New to the Forum and coming back to film.

agphotography

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Hey everyone!

I'm just returning to the film world after a 5 year break. I used to shoot all 3 formats (35mm, 6x4.5 / 6x7, 4x5) and I only switched to digital around 2005. My entire workflow consists of 100% digital capture and processing, but my roots are firmly planted in the film world.

Just today I picked up a Bronica ETR-Si kit for almost nothing.



It also came with the PE 150mm f/3.5 and a Polaroid back.

I'm really excited to start shooting some film again!

I need to pick up some things for this camera however, it was in pretty good shape, but a little dusty. I need to find a film advance lever, body caps, a waist level finder, and lens hoods. Any help in finding this items is greatly appreciated

I look forward to chatting with all of you and getting back into the film world

- Abram
 
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Chazzy

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Welcome back to the film world, Abram, and welcome to APUG!
 

lxdude

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Welcome!

Koh's camera, kohscamera.com has lots of stuff, new and used. They are commonly regarded as the Bronica people in the U.S. They sell spare parts and accessories, and do repairs as well. They have waist level finders for $59, about what they cost used. New cranks are $31, as I recall.

www.keh.com has a lot of used Bronica stuff. I find used back lens caps are usually worn to the point they don't stay on, so new ones might be better if not too expensive. Some plastic packing tape inside the cap on the bayonet part works okay for a while. Used lens hoods aren't really cheap, but are interchangeable between similar lenses (40mm - 50mm, 150mm-250mm). The 75mm takes its own bayonet hood. The others clip on the outside of the lens. A bellows hood is also available, clunky to use but good for maximum protection from stray light. It covers everything from 40mm to 250mm and mounts with adapter rings. Bronica claim it can also be used with 35mm.
 
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Rick A

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Kill the fatted calf, for my (prodigal)son has returned! Hi, and welcome back.

Rick
 

Mainecoonmaniac

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Congrats on your new toy. I'm a reformed pro that got burned out and stop shooting regularly. I was shooting commercially for money in the days of film. The only time I picked up a camera was when I traveled. It's a point and shoot Canon Power Shot 2 megapixel resolution. At one point, I thought I'd liquidate my pro film gear on Ebay. Glad I didn't. What started me shooting regularly again was recovering from my burnout from being a pro. It took over 5 years and I'm returning regularly to shooting both film and digital. I'm using my old stash of film and enjoying every minute of it. Also got back in the darkroom. Digital is not necessarily bad and film isn't necessarily appropriate for everything I shoot.
 
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agphotography

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Mainecoonmaniac said:
Digital is not necessarily bad and film isn't necessarily appropriate for everything I shoot.
Click to expand...

That is exactly how I feel!

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome (sorry I posted this in the wrong area, I'll stay on track I promise! (I'm a good forum user, I know how to search and everything!)

I also thank you guys for the recommendation to Koh's Camera, I already contacted them and received a reply. They have every part I'm looking for minus the neck strap. Awesome!
 

papagene

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Abram - hello and welcome to APUG and welcome back to film.
 

lxdude

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Don't sweat the strap. It's not that great. It's skinny and short. If I can find mine I'll post a picture of it. If you really want one, Keh usually has some.

IMO, aftermarket straps are much better.
 

Micky

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Welcome to the forum Abram. No one ever leaves the film world, sometimes people just lose their way.
 
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agphotography

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Micky said:
Welcome to the forum Abram. No one ever leaves the film world, sometimes people just lose their way.
Click to expand...

I'm quickly discovering how true this is. I am so grateful to have my background be in film though, so many young photographers (I mean this in both age and skill level) just don't have any appreciation for processing film, working in the darkroom, making prints, etc. etc.

I'm sad for them.
 
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agphotography

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lxdude said:
Don't sweat the strap. It's not that great. It's skinny and short. If I can find mine I'll post a picture of it. If you really want one, Keh usually has some.

IMO, aftermarket straps are much better.
Click to expand...

Oh ok, that doesn't sound so great then haha! I have one of Gordy's straps that I had made for my Olympus 35SP (which I still have but it's out of commission and I didn't want to invest the money into it)

It would likely be plenty long enough for the bronica, however It does not have the neck pad so it is a very very skinny strap.

I'm personally not a fan of optech straps, despite how comfy they are, I just don't like them.

I have a couple Domke straps as well, I suppose if I could get some triangular split-rings I could use one of those?

Do you have any recommendations?
 

lxdude

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I use round split-rings, but I guess it doesn't matter.
I got a 2-inch-wide neoprene strap at my local camera store made by "CARTOM, Cleveland, Ohio, USA." I'm not a big fan of neoprene straps, but I needed something right away. It's worked out pretty well, because the neoprene's not as springy as most other straps, so I don't don't get boinging camera syndrome when I'm walking along. It's straight, as I don't like curved straps.

I keep saying I'm gonna get somebody to make me some full grain leather straps, one inch wide for the 35mm's, one and a half or two for the heavier stuff. I had one years ago and loved it. The rough underside kept it from slipping, and it never friction burned or cut my neck like synthetics, when I was working fast. I've got a camera I bought new 35 years ago that still has the two inch wide woven cloth strap I got when I bought it, which is also very comfortable. Both kinds are much nicer in the heat than neoprene or the woven synthetic material some straps are made of. The Bronica strap is less than half an inch wide, except for a one inch wide leatherette pad with foam on the bottom, sewn to it amidships. The strap's a nice dark blue, with two narrow yellow stripes, and has the proprietary ends, sort of a captured d-ring, which to their credit, are less bulky than clips.

It's just not very long and is too narrow for the weight it's carrying. I figure I'll use it on a little Japanese fixed-lens rangefinder or something at some point.

A funny thing-at my local shop were some straps from Tamrac or someplace that said they were designed for digital cameras. I jokingly asked the guys if they thought it would work properly on my film cameras. They said "What do you mean, a digital strap?" I showed them the label. It took a while, but we figured out the "digital" referred to the tiny pouch on it for memory cards.:rolleyes:
 

wclark5179

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Welcome!

I spent yesterday making contact sheets of rolls of 120 film!
 

Black Dog

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Welcome back-you can check out,but you can never leave hehehehe.
 

Hikingman

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Welcome!
 
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agphotography

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Again thank you everyone for the warm welcome, I really appreciate that!

Is anyone here also memebers over at RFF (Rangfinder Forum) I used to be quite active on there.
 
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