ETRS Waist level finders

Archimedes the Dog · Sep 24, 2013

I recently acquired a Bronica ETRS. I am puzzled as to the seemingly elevated cost for the Waist-level finders for these cameras. The WLFs are more expensive than the prism finders, which seems rather odd to me. Anyone more knowledgable care to share some insight?

MattKrull · Sep 24, 2013

I have both an ETRS and ETR-Si, neither came with a WLF. If you ever find a deal on them, I'll take one

My understanding for why they are so expensive is that there are very few left. The ETR series was hugely popular with the wedding photograhper crowd, and they primarily used the AE prisms. So, they'd buy the prism, and then throw away the WLF thinking they'd never use it. I purchased my ETRS from a retired wedding photographer and when I asked if it had the WLF he laughed at me. It wasn't a mean laugh, more of a "why would anyone want that?"

As younger people pick up Bronicas, more and more of us want to do things other than (just) shoot portraits, and the WLF is once again popular, so supply and demand says they are expensive.

Seriously though, if anyone has one they want to get ride of for $40 let me know

verian · Sep 24, 2013

I paid around £45 for mine (from a camera shop) which was on the steep side, but still cheaper than the prices people were asking on Ebay. Just had a quick look on ebay and they seem to be around the £70 mark, for what it actually is, this is ridiculously expensive but probably is down to supply.

mweintraub · Sep 24, 2013

Yeah, it's a simple supply and demand issue. I try to find kits with WLF so it usually keeps the price down compared to the WLF by itself.

Archimedes the Dog · Sep 24, 2013

Makes sense, thanks. I am fine shooting landscapes with the prism, the WLF is more of a "nice to have" for me. Certainly after some lenses, at least.

filmamigo · Sep 24, 2013

My pair (ETRS and ETRSi) both had the WLF in the kit. I find I use the prism only for portrait sessions, WLF for everything else. Having one less mirror/prism in the way makes the viewfinder nice and bright, and the pop-up loupe is perfect for focusing with my tired eyes

I can't imagine have a Bronica without the WLF. Shame they got tossed/lost/expensive.

hsandler · Sep 24, 2013

I think I paid about $50 for mine. I prefer using the WLF and crank to the prism and grip whenever I dont plan on portait orientation. The view of the ground glass with both eyes open seems more 3d and makes composition easier. The kit is so much lighter too. I sometimes wonder if I should have bought an SQ instead so as to make a WLF more practical, but I tend to more naturally see compositions in a 4:3 ratio, so its etrs for me.

MattKing · Sep 24, 2013

They were always an extra-cost accessory for the Mamiya 645s - due no doubt to the difficulty in using them with "portrait" orientation.

Were they ever automatically included with the ETRs or ETRSi?

Archimedes the Dog · Sep 24, 2013

Could have used it today! Infants are low to the ground...

paul ron · Sep 25, 2013

Bronica is punishing everyone for losing it so they make em expensive just like the little cranks.

That'll teach ya!

Archimedes the Dog · Sep 25, 2013

The cranks don't exist, you know, they are a myth.

MattKrull · Sep 26, 2013

I have one of those cranks (the wedding photographer kept that at least). I feel like I've got a little tiny unicorn in my camera bag...

mweintraub · Sep 26, 2013

I bought the grank and it came with an extra body.

Archimedes the Dog · Sep 26, 2013

mweintraub said:
I bought the grank and it came with an extra body.

You won this thread.

mweintraub · Sep 26, 2013

Archimedes the Dog said:
You won this thread.

It was a broken body, so it was a great deal. I sent the body to someone who needed a parts body. I had no use for it.

Oh, arent the SQ ad ETR series cranks the same? Try looking for either bodies for it.

Archimedes the Dog · Sep 27, 2013

mweintraub said:
It was a broken body, so it was a great deal. I sent the body to someone who needed a parts body. I had no use for it.

Oh, arent the SQ ad ETR series cranks the same? Try looking for either bodies for it.

I intend to get an ETRSi body eventually, I'll just watch for one with a crank.

Katie · Sep 27, 2013

I have a crank; first $100 gets it!

lxdude · Sep 27, 2013

mweintraub said:
It was a broken body, so it was a great deal. I sent the body to someone who needed a parts body. I had no use for it.

Oh, arent the SQ ad ETR series cranks the same? Try looking for either bodies for it.

SQ, SQ-A and SQ-B. Not SQ-Ai.

ETRS Waist level finders

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