Is the Bronica ETR series worth it?

Hello all;

I am planning on getting into medium format and do not have enough money to spend on a Hasselblad or whatever. I have decided that the Bronica ETR series is the best fit. However, my friend has one that has problems quite frequently. I am looking for you guys’ experiences with them and maybe some other camera recommendations.

Portability is a major deciding factor, and some sort of back interchangeability would be nice. Cost should be less than 400 ish for a decent condition camera. 645 seems a very good format as it is much larger than 35mm while still being able to fit 15 images on a roll.

Thanks for the help; I have seen other threads about this an they have been helpful, but I would like some responses that are more specific to my needs.

I guess with the older ETR model , problems might arise , however the newer ones ( a couple of which I've used for over a decade ) have proven
themselves to be very durable and problem free , great lenses also I might add . They are my go to medium format cameras when I travel abroad.
After spending the money to travel and take pics I wouldn't take any other camera , they're that good . That's my Bronica flag waving rant , Peter

If you want to shoot film, absolutely. Besides being very affordable it is very nicely designed. The lenses are all very good - excellent. It handles very nicely and has a great viewfinder. The PE lenses are worth the extra money. I'd pass on the motor drive (I own it but rather shoot with another camera if I need speed). Avoid the older MC or M lenses and the early metal bodies. The ETRS is a good choice.

Thanks for the replies. Is the mirror lock up of the ETRSi really worth it? How does the ETRS compare to other models such as the SQ-A?

I have both an ETRS and an ETRSi , and lenses from 40mm to 500mm including the two Shneider zooms (sp ?) And I'm very happy with the kit .
Get a speed grip for film advance and a prism finder .
I use the ETRSi mostly , MLU is very valuable for exposures less than about 125th second up to a couple of seconds .
Without mirror slap , and it's a big mirror , you remove vibration .
If your shooting hand held though , MLU has no use .
So what your using it for is relevent here .

The SQ models are square frames .
Do you want 6x4.5cm or 6x6 negatives ?
That's the answer to that question .

For square shooting I use either a Mamiya TLR , Yashica TLR's or my Kiev 88 .
Depends what I'm doing and what I feel like using .

Young He said:

How does the ETRS compare to other models such as the SQ-A?

Click to expand...

To me, the 6x6 cm SQ-A is a better 6x4.5cm camera than any of the ETR-series cameras. For not much more in terms of money or size, the SQ series offers cameras that never need to turn, are smaller in practical usage (i.e., because you don't need the prism and speed grip for portrait orientation and only need waist level finder), and have frame lines for 645 etched into the focusing screens.

Indeed, many photographers have used Hasselblads, SQ-As, and other square-format cameras to shoot 645, cropping from square. I personally prefer square, but the SQ cameras, as with other square-format cameras, easily offer both formats whenever you want them or you can buy a 645 back if you really need it.

Yes, the ETR cameras offer 3 additional frames per roll, but this isn't worth it for me given the additional size and weight the prism and speed grip add compared to the SQ-A.

All this said, I would have no problem using or recommending any of the more modern Bronica cameras (i.e., ETR series, SQ series, GS-1, and RF645). I've owned Hasselblads, Rolleiflexes, Bronicas, Plaubel Makina 67s, etc., and I've never felt let down by any Bronica equipment and their results. I have had to get some equipment serviced occasionally, but these issues were usually caused by me (e.g., dropping the camera hiking on the isle of Skye). The only issue I've really ever had with these Bronicas was that the Bronica SQ-Ai battery door and compartment are very fiddly, so I would ordinarily try to go for the SQ-A or SQ-B where possible, which take different batteries and avoid the battery door issues.

I recently got an ETRSi in a trade on this forum and I am quite impressed with it, it is well built and so far I'm impressed with the lenses. I would love to have a Hasselbad but that is out of my budget. This is my first medium format SLR and my first 645 camera. I have a few 6x6 TLR's (Rolleiflex Automat 3.5 and Mamiya C3) that I really like but for macro stuff I figured this would be better. It came with a PE 100mm macro lens, PE 50mm lens and I recently got an MC 250mm lens and an extension tube. This camera has a few quirks that I'm not used to but that will be fine once I get a few more rolls through it. So far I have only shot one roll in it and I'm almost through the second roll so I'm still a newbie as far as these cameras go but I'm impressed. At first I was a bit concerned about the build quality for a plastic camera but it is well built.

A few of the quirks that I need to get used to include the need to have the shutter cocked to change lenses. I need to read the instructions every time I try to take the extension tube off. If you use the mirror lock up you have to remember to move the switch back before winding on otherwise the mirror stays locked up and you loose a frame. That mirror has some kick so you will want to use the lock up. At least it wont let you shoot without removing the dark slide, I would loose a lot of photos if it didn't do that.

Zenza Bronica ETRSi by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Sleepy Vera by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

I have an ETRSi with three PE lenses (50,75,150mm) - nothing wrong with this kit.
For shooting portrait orientation you will need a (metered) prism finder (though I really like using the WLF). The speed grip is a 'nice-to-have' too.
I have the AEIII prism finder with additional spot metering - very nice piece of gear.

style over speed - III by macfred64, on Flickr
Bronica ETRSi - Zenzanon PE 75mm f/2.8 - Ektar 100

the etrs and etrsi are wonderful cameras. you can find a nice variety of great lenses.

must haves... prism, speed grip, focus levers for your lenses.

i have an etrsi posted for sale, still available.. pm for details?

etrs 30mm tmax400

I don't know what issues your friend had, but to my knowledge, there are no inherent flaws with the ETR bodies, lenses, backs. Doesn't mean no problems, but no "common" problems that I'm aware of. I did have the multiple exposure lever break on mine, but I consider that a "one off".

With the lever wind grip, it's great to hand hold. Without the grip (using the hard to find wind crank or just turning the film advance by hand) it's very compact. I don't use the meter prism much as I prefer to incident meter.

One consideration is that some were used by wedding photographers and may have seen a lot of use. None the less, I consider the ETRS pretty much the most "bang for the buck" of any MF SLR.

Thanks for all the great help, everyone. I am pretty convinced.