How many Bronica systems are there?

MFstooges · Jul 24, 2024

I know the S2/S2a uses helicoid on body so they cannot use the lens for SQ-A/SQ-Ai. So there's got to be 2 systems at least. What about ETRs lens? And what are the lens nomenclature to tell the difference?

reddesert · Jul 24, 2024

Bronica S, S2, EC all use a common set of lenses (also Z, D, etc but those are collector items). Lenses are marked Nikkor, a few Zenzanon, and some 3rd party Komuras. No shutter in lens. Lenses project back behind the mount. These look very different from the later lenses.

Bronica ETR, ETRS, ETR-C, etc use ETR lenses, typically marked Zenzanon MC, E II, or PE. Leaf shutter in lens.

Bronica SQ use S lenses, marked Zenzanon-S or PS. Leaf shutter in lens.

Bronica GS use PG lenses, marked Zenzanon-PG. Leaf shutter in lens.

The lens mounts for the ETR, SQ, and GS look superficially similar from behind but are not interchangeable (you might get a rear cap from one to fit another). There are a limited set of focal lengths and f-stops in each system, so it's usually not that hard to tell, but the letters like E, S, PG are unambiguous.

neilt3 · Jul 24, 2024

MFstooges said:
I know the S2/S2a uses helicoid on body so they cannot use the lens for SQ-A/SQ-Ai. So there's got to be 2 systems at least. What about ETRs lens? And what are the lens nomenclature to tell the difference?

Bronica - Wikipedia

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Bronica - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

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Bronica lenses - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

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MFstooges · Jul 24, 2024

reddesert said:
Bronica S, S2, EC all use a common set of lenses (also Z, D, etc but those are collector items). Lenses are marked Nikkor, a few Zenzanon, and some 3rd party Komuras. No shutter in lens. Lenses project back behind the mount. These look very different from the later lenses.

Bronica ETR, ETRS, ETR-C, etc use ETR lenses, typically marked Zenzanon MC, E II, or PE. Leaf shutter in lens.

Bronica SQ use S lenses, marked Zenzanon-S or PS. Leaf shutter in lens.

Bronica GS use PG lenses, marked Zenzanon-PG. Leaf shutter in lens.

The lens mounts for the ETR, SQ, and GS look superficially similar from behind but are not interchangeable (you might get a rear cap from one to fit another). There are a limited set of focal lengths and f-stops in each system, so it's usually not that hard to tell, but the letters like E, S, PG are unambiguous.

I see. For SQ system it looks like the PS is preferred, are they optically superior than S lens?

DWThomas · Jul 24, 2024

MFstooges said:
I see. For SQ system it looks like the PS is preferred, are they optically superior than S lens?

Most of mine are PS. A pro for the S is more have the same filter thread diameters. The PS has half stop aperture detents. Purportedly the PS are better optically, but my understanding is the differences are relatively trivial except at the longest and shortest focal lengths.

I don't shoot the stuff enough to justify having samples of both to play with.

Another Pro for PS is they are newer, appearing with the SQ-Ai and since the shutter is in the lens, you're getting a newer shutter so it might last a little longer. That was my rationale for going with PS.

MFstooges · Jul 24, 2024

DWThomas said:
Most of mine are PS. A pro for the S is more have the same filter thread diameters. The PS has half stop aperture detents. Purportedly the PS are better optically, but my understanding is the differences are relatively trivial except at the longest and shortest focal lengths.

I don't shoot the stuff enough to justify having samples of both to play with.

Another Pro for PS is they are newer, appearing with the SQ-Ai and since the shutter is in the lens, you're getting a newer shutter so it might last a little longer. That was my rationale for going with PS.

Thanks Dave

abruzzi · Jul 24, 2024

one more is the Bronica RF645. They are very different from the others being rangefinder lenses.

neilt3 · Jul 25, 2024

DWThomas said:
Most of mine are PS. A pro for the S is more have the same filter thread diameters. The PS has half stop aperture detents. Purportedly the PS are better optically, but my understanding is the differences are relatively trivial except at the longest and shortest focal lengths.

I don't shoot the stuff enough to justify having samples of both to play with.

Another Pro for PS is they are newer, appearing with the SQ-Ai and since the shutter is in the lens, you're getting a newer shutter so it might last a little longer. That was my rationale for going with PS.

My understanding was the improvements on the PS is moreso on the wider focal lengths when I looked into this after buying an SQ-Ai .
So when I bought the 40mm , 50mm and just recently the 65mm , I made sure I bought the PS versions .
Certainly with the ETRSi camera I have the wide angle lenses for it are much better if you get the PE rather than the Eii or MC lenses .
Side by side tests with the 50mm showed a big difference, but this could also be sample variation of 30+ year old lenses .

With longer lenses the difference is less noticeable, if any. YMMV.

Certainly the PS lenses are newer , potentially with less wear , so if your buying , try get the newer ones .
They don't necessarily cost any more anyway.

abruzzi · Jul 25, 2024

On the SQ system, all my lenses are PS except the 40mm. I had a hard timefinding a PS for a reasonable price and I needed a very wide. It turned out quite well. I used the lens wide open, 1/30 shutter speed, and shot two rolls of Portra 800 with that lens inside Sagrada Familia last year, and it worked quite well. I didn't have a tripod, so at 1/30 I had to be very careful, and most of the shots came out well. So, its not a bad lens, but I have no doubt the PS 40mm is improved.

How many Bronica systems are there?

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