Bronica or Pentax?

[BLKRCAT]

Considering changing systems from my SQ-A over to a Pentax 67.

Are they about equal price wise? I have a feeling that the Pentax is a little pricier than Bronica but not by much.

Thoughts?

 

[VTHokiEE]

I bought a Bronica instead of the Pentax. One of the reasons was price, no idea if things have changed, but at the time Pentax was pricier and I found a reasonable deal on a SQ-A setup that had all the components I initially wanted. The other reason main reason was the format, I like shooting 6x6, I have never tried 6x7, but from using a TLR it was something I was happy with. Of course now I'm curious about the Mamiya 6...

 

[redisburning]

you'd have to pay me to convince me I wanted another Bronica sq-a.

the pentax 67 is fine if you don't mind the size/weight. it's not a handheld camera IMO. I tried, I failed. I'd get a hasselblad use a tripod. 2c. Loved the 105/2.4 though.

 

[BLKRCAT]

redisburning, I'm also loving the results Im seeing from that 105 2.4. I feel like the lenses on the pentax are much faster than anything on the bronica.

How slow did you find you could go with the 67? Google is teling me anything below 1/125 is a problem. I can knock out 1/30th and even 1/15th with my SQ-A with little issue.

Being vague in my OP I hoped to get some honest responses. Right now my SQ-A Kit consists of the 80mm F2.8 and the 150mm F4. I cant complain about the quality, but I love that tight DOF that can be achieved from the pentax lens lineup.

If I were to go forward with the 67 I feel like the SQ-A would be sitting for quite some time. Though the more I dig into the two cameras they both have their own unique benefits over one another that make them very hard to decide between.

 

[redisburning]

1/30th is fine.

the longer focal length is compensated by the lower magnification of the negative. if you wanted maximum detail, you should be using a tripod and mirror lockup regardless. once you go handheld, you are accepting a compromise in detail rendition. it's really not a big deal.

 

[Shab]

I prefer 6x6 over 6x7, so I would go for SQ. I already have a SQ-B and GS-1, both from Bronica but one is 6x6 and another 6x7. I use everytime the 6x6. 🙂

But, I haven't used any Pentax...

 

[venchka]

you'd have to pay me to convince me I wanted another Bronica sq-a.

the pentax 67 is fine if you don't mind the size/weight. it's not a handheld camera IMO. I tried, I failed. I'd get a hasselblad use a tripod. 2c. Loved the 105/2.4 though.

Having owned 2 Pentax 6x7s and using both more in the hand than on a tripod, I have to call "Nonsense." 😉

For all of you die hard 6x6 fans, there are an infinite number of 6x6 compositions within a 6x7 negative.

That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

Wayne

 

[redisburning]

Having owned 2 Pentax 6x7s and using both more in the hand than on a tripod, I have to call "Nonsense." 😉
Wayne

well I owned one too

you can disagree but why is it that my experience is nonsense? you don't even have a justification.

 

[aizan]

i don't have any problems shooting portraits handheld with 150mm and 200mm lenses on the pentax. i think they say shutter vibration becomes a problem with 300mm+ lenses at 1/30 or so, but i don't have the lenses to test it.

 

[littleearth]

Once you shoot the Takumar 105 2.4 wide open you'll never look back !
With the WLF it's not that heavy !
I only use it handheld but I don't go lower than 1/30 !

 

[VTHokiEE]

you'd have to pay me to convince me I wanted another Bronica sq-a.

Out of curiosity what did you dislike so much?

For all of you die hard 6x6 fans, there are an infinite number of 6x6 compositions within a 6x7 negative.

This is true, but shouldn't you shoot 6x9 (or larger) so that you can get the infinite 6x7 (or 6x8, etc) compositions? This may work for some people, but the viewfinder helps me compose and I appreciate having a square viewfinder when I want to shoot square images.

 

[venchka]

well I owned one too

you can disagree but why is it that my experience is nonsense? you don't even have a justification.

Not starting a fight.
I read online comments that many medium format cameras belong on tripods. My experience is the opposite. Hand held first. Tripod as required for the scene, my mood, what I was trying to accomplish.
Mamiya C-220 TLR: Didn't own a tripod.
Rapid-Omega 100: Hand held at first. Later I used a tripod in the field on some occasions.
Pentax 6x7 (2 different times-still have the second one): The perfect larger format to compliment my 35mm eye level finder cameras. Tripod as needed.
Hasselblad 500 c/m: All of the above applies. I do prefer the Pentax for the eye level finder. I guess that is born of several decades of use versus the waist level finder.
Speed Graphic: I've used these cameras on occasion hand held. After all, that's what they were designed for.
My approach: Hand held first. Tripods as and when required.
YMMV.

Some hand held or found supports medium format "street" photography.
Pentax 6x7, 105/2.4 lens. Faded Ektachrome.

Backpacking. Colorado. Above 12,000'. Pentax 6x7, 105/2.4 lens. No tripod.

Mamiya C-220. No tripod. In the southwest corner of the walled city of Worms is the Heiliger Sand, the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe.

Notre Dame de Paris
October, 1969. Mamiya TLR. 80mm/2.8 or 105mm/3.5. Agfa Isopan ISS. No tripod.

Hasselblad 500 C/M. 80mm/2.8 CFE. No tripod.

Wayne

 

[PatrickT]

I vote Pentax 6x7. That damn 105/2.5 lens is magical. And 6x7 aspect ratio is near perfect. That said, I am currently looking for an SQ-A to add to my arsenal.

Oh, and I handhold the Pentax while shooting 95% of the time. Never a problem over 1/30.

 

[redisburning]

Not starting a fight.
My experience is the opposite. Hand held first. Tripod as required for the scene, my mood, what I was trying to accomplish.

Wayne

fine.

that's your experience. it does not invalidate mine. that's the point.

 

[BLKRCAT]

...they say shutter vibration becomes a problem with 300mm+ lenses at 1/30 or so...

...I only use it handheld but I don't go lower than 1/30 !

Oh, and I handhold the Pentax while shooting 95% of the time. Never a problem over 1/30.

Thank you guys! 1/30 is my threshold when shooting slow. I rarely go over that even with my Leicas. This was my main problem but I think the Pentax might be winning.

 

[Pioneer]

I would select the Pentax for the lenses. I know that the Pentax 645Nii system has some awesome lenses that absolutely make that system.

 

[_lou_]

Just sold my Pentax 67 to buy me back a GS-1.

 

[gavinlg]

pentax 67 is no different to any other camera to handhold. I have good street shots done at 1/15th that are acceptably sharp with the gorgeous 105mm takumar.

1/60th is no problem handheld.

 

[Doug]

I really don't care for waist-level viewing or square formats, leading to my choice of Pentax 6x7 about 38 years ago, and I still have that camera plus three newer variations of this model. I really like 'em! (Yes, mostly hand-held) And the lenses are excellent too... I've used them on the P645 and S2 with fine results.

But I like Bronica too, in the form of their RF645, one of my all-time favorite RF cameras.

 

[enero]

Ive had both, the Bronica is far easier to deal with, but the P67's lenses are (IMHO) far superior.

The Bronica is cheaper, lighter, and smaller. But Ive never been really wowed by their lenses. Theyre nice, but really nothing to write home about. Whereas the P67's lenses have all impressed me. Way better "micro-contrast" across the board, shaper, shallower (if youre into that sorta thing), etc. But man that thing is quite a burden to carry.

I think if I were to do it again, I would probably go with another Pentax, maybe the 67II, just to make things slightly easier 😀