Bronica S2A or Pentacon Six

[Archimedes the Dog]

I am in the market for a new 6x6 medium format camera. I've grown tired of fiddling with a TLR, and I like older equipment for aesthetic as well as character reasons. I've narrowed my field down to either a Bronica S2A or a Pentagon Six. Both have things going for them, both have their own challenges. Seeking input on which of these two people would choose and why.

Edit: should have done a poll. :/

 

[cuthbert]

IMO they are two cameras too different to be compared, one is a Hassemblad like box camera, the other is an overgrown SLR like the Pentax 67.

A fair comparison is the S2A against the Kiev 88 or the Pentacon Vs the Kiev 60 or the Pentax.

 

[Archimedes the Dog]

I guess, still kind of the choice I am making though. The box camera form factor is bulky but robust, and the S2A has a rep for reliability. The Pentacon has a rep for being fidgety, but it has a more usable form factor and some pretty awesome lenses.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've had both, a Pentacon 6 system with 4 lenses and a very extensive S2A system with many lenses and accessories, and I'd recommend the Bronica S2A.

The one really good Zeiss Jena lens that I had was the 50mm Flektogon. The others were nothing special, and eventually the body developed the frame spacing issues that are very common with these cameras. It was a good camera to have in the late 1980s for street photography in Poland, because it didn't mark me as a foreigner, as my Canon New F-1 did.

The S2A has many more options available, and the Nikkor lenses are excellent. You can get a tilt-shift bellows for macro/tabletop work. There's a leaf shutter lens for high-speed flash sync. The 40mm Nikkor is as good as any medium format SLR lens of that focal length in its day.

 

[Archimedes the Dog]

Thanks, I think I'm leaning that direction, after asking.

 

[Sirius Glass]

A Pentacon, SL66, RZ67, Hasselblad and Bronica each behave in their own way. Which operates and feels good for one photography will be the worst camera in the world for another photographer. So I recommend that you borrow, rent, try in a camera store, try your friends ... cameras as much as you can to help you make a decision which is personal for you.

I did not like the Mamiya C330 system that I inherited. I shot several dozen rolls of film and I could never get beyond the fiddliness that I perceived. I found that the Hasselblad felt the best in my hands. Others I did not like the size, location of controls, weight, lack of quality feel, ... I am not saying that the other cameras were worse or bad, they just were not for me.

 

[StephenT]

I'm very pleased with my S2A. Still on the lookout for a backup body.

 

[cuthbert]

Thanks, I think I'm leaning that direction, after asking.

I'm not an expert in medium format, but I know the CZJ lenses have a stellar reputation, on 35mm I have a few of them for the Praktica B system and they are all better than Nikon and Canon, the Vario Sonnar in particular is the best zoom I've ever tried and the Pancolar 50mm f1.4 while rare is astonishing in terms of IQ. the Flek 20mm f2.8 is also excellent.

I also understand the Pentacon 6 is a CLA queen, if you like the box camera and CZJ lenses perhaps the solution is a Kiev 88CM or a 60TTL in good condition, surely they aren't as refined as the Bronica but I heard Arax and Hartblei sell refurbished Kievs that are generally reliable.

 

[Alan Gales]

I've never owned a Pentacon Six but I used to shoot Bronica EC's and also owned an S2a at one time.

Like David says, the Nikkor lenses are sharp. I owned the 40mm, 75mm and 200mm. I also owned the 135mm Nikkor which has a reputation for being soft. My version was no different but you might like it for portraiture. They go for almost nothing now if you want to try one. I also owned the 150mm Bronica lens which is an excellent portrait lens and if you shoot portraits, I highly recommend it!

The 40mm is really hard to find but the 50mm Nikkors are out there and said to be sharp too.

 

[mweintraub]

I'm not an expert in medium format, but I know the CZJ lenses have a stellar reputation, on 35mm I have a few of them for the Praktica B system and they are all better than Nikon and Canon, the Vario Sonnar in particular is the best zoom I've ever tried and the Pancolar 50mm f1.4 while rare is astonishing in terms of IQ. the Flek 20mm f2.8 is also excellent.

I also understand the Pentacon 6 is a CLA queen, if you like the box camera and CZJ lenses perhaps the solution is a Kiev 88CM or a 60TTL in good condition, surely they aren't as refined as the Bronica but I heard Arax and Hartblei sell refurbished Kievs that are generally reliable.

Without extenstive trials, I'm not blown away by the CJZ 80mm 2.8 that I got. The beat up Vega 90mm is still my favorite. Maybe that'll change with some more rolls.

 

[baachitraka]

Camera

- Actually Pentacon Six is a very good camera. Like all other cameras it needs CLA and after that it just require a very good care.
- Frame spacing can be a issue if not loaded properly but there is a simple way to get it right all the time.
- 13 frames are possible with 120 film.
- Mirror slap is not that noisy, rather soft.
- The vibrations are felt at speeds below 1/30 and are pronounced when mounted on tripod.
- Average cost of CLA is €170 and another €98 for two-step release.

Lenses

- Flektogon 50mm f/4: Good but at the corners it can be little bit better.
- Sonnar 180mm f/2.8: Remarkable at wide-open but suffer a bit when closed down.
- Biometar 80mm f/2.8: Good, but I use my Rolleicord for this Focal Length.

 

[zozur]

Why you didn't consider Kiev 60 or Kiev 6c? It have bigger and brighter viewfinder then Psix, and use Psix mount.

 

[Kyle M.]

Without extenstive trials, I'm not blown away by the CJZ 80mm 2.8 that I got. The beat up Vega 90mm is still my favorite. Maybe that'll change with some more rolls.

I agree my Volna-3 80mm 2.8 seems to be a much sharper, higher contrast, and all around better lens than my 80mm CZJ Biometar, other than the possibility of light leaks through the DOF preview lever. My CZJ Flektogon 50mm on the other hand appears to be even better than the Volna, and for my work the wide angle will see more use anyway.

 

[Vitoret]

i've never tried the Bronica S2A but i have a Pentacon six tl and i just love it.

I really like its Slr form factor and i find it very ergonomical. Mine mounts a Biometar 80mm (zebra) i'm really happy with.
The spacing issue is easy to solve, loading carefully the roll and keeping the release button while loading with the lever (half way) then release..
It feels solid and well built and the mirror is not that noisy.
A beautiful camera at a ridiculous price!

 

[one90guy]

As previous stated the Nikon lens are great. I have the EC model and am very happy with the results. Good luck in your camera search.

David

 

[Kyon Thinh]

I used Pentacon Six before, trash body, but the lenses are quite good, especially the mighty 180 2.8 Sonnar.
Now I use EC TL, better camera, a joy to use. Nikon lenses are good, but there are some superb lenses like the rare 75 HC.