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?
ETRS Waist level finders
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- Thread starter Archimedes the Dog
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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
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
I can't imagine have a Bronica without the WLF. Shame they got tossed/lost/expensive.
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
Moderator
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?
Were they ever automatically included with the ETRs or ETRSi?
Could have used it today! Infants are low to the ground...
The cranks don't exist, you know, they are a myth.
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...
I bought the grank and it came with an extra body.
I bought the grank and it came with an extra body.
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.
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.
I have a crank; first $100 gets it!
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.
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