Bronica Size Comparisons

[arealitystudios]

Hello Folks

I'm in the market for a new medium format camera that I can use walking about the town for street photography. I want something that is modular with interchangeable lenses, mostly because I like working with fairly wide angle focal lengths and I do tend to switch between black and white and color often. I currently own a Mamiya RZ67 (which I love but is way too large for walking around) a Kiev 88 (which is just about perfect in size, but it jams often and I therefore find it annoying) and a Mamiya 645e which works nicely, but the big built in finder on it makes it tough to store in a messenger bag and is awkward to use without the big grip/winder.

A friend of mine let me borrow his Bronica GS-1 and I love the quality of construction. The camera just feels great and well put together. Obviously it is too large for what I'm looking for but it has me thinking about the ETR and the SQ.

Can anyone comment on the size differences between the two. Like I mentioned above, I find the size of the Kiev 88 just about perfect. Would a Bronica SQ be about equal to that? Is the ETR significantly smaller? If so I can live with the 6x4.5 size if it means something a lot easier to carry around. I've considered the Mamiya 645 Pro but they seem really tough to find with a waist level finder and without all the power winders and such which I don't need or want.

I've been looking on-line for something that compares the sizes of the different cameras side by side but so far I've been striking out.

 

[frank]

Verticals are not easy with 645 SLR cameras.

 

[arealitystudios]

Verticals are not easy with 645 SLR cameras.

Yeah, I've considered that, which is I'm sure why it is hard to find a Mamiya 645 Pro with just a waist level finder. There seems to be lots of ETR's with just a folding waist level finder though. I would shoot horizontal 90% of the time anyway so I could live with that if the weight savings is significant.

 

[frank]

With medium format slr cameras, I've stayed with 6x6. (Hasselblad/Bronica/Rolleiflex)

My 645 medium format cameras are RF style. (Fuji)

 

[macfred]

A size comparison between SQ - series and ETRs - series https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/t...rmat-owners-thread.542769/page-2#post-6303840

I had a Bronica S2a (foolishly sold) and I have an ETRSi - both are/were not my first choice for street photography. With this in mind I prefer (medium format) rangefinder cameras.

 

[macfred]

My 645 medium format cameras are RF style. (Fuji)

Same here !

 

[Bruce Osgood]

For Street and walk-about MF photography I would be vary happy with a Fuji 6x7. It will do everything but change lenses. I've setteled on the Bronica GS-1 and a monopod.

 

[arealitystudios]

Awesome. Thank you for that link!! That is what I was looking for. It seems the SQ is only slightly bigger than the ETR so I'm thinking I will probably go for that.

I agree that a MF Rangefinder tends to be ideal for street shooting. Unfortunately, for what I'm working on being able to switch films on the fly is really important and carrying two rangefinders wouldn't be all that helpful. Besides, any rangefinder in medium format that I can think of with interchangeable lenses is waaaaaaay out of my price range.

 

[paul ron]

As a devoted RB67 user, my walking around camera of choice is the ETRS with a speed grip n prism. Lenses are cheap,very sharp n readily available. She's a real lady in the street.

 

[craigclu]

I am fortunate (?) to have accumulated a number of the systems that you are considering. Once I had a Bronica RF645 system, I found that one being with me the most. Compact, first class optics, vertical format, fast, stable handling, etc. It could do almost everything that I was doing with SLR's and didn't need the support equipment that the SLR's needed for vibration control. My GS-1 gear is mostly used for jaunts where macro might matter, Fuji 69 and 68 RF's when I know the print size is 11X14 or larger, but the little Bronica is quite acceptable at that, too.

 

[mweintraub]

I think you're calling to me because I've had (or still have) all those systems but the GS-1 (my friend has one).

Long story short. I no longer have a 645 system because I didn't like the format to keep a full system and just have a Fuji GA645 and 645 backs for larger systems.
I had the ETRSi (traded 645Pro for it) and found that it's smaller than the Mamiya, but not a huge amount. Bigger than the Pentax 645, but again, not by a huge amount. I didn't find it exceptionally smaller than the SQ-A to really think it's worth it to keep it as a separate system.

I do have an Kiev 88/CM so, if you'd like, I can compare the sizes between it and the SQ-A. But I can tell you that the SQ-A is fantastic. I'm selling the Kiev, even though it's 100% function and has a Zeiss lens with it, I don't like the finiky of the system and mucho love the SQ-A.

 

[mgb74]

A lot depends on how you configure the camera. For example, an ETRS with prism and grip/winder is a lot larger than without grip and prism. The meter prism is larger than the standard prism. That said, for MF SLR street photography, I think the ETRS with grip and AE prism is ideal.

Also consider noise. A motorized Pentax 645 is noisy.

 

[mweintraub]

A lot depends on how you configure the camera. For example, an ETRS with prism and grip/winder is a lot larger than without grip and prism. The meter prism is larger than the standard prism. That said, for MF SLR street photography, I think the ETRS with grip and AE prism is ideal.

Also consider noise. A motorized Pentax 645 is noisy.

I had both the standard and metered prism (not newest version) on the ETRSi and they were very similar. The newest version, I think, is larger.

 

[canvassy]

Verticals are not easy with 645 SLR cameras.

I have an ETRS with speedgrip, and I find it very usable for verticals. Before I added the speed grip it was very cumbersome for vertical shots.

 

[frank]

I have an ETRS with speedgrip, and I find it very usable for verticals. Before I added the speed grip it was very cumbersome for vertical shots.

Speed grip and prism finder would make it easier.

No speed grip and with waist level finder makes it awkward.

 

[mweintraub]

Speed grip and prism finder would make it easier.

No speed grip and with waist level finder makes it awkward.

That was pretty much my setup. Horizontal only, WLF. Potential of going vertical, grab prism and grip.

 

[NJH]

I have both the ETRS and SQ-B at the moment, I think it really boils down to if one likes the square view and working from a waist level finder or the prism and grip with a rectangular view of the world. Some other notable points; commonality of filter thread is easier in the ETRS lens eco-system, for my SQ I got round it by purchasing the older S version of the 50. For the ETRS one can also get a 60mm PE f2.8 that is barely any larger or heavier than the standard lens, has the same f2.8 and crazy close focusing down to something like 0.4 m, I have this lens and its a beauty. Only the ETRSi body can do mirror lock up it seems in that range of bodies, pretty much all the SQ eco system bodies such as my SQ-B can do mirror lock up. Personally none of those points sway me one way or another but the tiny difference in size and weight allied to my preference for working form a waist level finder and square view is pushing me towards selling off my ETRS kit and concentrating on the SQ system. One additional small point, I find holding the camera tight against the top of my chest is probably the most stable and solid way I have found yet for hand holding a camera and this is pretty much the natural way of working a 6x6 system like the SQ.

 

[johnha]

I have a Mamiya 645 Pro with winder & prism (I also have a WLF but find it too restrictive on 6x4.5), Bronica SQ-B and Pentax 6x7 gear. I doubt there's much difference in size between an ETRS & SQ-B (given the ETRS might require a prism and the SQ-B is easily usable with the WLF). I also have a prism for the SQ-B - which makes it much bulkier than with a WLF.

From what you've said a Bronica SQ would be my choice (or perhaps a Bronica S2/S2A incredibly stylish cameras).

John.

 

[Alan Gales]

If you buy the Bronica ETR series you will want the prism finder for verticals so you might as well just shoot your Mamiya 645.

Buy one of the SQ series with the waist level finder and you should be happy. They are not much bigger than the ETR series.

 

[hsandler]

I had an ETRS system and switched to an SQ system because I wanted a more compact kit. As noted by others, you really need a prism and speed grip too if you go ETRS because verticals happen. Then you need a heavier tripod to support the camera and prism when tilted on its side for verticals (or an L bracket). I prefer the view with a WLF, and a light kit, So I got the SQ-A expecting to crop a lot to rectangular photos. But i have grown to like making square photos. when I owned both systems, I did not notice a weight difference in the bodies, but there is small but noticeable size difference which is apparent when you hold them. You can wrap your hands around the ETRS and your fingers meet on the bottom. Not so much with the SQ.

 

[paul ron]

If you are looking at a 6x6 and concerned about size n weight.. go with a yashicamat or rollie tlr.... end of story!

 

[GRHazelton]

Verticals are not easy with 645 SLR cameras.

They are with a Pentax 645!

 

[mweintraub]

They are with a Pentax 645!

Yeah, they're easy with any 645 and a prism finder.

 

[pagonzales]

I have a kiev 88 and a mamiya m645 with a waist level finder. The whole Mamiya package is slightly more compact than the Kiev, or other 6x6 SLRs. The older m645, 645j and 1000s tend to be sturdier and the waist level finder is easier to find than the one for the Super or Pro. Like the 645e, they don't have interchangeable backs, only inserts. I also find the two shutter releases on the m645 to be more ergonomic for waist level shooting.

 

[cooltouch]

I used to work as a second photographer for a guy who religiously used Hasselblads. I also worked as his assistant. So I loaded lots of A12s and handled spare bodies. But when I was working as a second shooter, I was using his Bronica SQ. I own an ETRSi with prism and grip and I agree, it gets pretty big. Nice thing about the SQ is it's about the same size as a Hassy 500CM, which is more compact than my ETSi rig, plus you don't have to rotate a 6x6 for verticals, obviously. So the SQ ends up being a more compact rig.

I often use my ETRSi as a "walking around" camera and I don't mind the bulk. I'm not being too nosy when I shoot, so folks don't get irritated at me. A couple years back I was walking around with it in Galveston, a beach community about an hour's drive south from where I live, and I spotted a line of Harleys, all posed and pretty-like in front of a bar on the Strand. Before I shot a single photo of the bikes, though, I walked up to the owners and asked for permission. They were more than happy to let me shoot away, and I wound up with some great keepers. So, I guess what I'm getting at is, even if the camera is bulky, if you approach things in the right way, it won't matter.