Anyone Still Using Bronica?

[RedSun]

I see here few people mention Bronica. It is probably one of the most overlooked brand here at medium format. Its latest designs, ETR-Si, SQ-Ai and GS bodies were state of the art toward the end of the film era. Its 135 narrow and 135 wide (pano) are the most sought after film backs. The 135 wide film frame is 24x54mm. See page here:

https://www.lomography.com/magazine/95269-bronica-etrsi-135w-film-back

All Bronica cameras are truly modular. You can still find some good condition cameras if you know where to look.

 

[petrk]

We, Bronica owners, are keeping our secrets. One of them is not to attract much attention, otherwise prices will jump up. Enough od the talk about Hasselblad ...

 

[RedSun]

Ok. I'll mention more Mamiya and Hasselblad. Even Pentax.

 

[BAC1967]

I still use my ETR-Si, I even modified it to fit on my microscope.

Leitz SM Microscope with Zenza Bronica ETRSi by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[moto-uno]

Down to just two Etrs(i) and a half dozen lenses and they've been around ! Tough and easily handheld , great for travel . Peter

 

[GRHazelton]

We, Bronica owners, are keeping our secrets. One of them is not to attract much attention, otherwise prices will jump up. Enough od the talk about Hasselblad ...

"One of them is not to attract much attention, otherwise prices will jump up." Hah! Firing a Bronica S2a is like firing a gun! Horses shy, women faint, and small children scream, such is the racket! Seriously,on my strolls I've seen exactly ONE Bronica. I have the S2a and the ERTSi, each with several lenses.

 

[macfred]

ETRSi user here from Germany - two bodies; 4 film backs; AEIII Prism finder; WLF; Speedgrip; 40, 50, 75 and 105mm lenses. Love the 105mm f/3.5 !

 

[jimjm]

SQ-A body with several back and finders, and lots of lenses. This setup is very versatile and gets used regularly.
An RF645 with 45, 65 and 100mm lenses. This is one of my favorite cameras with incredibly sharp lenses.

 

[abruzzi]

I love my ETRSi and I also love how much stuff costs for this thing. There are only few expensive lenses, and most of them (except for the PE500) are not expensive when compared to Hasselblad. I have an ETRSi, and backup ETRS, and a broken ETRSi that I keep around for parts (the only thing broken the the film backs won't latch. It might be an easy fix, but I haven't tried yet. For lenses I have most of the PE lenses 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 100, 135, 150, 250. of those, only the 30mm cost more than US$150, most cost under US$100. I still need the 105 macro, 180, 200, and 500. the 200 is cheap, I just haven't got around to it. The rest are pricy, and the 500 is probably beyond what I'll spend. Among all of those, I shoot the 60, 75, and 15 the most. I've probably shot 120+ rolls with it, and never had a problem.

ETRSi, PE50mm, Ektar 100

 

[RedSun]

Wonder why so few people use the 6x7 GS. Just the 6x7 format is boring, or the gear is too large for field use? I carry it to the field and I do not feel it is much larger or heavier than the SQ body.

 

[Jeremy Mudd]

I still occasionally shoot with my S2a. There's something about that shutter sound! Love it.

 

[mshchem]

I sent away the last of my Bronica stuff to KEH last night. SQ-AI, finders, backs, (including the 135W) beautiful cameras. I still have two beautiful Hasselblads, RZ67 II, Fuji rangefinders. I'm trying to reduce my camera load before I'm declared legally insane .

If my wife knew how much money I have spent on cameras, I would be sleeping in the garage . Good news is I bought everything used so not much of a financial hit.

 

[voceumana]

I just got a GS-1 system--it was either new/old stock or demo equipment. I already have an SQ-Ai and SQ-B.

Bronica made some fine equipment.

 

[etn]

We, Bronica owners, are keeping our secrets. One of them is not to attract much attention, otherwise prices will jump up. Enough od the talk about Hasselblad ...

This surely does not make it a poor man's Hasselblad, does it? (hopefully not...)

If my wife knew how much money I have spent on cameras, I would be sleeping in the garage . Good news is I bought everything used so not much of a financial hit.

I hear you man... last week my wife stumbled on the invoice of my newly acquired 180 CFi... she said "Oh, what is that?" me, blushing: hmm, errr, stuff, you know... Hasselblad... good opportunity... can resell for higher... errm...
Then she surprized me: Don't worry, you can buy what you like!
I love her every day a bit more! still, there are things I prefer not to brag too much about...

 

[etn]

Not wanting to start a Hasselblad vs Bronica debate (this has been beaten to death, and there are pros and cons of both - so no winner or loser here), it would be interesting to know the availability of each on the used market.

Here in Germany second-hand stores, I regularly see Hasselblad stuff but rarely, if ever, Bronica. (This surely varies by region!) There might be several reasons for this: Hasselblad could have had a much wider pro user base in the pre-digital days, Bronica users love their cameras so much that they hold on to them, Hassy owners are frustrated by the jamming-prone system and start realizing they can sell it for more money they bought it for in the first place, Leicas are much better for showing off than Hasselbads anyway, etc.

 

[macfred]

My Bronica stuff came from England (GB always was ''Bronica land'') and one body with AEIII finder came from Japan.

 

[anthonym3]

I see here few people mention Bronica. It is probably one of the most overlooked brand here at medium format. Its latest designs, ETR-Si, SQ-Ai and GS bodies were state of the art toward the end of the film era. Its 135 narrow and 135 wide (pano) are the most sought after film backs. The 135 wide film frame is 24x54mm. See page here:

https://www.lomography.com/magazine/95269-bronica-etrsi-135w-film-back

All Bronica cameras are truly modular. You can still find some good condition cameras if you know where to look.

What do you mean "END OF THE FILM ERA"?

 

[RedSun]

I think US was and still the largest market for Bronica. It is just that after Tamron discontinued Bronica, it is just a hidden orphan market out there. But those equipment last almost forever if you take good care of it.

I only have Bronica and do not and won't compare it against anything else. At least it fits my budget well and it won't burn a hole in my pocket. Good quality equipment at very reasonable price.

Even a consumer level DSLR kit would cost $1k or more. At pro level, you can get to $10k very quickly.

 

[moto-uno]

^ And you really don't have to take "good "care of them , just don't drop them too often from shoulder height ( makes it hard getting the filters off ) , Peter

 

[Thorpelyon]

Bronica S2, S2A, SQA, SQAi... and way too many lenses, extension tubes, bellows, etc... I do love the 6x6 format.

I have been warned by several well-meaning friends that Bronica spare parts are almost non-existent anymore, and many repair experts have thrown in the towel. Does anyone have any repairmen recommendations?

 

[Trask]

Bronica S2 w/40mm, 50mm, several 75mm, 135mm, etc, and an EC-TL too — when I put the EC-TL on the pistol grip and install the prism, it looks like I’m holding Thor’s hammer. Now if only I looked like Chris Hemsworth! Oh, and an SQ-A w/various lenses. Love the SQ-A with the side grip with thumb film advance — so easy to hold and use.

 

[zen_zanon]

Bought my SQ-A in 2006 at the age of 16 and have loved it ever since. I have the 50mm, 80mm, 150mm as well as the super rare 135W back I found in a shop in Vietnam for $30. Never seen a reason to get another 6x6 SLR camera as it does everything I want in a cheap package that I'm not afraid to take out into the elements and beat up. I have not given the camera an easy 15 years and it's never missed a beat.

Here's a Provia 100F frame from the pano back.

And a Portra 160 frame shot during a snowstorm (can't tell how heavy the snow was falling due to the ~1min exposure).

 

[Truzi]

I've a GS-1 with a couple lenses. It's a nice camera and I use it often.

 

[jimjm]

SQ-A, 80mm lens

 

[Johnkpap]

I have a ETRSi kit with a motor drive and 5 lenses, had it for years put 100's of rolls through it never had a jam has never let me down great camera, I also have a GS-1 the lenses for this camera are incredibly cheap you can buy a lens that sold new for $2000 - 3000 New for $200 or less !!!! the lenses are outstanding., The only issue is that it takes time to find all the bits to build up a full kit,..... but like the ETRs it is very reliable does not jam and costs less than a Hasselblad .....if you need 6x6 just fit a 6x6 back.

Johnkpap