Can't make up my mind...Bronica/Contax/H1

So I have a Bronica SQB, 80PSB, 150S and the prism. Great system although a bit rough to use with the prism.

I need something to work a bit faster, so my choices are:
1. get the grip for the SQB, so essentially a prism/gripped camera that I could also put a 120J 645 back on for more shots per roll, but which is still a big camera with a slightly awakrd handling
2. get a Contax 645 with the 80/2
3. get a H1 with the 80/2.8

I'll stick with the standard lens for the Contax/H1.

Now, option 1 is the cheapest of the lot and I must say I have nothing bad to say about the image quality of the Bronica. I have a 645/6x6 (I love 6x6) option and a cheap system that is easily available on ebay. Total cost to adapt is about £150 for a grip and 645 back.

Option 2 will give me something more unique, the 80/2 look which I won't get with anything else. However, it is about £800-1000 on a dead system, should the camera die I'm not sure if I'll be able to repair it (and at what cost?) and the 645 bodies/accessories are a bit rare in the UK (can't be bothered with buying and importing from abroad).

The last option, the H1, is also a good one, even more expensive (hopefully I can get one for the same money as the Contax...) but it is still a system in production and I can even hope one day to buy the T/S adapter. Although I'm not sure whether I want an H1 for the capabilities or because it says Hasselblad on it. Service is also available, although not sure what the costs involved are there.

Any clues? I have never touched a Contax/H1 so have no clue about them and have no clue whether they will give me something better in look compared to the Bronica (80/2?). They will also give me built-in metering, although I'm not sure how important that is, I have a Sekonic 358 which does the job better than any in-built meter would do. I bet they'll be a lot nicer to handle though, but then again, you really cannot argue with the Bronica costs.

By the way, the Bronica stays regardless and I also have a EOS 3 for 35mm. But that's irrelevant.

Thanks all in advance!

Well I can speak from a little experience here. I've never owned the Contax 645 personally, but I have shot with it on a number of occasions. I find it to be an exceptionally comfortable camera to hold and shoot with. It really feels like a big 35mm SLR (especially with the extra grip). I definitely understand your concerns with buying into a dead system, but I'm sure there is someone out there who will still service these guys.

I did own an H1 system and it was by far my favorite 645 experience (I've shot with the aforementioned Contax, Mamiya 645PRO TL, Mamiya 645 AF/ AFD, and most recently now a Bronica ETR-Si) It is very comfortable in the hands and fluid to shoot with. It is definitely more expensive, but it also holds its value incredibly well. I actually sold my kit about 5 years ago for more than I paid for it (I purchased used). I am inclined to recommend the H1 also because it's very adaptable to the various digital backs on the market. I would NOT however purchase the H1 "because it's a Hasselblad", reason being: It's NOT a Hasselblad . The H1 is a rebadged Fuji camera (just like the Xpan) and the lenses are Fujinon, not Zeiss. Does this make it a bad camera? NO WAY! But it's not a true Hasselblad in my (and several others) opinion.

I would also not rule out the option of the Mamiya 645AF, it's a great camera system which is also very receptive to digital backs.

Now. All of this being said, I'm just coming back to film after selling off all my gear (Mamiya RZ, Hassy H1, and Horseman 4x5) and I wound up with a Bronica ETRSi kit! I'm just going to have fun with this thing, but for the price I paid for everything, I'm not going to be disappointed no matter how I look at it.

agphotography said:

I would NOT however purchase the H1 "because it's a Hasselblad", reason being: It's NOT a Hasselblad . The H1 is a rebadged Fuji camera (just like the Xpan) and the lenses are Fujinon, not Zeiss. Does this make it a bad camera? NO WAY! But it's not a true Hasselblad in my (and several others) opinion.

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I wouldn't buy one "because it's a Hasselblad" either.

But the idea that it isn't, is not correct. It is a Hasselblad.

Fuji indeed joined the project, but was asked to when they were a good way into it. And all that Fuji does is finalize the lens designs (initial/'rough' designs by Hasselblad) and manufacture the glass bits (shutters in the lenses designed, manufactured and assembled by Hasselblad, in Sweden, again. So not even the lenses "aren't Hasselblad"), and make the optical bits of the viewfinders.
No more.

As much as I'd love an H1 or 645 Contax, I think you answered your own question when you said you also like 6x6... The Bronica solution is obviously MUCH cheaper - and that has to factor in the decision ;-) With the Bronica you get both formats... quality is great, and there's plenty left in the piggy bank for film ;-) If it were me, it'd be a no-brainer unless money was no option. The only thing you might miss is auto-focus of course if that's a consideration. I like manual focus, and frankly I'd just buy an ETRsi for the 645. Use the EOS 3 for the faster action when required.

Q.G. said:

I wouldn't buy one "because it's a Hasselblad" either.

But the idea that it isn't, is not correct. It is a Hasselblad.

Fuji indeed joined the project, but was asked to when they were a good way into it. And all that Fuji does is finalize the lens designs (initial/'rough' designs by Hasselblad) and manufacture the glass bits (shutters in the lenses designed, manufactured and assembled by Hasselblad, in Sweden, again. So not even the lenses "aren't Hasselblad"), and make the optical bits of the viewfinders.
No more.

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Ah, well I apologize for my misinformation! When I originally looked into the camera everything I found about it led me back to Fuji so I ASSUMED (gotta stop doing that. Gets me into trouble! ) that they were the major developer.

But I was partially right in the fact that it's not like the typical 500 series built completely in Sweden. It's got too much techno-wizardry in it!

I recall when I had mine there was a firmware update that came out but it was not user-installable, I mailed my camera to Hasselblad directly and while they had it, they told me that my main PCB board (essentially the Logic Board of the camera) needed to be replaced [even though the camera worked flawlessly? Couldn't figure that out]. I assumed it would have just been under warranty, but they told me it was going to cost $758 to have it repaired! I choked when I heard that. I never had that service done and the camera worked perfectly the entire time I owned it.

That's the one big downside to the camera is that any repairs out of warranty are very very very expensive.

mesh said:

As much as I'd love an H1 or 645 Contax, I think you answered your own question when you said you also like 6x6... The Bronica solution is obviously MUCH cheaper - and that has to factor in the decision ;-) With the Bronica you get both formats... quality is great, and there's plenty left in the piggy bank for film ;-) If it were me, it'd be a no-brainer unless money was no option. The only thing you might miss is auto-focus of course if that's a consideration. I like manual focus, and frankly I'd just buy an ETRsi for the 645. Use the EOS 3 for the faster action when required.

Click to expand...

I think you are right regarding 6x6 and cost. I went through my photos of the last few months and 6x6 is pretty prominent. I tried re-working some as 645 but it just doesn't work like that, I guess if I had 645 to begin with I'd frame it completely differently.

I'm watching a couple of auctions for a Contax and a H1 just to get an idea of what they do go for. I think I'll just get the grip for the Bronica to begin with, it is so cheap I might as well get it and try it, if it works it works, if it doesn't £50-60 is trivial next to buying any of the two 645 cameras in question.

Hmmmm....

agphotography said:

But I was partially right in the fact that it's not like the typical 500 series built completely in Sweden. It's got too much techno-wizardry in it!

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Also built in Sweden.
But you're right.

Also about Hasselblad (the company) no longer being the "the-customer-comes-first" company.

They still make first rate equipment though.

Well I bought a grip for the SQB. It hasn't arrived yet. But I stumbled upon a Contax in a shop and unfortunatelly played with it for a minute or two. I'm really tempted to dump my EOS kit, sell all but the SQB+WLF+80 (keep for 6x6) and get the Contax, 80/2 and 45/2.8. God it felt so wonderful in my hands...

Hmmmmm, this stuff will be the end of me!

I owned a Hasselblad H2 for over a year. Great camera IMO. Fast film advance(nothing compared to my F100 though), and the 80/2.8 lens was probably the sharpest MF lens I've ever used!

but in the end, I found myself using the RZ67 all the time, so I dumped it.

great camera though, just expensive if you want more lenses than the 80mm. too expensive for my student's budget.

the contax is first rate too!

-Dan

You might want to consider a "Blad" with a 645 back & mask. Lots of accessories available, as well as service. I'd stay miles away from the Contax. Nice camera, but orphans can be awkward to own. I know. I'm blessed with an N1.

Cheers
Morry Katz - Lethbridge, Alberta