Anyone Still Using Bronica?

[Sirius Glass]

I bought one last year because I like the design; it came with the 80mm f/2.8, a 220 back, and WL finder. Since then, I've added a 150mm, 110mm macro, a 50mm, and the AE finder. I've also added a couple of 120 backs, since inserts are scarce. My set up is similar to my Hasselblad 500 C/M. I've shot test rolls with both cameras set up side-by-side, and to be honest, I can't tell a lot of difference in image quality.

Like others, I like to keep my like for the Bronica on the "down low". If too many people find out how good they are, prices will go through the roof.

i would not expect significant difference photographic between the Bronica and the Hasselblad, however is would expect differences in size and ergonomics. What matters is which one feels better in your hands.

 

[Cholentpot]

I bought one last year because I like the design; it came with the 80mm f/2.8, a 220 back, and WL finder. Since then, I've added a 150mm, 110mm macro, a 50mm, and the AE finder. I've also added a couple of 120 backs, since inserts are scarce. My set up is similar to my Hasselblad 500 C/M. I've shot test rolls with both cameras set up side-by-side, and to be honest, I can't tell a lot of difference in image quality.

Like others, I like to keep my like for the Bronica on the "down low". If too many people find out how good they are, prices will go through the roof.

The S2 line doesn't need a different back for 120/220 as far as I know.

 

[Tony-S]

I also have an RF645 with the 65mm lens. It's a really nice camera. I'd like to get the wide and telephoto but I doubt I will because of their really high costs.


Zombie Crawl 2013, Fort Collins #4 by Tony, on Flickr

Tour de Fat, Fort Collins, 2013-3 by Tony, on Flickr RF645-7 by Tony, on Flickr

 

[abruzzi]

I also have an RF645 with the 65mm lens. It's a really nice camera. I'd like to get the wide and telephoto but I doubt I will because of their really high costs.

The Bronica RF645 is the one Bronica system whose prices have stayed high. I'd love one but can't afford it.

 

[macfred]

The Bronica RF645 is the one Bronica system whose prices have stayed high. I'd love one but can't afford it.

+1 !

 

[jimjm]

The lenses for the RF645 are some of the best I've ever used. The metering is also incredibly accurate, I rarely see any missed exposures on the contact sheets.

RF645, 65mm lens, Acros 100

 

[ruilourosa]

Bronica sucks and hasselblad jams... Rolleis are prone to failure, mamiyas have a strange name, contaxes are just plain bourgeois and kievs are communist (communism is contagious, beware)...

they tend to be useful to take pictures...

 

[Cholentpot]

Anyone else have issues with flash sync and their S2/a? Mine won't and I've seen others say the same thing. It kind of hobbles my camera in a big way, if I can't use with my lights it becomes a little useless for half the year.

 

[ruilourosa]

had one s2, at first syncro was 1/30, then it went just for 1/15, then the shutter broke... no repair possible...

 

[Cholentpot]

had one s2, at first syncro was 1/30, then it went just for 1/15, then the shutter broke... no repair possible...

Mine just doesn't want to sync. If it does it's all over the place.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

The Bronica RF645 is a great little camera. I had one for about 3 or 4 years, however at that time in 2010 they were becoming a bit of a collectors item and I wanted a larger negative for some purposes so switched over to the Mamiya 7ii which wasn't as expensive then.

 

[Thorpelyon]

Since more than 20 years I am using a BRONICA SQ system.
2 SQ/A bodies, 2 SA/B bodies 1 SQ/Ai body - I prefer the SQ/A
8 120 film cassettes
2 135 W cassettes
40, 50, 65, 80, 110, 150, 180, 250, 500, 50-100(zoom) mm lenses
The BRONICA cameras and lenses perform perfect.
For there are no more spareparts available, I did stock up with bodies and film cassetes.

I have an SQ-Ai... can you tell me why you prefer the SQ A? I’ve never used one to compare.

 

[choiliefan]

I've heard the battery cover on the SQAi body can warp enough that poor electrical contact is made between the four(?) button cells.
SQA used a simpler single 3V battery.

 

[johnha]

I've heard the battery cover on the SQAi body can warp enough that poor electrical contact is made between the four(?) button cells.
SQA used a simpler single 3V battery.

My SQ-B uses a single 6v 4LR44 (PX28) battery, as this was based on the SQ-A I assume that used a similar battery. The SQ-Ai appears to use 4 separate LR44 batteries in a different holder.

 

[voceumana]

I suspect the SQ-Ai battery holder may be the reason some prefer the SQ-A/SQ-B. The 4 button cell holder pops out and bounces off if you don't restrain it when removing the batteries. The single cell of the A and B bodies does not exhibit this problem. Bronica probably though the Ai would provide for easier to find batteries.

 

[DWThomas]

I suspect the SQ-Ai battery holder may be the reason some prefer the SQ-A/SQ-B. The 4 button cell holder pops out and bounces off if you don't restrain it when removing the batteries. The single cell of the A and B bodies does not exhibit this problem. Bronica probably though the Ai would provide for easier to find batteries.

Actually I believe the switch to the four button cells was to gain some room for additional electronics in the SQ-Ai. I'm happy with my SQ-A which was about 25 or 30% less money at the time I bought it. I think the added electronics was to support some TTL flash metering? The winding crank interface on the Ai is not backward compatible with the earlier models either. So I took my (usual) middle-of-the-road approach!

 

[flavio81]

Finally got back my first contact sheet with the ETRSi and the 75/2.8 EII.

It passed my main test: how able am I to handhold this camera down to 1/4 sec? With mirror lockup, good results.

So i'm a very, very happy user. Just bought the WLF as well, so now i got the prism and the WLF. The WLF has bigger magnification and it makes easier to nail focus, for me.

I'm thrilled that it basically is as portable as any of my top 35mm cameras (Nikon F2 / Canon F-1N).

Like others, I like to keep my like for the Bronica on the "down low". If too many people find out how good they are, prices will go through the roof.

This. I shall keep the Mamiya as my avatar picture, though the ETRSi might become my new #1 favorite camera soon.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

I had a Bronica S2a with multiple lenses and took some excellent photos with that system. Lenses included 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 135mm, 200mm, and a 300mm Zensanon. The 40mm and 50mm were both f2.8 multi-coated Zensanons. (The Nikons were too prone to flare.)

I really liked my Bronica. But with age, I had trouble focusing at close distances and couldn't accurately focus the S2a. So, I sold the whole kit.

I currently have an RB67 Pro-S with lenses, along with a MF view camera and a Mamiya Press Universal system. All three accept RB67 backs. The RB67 has diopter corrections, so I can focus without problems.

 

[ruilourosa]

stranger than using bronicas is using a mamiya press but i really love the 100 2.8...

 

[Klaus_H]

I have an SQ-Ai... can you tell me why you prefer the SQ A? I’ve never used one to compare.

I have the impression the SQ/A is more solid than the SQ/Ai, there is less plastic. The issue with the battery holder has already been metioned. The winding crank of the SQ/A is more comfortable to use than the crank of the SQ/Ai.
... just my opinion ...

 

[abruzzi]

I have the impression the SQ/A is more solid than the SQ/Ai, there is less plastic. .

there is a similar feeling about the ETRSi. I’ve never held an older one but supposedly the ETR, and earlier ETRS cameras were metal bodied, and later ETRS and ETRSi are plastic bodied. To be honest I’ve never felt my ETRSi lacking, but one of these days I’d like to find a cheap ETR body just to feel the difference.

on another note, I’ve been considering either selling my Pentax 67 kit or trading it for a GS-1. I like the Pentax, but I’ve found that I prefer the “Hasselblad” style cameras with removable backs and waist level finders. And the GS-1 is smaller and more straightforward than an RB or RZ.

 

[rubbernglue]

I have a Bronica S and EC-TL, and occasionally thoughts of a ETR.. but I have already had a Mamiya 645 ProTL and did not get along that well with the format, I just thought that a Bronica might be nicer

 

[RedSun]

Actually I believe the switch to the four button cells was to gain some room for additional electronics in the SQ-Ai. I'm happy with my SQ-A which was about 25 or 30% less money at the time I bought it. I think the added electronics was to support some TTL flash metering? The winding crank interface on the Ai is not backward compatible with the earlier models either. So I took my (usual) middle-of-the-road approach!

Yes, it is all about electronics. It was designed with the new style film holder and the AE III finder. The battery cover can easily pop open you lose the battery holder. It costs a fortune to get it replaced. I'll tape the battery door just in case.

 

[RedSun]

there is a similar feeling about the ETRSi. I’ve never held an older one but supposedly the ETR, and earlier ETRS cameras were metal bodied, and later ETRS and ETRSi are plastic bodied. To be honest I’ve never felt my ETRSi lacking, but one of these days I’d like to find a cheap ETR body just to feel the difference.

on another note, I’ve been considering either selling my Pentax 67 kit or trading it for a GS-1. I like the Pentax, but I’ve found that I prefer the “Hasselblad” style cameras with removable backs and waist level finders. And the GS-1 is smaller and more straightforward than an RB or RZ.

The issue with the older metal bodies is the rust. The metal bodies can rust and oxidize faster than the hard plastics. Also the ETR and ETR-c get really old now.

 

[moto-uno]

So I own a couple of Bronicas (Etrs & Etrsi ) , as for the metal vs plastic , well the lens release on the Etrs is metal and the Etrsi is plastic , that's pretty
much the extent of differences on the outside . There is less than 20 gms difference between the two bodies and a magnet sticks to all the same places on each . So I'm not so sure
there's a lot of mileage with this plastic feel of an newer body compared to the older one. And yes the new one is the lighter of them ! FWIW though , the lens are easier
to remove with the plastic release button . Peter