Did Ctein really say Bronica lenses are superior to Hasselblad's?

John Wiegerink said:

Besides, I can always sell them off when they aren't fun to fondle anymore.

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The expensive women??

Certain Exposures said:

Thank you - how do you feel about using the camera handheld? Is it comfortable?

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It fells very nice for the format and type of camera with waist level finder and manual advance, it is a bit heavier and bigger than a Hassy 500 but nothing really to worry about. The standard focusing screen is very good, bright and including microrpisms and split screen. Try to get the same thing on a Hasselblad...

I use my SQ-Ai with the SQ-i AE prism and motor driven grip, specials for the Ai model (grip includes hot shoe), so it is like a big 35 mm SLR for me regarding handling (never get used to waist level finders) but this is obviously a heavier and bulkier outfit that could be too much for some. One curious thing is that, when I shot, the camera makes a strange twist produced by the advance motor torque, this twist against my left steady hand produces a movement in the focusing ring. In the beggining I was afraid that it could alter the focus on the image but it never happened, all photos are tack sharp so far as they should (advance starts after exposure is finished and mirror goes down). Don't trust the dark slide detection safety of the film backs, it fails more than it should making possible to shot with one on. I got some full blank rolls after developing due to this, now I just remove the dark slide of the film back as soon it is on the camera and never put it back unless I am going to change the film back.

Kodachromeguy said:

The expensive women??

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No, expensive women you don't sell, you have to pay them off. That's what makes them expensive.

Back in the 120 Kodachrome 64 days I used a HC4 eyelevel prism on my 500 CM with Maxwell screen for eye level use. It was a great combination, not heavy, and worked great. Miss Kodachrome

Ben Hutcherson said:

I also had the 50 and 150 for my SQ-a. Looking at shots with those, I find that they don’t seem to hold up as well as my Distagon and Sonnar. Mine were the S versions,

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The PS versions are much improved optically over the S. Not just because a new optical design and new coatings, but also because they were manufactured in what was (then) a brand-new optical factory by Bronica, which was absolutely state of the art. So quality control or tolerances were better.

The same improvements are expected going from Zenzanon-E to Zenzanon-PE lenses.

I only worry about sharpness in medium format SLR lenses if I'm using a teleconverter. Part of the power of medium format is that it can give plenty of detail even with an average lens.

flavio81 said:

The PS versions are much improved optically over the S. Not just because a new optical design and new coatings, but also because they were manufactured in what was (then) a brand-new optical factory by Bronica, which was absolutely state of the art. So quality control or tolerances were better.

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Not all lenses were redesigned. The PS 40 mm has the same optical arragement than the S version for example. And I had the PS version of 50 mm and I didn't like it either, I changed it for PS 40 mm which I love. I would not reject a good deal for a S lens thinking it is inferior, the 80 mm in particular.

I have never used any Bronica equipment, so I cannot give a comparison. I can talk about the Hasselblad wide-angle lenses and also the Pentax 6x7 wide lenses. While I have not used it, the Hasselblad 38 f4.5 is regarded by many as the gold standard for wide-angle. Pentax 6x7 wide-angle lenses can hold their own. Admittedly, the 6x7 negative/transparency is joy to look at, enlarge, or scan. I've sold many images shot for assignment or my stock photo files on all four formats: 35 mm, 6x4.5, 6x6, and 6x7. This question of which lens is sharpest is one I have never participated in. Today with digital photography and Photoshop or one of the other programs, you can make any lens look great.