I started collecting film cameras in 2012. The GA-645 was a camera that everyone was raving about at that time for its compact size, ease of use, and the beautiful, sharp, crisp images it produced. It was particularly praised as a point-and-shoot camera, especially for travel. It’s a medium-format 6 x 4.5 rangefinder film camera from Fujifilm.
It was also around this time that I began my journey in film photography. I had started with Canon digital cameras the year before, and eventually, by the end of that year, I began shooting with the Contax 645 and the Hasselblad 500CM system. I had acquired those two earlier in my collection; both are SLR-type medium-format cameras. For some reason, most of the film cameras I bought at that time were medium format rather than 35mm.
After hearing all the buzz about the GA-645, my curiosity was piqued, so I decided to get one, along with the older and wider model—the GS-645.
It was my first medium-format rangefinder and my very first experience with a rangefinder. Being new to photography at that time and jumping into a rangefinder system was a bit confusing. I was still trying to figure out the Contax and Hasselblad systems while learning to shoot on film.
I didn’t feel confident yet as a total newbie, and I preferred the SLR system more at that time than the rangefinder system, so I stored both the GA-645 and the GS-645 in my dry box.
I used them occasionally on a few of my travels back home to Sydney and on local trips outside Jakarta. Eventually, I moved on to other rangefinder brands like the Mamiya 7II, which became my favourite medium-format film camera in my collection. Both the GA-645 and GS-645 remained in the dry box for about ten years. I sold them a year ago for an unexpectedly high price—more than what I had initially paid.
This is a great camera for anyone wanting to start shooting medium-format film. The GA-645 made me shoot in portrait mode a lot. The only bit of advice I could give for shooting with this camera is: -
don’t forget to take the lens cap off!