Bronica ETRS vs. ... ETRS?

[Deleted member 88956]

There are clearly two iterations of Bronica's ETRS. Difference I see are external, but perhaps have something to do with operation or reliability.

Basically one has lens release button on the front the other slider on the side. Also one has shutter wheel with "silver handle" the other plain wheel.

Which one is older, by how many "moons", and is there a real difference.

While I like ETRSi more and more, second body might be from the ETRS line up, even if it does not have the MLU.

 

[macfred]

''... ETRS: Introduced October 1978 Improved version of the ETR with an extra contact to support auto-exposure mode with the metered prism finder AE-II and later AE-III.
ETRS: A modification introduced July 1982, ETRS production discontinued September 1989. Unnamed change to original ETRS model. Lens release sliding lever latch located to left side of camera side panel, film-backs released using two independent tabs. This version is reputedly referred to as the "plastic" body ETRS and film-back, for the change in the side panels of the body and film-backs to polycarbonade ...''

source wikipedia.com

 

[Deleted member 88956]

''... ETRS: Introduced October 1978 Improved version of the ETR with an extra contact to support auto-exposure mode with the metered prism finder AE-II and later AE-III.
ETRS: A modification introduced July 1982, ETRS production discontinued September 1989. Unnamed change to original ETRS model. Lens release sliding lever latch located to left side of camera side panel, film-backs released using two independent tabs. This version is reputedly referred to as the "plastic" body ETRS and film-back, for the change in the side panels of the body and film-backs to polycarbonade ...''

source wikipedia.com

Thanks for that, I suspected this all black ETRS with lens slider release was newer.

Do you have direct experience between this older but newer ETRS vs. ETRSi?

 

[macfred]

Do you have direct experience between this older but newer ETRS vs. ETRSi?

Nope - ''only'' two ETRSi bodies here ...

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Nope - ''only'' two ETRSi bodies here ...

and all latest film backs? any with the thumb wheel style winder?

 

[macfred]

and all latest film backs? any with the thumb wheel style winder?

Two older backs here - one with a small foldable crank (''ETR'' written on the backside) and another with the thumb wheel (no letters on this one) - both working like they should.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Two older backs here - one with a small foldable crank (''ETR'' written on the backside) and another with the thumb wheel (no letters on this one) - both working like they should.

Great, thanks.

 

[RedSun]

The original ETR-S has more chrome color and more metal construction. But they are much older.
The newer ETR-S is all black, just like the ETR-Si. It is more plastic, just like the ETR-Si. It comes with the bulky motor winder and film backs with knobs to wind the film. The back release is two tabs. I'll get the ETR-Si instead of the plastic ETR-S.
The latest ETR-Si comes with a slim motor winder called Ei and film back Ei with two tabs and a winding crank to wind the film on the film back.

 

[abruzzi]

I have an ETRSi and a back-up ETRS (new version with the lens release on the side.) Apart from the couple feature differences, they feel identical in use. I would like to handle an older ETRS or ETR since some people claim that they are more metal and more solid, but that is mostly curiosity--I love my ETRSi as it is.

 

[mshchem]

ETRSi is a heck of a tool. Ttl flash, these can still be found in nice shape. SQAi 6x6 version great camera too.

All modern Bronicas are battery dependent.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

ETRSi is a heck of a tool. Ttl flash, these can still be found in nice shape. SQAi 6x6 version great camera too.

All modern Bronicas are battery dependent.

You can still shoot at 1/500 with no power though, not much, but sometimes good enough.

I do like ETRSi and is taking front seat before Pentax 645.

 

[mshchem]

One other very important point. Bronica has a leaf shutter in every lens (like almost every Hasselblad lens) so you can use outdoor fill flash easy.

 

[RedSun]

ETRSi is a heck of a tool. Ttl flash, these can still be found in nice shape. SQAi 6x6 version great camera too.

All modern Bronicas are battery dependent.

The SQ-Ai and GS-1 bodies won't do anything without battery.

 

[itsdoable]

The SQ-Ai and GS-1 bodies won't do anything without battery.

My GS-1 will trigger at 1/500 and T without a battery.

 

[RedSun]

My GS-1 will trigger at 1/500 and T without a battery.

I would not say that is trigger release. Those are special mechanical movements.

The ETR series bodies can be triggered by pressing normal front trigger release button at 1/500 without battery.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

My GS-1 will trigger at 1/500 and T without a battery.

So is ETRS, SQAi (strangely) Bronica fails to acknowledge the 1/500 mechanical operation (does the timed exposures) but in SQA manual 1/500 is also mechanically controlled. It might be good to check with SQ-Ai users if indeed battery is needed for the 1/500 as well, since that would be very odd if not the case.

 

[mshchem]

One thing I do understand is the Bronica system has the electronics that control the shutter timing in the body.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

One thing I do understand is the Bronica system has the electronics that control the shutter timing in the body.

Yes, except shutter will fire at 1/500, which is the mechanical operation of it, and consequently the timed mode is also power independent.

On the SQ-Ai (from manual, don't own one) it is odd to not se same mentioned. But it appears that Ai added Bulb mode (which DOES consume power). So timed mode is advised for shots longer than 1 minute to conserve battery. I would guess Ai will also fire shutter at 1/500 without power, somehow can't see it written up though.

 

[RedSun]

So is ETRS, SQAi (strangely) Bronica fails to acknowledge the 1/500 mechanical operation (does the timed exposures) but in SQA manual 1/500 is also mechanically controlled. It might be good to check with SQ-Ai users if indeed battery is needed for the 1/500 as well, since that would be very odd if not the case.

With both SQ-Ai and GS-1 bodies, without battery, you can't press the front trigger button to operate the shutter. There are some sequencies that you can use mirror lock up and multi exposure to open shutter at 1/500. But it is very complex and not recommended. Any error will ruin the film.

I believe you can operate the shutter at 1/500 without battery with almost all other camera bodies.

 

[RedSun]

One thing I do understand is the Bronica system has the electronics that control the shutter timing in the body.

You notice the gold color contacts on the Bronica lenses? Bronica actually had very advanced electronic technology at that time. Maybe more advanced than both Nikon and Cannon. Nikon had some lenses without any electronic contacts.

 

[RedSun]

My GS-1 will trigger at 1/500 and T without a battery.

If you look closely at the GS hand grip, it is electronic trigger, not mechanical trigger. When you push the trigger button, nothing moves mechanically.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

If you look closely at the GS hand grip, it is electronic trigger, not mechanical trigger. When you push the trigger button, nothing moves mechanically.

View attachment 237210

Yes but that is not the point. Mechanical release will trigger shutter at 1/500 without power, I'm not sure if speed grip mounted prevents mechanical operation of shutter button, never checked on that, but I'd be surprised if it does (and I sure hope when shutter is locked, speed grip is not going to trigger it).

 

[RedSun]

Yes but that is not the point. Mechanical release will trigger shutter at 1/500 without power, I'm not sure if speed grip mounted prevents mechanical operation of shutter button, never checked on that, but I'd be surprised if it does (and I sure hope when shutter is locked, speed grip is not going to trigger it).

That is exactly the point. GS-1 body is electronically operated. It won't operate properly without battery. The body and shutter are triggered by front trigger button, hand grip or the remote cable. They are all electronic operations and powered by battery. There is even a power switch on GS-1 body.

Hand grip has nothing to do with GS-1 mechanical trigger. There is no such a thing since GS-1 is never mechanically triggered.

Get a GS-1 body and test it...

 

[Deleted member 88956]

That is exactly the point. GS-1 body is electronically operated. It won't operate properly without battery. The body and shutter are triggered by front trigger button, hand grip or the remote cable. They are all electronic operations and powered by battery. There is even a power switch on GS-1 body.

Hand grip has nothing to do with GS-1 mechanical trigger. There is no such a thing since GS-1 is never mechanically triggered.

Get a GS-1 body and test it...

Fine, still GS1 will trigger at 1/500 and in timed exposure without power, check manual.

 

[itsdoable]

The shutter button on the right of the GS-1 body and grip are electronic. However there is a separate mechanical shutter release (mirror pre-trigger) on the left side of the body, which allows 1/500 and T with the camera power off, or battery removed, and is the recommended release for long time exposures to limit battery consumption.