Bronica S2 lenses to Nikon

N4646W · Jan 10, 2016

I have several Bronica S2's and lenses up to 600mm. All the lenses are Nikkor Q. Is there any adaptor available to use these on older Nikon SLR's and Nikon DSLR's. I know that I would have to use manual mode on the DSLR's, but that is fine as all my glass for the DSLR's is from my older Nikons.

I would very much like to use these Nikkor lenses as the results with the Bronica was impressive. I'm also switching over to digital as I no longer have a place for my dark room and being retired I just cannot afford to pick up more glass, so I would love to put what I have to use.

Ron

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 10, 2016

Hi Ron!

I'm also switching over to digital

In that case, your question is better served at DPUG or any other forum for Digitographers.
This one is mainly for Photography.
You don't need a darkroom in order to develop any film: a changing back is enough, so there's no excuses.
And there's plenty of labs around.
You should use that Bronica and sell any DSLR you have for film.

Good luck on your retirement.

bdial · Jan 10, 2016

Have you looked on ebay? There are a zillion adapters being made in China for various lens and camera combinations.
I don't know about a Bronica to Nikon adaptor, as I've never had a reason to look, but that's the first place I'd try.

Alternatively, you might be able to get a machinist to mate an appropriate Nikon mount to something like a Bronica extension tube, or perhaps the Bronica lens to a Nikon mount bellows. There are a lot of possibilities, depending on how "makeshift" you are willing for it to be. (not to mention what your budget might be for the project, it could easily exceed what just buying a lens or two would cost.)

choiliefan · Jan 10, 2016

Have you visited DPUG recently? It's pretty much deadsville over there. Pretty much useless for questions esoteric...

BradleyK · Jan 10, 2016

Not a whole lot of activity on the DPUG site, at least in comparison to APUG! Perhaps we analogue folks are more enthusiastic about our craft/hobby/profession? lol

lecarp · Jan 10, 2016

S

choiliefan said:
Have you visited DPUG recently? It's pretty much deadsville over there. Pretty much useless for questions esoteric...

Digital is dead! Long live film.

You should leave the Q's where they belong, on the Bronica cameras.
Far too many fine lenses are being butchered to land on the front of some d or another, shameful.
Talk of such is blasphemy!

Alan Gales · Jan 10, 2016

I doubt it. Those Nikkors used helical focussing on the cameras. Any adapter would also have to focus the lens.

Those old Nikkors had a great look. I can understand why you would want to use them. I used to shoot EC's.

Ever think of scanning? I can take 120 film to my local camera store. They will develop it and make a cd for me if I wish. The scans look great on the computer screen. If you decide to blow up something big you can always get an occasional drum scan.

aoresteen · Jan 10, 2016

There used to be a bellows unit that would adapt the Bronica internal lenses (40 to 200mm) to a Nikon F. I *think* it was made by Novoflex. Also, for lenses over 200mm (had their own helical) there was a fixed metal adapter to Nikon F not sure who made it. I would imagine that theses are very scarce now. Check eBay.

N4646W · Jan 10, 2016

Well it seem I am unable to reply to individual post.

Part of my problem is that I do not know the designation for the type of lenses the older Bronica's used (S2, S2A). I have contacted a supplier in China that says they manufacture an adaptor, but the language barrier and not knowing the correct designation for the types of lens mounts used on earlier Bronica's is slowing things up. Even Nikon was of no help.

The 200, 400, and 600mm lenses I have do have a focus ring on the lens proper. They do require that the focus ring be removed from the camera and a fixed ring is installed in it's place.

I do love film, but since I no longer have a darkroom, and the nearest reputable labs are over 300 miles away, for now it is digital. I still have all my darkroom equipment packed, but no room to set it up. Besides, since the Greenies have driven all the local labs out it is pretty much of a risk to set one up with out running a fowl with the local authorities. As far as using the Box stores to develop film, try and get one to push. The machines are set to do one thing only, and they are not going to reset unless you bring a large batch of film. The two I tried to deal with would only do it at the end cycle of a chemical change which could take some time. Little bit of a risk using exhausted chemistry.

I have looked on E-Bay and other places for an adaptor. But once again not knowing the proper designation for the lens mount is proving to be the problem. I was told that an SQ adaptor would work, found one a local shop, but it would not work. Comes close, but no cigar.

Ron

frank · Jan 10, 2016

I think it's called the Bronica S mount.

Alan Gales · Jan 11, 2016

The Early Bronica lenses fit the S, S2, S2a, EC and ECtl. They were made by Nikon, Bronica and Komura. Frank may be right about the name.

There were earlier Bronica cameras but I don't know anything about them.

N4646W · Jan 11, 2016

S mount?

Thanks, will see what I can find on it.

Ron

Sean Mac · Jan 11, 2016

"Bronicas first medium format cameras, the C,D and S had lousy reputations for durability."

"Models previous to the S2 focused by turning a knob on the side of the camera, which racked the lens mount in or out of the camera body, much as is done with a typical twin lens reflex. For the S2 Bronica abandoned this design in favour of a removable focusing helical adapter that goes between the body and lens."

Michael McBroom in McBrooms Camera Bluebook 1994

aoresteen · Jan 11, 2016

Frank is right. The lenses are known as Bronica S lenses. More info here:

http://www.craigcamera.com/research_trivbronica.htm

N4646W · Jan 12, 2016

From what I have read over the last few weeks, it does seem that the lenses for the S2, S2a were designated the S mount. When you get to the 400mm and up, because they had their own focusing ring it is unclear as you have to remove the focusing ring from the camera body to be replaced by a fixed ring. Nikon refers to these lens as P mount as they were initially for their range finder camera and mount modified for Bronica. The fixed ring will not accept any of the other Bronica lenses that need the focusing ring.

Ron

N4646W · Jan 16, 2016

Went and checked out an SQ adaptor. It looks as if the outer ring were machined off, the Nikon P mount focusing unit will fit. Will negotiate with the seller, don't want to put too much into it if I'm going to machine it and it won't work. Will keep you posted as to the out come.

Ron

Bronica S2 lenses to Nikon

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