MF SLR system

The SQ-AM has a large, built-in motor drive that may or may not be to your liking.

brunico said:

• Bronica SQ-Ai: more expensive than the models without bulb/MLU, but the 150mm Zenzanon-S seems a really creamy lens, and the 40mm is interesting in square format because of the 'wider' height over 645

• Bronica ETR-Si: again, more expensive to get bulb/MLU, and there seem to be fewer reviews of the ETR lenses

• Mamiya 645: it seems the Super and Pro models both have bulb/MLU, and it's tempting for the 80/1.9, even if the bokeh is the opposite of the 150mm Zenzanon-S

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All of the cameras on your list will give similar high quality images. Bear in mind a 645 SLR will be a less compact beast once you've fitted a prism and a winder. I'd choose the best deal you can find rather than a specific model.

You might want to expand your list to add 6X7 cameras, some 6X7 SLR's can have very attractive price tags, it might be worth lousing a frame and cropping if the price is right.

Thanks, all - I've now made up my mind!

A Bronica Zenzanon-S 150/3.5 is on its way to me, and I'll build up the rest of the kit as money comes in. I may get the cheaper SQ-A and live without bulb and 16s.

I liked what I could see of how this lens renders a scene, and I wanted to get away from 'duplicating' what my digicam does, i.e., 4:3 format with a slightly-wider-than-normal lens. So I reluctant to get 645 and an 80mm, despite liking the other cameras. And I like the idea of using a WLF to keep down weight and bulk, so 6x6 makes verticals easy and I can shoot square or rectangle as needed. And when the money comes in, a 40mm will be nice, too...

One more vote for an SQ. It is the most versatile of those that you listed, due to the square format and leaf shutters.

I like the RB/RZ system a lot, but it sounds like you are not interested.

I also chose a ETRS. This was before the ETRS-i was introduced and have been happy with it and today, building the system is a true bargain. As for lens review, I'd not worry about it. I've never heard or seen anything from any owner of any of the several series dice one of the lenses. I think Bronica subbed out all lense glass production to Tamron after divorcing from Nikon and Tamron made some excellent lenses including their production after buying Bronica. They were good enough that wedding made the camera a favorite for years. The ETR series covered a lot of years and rather than Bronica making new ground up models chose to keep improving their 3 basic models. As a result with few exceptions later accessories can be used on the earliest bodies and vice versa and because they were in production for so long, the accessories and lenses are plentiful, keeping the pricing down.