Bigger than the consumer-grade 35mm movie format (full body) and but smaller than the unwieldy giant format sheet movie, for half a century, medium format movie and the cameras that shot it sat logically on the mid-point between transportable comfort and uncompromising picture high quality. This Goldilocks existence on the analog spectrum meant that for the numerous a long time earlier than digital imaging took over the world, medium format movie cameras have been the de facto device of the industrial skilled photographer.
In studios in every single place, one might discover Hasselblads and Rolleis and Mamiyas, purpose-built machines to be used in a single particular location, and with worth tags to make sure their use not by hobbyists and amateurs, however for pictures that pays. It was, and nonetheless is, humorous to see a Mamiya RB67 out on this planet, the place it was by no means supposed to be. I carried one by way of a highway journey in Sicily a couple of years in the past, and whereas the images have been unimaginable, it was a slog hauling that absolute unit round on a regular basis. It’s a bit like seeing a sq. physique Ford F-150 driving by way of the streets of Berlin. Completely misplaced, and but a complete stud.
When the pixels got here alongside, medium format rapidly grew to become an anachronism – a as soon as elegant gatekeeper whose realm was altering sooner than it might adapt. Digital workflows and their deal with pace and agility rapidly changed Hassleblads with Canons in skilled studios, and the medium format world (not recognized for speedy innovation) by no means stood an opportunity.
Fujifilm has challenged that lately, releasing medium format digital cameras that pack more-than-full-frame sensors into cameras at legitimately aggressive worth factors, and the model from Japan has earned a variety of well-deserved recognition for democratizing medium format cameras. Nevertheless it’s not the primary time the corporate has pioneered on this area.
Fuji’s contribution to medium format has at all times been wonky and fascinating. Relatively than following different manufacturers within the tripod-locked area, their cameras have been at all times distinctive and goal constructed. They’d the studio behemoth (GX680) the minimal rangefinder (GW690) a pocketable folder (GS645) and even one for the 5 robber barons needing to shoot panoramas on 120 (G617). The one factor all of them have in widespread is a weirdness that made Fuji essentially the most fascinating digital camera producer of the Nineteen Nineties, if not the best-selling.
Although extremely variable in elementary methods, Fuji’s medium format movie cameras did share a minimum of one widespread trait; an absence of automation. Just a few had shades of comfort, a semi-automatic mode right here, some mild metering there. However no Fuji medium format movie digital camera let the consumer flip their mind off fully, as was usually the case with the extra consumer-oriented 35mm movie machines. A minimum of, not till 1998, when Fuji launched the GA645Zi.
What’s the Fuji GA645Zi
In 1998, the GA645Zi took all of the perks of a 35mm point-and-shoot and put them right into a medium-format digital camera physique. It has autofocus, computerized metering, motorized movie winding, and even the power to routinely learn the movie pace. If these stats make you yawn, that could be since you’re issues by way of the prism of a 35mm consumer. By 1998, almost each 35mm digital camera made got here normal with these options. However having all of them in a compact medium format digital camera actually was a marvel of the period.
There have been 4 variations of this digital camera earlier than the ultimate “Z” mannequin. The design stayed largely the identical all through the primary 4 fashions, and for all of the superficial adjustments to the ultimate one, the change that actually made a distinction was the lens. Gone have been the prime lenses of the earlier cameras, the Z ended the run with a 55-90mm f/4.5-6.9 zoom lens. It’s a sluggish and paltry focal vary, however in comparison with its competitors this was luxurious flexibility.
Specs of the Fuji GA645Zi
- Manufactured by: Fuji Picture Movie Co., LTD., and made in Japan
- Date of manufacture: 1998
- Value: round $1809 USD in 1999
- Weight: 884 grams (no batteries)
- Dimensions: 164 x 110 x 75mm
- Lens: Fujinon Tremendous-EBC (electron beam coated) 10 components in 10 teams
- Lens Focal size: 55-90mm 65 to 42° diagonal angle of view
- Most Aperture: F/4.5-F/6.9 auto or manually set in 1/2 cease increments
- ISO: 25-1600 manually set in 1/3 cease increments
- Focusing Distance: 1.0m to infinity
- Viewfinder: Portrait orientation illuminating window kind with vibrant frame-lines viewfinder with computerized parallax correction. 88% protection at infinity, 90% at 3 meters, with a magnification of 0.4-0.58x
- Mild Meter: TTF (by way of the finder) middle weighted mild metering SPD photocell
- Shutter Speeds: 2 seconds as much as 1/400, plus bulb mode
- Movie: normal 120 or 220 roll, with an image space of 56mm x 41.5mm, computerized 120/220 switchover
- Movie Loading: Auto-loading with movie sensing
- Publicity compensation: +/- 2 EV
- Flash: built-in pop-up kind, information variety of 12 at ISO 100. Fill flash in aperture-priority and guide modes
- Energy: 2 CR123a 3V lithium batteries.
My Time with the GA645Zi
I had the possibility to make use of the Fuji GA645Zi on a visit to Virginia final yr. I used to be there for an artist residency with the Nationwide Park Service, the place I used to be utilizing a 4×5 subject digital camera and mirrorless digital cameras on separate tasks that felt like full opposites of one another. Planning on performing some touring across the state, I needed a digital camera that was someplace in the course of these two extremes, a digital camera that wouldn’t require me to suppose an excessive amount of, but additionally enable for wonderful negatives and picture high quality. Fortuitously, a colleague was keen to let me borrow their Fuji GA645Zi for a month.
The Fuji accompanied me to a few of Virginia’s greatest places: Jefferson’s Monticello, Pure Bridge, the house of Patrick Henry, Appomattox Courtroom Home, and all through the central Virginia Piedmont area that I’ll eternally regard as one of the best piece of land. The climate in that October was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Thirty sunny days, and only one with clouds. Heat days and funky nights. The most effective climate you possibly can think about.
So, the circumstances of utilizing this digital camera have been superb: excellent climate, excellent places. If something didn’t work out the one potential factors of failure have been the photographer and the digital camera. It was a enjoyable and mildly irritating digital camera to make use of, and whereas the scenario during which I used it was precisely the purpose of the digital camera, I’m probably not the form of photographer that may use it time and time once more.
Probably the most recognized (and my private favourite) of the digital camera’s many distinctive tactile options begins with the viewfinder.
Not like almost each different digital camera ever made, when the GA645Zi is held usually, images are portrait quite than panorama. I assume that the choice performed a component in a digital camera being this small however I additionally haven’t any proof to again this up. I couldn’t assist however admire how a lot cell telephones have conditioned us to see the portrait orientation because the default strategy to expertise pictures, and so it feels extra pure (or much less awkward) than it might have in 1998. It prompted me to replicate on how rather more I shoot on this approach as in comparison with ten years in the past, when most of my pictures have been in panorama orientation.
The remainder of the ergonomics are just like different “subject” medium format cameras, and the Fuji has a really comparable really feel to the Mamiya 6. It has an excellent grip, and whereas it’s a variety of plastic, the digital camera doesn’t really feel brittle. The highest of the digital camera has a management dial for the totally different taking pictures modes, in addition to to regulate the ISO setting. It has one other dial for adjusting settings relying on the chosen mode and a small button to alter the publicity compensation. On the opposing aspect there’s a small pop-up flash.
Together with your hand on the grip, the index finger rests on or close to the shutter button, and the thumb has quick access to the zoom management lever. On the again is a small LCD with assorted fundamental info. Beneath which can be buttons for knowledge imprinting, focus kind choice and backlighting for working in the dead of night (this technique is reserved for under the staunchest masochist). On the highest left, subsequent to the viewfinder, are buttons for the self timer and for activating the flash, neither of which I ever used.
By the point this digital camera got here out, all producers have been cramming essentially the most fashionable and innovating controls into their cameras, from the entry-level to the flagship. Medium format at the moment won’t have been as leading edge as SLRs (and even level and shoots) however Fuji managed to create a whole system of management capabilities on this digital camera that gave it these artistic controls. I by no means used these both. What I did use (not that I had a lot of a selection) was the digital camera’s autofocus system.
Put together to be disenchanted. Or extra particularly, put together for disappointment when taking pictures something nearer than 10 meters, as a result of each time you do, it’s a roll of the cube. There’s a guide focus and an autofocus perform. At first I puzzled who would use guide focus digital camera on a digital camera designed for automated perform, however after I acquired my negatives again and components I attempted to deal with have been delicate, I started to grasp.
[Photos in the gallery were made by the author using Kodak Portra, which you can purchase through our partner B&H Photo, and on eBay and Amazon. Our articles on Portra can be seen here.]
Ideas and Emotions… and Some Images
I’m penning this virtually one yr after utilizing the digital camera, so it’s a singular probability to essentially choose the digital camera extra from the images it made quite than from the immediacy of utilizing it. As I’m going again by way of the pictures, I see a digital camera doing its greatest to maintain up with the unreasonable calls for of its photographer. These pictures have been usually made on the worst time of day for pictures, that 10 am to 4 pm window that ensures excessive distinction scenes and unflattering mild.
I wish to say that I’m underwhelmed by the end result, however contemplating the legacy of movie pictures I’ve made during the last ten years – in most of the identical locations I visited throughout these rolls – I can’t blame my lack of enthusiasm on the digital camera. In truth, the pictures match lots of these I made with much more dependable and sturdy 35mm cameras, with equal quickness and (relative) flexibility. I’ve had much better experiences and outcomes from a Mamiya RB-67 however that digital camera requires extra effort, time and endurance. I’d have had pictures I used to be happier with by utilizing my mirrorless digital camera, however I didn’t need the additional work of enhancing, culling, coloration grading, and all of the issues that go right into a digital workflow.
With every other digital camera, I additionally would have lacked the important thing factor I acquired from the GA645Zi – the ingredient of enjoyable. I simply had fun utilizing this digital camera. It’s bizarre trying, makes loud crunchy noises, and basically is a goofy and quirky digital camera that gives a likewise goofy and quirky taking pictures expertise. However most of all it was straightforward. Exterior of my few days with the GA645Zi, I used to be residing within the extremes of prime stage mirrorless gear and a wood large-format subject digital camera. This digital camera was an almost senseless, go-with-flow break from these extra demanding cameras, and it served that goal to the nines.
The whole quantity of effort that went into making photographs with the GA645Zi was shopping for the 5 rolls of Kodak Portra, loading them, urgent a button a variety of occasions, and mailing them off for processing. I used to be capable of have an excellent time and seize some first rate pictures whereas touring round seeing locations that imply lots to me. It’s precisely the situation Fuji had in thoughts whereas growing this digital camera. Elevated pictures made straightforward, transportable and almost senseless for those that can afford a premium product.
Isn’t that also the kind of one who buys this digital camera as we speak? Somebody with barely more cash than sense, somebody who’s in search of a digital camera with a weirdness issue that may get you appears to be like on trip however doesn’t count on a lot from its proprietor to take first rate pictures? It’s straightforward to think about professionals and informal customers alike rolling their eyes on the $1,600 price ticket for a beefed up medium format level and shoot in 1998. We might fortunately proceed that custom for anybody spending almost that very same quantity as we speak for a similar digital camera with 30 years of wear and tear and tear.
It’s a cool little digital camera, and I don’t remorse our time collectively, however like a screaming child I didn’t have a component in creating, I’m glad I had a good friend handy it again to after I acquired dwelling.
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