Last weekend's "Memories of the Departed" thread reminded me of a camera I owned for 20+ years but never bonded with, the Fujica GS 645S, purchased new in 1994. I shot this one in July 1995, of Vista House on Crown Point, along the Columbia River, from the Menucha Retreat Center about a mile to the west. It had been dark and rainy all day; in late afternoon, the clouds cleared and a bit of sun peeked through, just long enough for me to notice the view and make the exposure.
I really wanted to like that camera. I probably shot more than 100 rolls over the years, but could never overcome the quirks: portrait composition when the camera was held "normally", and that the camera didn't like Fuji film. Whenever I used Fuji film, the takeup rolled loose, resulting in light leaks. This occurred 100% of the time with Fuji, but never Kodak film. I chalked it up to a difference in backing paper, with the Fuji paper perhaps being a little slicker or more polished than Kodak. In any event, the camera saw less and less use as we entered the 2000s, and went off to its new owner a couple of years ago.
