Bronica ETR-S ??

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Ash

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I was wandering about in town today. I went into a camera store, not my usual one to buy in but a nice one all the same.

I wanted to check if they still had the Hasselblad 500 from a while back. It sold. There was a Yashica TLR, Leica and Contax SLR's... I looked a bit glum, nothing to my liking, then around the corner by the bags was another case and inside, a Bronica ETR-S!


Wow, for a MF-SLR it was tiny!

My mother's Mamiya RB67 is SO huge, I just had a play with it and it's nearly unbearable to hand-hold at that size, although it feels like sheer quality. The Bronica ETR-S felt more modern, smaller, a bit plasticky but not in a bad way.

I like my compact-ish cameras, so I asked to see it. At £200 I couldn't resist either. Everything felt good, smooth focus, fired fine. The usual tests all checked out fine (focus, shutter, wind-on, all the clicky bits in the right places clicking).


So £200 for:
ETR-S
Normal Lens
Cap and lens-hood
focusing hood
120 Back
3 Month warranty

Oh, and the guy talking about the price being negotiable too, I may get at least one more 120 back thrown in at that price.


HOPEFULLY I'll have some money coming my way soon from a job, and if I do get the cash I'm tempted to buy this camera.


SO!!

Has anybody here used one of these much?
Is it worth that kinda moola?

I checked the bay and prices aren't THAT much lower, and I have handled it, I won't be buying blind.



If anybody here HAS dealt with one of these cameras and gives it a thumbs-up, then I'll place a deposit tomorrow maybe. EDIT: This is only so I have a usable MF-SLR for portraits, to compliment the Rolleicord III 😀
 
I used to have one of these and quite liked it. I used to walk around with it using the side grip and eye level metered prism. I think £200 is about right for a good one.

The only thing I would consider is whether to go up to the SQ-A. That's what I did and it's not much bigger. For the same price I got a near mint SQ-A kit. I like square format and found the 645 sometimes frustrating in that sense.
 
I used the ETRSi at work for 15 years, ran 5-15 rolls of film every day, never had a problem with them. I enjoyed using them. Cameras were used for everything PR, portraits, assembly shots, nuclear blast tests. Were replaced by digital systems.

Cary Chin
 
I currently have an ETR-s. It is a very capable camera. The 75mm lens is very sharp.

One note however,

The mirror slap is a wonder to behold and hear, The cats startle every time I try to take their photo. 🙂 No mirror lockup on the ETR-s, so if you are using it at slower speeds make sure you have it on a sturdy tripod.

I believe the ETR-Si has mirror lock up.
 
Hey Ash,
I love the ETRSi - the newer version of the one you saw - it's fantastic to use.
The Si is quieter than the S and has mirror lockup - as well as a few other bits and pieces.
See here for a breakdown:
http://www.tamron.com/bronica/etr_guide.asp

Pricewise...well its not a bad price and quite good if you get another back (they're worth around 35UKP on the 2nd user market).

I had to stump for an AEII prism (metered prism) before I could get the most out of the camera - all that back to front stuff was too disorientating for me. 🙂

Check out Peter Walnes for bits - he was considerably cheaper than ffordes and others - and so good I just bought my RF645 from him too.
http://www.peterwalnes.com/

Great camera, usable size, fantastic results. But the SQ-A is also a good tip - for full 6x6 and not physically much larger. Main advantage for me exploring MF on a budget was that ETR bits cost less - so I could buy more to experiment with.

DON'T pick up an RF645...or you'll have to buy one... 😉

cheers
 
I've had my ETRs for a few years now. A very solid machine. Lenses are pretty good too. I've got the AE II prizm, 2 backs, 40, 75 and 50mm Zenzanon lenses. I use this for portaits that I want to take as opposed for ones I'm booked for.

Always keep a spare battery with you though, yes they last for ages but won't work without it.

I've no idea what current prices are though. Good luck!
 
I'm a dedicated fan of the SQa. Never had a sinlgle problem with mine. The ETRS should be the same quality. You said the kit has a 'focusing hood', do you mean a waist level finder. With the 6x4.5 format, WL finders can be problematic. To shoot a vertical, you have to focus from the side of the camera. Either get a prism finder, metered or unmetered, or go with the SQa if you like the WL finder.
 
Thanks guys! Looks like you all gave me the push I needed to decide whether my instinct was right - lets hope the work/cash comes through in time 🙂


Mark, I quite like 645 - blame the Zeiss Nettar

Cary, nice to know they are capable systems

Kevin, I've heard worse mirror-slap, it's not a big problem

David/Mark, thanks for the link. I'll be sure to keep an eye on there.

Manny, AE prism finder is available separately but I wasn't impressed with the marks/dirt inside it

Tony, hi! hope you are well! 🙂 .. I'll be sure to keep a second battery in tow - nice to know you use that kit

BSchall, are you sure?? I thought you focus a vertical shot normally, and then turn sideways for landscape? Am I wrong??

DMG, checking it now, looks good 🙂
 
Dammit :bang:

The prism finders were in awful condition, and it would add about £150 for all the extra bits! (two prism finders, at £80/£100, then the grip which I think was at least £50 I'm not sure)

Suddenly it's not such a great deal 🙁
 
Yea Manny, I may hold out for the bay, I've seen kits go for £100-ish on the completed listing function.

It's a pity. The camera really does seem nice, but I am so lazy thanks to the Rollei's 6x6, and the Nettar's 645 - then again I don't shoot THAT many verticals with the Leica. At least I know it's a camera to think about. Maybe I'll go for a 6x6 MF-SLR if I ever come across one at a nice cost with the money in the bank.
 
Ash, I have an ETR-C, basically, an ETRS with a non-interchangeable back. No back changing, but also no problems associated with switchable backs in general.

The prism finder also is a bit dirty, but of course it doesn't affect the pictures at all, can you not use the finders at all?

I once asked how much is the waist-level-finder for the camera, and it's $100 USD, which is almost as much as I pay for the camera.

With the grip, it looks like this:
564593670_059fd008a1.jpg
 
Hey, I am just getting round to selling my AEII prism. It's the last part from my ETRS kit. I found that I couldn't get consistent results from it, although I suspect that it may have had a fault. I would hold out for the "i" version if i were looking again.
Dave......
 
Ash said:
Dammit :bang:

The prism finders were in awful condition, and it would add about £150 for all the extra bits! (two prism finders, at £80/£100, then the grip which I think was at least £50 I'm not sure)

Suddenly it's not such a great deal 🙁
Click to expand...

These prices seem too high to me. I'm sure if you wait you could get the grip and prism finder for less than this. In the meantime you could still enjoy using the camera.
 
I've got one of these and it's a fine performer. I like it a lot. Currently it's on loan to a friend who is diving into MF and wants to test drive a MF camera before laying out cash.

Its an easy one to use and I found it very intuitive. I think you will enjoy it.
 
Looks like I've been stitched on that work 🙁

Too bad, I was quite liking the idea of owning the ETR-S
 
If you go to MXV's web site you can get (quotes from their ETR page):

66019 Bronica ETRS/75 E2/120E/WLF DEDUCT 25% from this price Exc++ £199
66527 Bronica Prism Finder E Boxed Exc++ £69
66815 Bronica Speedgrip E Exc+ £33

So for £252 you have the whole basic kit + prism finder + grip + 12 months warranty.

🙄
 
mrtoml said:
If you go to MXV's web site you can get (quotes from their ETR page):

66019 Bronica ETRS/75 E2/120E/WLF DEDUCT 25% from this price Exc++ £199
66527 Bronica Prism Finder E Boxed Exc++ £69
66815 Bronica Speedgrip E Exc+ £33

So for £252 you have the whole basic kit + prism finder + grip + 12 months warranty.

🙄
Click to expand...

Those are good prices - assuming its the AEII finder (metering). I got the same from Peter Walnes but he has no stock of these items at the mo.

With the grip, it's an exceptionally well handled camera - balanced and easy to use.

7dayshop for 120 film
Small Battery Co for spare batteries

and off you go...
 
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