Bronica 2-1/4 SLRs: The Agony & The Ecstasy Part 3: The EC series, the last and best.
Bronica 2-1/4 SLRs: The Agony & The Ecstasy Part 3
The EC series: The last, best, & most innovative focal plane shutter Bronicas
By Jason Schneider
The Bronica EC released in March, 1972 was the successor to the Bronica S2A and it represents a new generation of Bronica design. It was the first 6 x 6 cm-format modular SLR with an electronically controlled shutter, though preceded by the non-modular Pentax 6x7 unveiled in 1969 . Its signature feature is a stepped, electronically controlled shutter with speeds from 4 sec to 1/1000 sec plus B that’s powered by a 6-volt silver-oxide battery in the base of the camera, which also has a battery check button and LED on the left side. The interchangeable viewfinder, finder screens, and 120/220 film magazines are not compatible with those of S-series Bronicas, and EC film backs have a handy dark slide slot. Remove the waist level finder and then snap on
Bronica’s entry into the world’s largest add on meter, the huge vertical pagoda like TTL exposure meter finder using CdS cells to meteroff the focusing screen. This incredible achievement is stylistically reminiscent of the optical rangefinders used on the bridge of Japan’s Imperial High Seas Fleet super battleship Yamato, which in no way takes away from the largest optical rangefinders ever built into theYamato’s 18-inch main gun turrets by the company that went on to fame after the war building Nikon cameras. The EC body has ¼-inchand 3/8-inch tripod sockets, and the camera provides a depth of field preview button, a mirror lock, and a locking PC terminal.
Overlooked in most EC commentaries is that Bronica got the 6x6 electronics right out of the gate, achieving reliability from the word go. In contrast Hasselblad had truly terrible focal plane shutter reliability with the 1000F and 1600F series from 1950 to 1957 and the 2000 series from 1977 to 1989. Only with the 200 series starting in 1991 did Hasselblad finally succeed with a professional quality 6x6 focal plane camera, the 205TCC. With the EC-TL little Bronica succeeded where big Hasselblad failed – with superb TTL metering and a reliable electronic focal plane shutter from the get-go. Maybe the original 6x6 Bronica system deserves a lot more respect than its usually given.
The Bronica EC was the first medium format SLR with an electronically controlled shutter. It's larger and heavier than it's predecessors but it's well balanced, ergonomic, and a joy to shoot with.
The EC introduced Bronica’s probably unique 2-piece split instant return mirror. The smaller bottom section moves downwards while the larger top section moves inward and upward when you fire the shutter. This “opposed movement” is said to reduce camera induced vibration and to provide better coverage for wide-angle lenses. It may also be a bit quieter, but the camera still makes and impressive “thwack” when you press the shutter release. The downside: you must be careful to extend the helical all the way before mounting lens heads, especially the 100mm f/2.8 Zenzanon; if you don’t, the back of the lens can strike the bottom mirror, which is unsupported in the middle, and crack it! The EC focuses down to 18 inches with the standard 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P lens of the multicoated Nikkor-P.C, a lot closer than a typical leaf shutter medium format SLR such as Hasselblad’s 80mm Planar that focuses down to only 3 feet (0.9m).
Bronica EC outfit: Camera is shown sporting the coupled "Klutz-o-Matic" TTL meter finder, a CdS cell device that's plug ugly but worked quite well.
The Bronica EC body, which is clad in chrome- or black-finished alloy, measures 139 x 117 x 170mm and weighs in at 1.980 kg with back and waist level finder compared to the S2A body which measures 100 x 100 x 140mm and weighs 1,780 kg. While the EC definitely feels larger and heavier than an S2 or S2A, it’s so well balanced and its controls are so well placed that it’s very pleasant to shoot with and is a superior camera overall. You can snag a clean functional Bronica EC with 75mm Nikkor-P lens for $300-500 in black or chrome depending on cosmetics, slightly higher with 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P.C lens.
The Bronica EC-TL introduced in 1975 is a technological tour de force. Built on the proven EC chassis it’s the world’s first 6 x 6 cm-format camera with built-in body TTL metering and the first to provide aperture priority autoexposure mode, beating out the Hasselblad 205TC by nearly 17 years! The EC-TL features an ingenuous metering system employing 2 silicon cells behind the mirror that read the exposure through the lens at working aperture with a third silicon cell that compensates for ambient light coming though the improved light excluding waist level finder. At the top of the finder screen a digital LED-illuminated shutter speed scale is displayed along with over and underexposure warnings. The system provides instant stop down measurements, eliminating discrepancies due to aperture variations, but it works so quickly that the camera functions like an open-aperture-metering camera.
Bronica EC-TL was undoubtedly the most advanced 2-1/4 SLR of its day and it's sill a great user-collectible if you snag one in perfect working order.
Readings can be checked by pressing the depth of field preview button with the meter turned on, Auto and Manual exposure operations are clearly indicated by steadily illuminated numerals in Auto mode and a flickering display in manual mode. The focal plane shutter can operate at a mechanical speed of 1/40 sec without battery power, shutter speeds from 2 sec to 1/1000 sec (plus B) are stepless in auto mode, intermediate settings are possible in manual mode, and X sync is at 1/60 sec. Setting the shutter dial to the red A or Auto lets you shoot in aperture priority mode and setting the multi-exposure control to D lets you shoot an unlimited number of exposure on one frame. All other specs, including size and weight, closely parallel those of the Bronica EC. Even today the great handling Bronica EC-TL is an excellent choice for sophisticated film shooters, but fair warning electronic replacement parts, dedicated screens, and repairs are hard to come by, s make sure you obtain one in tiptop shape from a reputable dealer or seller thast accepts returns and/or offers a guarantee. Even so, picking up an EC-TL will make you realize it is a real quality example of beautiful classic camera enginering. You can currently acquire a clean functional Bronica EC-TL with 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P lens for about $500-600 at online auction sites or from camera specialty dealers.
It’s difficult to overstate how well Bronica succeeded with the EC-TL’s TTL metering. On a scale of 10, 10 being best, a 20! First of all the EC-TL’s metering worked well, accurately, easily and quickly – all important criteria to serious photographers. On top of that ALL of Bronica’s lenses and adapted lenses were compatible WITHOUT LENS MODIFCATION! WOW! In contrast Hasselblad’s awkward 205TCC / 203FE metering required a special expensive series of lenses for convenient metering. While backward metering compatibility with CF and C lenses was technically possible, real world no one in their right mind would want to use Hasselblad’s badly designed time consuming metering methods on older lenses. In short, the Bronica EC-TL TTL metering system succeeded spectacularly, and Hasselblad’s body TTL metering failed spectacularly even though Hassy had 17 years to improve upon Bronica’s methods. True, perhaps patents had something to do with Hasselblad’s bad choices, but no medium format camera maker had higher sales or more money to license patents. It would seem bad management had something to do with poor Hasselblad design choices.
About the time of the EC-TL Nikkor lenses began to be replaced by Zenzanon lenses made by Bronica, because Nikon pulled back to concentrate on Nikon F mount lenses. So generally Zenzanon lenses are the later lenses for the original Bronica 6x6 system. Like the Nikkors quality was high and the most used focal lengths were produced. Still, even late production Bronica lens choices failed to compare with either the Zeiss lens reputation or the Zeiss lens choices. Are they as good as Zeiss lenses or not? You have to wonder. The real answer to that question is that it probably varies from focal length to focal length.
The EC-TL bodies are arguably much better designed and easier to use than Hasselblad 500C’s. Alas the EC-TL is also noticeably larger and heavier -- yet still much smaller and lighter than the later Mamiya RB67. EC-TL body advantages over the 500C include TTL metering, easy to see meter readout, easy to use metering on all auto lenses, brighter focusing, instant return mirror, easier and faster film loading, and multiple use backs that take 120 or 220 film. So it would seem the EC-TL body is a very strong, perhaps even better, competitor than the Hasselbad 500C. To each their own of course – just food for thought.
The Bronica EC-TL II: Last of the focal plane shutter Bronicas
Introduced in October 1978 and discontinued less than 2 years later in March 1980, the very last focal plane shutter Bronica has revised electronic circuit boards said to be simpler and more robust than those in the Bronica EC-TL. As a result, the camera no longer provides shutter speeds slower than 1 sec, 1/30 sec is the slowest speed displayed in the finder (which means different finder screens are required) and the metering system sadly no longer provides manual metering mode (there’s just anM indicator light in the finder. The EC-TL II does provide aperture priority auto exposure by the A setting on the shutter dial and reads out the camera selected shutter speed when you press the depthof field preview button—just like the EC-TL. The metering system is said to be more reliable and robust than the one in its predecessor, but parts and repairs are hard to come by so caveat emptor. Clean functional examples of the Bronica EC-TL II are readily available at online auction sites and camera specialty dealers at prices ranging from $600-900 in black of chrome with 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P or Nikkor-P.C lens.
Bronica EC-TL II, the very last off the focal-plane shutter Bronicas, is a simplified version of the EC-TL lacking metered manual exposure and with stripped down readouts. It's still a great user camera but more expensive than the EC-TL because newbie buyers assume its improved over the earlier EC-TL -- its not.
The EC-TL or the EC-TL II? The EC-TL provides more usable features and costs less in the classic camera market. Historically the EC-TL is historically much more important in camera history. All that adds up to an easy choice for most classic camera fans.
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Bronica 2-1/4 SLRs: The Agony & The Ecstasy Part 3
The EC series: The last, best, & most innovative focal plane shutter Bronicas
By Jason Schneider
The Bronica EC released in March, 1972 was the successor to the Bronica S2A and it represents a new generation of Bronica design. It was the first 6 x 6 cm-format modular SLR with an electronically controlled shutter, though preceded by the non-modular Pentax 6x7 unveiled in 1969 . Its signature feature is a stepped, electronically controlled shutter with speeds from 4 sec to 1/1000 sec plus B that’s powered by a 6-volt silver-oxide battery in the base of the camera, which also has a battery check button and LED on the left side. The interchangeable viewfinder, finder screens, and 120/220 film magazines are not compatible with those of S-series Bronicas, and EC film backs have a handy dark slide slot. Remove the waist level finder and then snap on
Bronica’s entry into the world’s largest add on meter, the huge vertical pagoda like TTL exposure meter finder using CdS cells to meteroff the focusing screen. This incredible achievement is stylistically reminiscent of the optical rangefinders used on the bridge of Japan’s Imperial High Seas Fleet super battleship Yamato, which in no way takes away from the largest optical rangefinders ever built into theYamato’s 18-inch main gun turrets by the company that went on to fame after the war building Nikon cameras. The EC body has ¼-inchand 3/8-inch tripod sockets, and the camera provides a depth of field preview button, a mirror lock, and a locking PC terminal.
Overlooked in most EC commentaries is that Bronica got the 6x6 electronics right out of the gate, achieving reliability from the word go. In contrast Hasselblad had truly terrible focal plane shutter reliability with the 1000F and 1600F series from 1950 to 1957 and the 2000 series from 1977 to 1989. Only with the 200 series starting in 1991 did Hasselblad finally succeed with a professional quality 6x6 focal plane camera, the 205TCC. With the EC-TL little Bronica succeeded where big Hasselblad failed – with superb TTL metering and a reliable electronic focal plane shutter from the get-go. Maybe the original 6x6 Bronica system deserves a lot more respect than its usually given.
The Bronica EC was the first medium format SLR with an electronically controlled shutter. It's larger and heavier than it's predecessors but it's well balanced, ergonomic, and a joy to shoot with.
The EC introduced Bronica’s probably unique 2-piece split instant return mirror. The smaller bottom section moves downwards while the larger top section moves inward and upward when you fire the shutter. This “opposed movement” is said to reduce camera induced vibration and to provide better coverage for wide-angle lenses. It may also be a bit quieter, but the camera still makes and impressive “thwack” when you press the shutter release. The downside: you must be careful to extend the helical all the way before mounting lens heads, especially the 100mm f/2.8 Zenzanon; if you don’t, the back of the lens can strike the bottom mirror, which is unsupported in the middle, and crack it! The EC focuses down to 18 inches with the standard 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P lens of the multicoated Nikkor-P.C, a lot closer than a typical leaf shutter medium format SLR such as Hasselblad’s 80mm Planar that focuses down to only 3 feet (0.9m).
Bronica EC outfit: Camera is shown sporting the coupled "Klutz-o-Matic" TTL meter finder, a CdS cell device that's plug ugly but worked quite well.
The Bronica EC body, which is clad in chrome- or black-finished alloy, measures 139 x 117 x 170mm and weighs in at 1.980 kg with back and waist level finder compared to the S2A body which measures 100 x 100 x 140mm and weighs 1,780 kg. While the EC definitely feels larger and heavier than an S2 or S2A, it’s so well balanced and its controls are so well placed that it’s very pleasant to shoot with and is a superior camera overall. You can snag a clean functional Bronica EC with 75mm Nikkor-P lens for $300-500 in black or chrome depending on cosmetics, slightly higher with 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P.C lens.
The Bronica EC-TL introduced in 1975 is a technological tour de force. Built on the proven EC chassis it’s the world’s first 6 x 6 cm-format camera with built-in body TTL metering and the first to provide aperture priority autoexposure mode, beating out the Hasselblad 205TC by nearly 17 years! The EC-TL features an ingenuous metering system employing 2 silicon cells behind the mirror that read the exposure through the lens at working aperture with a third silicon cell that compensates for ambient light coming though the improved light excluding waist level finder. At the top of the finder screen a digital LED-illuminated shutter speed scale is displayed along with over and underexposure warnings. The system provides instant stop down measurements, eliminating discrepancies due to aperture variations, but it works so quickly that the camera functions like an open-aperture-metering camera.
Bronica EC-TL was undoubtedly the most advanced 2-1/4 SLR of its day and it's sill a great user-collectible if you snag one in perfect working order.
Readings can be checked by pressing the depth of field preview button with the meter turned on, Auto and Manual exposure operations are clearly indicated by steadily illuminated numerals in Auto mode and a flickering display in manual mode. The focal plane shutter can operate at a mechanical speed of 1/40 sec without battery power, shutter speeds from 2 sec to 1/1000 sec (plus B) are stepless in auto mode, intermediate settings are possible in manual mode, and X sync is at 1/60 sec. Setting the shutter dial to the red A or Auto lets you shoot in aperture priority mode and setting the multi-exposure control to D lets you shoot an unlimited number of exposure on one frame. All other specs, including size and weight, closely parallel those of the Bronica EC. Even today the great handling Bronica EC-TL is an excellent choice for sophisticated film shooters, but fair warning electronic replacement parts, dedicated screens, and repairs are hard to come by, s make sure you obtain one in tiptop shape from a reputable dealer or seller thast accepts returns and/or offers a guarantee. Even so, picking up an EC-TL will make you realize it is a real quality example of beautiful classic camera enginering. You can currently acquire a clean functional Bronica EC-TL with 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P lens for about $500-600 at online auction sites or from camera specialty dealers.
It’s difficult to overstate how well Bronica succeeded with the EC-TL’s TTL metering. On a scale of 10, 10 being best, a 20! First of all the EC-TL’s metering worked well, accurately, easily and quickly – all important criteria to serious photographers. On top of that ALL of Bronica’s lenses and adapted lenses were compatible WITHOUT LENS MODIFCATION! WOW! In contrast Hasselblad’s awkward 205TCC / 203FE metering required a special expensive series of lenses for convenient metering. While backward metering compatibility with CF and C lenses was technically possible, real world no one in their right mind would want to use Hasselblad’s badly designed time consuming metering methods on older lenses. In short, the Bronica EC-TL TTL metering system succeeded spectacularly, and Hasselblad’s body TTL metering failed spectacularly even though Hassy had 17 years to improve upon Bronica’s methods. True, perhaps patents had something to do with Hasselblad’s bad choices, but no medium format camera maker had higher sales or more money to license patents. It would seem bad management had something to do with poor Hasselblad design choices.
About the time of the EC-TL Nikkor lenses began to be replaced by Zenzanon lenses made by Bronica, because Nikon pulled back to concentrate on Nikon F mount lenses. So generally Zenzanon lenses are the later lenses for the original Bronica 6x6 system. Like the Nikkors quality was high and the most used focal lengths were produced. Still, even late production Bronica lens choices failed to compare with either the Zeiss lens reputation or the Zeiss lens choices. Are they as good as Zeiss lenses or not? You have to wonder. The real answer to that question is that it probably varies from focal length to focal length.
The EC-TL bodies are arguably much better designed and easier to use than Hasselblad 500C’s. Alas the EC-TL is also noticeably larger and heavier -- yet still much smaller and lighter than the later Mamiya RB67. EC-TL body advantages over the 500C include TTL metering, easy to see meter readout, easy to use metering on all auto lenses, brighter focusing, instant return mirror, easier and faster film loading, and multiple use backs that take 120 or 220 film. So it would seem the EC-TL body is a very strong, perhaps even better, competitor than the Hasselbad 500C. To each their own of course – just food for thought.
The Bronica EC-TL II: Last of the focal plane shutter Bronicas
Introduced in October 1978 and discontinued less than 2 years later in March 1980, the very last focal plane shutter Bronica has revised electronic circuit boards said to be simpler and more robust than those in the Bronica EC-TL. As a result, the camera no longer provides shutter speeds slower than 1 sec, 1/30 sec is the slowest speed displayed in the finder (which means different finder screens are required) and the metering system sadly no longer provides manual metering mode (there’s just anM indicator light in the finder. The EC-TL II does provide aperture priority auto exposure by the A setting on the shutter dial and reads out the camera selected shutter speed when you press the depthof field preview button—just like the EC-TL. The metering system is said to be more reliable and robust than the one in its predecessor, but parts and repairs are hard to come by so caveat emptor. Clean functional examples of the Bronica EC-TL II are readily available at online auction sites and camera specialty dealers at prices ranging from $600-900 in black of chrome with 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P or Nikkor-P.C lens.
Bronica EC-TL II, the very last off the focal-plane shutter Bronicas, is a simplified version of the EC-TL lacking metered manual exposure and with stripped down readouts. It's still a great user camera but more expensive than the EC-TL because newbie buyers assume its improved over the earlier EC-TL -- its not.
The EC-TL or the EC-TL II? The EC-TL provides more usable features and costs less in the classic camera market. Historically the EC-TL is historically much more important in camera history. All that adds up to an easy choice for most classic camera fans.
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