Bronica 40mm MC or 50mm MC?

Uncle Goose · Jan 17, 2010

So after some fiddling on the dead 50mm MC lens I concluded that I cannot repair this lens by myself and considering there is a ding in the focus and the lens has had it best time it's the moment to get another one. I'm gonna buy one from Keh because it's cheaper then shopping locally even with the shipping price oversee.

Keh has 2 wide-angles for the ETRSi that I like, the 40mm MC or the 50mm MC. The 40 is a little more expensive then the 50 but only by 20$. So who has used the 40mm MC and how is it to use?? The 50mm I know well enough so this is a save backup if the 40mm isn't what I like. I know that the 40mm is only f4 while the 50mm is a f2.8, any problems with focus?? Is it worth the loss in lens speed versus the 10mm wider angle?? Tell me because I have to decide on which one to buy.

Thanx

Q.G. · Jan 17, 2010

I haven't use these Bronica lenses, but have used both 50 mm and 40 mm lenses on 6x6 and 6x4.5. I can tell you that the mere 10 mm difference in focal length hides a rather big difference in angle of view.
While the 50 mm is a run-of-the-mill wide angle (nothing wrong with that), the 40 mm already is in the super wide category.

I like both focal lengths, and can't decide which, if i could only have one, i would rather have.

paul ron · Jan 17, 2010

I just took a look at KEH 40mm. They are in Ugly condition unless you are looking at the one for $245? I've never gotten their uglies but from the description they are almost blind man's glasses.

The 50mm is a nice lens and not much difference in angle.

wiltw · Jan 18, 2010

Bronica 40mm vs 50mm

On an ETRS body, the 50mm is a 'moderate wide' while the 40mm is a 'very wide' angle lens...think of 24mm vs. 30mm WA on 135 format.

The frame is 42mm tall on Bronica 645...so the 40mm is about the same as frame height...24mm on the 135 format frame! And 50mm is about 1.25x frame height, or about 30mm lens on 135 format.

I would not attempt to shoot groups from relatively close distance with the 40mm because of induced perspective distortion, while I would have no reservations about shooting the group with 50mm lens, when covering weddings or other events.

lxdude · Jan 18, 2010

It sounds like you're ready to retire your 50mm and give the venerable veteran a place of honor on your bookshelf.

I think wiltw pretty much covered the difference between the 40mm and 50mm, regarding angle of view. I just multiply by .6 to get the equivalent focal length in 135 format.

http://www.tamron.com/bronica/prod/etrsi.asp

Click on >Lenses. The lenses are the newer PE type, but they're very similar.

If you were really happy with the 50mm I suggest getting another. If you have sometimes thought you needed something wider, then consider the 40mm. Focusing for me with the 40 isn't too bad. My 54 year old eyes can still focus it on my (preferred) plain matte screen, but the microprism or split image are a lot faster. The f/4 does not darken the split image or microprism, which will work with f/5.6 lenses with careful attention to eye position, in my experience.
Obviously the longer focal length and larger aperture of the 50 will make it easier to focus, therefore easier to use quickly.

You said before that you love your 50 and were sad to lose it. I know with 135 format my favorite wide angle lens is a 28mm and I wouldn't give it up to keep my 17mm, 24mm or my (little-used) 35mm.
Though the 40mm is equivalent to a 24mm in 135 format, I decided to get the 40 because of the different aspect ratio between the 645 and 135 formats. I've been quite happy with it, but have begun thinking about the 50mm as maybe a better all-round wide angle. I'd still keep my 40, as I like what it gives, but sometimes it's a little too wide. I could crop some off the 40mm images to give the field of view of the 50mm, but there's still the matter of that extra stop, which would come in handy at times, and the easier focusing.

I guess what it comes down to, Uncle Goose, is if you want to stick with Auntie Goose or look around to see what else might fluff your feathers.

lxdude · Jan 18, 2010

Uncle G., after looking at what KEH has, and considering what you're going to pay for shipping to Belgium, I'm thinking why not get both?

A 40mm MC in EX condition is $119, a 50mm MC in EX is $89, in BGN condition $62-65.
A KEH BGN lens or other BGN item will have cosmetic wear that's sometimes hard to see, but will be fully functional.

If you got both and decided to keep only one, I'd expect you could sell it locally for enough money to recover your cost.

Uncle Goose · Jan 18, 2010

Both would be nice but I'm kinda strapped for cash as I'm being a student again, so it's really one or the other. I'm gonna look around on the web for some samples before making the decision.

Edit: the decision has been made, I'll go for the 40mm MC. Seems like a great lens and I'm doing architectural photo's most of the time so it's suitable for me.

Thanx for the advice everyone.

Uncle Goose · Jan 19, 2010

Oh boy, trouble seems to be an ongoing issue with me. Now I saw a real nice 40mm MC on KEH.com, no problem I thought, they accept paypal. So I wired the necessary amount to my paypal account (takes a day or 2) then see it's on my account and go to the Keh website like a kid to a toy-store, I select the desired lens go to the checkout, select paypal and then all came clear. YOU NEED A FUCKING CONFIRMED ADDRESS!! And the worst part of all this is, in Europe it's impossible to confirm your address, even with a creditcard. So where does this leave me?? are there other reliable resources to purchase Bronica lenses at about the same prices without this stupid issue??

What's the deal anyway with this confirmed shit? My address is in my paypal account right?? they see that when I pay them and paypal can see it because they have my details of the banktransfer I did towards my paypal account.

Q.G. · Jan 19, 2010

Call or email KEH.
Explain that confirmed addresses are indeed not something PayPal grants to us over here.

Uncle Goose · Jan 19, 2010

mail send, I hope they respond.

MattKing · Jan 19, 2010

Are you sure that you cannot obtain a confirmed address?

Paypal has two levels of address security.

The top level is a "verified" address, and to get that you need an address in the USA that corresponds to a billing address for a credit card. Us Canadians cannot get a verified address (unless we have a US credit card and US billing address).

The second level is a "confirmed" address, which can be outside the US.

Of course, this might be particular to Canada.

Matt

Uncle Goose · Jan 20, 2010

MattKing said:
Are you sure that you cannot obtain a confirmed address?

Paypal has two levels of address security.

The top level is a "verified" address, and to get that you need an address in the USA that corresponds to a billing address for a credit card. Us Canadians cannot get a verified address (unless we have a US credit card and US billing address).

The second level is a "confirmed" address, which can be outside the US.

Of course, this might be particular to Canada.

Matt

I contacted paypal for this issue and they said it's impossible unless you live in the UK, all other European countries don't seem to need this because it's system of money and such is different. Doesn't help me of course and Keh does not even respond. So my only chance now to get a lens is Evilbay and I will get a 50mm MC again as they are the cheapest of the wide angles.

Uncle Goose · Jan 20, 2010

Does Keh even respond to mails?? I have send them a couple with no answer whatsoever, I'm tempted to try to buy one from them with a Visa from my Mother in law but seeing how unresponsive they are I beginning to doubt if they can be trusted to begin with.

djorourke · Jan 20, 2010

I've had great experiences ordering from KEH.

In my case, I've always phoned them. Being in Canada, they offer "International Mail" as a delivery option when you call them on the phone. Which saves me a ton on brokerage fees.

Give them a call. In my experience they're quick to pick up.

lxdude · Jan 20, 2010

Uncle Goose said:
Does Keh even respond to mails?? I have send them a couple with no answer whatsoever, I'm tempted to try to buy one from them with a Visa from my Mother in law but seeing how unresponsive they are I beginning to doubt if they can be trusted to begin with.

KEH is great, and very responsive if you call them, but they just don't answer emails. I think they should either say they don't, or remove the email option.
KEH have their shortcomings, like their website problems, which didn't seem to be improved much by their revamp of it. But they are good folks.

Uncle Goose · Jan 21, 2010

At last I got a mail from Keh saying I can not use paypal and that I should wire the money. So after some calculation I made up my mind and bought a 50mm MC on the ebay from a seller who gives a 12 month guarantee and accepts paypal without all the hassle of needless address verification and so on. If I wire the money to Keh they charge me an additional 25$ and my bank adds also 15$ because it's outside the EURO zone. I don't want to shell out an additional 40$ just to be served by a company that only gives you a 14 day return and no guarantee.

Granted, the lens I bought is more expensive then ordering with Keh but it has warranty and since it's in the EU I don't have to worry for import charges too (which might add another 30 to 40euro). If I have bad luck and customs charges me then the lens from Keh would be more expensive then the one I bought from the UK, plus I could see the actual lens, something that is not possible with Keh.

paul ron · Jan 21, 2010

Move to the US?

Uncle Goose · Jan 21, 2010

paul ron said:
Move to the US?

No thanx, I'm fine where I am right now. Bronica gear might be harder to come by but at least I have free healthcare without paying insane amounts of money on insurance and I have freedom without all those "anti-terrorist" measurements nor do I have the chance to disappear without a trace in some military prison on charges of who knows what (like photographing things or so).

Land of the free?? Maybe it was a 100 years ago but nowadays I rather call Belgium the Land of the free.

Q.G. · Jan 21, 2010

Uncle Goose said:
[...] I rather call Belgium the Land of the free.

Lands of the free even. Counting Bruxelles and the East-Cantons, 4 lands rather than one?

I had to look, but i have indeed bought stuff from KEH once (2007 it was. Can't say that i'm a loyal customer.... Sorry KEH! You were a pleasure to deal with!), and i then payed using my PayPal account with associated unconfirmed address.
I don't remember how i did it (Alzheimer probably), but it worked. I do know that they needed my telephone nummer. Not that it was used for anything.

So perhaps you should not give up hope yet, Uncle?!

Uncle Goose · Jan 22, 2010

I think that was a loophole in the old website, I believe they changed it and probably plugged that hole up.

Bronica 40mm MC or 50mm MC?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency