BGWG #3: Fuji GA645Zi and Jameson Black Barrel
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- čas přidán 28. 11. 2018
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Pop that cork and break out the highball glass because it's time for another installment of "Behind the Glass With a Glass".
This time we're enjoying one of my favorite whiskeys - Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey. It's smooth, it's delicious, it's affordable...it's the whole package. I'll be enjoying it neat in this episode but if you prefer to keep things cool, break out a big ol' ice cube and plunk it in there. Then get to sippin' while we look at a delightful 645 medium format camera from Fujifilm.
The Fujifilm GA645Zi was originally released in 1998 in a silvery champagney goldeny kind of color. Then in 1999 they released a murdered out version in a graphite/black combo. The graphite versions are harder to find, but boy oh boy are they handsome.
As a late-model film camera, this 645 rangefinder features a lot of modern amenities like auto focus, power zoom, auto exposure, and a digital display. It's one of my favorite cameras to use largely because it's so easy to operate. I typically shoot with this camera in P (Program) mode or Aperture Priority Mode and treat it like a point-and-shoot.
Wow. My point-and-shoot camera is a 645 medium format. I think it's time I take a long hard look in the mirror...
The GA645Zi with its limited zoom capability and slow lens certainly isn't the right tool for every photo, but when it fits the bill, there are few cameras I find more enjoyable to use. It delivers the look of medium format in a relatively compact body with some modern technologies to help make the job fast and easy.
If you have any questions about photography - beginner, advanced, whatever - or the business of photography or even just random questions about me, submit them to BGWG {at} nickcarverphoto {dot} com.
Always drink responsibly and don't overdo it.
Thanks for watching! Cheers!
Website: www.nickcarverphotography.com
Instagram: / nickcarver - Zábava
DON'T PANIC. I haven't forgotten about my on-location videos. I wish I had some for you right now, but I don't. All I can say is they're a lot of work and I got bills to pay, so paid work unfortunately has to take priority. But I have some other videos for you (like this one) to fill the time between on-location vids. Thanks for your patience, thanks for your support, and I hope you enjoy these non-on-location videos in the meantime.
Not panic!!
Doesn't matter if you're on location or just chilling at home or studio: you keep me entertained. I enjoy the information and your humor. Until the next video....🖖
no worry. just waiting for you, I do my best at the same in my life.
Love *all* your videos. No worries. Keep'em coming!
Pay bills? Then just downgrade your drink and gear, put on your trucker's cap and get your ass on the road where you belong! C'mon, man...
Shutterspeed mode is very handy for sports. When I was doing MOTOGP (Sidecar Cross) for the newspapers I used it lot's of times and several UV filters. (muddy).
"P mode" for "Professional mode" I always say.
Michael Strickland amen to that.
got mine recently & love it & won't ever go back..
Hope you have a good time in London and Paris! Look forward to seeing your pictures.
Always a pleasure. Cheers Nick :-)
This series is so awesome !
A Bx thanks!
shot an entire role on my gs645w with the lens cap on LOL
The Depot DIY haha - happens to the best of us.
as an Ameture film photographer... you mean for real???
You’re an inspiration, man! Love your videos and photography.
This format is ingenius.
I always enjoy your views on the various whiskeys as well as photography. Keep them coming!
John Wilkinson thanks! Will do!
Niko ... I was looking all over the place for you ... its good to see you again .. and dont take this long again ... xx
RAMSEY SPENCER thanks man! I’ll try. Damn life and stuff keeps getting in the way.
It's always a good moment to listen to your approach of photography and tank you to describe this model, super interesting. Tx!
Christian Bucic thanks for watching
Just started following along, and I am thoroughly enjoying all the content and insight !!!!
Have a GA645i myself and love it ....indeed super sharp lenses
I miss these episodes. Please bring them back!!
Love that camera
I came back to this video by accident. I just love the simplicity and image quality. I'm on vacation and brought it along with my Maxxumm 9 and a 100-400 for Florida wildlife. Sounds dumb but I like that you can use up a roll of b & w during the day and switch to color for evening. Sunset images have a unique glow effect when shooting color film.
Down to earth review with a touch of humour as usual. Nice one Nick Carver!
john murch thanks!
Loved it Nick, great work!
Cesar Jaque thank you!
Nick
Excellent video and chat - very informative.
Peter
Solid video on some good drink and a nice camera! Enjoy your travels over the holidays and good light to you!
Chris Boehm thank you sir!
Hey Nick! I’m new to your channel but GOTDAM you inspire me!
Haha - thanks man! Glad you found my channel.
Nick Carver I’m up in NorCal, would love to do a collab with you!
KingJvpes @Nick Carver has this happened yet?
Great handy camera. Bought it 3 years ago after watching this and other reviews about it. Never once regretted it. Specs say it works down to -10°C, compare that to your digital camera! Prices seem to go up still, no wonder.
The Fujifilm 645 is an excellent travel camera. I took mine on my trip to the Philippines. When I'm traveling I don't want a lot of gear or things to slow me down. Just look then point then shoot.
I know it's a 2 years old video but I had to comment...
I'm a amateur photographer, I've been using film for the last 4 years and now I'm really sorry for just now pay attention to your great work...
Just a few months back I heard and felt in love about the Fuji 645 series and yours is the best and most sincere video a found about this range finder.
Hope I get one soon but here in Brazil it will not be easy neither cheep...
Glad you found the video. Thank you for watching and for the kind words.
Yay!!! Nicks back ❤️
Ross Jukes Photography thank you 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
2020 here, I just subscribed, so I'm going back and watching the historic documents, and I gotta say I'm liking your style young man, really liking your photography. Keep it up.
Super solid video! Enjoyed your insights!
Julian Mo thanks!
I love the Fujifilm GA645 Professional which is just the 60mm f4 fixed lens version of your zoom lens version. Both cameras are the ultimate in making great images that are 95% exposed properly if you know just a tiny bit about exposure compensation. Like you said, if it's bright use exposure c.+ and if it's dark out use c-. I love to use this camera with Ektar for travel and landscapes and Portra for portraits and you pick it for B&W.
Thanks Nick for the review. It is a cool camera for sure. I shoot a Mamiya 6 because I prefer the square format. It is sad your 6's meter was out of calibration part of the time. I have shot with my 6 for a few years and the meter has never let me down. Your doggie is a doll! ❤️🐶
Cinnamon Girl yeah it was heartbreaking when I got the Mamiya 6. I was so excited about the square format, but the ebay listing was, well, misleading about its condition. Had I not scratched the lens barrel on the second day, I would have returned it. Seems it was cursed from the start!
I watched this video a couple of weeks ago and picked up a used one at a local shop today.We have a great used camera shop near downtown Orlando that I trust so I'm excited to use this camera.Checked the shutter count like you said.Not sure how this is supposed to be read but I either have a shutter count of ten or a thousand.Looks like this on the back lcd (10 00) could be a bum numeral on the lcd but it looks ok in all other modes.Thanks for the great video's keep them coming.
Nice video, great pictures ... have a nice weekend ... greets from Germany
Firlefranz thanks!
I do really like the frames you select for your prints 😎
Thank you!
I bought a GA645Zi last year after I realized my advancing age had made carrying around my Pentax 67 system so difficult that I had stopped taking photos. It has proved to be a great solution for casual use. One point about the feature warning that the lens cap is left on the camera. It measures the light in the scene versus the light at the lens; if there is a difference, it triggers the lens cap warning. However, below a certain light level, the feature is disabled so you do not get the cap warning every time you shoot a low light level shot. The focus system is about as crafty as it gets. At closer distances, it uses an active infrared system. At longer distances where the infrared system isn't so exact, it shifts to a contrast differential system (like most SLR autofocus); the only other camera I know of which uses such a system is the Contax T3.
Randall Stewart I had noticed that about the lens cap warning. Ingenious way they implemented that. But I did not know that about the AF system. Also ingenious.
Cool vid as always! I have the Fuji GS645S..Fujinon optics are phenomenal!
As a rep at Fujifilm once told me - they're really a lens company first and foremost.
Love these behind the glass with a glass.....Great images!! This makes me want to look for a Fuji GA645Zi, NOT that i need another Camera! But I will be tryin that Jameson Black Barrel...keep the vids coming, your awesome man !! Cheers !
Thank you very much! And I hear you about not needing another camera. But then I end up buying more anyway...
OMG - amazingly well said! 😉 Especially the need to immediately research on ebay and hold out for an all black colored camera resonated well with me! 📷 I have definitely considered this camera as well!
bwvids thank you!
I have the version with the fix focal lens, the GA645, and I love it. It's a great "point and shoot" medium format camera, I was impressed by the lens quality, so sharp!
Fuji is a damn fine lens company when you get right down to it.
@@nickcarverphoto Totally agree!
Cool camera👍
Got a chuckle out of the line at the end about large format- that camera is definitely "large format!" Actually thinking about buying now.
Just found your channel and you’re the man!! Great videos definitely reminds me of survivor man meets photography for some reason!
Love your videos, greetings from Ireland, the home of good whiskey and Guinness. :)
Mick Gissane thanks! I hope to visit one day and enjoy the local beverages.
Cheers!
Bought a GA645 a while back (only had 600 actuations) and took it to Hawaii (Maui also) along with my Sony A7R2. I wanted to shoot some MF film and like yourself didn't want to drag along my 6x7 boat anchor. The Fuji lenses are uber sharp...I really like this camera.
I shot a ton of Velvia in mine back in the late 90s. Gorgeous chromes when walking around in shallow water on a sunny day. The older version was a bit faster with it's prime, and better when hand holding an ISO 50 film.
There's something special about seeing Velvia on the light table. I haven't shot 50 in awhile - I usually stick to Velvia 100. I should probably load some of that up again.
I had one of these cameras I loved it but it broke one day without warning I couldn't find anyone to fix it I miss it because it was in my bag all the time. Anyway enjoy your trip Nick one place I would recommend taking pictures while you're in Paris is "le jardin du luxembourg" have fun!
Farouk aw man that’s always sad when a good film camera finally dies on you.
I use shutter priority for sports, birds in flight got to keep it high. I use it for panning shots or to get blur in street photography. So it does have its place, but this isn't the camera that would need it.
I got the champagne one. I too, use Program mode mostly. My LCD is starting to get wonky. I put white electrical tape on the flash.
Yeah my LCD gets a little funky in hot weather.
LOVE YOUR DOG!
Shutter priority mode is not useless! Motorsports and action photographers use it all the time for panning photos. And yes I have shot 6x4.5 panning shots, and no it was not a waste of film 😂
Hey nick! Speaking of Fuji, I jumped on the XT-3 bandwagon, but I certainly want to get that Xpro 2 for that delicious viewfinder!
I'm falling more in love with my X-Pro2 every time I use it. That XT-3 is a beauty, too.
Shutter priority is crucial for bird photography. It makes sense to omit that on this camera.
f/6.9 on the long end would crush me! Love everything else about this camera though!
I though so too at first, but it worked out to not be a problem. First, the lens is very sharp wide open, so you should not have the usual concern about "shutting it down" to take a picture. Second, I tend to use 400 speed film in mine, which mitigates the small maximum aperture. Of course, I'm not trying to use the camera in "available darkness" situations, in which it would be a pain in the ass.
Hey Nick, I thought P mode stood for PROFESSIONAL! :D Great video...great camera (I've owned the black model for many years.)
Alan Huntley haha - exactly. Only a PRO can use P mode.
Cheers man also you can look for Bronica RF camera it is so good but alittle bit pricey .
ahmed al-saeed the pricetags on those are the only reason I’m reviewing the Fuji instead of a Bronica - ha
Just bought one myself for outdoor stuff and maybe some studio work
Nice! Still one of my favorite purchases.
You know you have a problem when the whisky bottle has your name engraved on it! LOL 😂 Great vid, Nick. Enjoy London and Paris. I grew up in both countries, and visit when I can. My top restaurant recommendation in London: “La Famiglia” for amazing Italian food (admittedly best in the summertime). In Paris: “Cinq-Mars” for authentic rustic French food. Great bar in Paris: “Castor Club.”
Jon Grall thanks for the recommendations!
@@nickcarverphoto BTW, with the protests in France right now, which will probably continue into December, there's a pretty rare opportunity for some newsworthy street photography (if you're brave enough!).
Came for the photography. Stayed for the humor.
Did shutter priority touch you in a bad place when you were young? 😂😂
Frank Walsh it touches all photographers in a bad place. Whether they know it or not...
@@nickcarverphoto There are times when it makes sense, especially if your're dealing with motion and light is changing.
@@nickcarverphoto Yes, because nobody needs to shoot fast-moving animals, ever.
@@marcoweinhofer938 Still better to shoot in aperture priority mode or manual. Yes, even with sports and wildlife.
Oooh Nick in London my home town (ish)! Meet up.......
Are you coming to London for work or play? London is the busiest place, it's totally jam packed everywhere and there is no tourist season, it's the same all year. Have a good trip, go to Primrose Hill which has a great view of the city in the evening light and it's right next to Camden Market.
You must really love that dog to let him sit on that sofa!
Yey another one! It's been too long dude :)
Carl Classic thanks man!
I really regret selling my Fuji GA645 Professional. It is such a good camera and there is no need like you said to shoot in manual because the meter is so good and shooting in manual is so complicated. The lens on this camera is so freaking sharp it's so insane,
Joseph Saunders it’s cool to see how many other people also love this camera.
It is kind of an irony that I shoot the Fuji 690s and G617, but then got a Hasselblad to compromise between RZ67 and the GA645ai or any 645 format camera. So I don’t get quite the P&S, compact and automatic experience, though still have to crop most 6x6 negs to 645-ish size for standard print frame ratios.
I subscribed because of how you pronounced "Accoutrement". 👏
I was hoping that would get somebody.
Had one, sold it. Nothing really wrong with it but much prefer my Gf670 which is even more compact. I did enjoy having the autofocus though.
Great content and fun factor, as per usual. I would suggest trying Laphroaig whisky, if you can get your hands on it. Very good price for a delicious peaty treat!
An acquired taste.
masterxyr thank you! And thanks for the recommendation.
Bro! Found your channel yesterday and I’ve already watched all of your videos! I’m supposed to be studying for finals man! Stop making such great and entertaining videos! Lol! #newfan keep up the good work!
SLC Outdoors thanks man! And hey if I can get just one person to blow off studying for finals, I feel I’ve done my job.
Why did I watch this video? Never wanted to go backwards to film.... so before I get my Leica M10-R, I have to check out this camera..... great video...
You won't be disappointed.
interesting, my Mamiya7II light meter is perfect. never let me down.
Hi Nick I am a subscriber and really enjoy your videos. I have also purchased your class on MASTER MANUAL METERING FOR FILM PHOTOGRAPHY.
I am interested in the camera that you covered in this video and in reading and watching some other reviews, I ran across a tidbit of info that you may or may not be aware of. It seems that there is a theory that opening the back all the way to put film in the camera puts stress on the ribbon cable that feeds the back lcd panel. The thought is that if you only open the back far enough to drop the film in the ribbon cable does not get stressed and the likely hood of rear panel failure is reduced.
Hi Nick! Did you finally took the GA in Paris and London. I would love to see some pictures from this trip taken with this camera. I'm about to pull the trigger on a GA645i as a companion to my Fuji XT3 in my travels.
Hi Nick. Thanks for the great video on a very interesting camera I’ve been looking into. One remark though: your English dog seems to have a problem coping with the Irish whiskey ;-)
Haha - yeah she has a problem coping with a lot of things.
@@nickcarverphoto 😀 Just kidding of course. She looks like a super cute dog. Thanks again for the video. Have a nice day.
Hey Nick,
please accept my gratitude for your videos. They are a pleasure to watch!
Speaking about Fuji: What are your thoughts on the X-Series (X-t1 etc.) ? I have been using nikon dslr for a while abd would like to go as you've mentioned "lighter".
Best Regards,
Teo
Thanks, Teo! I've been a Canon shooter for years both DSLR and mirrorless, but I recently purchased my first Fuji X series camera - I got the X-Pro2 - and I am absolutely in love with it. I have way more fun using my Fuji than my Canon. I love the functionality, the colors, the film simulation modes, and the overall design.
these are about $1k now, and I actually want the champagne colored one lol. but I might settle with the GW690 instead because it's nearly half the price and not prone to electronic failure.
I have been on a fuji 645 kick and going down the rabbit hole. This looks like a point and shoot on steroids... probably a little pricey given how often I prefer to use my other fully manual cameras but damn it's still tempting.
Miles Jackson point and shoot on steroids is the perfect description.
Nick, I enjoy your videos and the sardonic humor! Question...why did you choose a 645 “point and shoot” over a similar 6x7 or 6x9? Being as how you do large format, 6x17 and 6x7, I would have thought the next logical gap to fill would be 6x9. Ya, 645 is considered medium format but it’s the baby of the litter with a smallish negative. Or was it more about the camera itself you liked? I’m curious as, like you, I have a few different MF cameras but I am thinking to buy me a Fuji GWS690 to get a wider format option. Last thought.... it would be cool if you did a vid on different film formats and the pros and cons of each.
Been using this camera for a year. Love it. Only drawback is the minimum focus distance of 1 meter and the relatively short focal lengths - no tight portraits on this one. But I guess that’s what you get with rangefinders! All in all though, great camera.
nice, very good video, thanks!! Prost!! Dunno which is better, the camera, the booze or the dog. I'm leaning toward the dog!
Chris B I think I’d have to agree with you on that.
I love doggos
Does anyone know of a medium format camera body, roughly this form factor, that takes interchangeable lenses?
I have one of these where the LCD has crapped out. Do you know a place to fix these cameras?
Herman Yung unfortunately I do not
Does the LCD screen still work? Loading it the way you did won't do it any favours in the long run
I totally get why, for the type of shooting that Nick does (and that I do most often too), shutter priority mode is not useful. But I also shoot my kids' sports where control over shutter speed is the primary determinant of my images. As I have gotten more and more into film photography, I have even started shooting sports on film with my Nikon F80 and modern G lenses. Do I want to freeze the action of a basketball game, or do I want to blur the legs of my daughter as she runs down the court? How about panning shots where my subject is in focus but the background has significant blur? These are all times when shutter priority mode is very useful.
ldstirling those are the usual arguments for shutter priority mode, but I still stand by my statement. I’ll make a video before long further explaining my position.
What’s a considered bad amount of shutter counts?
wow great images. I am sure its you nothing to do with the camera. Awesome stuff
Thanks!
Great camera overview. Did you test the lens for an optimal aperture? I saw a lot of shots from this camera over the internet, and most of them are soft. Not sure, if it is an user error or camera issue?
I have not tested for that. In my experience, this lens is tack sharp at every aperture I've tried.
@@nickcarverphoto Thanks, I will test it when I get it ;-)
The light meter is just like Leica.
I have been looking into purchasing a point and shoot camera and would like to know which you would choose between this camera and the contax t2. Now I know they are completely different and shoot different sizes of film but I have both 35mm SLR's as well as Medium format cameras and I want a reliable go to point and shoot. If you could only only have one camera and your choices were the GA645 and T2 which would you take (not worrying about the amount of shots per roll or price difference in film)
I don’t do a whole lot of 35mm, so I’m biased towards medium format. But I have to say that I would probably take the T2.
@@nickcarverphoto much appreciated!
your Mamiya 6 probably needed an adjustment. Mine nails exposure every time
David Hunt probably. That thing was kind of a hot mess.
Great video, as always.
But, are you sure you wanna go to Paris though?
😳 shutter priority is useless?? Its the mode I use most, to make sure propellors are blurred and backgrounds streak when panning. Other than that, superb vlog as usual 😁
I have a couple of Fuji 645’s including the zi. I liked it until it didn’t wind on properly on a roll and opening the back partially exposed the roll. I’m not sure I trust it now, which is a shame. I too wish the wind on was manual. That motor is really loud. If they had made a 690 with a built in meter, that’d be my favourite.
His problem almost certainly results from misloading the film roll. On 120 roll film cameras generally, when you thread the paper leader on the take-up spool, you must maintain tension so the leader is tightly wound. If the roll starts with a loose wind, as shot film winds onto the spool, its diameter fattens to the point where it is too loose to be light tight at the end of the roll. In some cameras having close tolerances in the take-up film chamber, a loosely wound roll will expand to the point where it can jam in the chamber mid-roll. The power wind of the GA645Zi tends to cause users to slack off by letting the camera handle the whole process, which can lead to the problem. Its 6x7 cameras are so prone to the problem that Pentax devotes a full page in the manual to the problem with pictures on how to avoid it.
Why didn't you get beautiful Mamiya 7II Black with 65mm F4 ?
Fuji Pro 400H vanillaeee accoutrement?
wait why does shutter priority mode suck?
Nick I was looking at these cameras TODAY on eBay. Buddy stop talking about these...You're going to drive the price up more....LOL...
Haha! Better get yet bids in!
Thanks for the input on the meta-data printing, cool.
Now if it only had a Polaroid back...lol Was looking for something between my Bronica Etrs-i and my Mamiya Super 23. Kidding about the p olaroid thing.
but, does it have a compass in the stock? Great video Nick
Juan Patricio haha - that’s the ONE THING they left out.