Who is Using Bronica Gear?

[coriana6jp]

I have a ETRsi with a 75mm and 150mm lens, with a couple of 120 backs. I use it as a back up to my Mamiya 645 system, and 4x5 gear. Its a rugged piece of gear that has not let me down. I want to get the 45-90 zoom next.

Gary

 

[craigclu]

RF645 with the two short lenses. If anyone wants to get rid of a 100mm, let me know.

Same combo here, bjorke.... Great optics and a nice, tight package to operate. A used 100 just went for high $$$ on auction and it's got me thinking of making the plunge to the Mamiya 7, if only to have access to a supported system.

 

[marktweedie]

I have an ancient S2A that I love. l've had to repair some light leaks in the magazines, but it works great. The old Nikkor and Zensa lenses are outstanding. One interesting note: the shutter sounds like a cannon when it fires, and the camera jumps, but it must all happen after the exposure because the results are very sharp, even hand held.

I use the S2A which fires like a shotgun but like nworth I get really sharp images. My understanding is that the noise is the returning mirror so all the image recording is done by the time you hear it. It is a truly beautiful camera and totally mechanical.

Mark

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I recorded the S2a shutter once and looked at it in a sound editing program, and indeed, about 2/3 of the sound happened after the exposure. The falling mirror design means that there are more things moving in there than in a normal SLR--

The mirror drops into a metal sheath that prevents reflections from the lens back onto the film, a blind covers the groundglass from underneath to prevent light from entering through the viewfinder, lens stops down, the shutter fires, then the lens opens up, mirror returns, and the blind is rolled out of the way of the finder.

 

[Donald Miller]

The loud sound I hear on my ETRS is mirror return. The lens leaf shutter sound is very minimal in comparison to that clunky mirror.

 

[Amund]

Hmm, I got to fondle a SQ-Ai the other day, and I loved the quick focus ring on the lens, very different from the very presice, but stiffer focus on my Hasselblad lenses.
Anyone want to trade a 76` 500 C/M with 80mm C T*(77`) and A12(93`), for a SQ-Ai(with 80mm PS) or ETRSi(with 75mm E-II/PE)?

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

I currently shoot an ETRS for just about everything, including indoor low-light children's portraiture. I love it. I usually keep the 75mm 2.8 on, but occasionally go with the 150 or 50mm.

Before that, I had an SQ-Ai which was the love of my life, but sadly was stolen last summer. The square neg suited me perfectly. I had planned to buy another SQ-Ai, but the deal on the ETRS was too good to pass up.

Other than one jammed shutter on a lens, I've never had any problems with either camera. They are totally dependable, easy to handle, fast to focus, and produce beautiful results.

- CJ

 

[SusanK]

I got my Bronica in '98...

SQ-Ai, prism finder, polaroid back, 2-120 film backs, plus a 50mm and 150mm lenses. I had an 80mm for a while but, sold it since I shoot most of my images at the extremes of wide angle or close-up.

I envy those of you who have a 110mm macro ! I'd love one of those but, can't afford it at the present time.

SusanK
www.susankopecky.com

 

[Doug Smith]

I recently picked up an SQ with a 50mm to supplement my Rollie and so I could shoot wide angle in 120/220. Very nice camera that's easy to hand hold and the glass is razor sharp. But man it gets heavy after schlepping it around for a morning.

Doug

 

[Andre Noble]

I have a FULL SQ-Ai system, except for the very exotic accesories, such as the bellows rig, PS fisheye Macro lenses. What I like best about the Bronica SQ-Ai are: Versatility of formats 6x6, 6x4.5, and 35mm panoramic. TTL capabilities shooting with a Quantum QFlash. Can be held comfortably in one hand (as opposed to the GS-1?). Electronically timed shutter, and Mirror-Up provision. Sharp, well-built PS lenses with strong color saturation.

What I like least about the system is the relatively noticeable curvilinear (barrel) distortion in all lenses from 40mm up to 80mm (This includes 40, 50, 65, and the 80mm). I don't think they wre designed for critical architectural work, rather for portraiture and natural landscape photography.

Now if Nikon would come out with a 'Coolscan 10000 ED' that will scan a whole roll, keeping entire frame in focus, I'll be in heaven.

 

[rshepard]

I'll join the queue of those with an S2A. Bought it about 5 years ago and have acquired a ton of lenses (50-400ml), extension tubes, doubler, two backs, the horizontal and hood magnifying view finders to augment the normal chimney/waisit level viewer.

Yes, it's quite loud, but I shoot exclusively on a tripod and keep my left hand on top of the camera when I squeeze the cable release with my right hand. Very sharp negatives from all my lenses.

It's a great system and worth lugging around. However, I leave the 400mm lens home unless I am confident that I'll need it. Have used that with the doubler a couple of times when I could get no closer than a mile or so to the subject. Works well.

FWIW, my other systems are a Crown Graphic (2.25x3.25"; vintage 1947), a Galvin medium format view camera, and the newish Seagull TLR that I take when I travel on business. Now I understand why my 35mm Nikons sat unused for more than a decade; medium format has made photography exciting and gratifying again for me.

Rich

 

[TVaitonis]

Hi All. I'm new to this forum but I can tell already that it's just like home with all the Bronica users. I've had a ETRS for a couple years and found it's perfect for me. So much so that I have added an ETRSi, a handful of lenses and a great batch of accessories. My favorite lens is the 45-90. I mated that to the ETRSi body and the both have enjoyed inseparable bliss together. Heavy...yes but what a great setup. I don't miss my 35mm gear one bit. Frankly, 35mm never really did it for me. Never got the fire to use it all that much. Medium format rekindled my interest in photography to the extent that I've branched out into some of the latest digital as well as 4 x 5 format. Digital is a great tool but I haven't found it to be as fun to use as the Bronica. Nothing quite like getting prints back from a roll of 120. Now to teach myself the art of large format.
-TV

 

[yurihuta]

I just bought an SQAi system and love it.

two SQAi bodies
PS 50mm
PS 80mm
PS 110mm Macro
PS 150mm
AE prism
Prism Finder S
Waist Level Finder
Motor Drive
Speed Grip
120 and 220 film backs
Polaroid film back
Accurofcus Magnifier (a great, great focusing accessory)

 

[Steve Smith]

I bought a basic ETRS kit with 75mm lens, waist level finder and one film back about a year ago. This was closely followed by a 50mm lens.

I have been thinking about getting an S2A or EC recently though.

 

[Kapten Stofil]

I recently got an ETRS with 75/2.8 lens, waist level finder and 120 back for a very good price from eBay. It was missing the darkslide and the back had serious light leaks which I have mostly managed to fix, apart from that it works perfectly. I will probably enjoy using it.

 

[ChrisOH]

Hi,

Not just new to the forum but also to photography!

I have just bought an ETRSi 75mm standard lens
AE prism

Loads of other stuff which I know nothing about (yet, he says boldly!) which is listed at the end of this post (taken from the seller's listing).

No idea what I've let myself in for but looking forward to it!

Chris


75mm lens hood

Fast focus lever

Fitted with motor wind

Spare speed grip

4 120 film backs

Pro bellows lens hood for 75mm standard lens

Polaroid back

Bronica, Metz SCA TTL 386 cable

Shepherd DM-170 light meter

Pro Velbon tripod (very strong)

Short cable release

6m (20ft) Air shutter release

62mm Sepia filter

62mm Softener filter

62mm Star 2x8 filter

62mm Multivision filter

62mm soft spot filter

Gossen Lunalite light meter (best in the world)

Flash meter Shepherd XE-99

One brand new professional 5 pack box of Fuji Pro 160S film

2 packs of Polarcolor 669 film for Polaroid back (not sure of date of this film)

Sunpak professional auto 4205G hammer head flash gun, with special wide base grip for medium format cameras, this is a very, very, powerful flashgun,

Can be set to auto or manual stop down power settings for fill in flash. The flash also comes with its own small brolly which fits on the head of the flashgun giving you shadow less portraits, without the need for studio lights. A complete mobile professional set-up, ready to go.

Everything is packed in a large Hakuba top opening aluminium case, except the tripod

 

[Ole]

I finally bowed to necessity today, and bought a new battery for my ETRS. The price, NOK 88, wasn't too bad - considering that the old battery was in the camera when I bought it (second hand) in 1990.

 

[Steve Smith]

I finally bowed to necessity today, and bought a new battery for my ETRS. The price, NOK 88, wasn't too bad - considering that the old battery was in the camera when I bought it (second hand) in 1990.

I wish my batteries lasted that long. My ETRS seems to flatten them in about one day. I'm looking for a new body now, possibly an ETRSi



Steve.

 

[DWThomas]

Well, I am trying to be a Bronica user! I started cobbling together an SQ-A about a month ago with the intent of being able to do some awesome landscape and architectural shots. Unfortunately, to date I am batting zero for two on film backs (see (there was a url link here which no longer exists) farther down).

In testing the second back, I did at least run a roll of Tmax 100 through it. You can see the gear and some results here. The negs were scanned on my Epson 3200 flatbed, as the darkroom is not fully resurrected yet. I do like what I see, such as it is. Both backs have been returned to their respective vendors and I anxiously await the arrival of at least one in the claimed "Ex+" condition.

Note: Readers are directed to my PBase site with some reluctance, as I confess to having strayed over to the -- uh -- dark side the last couple of years. :rolleyes: But I am working toward changing that - honest .

DaveT

 

[mitspooner]

Bronica S2 with WLF and prism; have the Nikkor 7.5cm and a Zenazon 150mm , Komura 300mm and 500mm and the 2x tele. I can hand hold it 80% of the time and it has become a great street shooter for me with the 7.5cm on. The only problem I've had is my 120/220 back like's to stop advancing sometimes but a quick pop of the darksilde and it's all reset.

PS-Bronica S line of camera's a hella loud when fired!!!!!!! Used a SQ-Ai for a bit and it was pretty quiet in comparison.