Bronica SQ vs Hassy

[reddesert]

To his chagrin, my friend was designated Bronica person in what then was probably the best camera store in America, if not the world (famous foreign photographers were regular customers). Fellow workers would get under his skin teasingly calling him “ Bronica man”. I think that says it all!

If there were a contest for most tedious aspect of photography between camera store gear snobs and trying to dry curled fiber base prints flat, then drying prints would lose.

 

[AndyH]

If there were a contest for most tedious aspect of photography between camera store gear snobs and trying to dry curled fiber base prints flat, then drying prints would lose.

Bronicas were solid choices back in the day, but I don't think I've ever heard a photographer, then or now, say, "Gee, my grail camera is a Bronica SQ!"

Serviceable, capable, with good to great glass. But they are no where near Hasselblads in build quality and pleasure of use. I drive a Dodge Dakota, and it's the best value vehicle I've ever owned. My wife drives our Volvo XC-90, which is overpriced and expensive to repair. But when we go on a road trip, guess which vehicle we take?

Andy

 

[James Bleifus]

Soooo, a long time ago, I learned that I have never spent too much for a camera, no matter what I paid. On the other hand, I have spent far too much for "junk". I have never spent "too much" for either a Hasselblad 500cm nor a Leica M3/M2 no matter how much they cost me. it has taken a while but I now own what I like and like what I own, as the saying goes. The same can be said for my 4x5 gear. I can only suggest that everyone do the same. You will not regret it............Regards!

+1.

I hope I’ve learned that lesson! Junk is expensive.

Cheers, James

 

[Ariston]

I have a 500CM. The only time I pull it out instead of my RB67 is if I need something lighter to carry. I just enjoy the RB more... but that is nothing but preference. They both take the same pictures, just in different formats.

The Bronica and Hassy will also take the same pictures. In the same format. I have never owned a Bronica, but I have not heard any more reliability complaints about them than I have a Hasselblad. I personally would rather have the cheaper body with more lenses. That is probably one reason I like my RB - I can afford lenses for it.

 

[wjlapier]

Back to the jamming Hasselblad. What is the most common way to jam the camera? Any other way?

 

[btaylor]

My GS-1 has been entirely reliable, not too heavy, accurate electronically controlled shutters in the lenses. They are easy to find in pretty much mint condition for not a lot of money. Handles really well with the speed grip. I got a nice 500cm from a member here a few years ago, a dream camera for me from my teenage years. Unsharp pictures indicated it needed a CLA, $500 more. Bronica pix are just as nice as the Hasselblad. Even if the GS body died a replacement is $200. My most used camera is a Rolleiflex. Pick something and try it, you can always resell for about the same money. Of course it’s really about making pictures, whatever you choose doesn’t need to be your forever camera anyway.

 

[Ai Print]

I only use roll film cameras for travel... and since I only travel one-two times a year I’ve nearly eliminated all small formats from my work flow.

My primary format is 8x10 so I’m not concerned with weight. I’m young enough where a heavy shoulder bag doesn’t weight my down on a trip.

My last trip was to China with a Rolleiflex 3.5F and a Pentax 67. I’ve since sold those cameras. I found loading film to be very difficult when on the fly due to the pace of travel partners. Therefore, I’ve targeted systems where I could have 2/3 backs preloaded and hence the Bronica / Hassy thread.

Budget matters, is there a true reliability issue between these systems?

Didn't you already have a Hasselblad like 300 cameras / 6 months ago?

 

[etn]

Back to the jamming Hasselblad. What is the most common way to jam the camera? Any other way?

User error: for instance trying to mount/unmount a lens when body/lens/both are not cocked.

I never had my Hasselblad jamming on its own in 5 years of use. Old "high mileage" bodies (e.g. from the 50's /60's) are said to be more prone to that, but I can't tell whether it is a urban legend or not. Does anyone have more info on this?

 

[abruzzi]

I would love a Hassy, but the prices were just too high when I was shopping a couple years ago. I ended up with a $250 Bronica ETRSi, which has worked perfectly. I’ve filled out the lens collection, added accessories (all for very cheap), and put over 100 rolls through it, and have fallen in love with it. It IS my favorite medium format camera (in my limited experience). It has also made me want a GS-1 to go with it.

I have no doubt that the Hassy is a great camera, but I’d prefer to spend more on film than I do on my camera.

 

[johnha]

I have no doubt that the Hassy is a great camera, but I’d prefer to spend more on film than I do on my camera.

+1

 

[Dennis-B]

I own both a 500 C/M, and an SQ-A.. I've compared them side-by-side using identical film from the same batch; using similar focal length lenses. Truthfully, I can't tell a lot of difference when I've scanned the negatives using my Epson V850 and creating TIFF files. As to the sturdiness, it seems a toss-up. While I tend to "baby" film cameras a bit more, obviously from avoiding unnecessary repairs, they both function very well. Even the metered prisms tend to register fairly close.

I don't think you'd do badly with either. I enjoy them both.

 

[Pieter12]

The cost of any camera body is just the jumping-off point. You need to consider the quality and availability of lenses, accessories and backs if you intend to build a system. And the reliability/repairability of all of the above.

 

[dodphotography]

Didn't you already have a Hasselblad like 300 cameras / 6 months ago?

I’ve gone through my share of cameras in the past ... however, Ive been straight 810 for a while now.

I purchase cameras for a high school program and try my best to balance our budget
providing students with the best experience they can have.

Also, people here poke fun at me but don’t realize that 85% of the cameras I sell I did so working for a very well known photographer as an assistant of sorts.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I've owned both a Bronica SQ-Ai and several Hasselblad systems, the 500c and 500cm.

Both were great and were just 'different' in terms of how they felt. The Bronica was well built and I actually took it several times on overseas trips to China, where they reliably made some of my favourite images, to this day.

Lots of places repair both systems - here in my relatively remote city a local camera repair place has a large stack of spare parts so I wouldn't worry too much about repairs for either, outside of how much they'll cost. Bronica certainly was less expensive to acquire than Hasselblad and that is a factor, let's face it. For the price of one Hassy and a lens you can get 2 or 3 lenses, multiple backs and a reliable camera body.

Both systems will give you a great camera, one will do it for less. One system *might* be able to be repaired for a longer (indeterminate) period of time in the indefinite future...maybe. Keep in mind most used Hasselblads were used by pros and were heavily used.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Back to the jamming Hasselblad. What is the most common way to jam the camera? Any other way?

One can jam a Bronica or a Hasselblad by trying to attach or remove a lens when the camera and lens are not cocked.

 

[hsandler]

I have a very complete SQ-A system, and I owned an ETRSi system in the past. The cameras and lenses are generally good. I found this article from "The Online Photographer" influential when I was buying: https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2012/10/bargain-medium-format.html

The weak point Mike Johnston points out about the backs seems to be in line with what I have read from others, and I have personally had some light leaks with my older backs. Generally I now wrap the seams with electrical tape when I'm going to be out photographing in bright sunlight, just to be safe.

 

[Mark Brickley]

Perhaps not entirely relevant to this discussion but I use both camera systems largely for botany pictures at approaching macro sizes. The Hasselblad 110 macro does not focus nearly so close without tubes compared to the equivalent Bronica. The Hasselblad meter finders all give ev values which is of use when using spot metering and adjusting for zone whereas the Bronica ones only show shutter speed for selected aperture.
I like both systems and both are great in my opinion. Overall I think funnily enough if I could only use one it would be the Bronica because I feel less precious about it and thus get more use from it.
Mark

 

[Arthurwg]

I also have never jammed my Hasselblad, and frankly I can't imagine ever doing so. The rule to avoid it is so simple and easy to follow that you would need to be very careless to have it happen. Besides, even if it ever does occur, you can easily unjam it yourself with a £10 tool you can buy on ebay.

You can also jam a Hasselblad when the spring controlling the rear shutter doors breaks. Then the camera goes to the shop.

 

[GLS]

You can also jam a Hasselblad when the spring controlling the rear shutter doors breaks. Then the camera goes to the shop.

Maybe, but any mechanical object with delicate parts is prone to random failures/breakages like that, the Bronicas included. The possibility of Hasselblad jamming induced by user error was the bone of contention raised above, and I was simply pointing out that it is a hugely exaggerated "problem".

 

[guangong]

Generally speaking, when these brands were available new, bought and used, Bronica was considered to be relatively unreliable when compared to Hasselblad. User error should not be factored into question. Today, when both of these cameras are dirt cheap compared to when new, the buyer can decide. Bronica could be a logical choice nowadays because a whole stable of backups could be bought as replacements. I still prefer the way Hasselblad feels in hands, but that is personal preference. After all, I began with Hasselblad 1000F, the most unreliable camera I ever owned!

 

[Sirius Glass]

You can also jam a Hasselblad when the spring controlling the rear shutter doors breaks. Then the camera goes to the shop.

One could say similar things about any camera. Why point that out as a Hasselblad problem?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Maybe, but any mechanical object with delicate parts is prone to random failures/breakages like that, the Bronicas included. The possibility of Hasselblad jamming induced by user error was the bone of contention raised above, and I was simply pointing out that it is a hugely exaggerated "problem".

ANY camera can be jammed by not following instructions.

 

[Arthurwg]

One could say similar things about any camera. Why point that out as a Hasselblad problem?

I simply pointed this out because many people think all Hasselblad lens jams are caused by user errors. Not so. And yes, any camera can break or "jam" a lens. But this has only happened to me once in many decades of photography, and that was last year with my 503CX . I must add, however, that after the fault was fixed and the camera received a complete CLA it worked better than ever. Smooth as silk.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I simply pointed this out because many people think all Hasselblad lens jams are caused by user errors. Not so. And yes, any camera can break or "jam" a lens. But this has only happened to me once in many decades of photography, and that was last year with my 503CX . I must add, however, that after the fault was fixed and the camera received a complete CLA it worked better than ever. Smooth as silk.

I received a used Hasselblad lens that was properly cocked and when I fired the lens it jammed and could not be removed. Samys camera got the lens released and I sent the lens back to the seller who had the lens rebuild at their cost and returned to me. Never had a problem with that lens since.