spring-loaded and launched by way of a small pink button alongside every one, which makes each loading and unloading largely fumble-free.
Past the movie advance lever and the shutter launch (which is lockable), all of the settings are made on the lens – particularly apertures, shutter speeds and movie speeds. Generally throughout the Eighties, medium format cameras tended to be totally handbook and mechanical, regardless that electronics and automation have been making vital inroads into the 35mm world.
The notable exceptions have been the 6x6cm Rolleiflex SLX (1976) and the 6×4.5cm Pentax 645 (1984), which each supplied automated publicity management (the complete ‘PASM’ choice within the case of the latter). The Pentax was launched in the identical 12 months because the GS645S – as was Rollei’s successor SLX, the 6006, which added TTL flash metering and aperture-priority auto to the sooner digital camera’s shutter-priority management.
All these fashions had motorized movie transports as properly, but it surely wouldn’t be till 1995 that Fujifilm supplied such luxuries in a 6×4.5cm fixed-lens digital camera.
An enormous plus, nevertheless, is that the GS645S has built-in metering, which makes use of a GPD (gallium arsenic phosphor) photocell situated contained in the viewfinder, giving centre-weighted common measurements with a sensitivity vary of EV 4-18 at ISO 100.
It’s linked to a easy beneath/OK/over LED show, but it surely’s all you want if what you’re doing with publicity management. The meter is powered by a few 1.5-volt button-type alkaline cells (LR44 or equivalents) which are housed within the digital camera’s base.
The shutter is a leaf-type Copal #00 mechanism within the lens and has a pace vary of 1/1/500 second plus a ‘T’ (time) setting for lengthy exposures. The benefit of ‘T’ over ‘B’ is that the shutter is opened with one press and closed with a second, moderately than needing to be held – or locked – open in the course of the publicity.
The GS645S nonetheless has a cable-release socket within the shutter button, however right here you’d use one to assist decrease any vibrations. The lens’ aperture vary is f/4.0 to f/22, however with solely full-stop changes.
The movie pace vary is from ISO 25 to 1600 – the G645S clearly arriving earlier than Kodak’s T-Max 3200 (P3200) or Ilford Delta 3200, but it surely’s not arduous to regulate manually in the event you actually wished to shoot with these high-speed movies movies (though P3200 is not accessible as new inventory).
Focusing the GS645S is completed by way of a double-image rangefinder, and its spot is sort of small and so consequently might be arduous to see in some conditions. The minimal focusing distance is one meter, and the lens has depth of area markings for f/5.6, f/11, f/16 and f/22.
The depth of area is fairly extensive on the smallest aperture settings so, if you’re having problem with seeing the RF spot, you’ll be able to simply work out what’s in focus utilizing the lens markings. For instance, in the event you set the focusing distance to 5 meters, every part from two metres to infinity can be in focus.
The viewfinder is a Reverse Galilean sort with a brightline image body, which supplies automated parallax correction when taking pictures on the shortest focusing distances.
Easy pleasures
Simplicity is the secret with the GS645S Skilled and it’s again to fundamentals with every part, however this makes it very involving to make use of, with the reward of good massive negatives or transparencies. The lens is properly sharp, contrasty and well-corrected so the picture high quality is really distinctive particularly when taking pictures with the slower, finer-grained movies.
Even in the event you’ve by no means used a rollfilm digital camera earlier than, the loading process could be very easy and, after that, the GS645S works like several mechanical / handbook 35mm digital camera from the identical period – with the benefit that you simply don’t should rewind the movie on the finish, you simply wind off the tip paper, open the again and take away the complete spool.
Nonetheless, that is at all times finest executed within the shade with the uncovered spools subsequently saved someplace darkish (again within the unique carton is sweet sufficient) till you will get them processed.
The principle attraction, as with the digital GFX100RF, is that it’s a medium format digital camera that’s each compact and light-weight, so it’s straightforward to hold round even on longer treks. The 35mm equal lens is flexible, however in the event you’re predominantly a panorama shooter then the GS645W Skilled with its 28mm equal might be the higher selection (though it doesn’t have rangefinder-assisted focusing).
It’s value noting that these cameras are actually over 40 years outdated and, being largely plastic, issues can break – which must be thought of when procuring round for one (verify each shutter and rangefinder operation specifically).
They have been by no means in-built massive numbers within the first place, however are nonetheless moderately straightforward to search out on the second-hand market with costs sometimes round $560-600 / £430-500 / AU$1,000-1,200 for the GS645S if it’s in mint or near-mint situation.
The GS645W is rather less frequent – the wider-angle lens maybe makes it extra of a ‘keeper’ – however the preloved costs are just about the identical as these for ‘S’ mannequin. In both case, go for absolute best instance that you would be able to afford.
Verdict
The Fujica/Fuji GS sequence 6×4.5cm fixed-lens cameras now symbolize one of the vital inexpensive routes into medium format movie pictures. They’re actually extra succesful than any of the ‘toy’ cameras, comparable to a Holga, and each extra compact and simpler to make use of than the inexpensive TLRs such because the YashicaMat fashions.
Moreover, the 6×4.5cm body dimension delivers a great mixture of picture high quality and economic system – so it solely is dependent upon whether or not you’re glad to go down the fixed-lens route.
The principle options with interchangeable lenses are Mamiya’s 6×4.5cm SLRs – of which there are various fashions and generations supported by comparatively intensive lens techniques – or Bronica’s ETR fashions. It should be mentioned that the upper volumes of each these traces over their numerous generations imply that the second-hand costs are fairly engaging.
Additionally from Bronica is the a lot rarer RF645 interchangeable lens rangefinder mannequin. This can be a extremely fascinating digital camera, given its compact dimension and have set, however there are solely a handful of lenses accessible and second-hand costs are considerably increased – making the Fuji GS645S Skilled look glorious worth for cash.
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