Help me replace Bronica EC kit

one90guy · Sep 19, 2014

I have reached a point where my Bronica EC is just to heavy for me to use, tour of Nam and construction work has not been kind. My only needs are lighter, interchangeable lens if possible, and stay with 6x6 negative, also would prefer to make a trade or trade plus some cash. Have been researching the Fuji rangefinders but the only 6x6 I have found is out of my price range. Any ideas or suggestions are most welcome.

Also am planning to sale or trade a Mamiya C330 for the same reason. If anyone has any interest I will try to take some photos tonight and make a list of the EC kit.

David

mweintraub · Sep 19, 2014

What's your budget? Sounds like a Mamiya 6 rangefinder is right up your alley.

one90guy · Sep 19, 2014

Was wanting $600 for the EC kit and $200 to $300 cash.

Paul Howell · Sep 19, 2014

Maybe out of your price range, Hoseman 6X9 with a couple of coupled lens, lighter than an a Bronica. The other option is a baby speed or crown, made of wood very light, even my 4X5 crown is lighter than my Kowa 66 or Super 66. A baby speed will not likey have coupled cams for different lenes, but you can use a Tripod, but that means lugging around a tripod. As a fixed lens MF, easy to shoot hand held. Most lens are somewhat wide. Another is also fixed lens, but of course Yashica or Rolli.

hsandler · Sep 19, 2014

Maybe the Bronica SQ-A is lighter than the EC. Very affordable these days. The Bronica ETRSi is smaller and lighter still, but only if you stick to the waist finder, which is not really suitable for shooting verticals.

one90guy · Sep 19, 2014

PDH said:
Maybe out of your price range, Hoseman 6X9 with a couple of coupled lens, lighter than an a Bronica. The other option is a baby speed or crown, made of wood very light, even my 4X5 crown is lighter than my Kowa 66 or Super 66. A baby speed will not likey have coupled cams for different lenes, but you can use a Tripod, but that means lugging around a tripod. As a fixed lens MF, easy to shoot hand held. Most lens are somewhat wide. Another is also fixed lens, but of course Yashica or Rolli.

I have a Yashica A and Rolleicord lll but was wanting to have lens changeability and stay with 6x6. Can not find 6x7 or 6x9 negative carriers for my Omega B-66 enlarger. Been out of commission today and spent a lot of time looking and reading, it seems that any camera that meets my needs exceeds my pocketbook

one90guy · Sep 19, 2014

hsandler said:
Maybe the Bronica SQ-A is lighter than the EC. Very affordable these days. The Bronica ETRSi is smaller and lighter still, but only if you stick to the waist finder, which is not really suitable for shooting verticals.

Problem with ETRSi is no 6x6 and had a couple of SQ-As which were heavy and had problems with both. I really do not want to get rid of the EC kit, its a joy to use and the lens are great. It seems maybe I will keep it

David

Paul Howell · Sep 20, 2014

one90guy said:
I have a Yashica A and Rolleicord lll but was wanting to have lens changeability and stay with 6x6. Can not find 6x7 or 6x9 negative carriers for my Omega B-66 enlarger. Been out of commission today and spent a lot of time looking and reading, it seems that any camera that meets my needs exceeds my pocketbook

Perhaps down size to 6X4.5 Mamiya or Pentax, Bronica rangefinder. I have seen a few baby speeds with 6X6 backs.

TheToadMen · Sep 20, 2014

Bronica RF-645 is very light, easy to use, excellent light meter and very excellent glass.

andrew.roos · Sep 20, 2014

I agree with mweintraub - the Mamiya 6 or 7 is about the only lightweight option if you want interchangeable lenses and 6x6 negs.

Good luck
Andrew

one90guy · Sep 20, 2014

andrew.roos said:
I agree with mweintraub - the Mamiya 6 or 7 is about the only lightweight option if you want interchangeable lenses and 6x6 negs.

Good luck
Andrew

Also agree, but due to the age the 6 makes me wonder and the 7 seems to be beyond my budget. I do appreciate everyone's input.

David

Edit: I was referring to the folder 6.

Paul Howell · Sep 20, 2014

one90guy said:
Also agree, but due to the age the 6 makes me wonder and the 7 seems to be beyond my budget. I do appreciate everyone's input.

David

Edit: I was referring to the folder 6.

I have the folder, nice for travel I often carry it with my LF gear, but now 50 years old, so far the bellows are good, but at some point it will need to be rebuilt. The lens is a nice 4 element tessor type the shutter is still spot on, I guess can be repaired without much trouble.

andrew.roos · Sep 21, 2014

one90guy said:
Also agree, but due to the age the 6 makes me wonder and the 7 seems to be beyond my budget. I do appreciate everyone's input.

David

Edit: I was referring to the folder 6.

Ahh... I was wondering why you thought it was too old. I was referring to the interchangeable-lens rangefinder introduced in 1989, which would give you the combination of a 6x6 negative, interchangeable lenses and light weight you are looking for, with excellent optics.

And correcting my earlier post, it would have to be the 6 not the 7 as the Mamiya 7 is 6x7, not 6x6.

one90guy · Sep 21, 2014

PDH said:
I have the folder, nice for travel I often carry it with my LF gear, but now 50 years old, so far the bellows are good, but at some point it will need to be rebuilt. The lens is a nice 4 element tessor type the shutter is still spot on, I guess can be repaired without much trouble.

Is there anyone to repair the 6? My old shaky hands makes even a modest repair iffy. There are several on the bay right now located in Japan and are in my price range. I need to do some searching for information and try to locate a user manual. If you know any sites I would like to know about them. Thanks

David

Kyon Thinh · Sep 21, 2014

You will regret if you sell your EC.

one90guy · Sep 21, 2014

I have been flopping back and forth on what to do, and worry if I would regret selling it. Over the years I have regretted selling a couple, one I have never been able to replace. I really like the EC, but at times its a chore just to get it mounted on a tripod. I do have 2 tlrs that I enjoy using but for me there is just something about having lens choices

Paul Howell · Sep 21, 2014

one90guy said:
Is there anyone to repair the 6? My old shaky hands makes even a modest repair iffy. There are several on the bay right now located in Japan and are in my price range. I need to do some searching for information and try to locate a user manual. If you know any sites I would like to know about them. Thanks

David

I just goggled classic camera repairs, there seem to be a number of sites that should be able to repair a folder. Most have phone number or emails address if you to see if any will work on a 6. I have had my 6 for over 20 years, I shoot about a dozen rolls of film a year with it. I use VI slip on filter adapter and lens hood.

one90guy · Sep 21, 2014

PDH said:
I just goggled classic camera repairs, there seem to be a number of sites that should be able to repair a folder. Most have phone number or emails address if you to see if any will work on a 6. I have had my 6 for over 20 years, I shoot about a dozen rolls of film a year with it. I use VI slip on filter adapter and lens hood.

Thanks will look into.

David

Help me replace Bronica EC kit

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