Need a Bronica ETR Waist-level-Finder, suggestions?

[marius cramer]

Hey guys,
so I recently purchased a Bronica ETRSi and it's great, but it came with any finder. When you search for WLF's on eBay and similar sites they go for around 100 bucks, that's a bit steep for me though. Do you know of any other WLF that fits the ETR/ETRSi with a bit of customising? Or maybe recommendations on complete DIY? I added a photo of someone who uses a negative loupe (lol) as a finder? Do you think this would work okay?
Anyway, TIA y'all!
cheers marius

 

[mweintraub]

Look for a "parts" body on ebay that comes with a WLF.

 

[pdeeh]

Also, my suggestion is, don't buy a camera that is incomplete

 

[mweintraub]

Also, my suggestion is, don't buy a camera that is incomplete

You've never got an awesome deal because a piece was missing.

 

[marius cramer]

You've never got an awesome deal because a piece was missing.

Well, it definitely was a great deal. I paid 230 bucks for body, back and 75mm. Normally these go for 'bout 400 if you add a WLF.

 

[marius cramer]

Also, I've looked and there are no 'Parts'-Bodies around, unfortunately. May do the Negative-Loupe-thingy until I find a decent deal on a WLF because I find 100 bucks for something so simple a bit too much. I mean, it's just a piece of metal which folds and has a magnifier, no other glass than the magnifier...

cheers

 

[pdeeh]

A curious notion of "a great deal" but chacun a son gout I guess

 

[marius cramer]

A curious notion of "a great deal" but chacun a son gout I guess

If you would like to explain?

 

[DWThomas]

In my opinion you just have to bite the bullet. Years ago I assembled an SQ-A from parts acquired via ePrey and KEH, after all, it is a modular system! I was shocked at the cost of the WLF then -- you could buy the body for less -- but I think the WLF sales may have been eclipsed by metering prisms and the like originally, and it's also relatively fragile as mechanical assemblies go, so the lack of availability drives up the price. And be of good cheer, back in the 1990s they were something like $389 new!

 

[MattKing]

They are likely to be quite rare, because waist level finders for 645 cameras essentially restrict you to "landscape" (horizontal) subjects (unless you like your viewfinder images upside down and reversed).
I have a WLF for my Mamiya 645 Pro. I consider it a special purpose accessory, and use it infrequently.
IMHO, the Bronica ETR is beautifully designed for use with an eye level prism.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

If you would like to explain?

"everyone to his taste" or "to each hist taste", french saying I suppose.

Regards.

 

[EdColorado]

Waist level finders tend to bring more money than they would seem to be worth, and it seems Bronica and a lot of other medium format gear is going up in price so yes, they aren't cheap.
Your idea of using a lupe will work but it wont show the entire frame very well. How about making a chimney finder of sorts. Make a cone or tapered box from light cardboard that will sit over the focusing screen. Cheap and easy. Google the Mamiya RB67 chimney finder to see what I mean. It might not look great but it should work and really, whats important is that your out shooting film and enjoying the camera. If you think you want a magnifier just buy an over the counter pair of reading glasses and slip them on. I use the most powerful I can find as focusing aids. Easier than holding on to a lupe while handling the camera.

Then just keep an eye out for a waist level finder. As mentioned, look for parts cameras. I've had decent luck finding items cheaper because they were attached to a parts camera. Also, if there are any repair shops local to you pop in and ask if they have something. Repair techs tend to keep everything, just in case, and can sometimes come up with a weird hard to find item.

 

[mgb74]

They are likely to be quite rare, because waist level finders for 645 cameras essentially restrict you to "landscape" (horizontal) subjects (unless you like your viewfinder images upside down and reversed).
I have a WLF for my Mamiya 645 Pro. I consider it a special purpose accessory, and use it infrequently.
IMHO, the Bronica ETR is beautifully designed for use with an eye level prism.

+1. Supply and demand.

The WL (I have one) was fairly uncommon on the ETR series as it makes vertical composition difficult. So few were sold and therefore low demand. So while probably cheaper when new, much more expensive than prism now. But I like ground glass focusing for landscapes.

BTW, the film advance crank is also hard to find relative the the grip (however, you can advance manually without the crank). An ETRS with WL and no grip is wonderfully compact and light.

 

[paul ron]

buy a prism for $40.

 

[EdColorado]

... An ETRS with WL and no grip is wonderfully compact and light.

Yes it is, which is why I purchased a second body. My first was set up with a speed grip and AEIII finder and is a wonderful piece of kit. In some situations however, it can be a bit bulky. I found a nice clean ETRSi body at a killer price that had a crank, and fortunately was gifted a waist level finder. It's like a completely different camera, and in the right circumstance a much better one (for me at least) than with the big finder and speed grip.

 

[moto-uno]

If you use the 105 mm macro lens and like taking pics of things near the ground, then it's pretty well the only
tool for the job with the Etr series . Peter
ps: they've always been at least 100 bucks for the last decade . Wouldn't be without one .

 

[John Koehrer]

Until you decide to buy one, make a simple rectangular tube with matt board. magnifying lens for .......magnifying.

Kinda Rube Goldberg but it'll work

 

[RichardJack]

Try calling Jimmy Koh of Koh's camera. He might have one kicking around. His prices are very fair.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hey guys,
so I recently purchased a Bronica ETRSi and it's great, but it came with any finder. When you search for WLF's on eBay and similar sites they go for around 100 bucks, that's a bit steep for me though. Do you know of any other WLF that fits the ETR/ETRSi with a bit of customising? Or maybe recommendations on complete DIY? I added a photo of someone who uses a negative loupe (lol) as a finder? Do you think this would work okay?
Anyway, TIA y'all!
cheers marius

The loupe would work well for focusing but not so well for composing; at least when I tried it on a Hasselblad 500

 

[dynachrome]

Last year I got an ETRS with a 75/2.8 MC, a Speed Grip, and AE-II finder and a 120 back for $150. The finder works properly and is just missing the rubber eyecup. I have other ETR and ETRS cameras, a number of plain prism finders, two of the very large and heavy action finders and a waist level finder. If the camera is on a copy stand or a tripod, the waist level finder can be helpful. For regular hand held shooting I do not like the waist level finder. It makes vertical shooting too awkward. The one medium format SLR camera I don't have a waist level finder for is the Bronica GS-1. I could get one but I don't know when I would use it. If I need to use a waist level finder with the 6X7 format I have these for my Mamiya RB and RZ cameras. When do I like to use a waist level finder with a medium SLR? When I'm using one of my Bronica SQ-A cameras and carrying just one lens. It makes the package lighter and I don't have to worry about vertical vs. horizontal orientation. I also have a waist level finder for my Mamiya M645/1000S/J cameras.

 

[macfred]

Ian from IanB Photo LTD has tons of Bronica gear to sell.
I bought lots of stuff from him (lenses, focussing screens, speed grip, ...)
and I really can recommend him - always good value for money and very fast shipping to Germany.

http://ianbfoto.com/sales.php

edit: He has a mint ETRS WLF for £54.95

 

[cooltouch]

I own an ETRSi -- bought it as an outfit several years ago for an unbelievably low price. It came with the standard prism finder, which I like. I really don't care for WLFs. A couple years ago, I bought an AE-II finder for it for about $75. And I see them on eBay often for a bit more than $100. Unless you just have to have a WLF, I'd get a prism finder of one flavor or another.

Also, if you don't have one yet, I highly recommend you pick up a Speed Grip E. You can find them on eBay or KEH for about $40. With your ETRSi mounted to it and using a prism finder, it feels like a largish 35mm SLR. Very comfortable, plus it has a hot shoe and a double stroke crank for film advance. Pretty much a "must have" for an ETR system, I feel.

 

[RichardJack]

Did you find one yet? I just bought a ETR-S body with 120 back and w/l finder for $95. I never owned a 645 and was tempted. But my point is you can find something like this and get an extra back out of it and sell the body.
Check the new listings every morning, you never know.

 

[moto-uno]

^You've been hiding those horse shoes , what a deal ! Peter

 

[RichardJack]

Speaking of deals....they are out there. Earlier last week I won 5 PS lenses. A 35/3.5 for $330, 50/3.5 for $73, 110/4 macro for $65, 150/4 for $49, and 180/4.5 for $130. All but were in excellent condition some with cases, except for the 35 Fisheye. I returned the 35 Fisheye because of haze (the cement had broken down in a cemented pair in the rear group). That made 4 beautiful PS lenses for $317. The guy should of had reserves and listed them at a busier time of day. His opening bid was $1 and people were bidding peanuts. I passed on several other lenses I already had and his SQ-Ai body kit that I think went for about $160. Some people don't like Ebay, I love it.
Rick