Bronica RF645 100 or 135 framelines pic

[Way]

Here's a couple of frameline pics of my Bronica Rf645. One is the 65 and the other is either the 135 or 100 framelines. The smaller framelines were brought up by removing the lens. Purchased from KEH as having 100mm frameline. After reading several posts about 100mm framelines on body serial#s starting with "11" I noticed that my serial# started with "00" (135mm framelines). Having no 100mm lens to check it out I was wondering if any can telll from the pics which framelines I have? To me it looks proportionally like it's 135. Can any of you savvy RF645 members tell me which it is?

 

[Rey]

I do not have my RF645 in front of me so I can't be sure, but your framelines do appear smaller than mine. the "00" numbers do not mean alot in the USA as many were converted for free to the 100mm framelines. By the way, on my camera the '1' is the first number after the zeros, for example "00001667". If you have the instruction book, it shows an example of the 135mm frame. It is very small in comparison to the 100mm. hope that this helps

 

[Way]

I do not have my RF645 in front of me so I can't be sure, but your framelines do appear smaller than mine. the "00" numbers do not mean alot in the USA as many were converted for free to the 100mm framelines. By the way, on my camera the '1' is the first number after the zeros, for example "00001667". If you have the instruction book, it shows an example of the 135mm frame. It is very small in comparison to the 100mm. hope that this helps

.

Thanks Rey. My camera is 0000905 so, from the factory, it had 135mm framelines. I did find the picture of the 100mm framelines in the manual and mine does appear smaller. Would be nice if Bronica had put a "100" or "135" somewhere on the VF. Hmm, and KEH had listed it as having 100mm framelines.

 

[Rey]

Way,

If you are sure that you have 135mm frame lines I would call KEH and ask them to swap it out or provide a discount. The 100mm version is worth slightly more in the USA, and KEH sells it for slighly more. The 135mm lens is very rare in the USA. I found one for sale once in England at a reasonable price, but a 100mm poped up at the same time so I didn't get the 135mm. Another option is to call tamron and ask how much it would cost to change the frame to the 100mm.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Way,
Tamron/Bronica will do the change over from 135 to 100mm lines, according to the email I received from them 2 weeks ago. They still have the parts. I don't know what the cost is but they said to send the camera body in and they will email the price for the change over and also make sure everything is working correctly. BTW, my serial number is 0001279, so I wonder if I have the 100mm lines already?

 

[Way]

Way,
Tamron/Bronica will do the change over from 135 to 100mm lines, according to the email I received from them 2 weeks ago. They still have the parts. I don't know what the cost is but they said to send the camera body in and they will email the price for the change over and also make sure everything is working correctly. BTW, my serial number is 0001279, so I wonder if I have the 100mm lines already?

Thanks - that sound promising. Does your framelines look like mine?

 

[Rey]

If the first non-zero digit in your serial number is a 1, then you probably have the 100mm frames already

 

[Jungle Jim]

I was able to email the original owner of my Bronica RF and he said that my camera has the 135mm frame lines. The viewfinder frame line spacing looks just like picture #2 in Way's original post.

Really don't want to part with it since I'm having so much fun with the Bronica.

 

[Way]

Seeing that the 100mm lens is so rare I may not be able to get the lens anyway! But I will still contact KEH to see what they are willing to do. Currently they don't show a RF645 with 100 framelines to swap.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Finally found the email from Tamron/Bronica concerning the framelines.

"Most likely it has the 135mm frame lines, which you can usually see if there is no lens on the camera and in the viewfinder you will see L shaped brackets in the top right and lower left corner. They sort of define the frame. If those are there, then it is set up for the 135mm lens. If you cannot tell, we will be glad to look at the lens and then estimate any repair or modification if needed."

All the best,


Tamron USA

 

[Way]

Finally found the email from Tamron/Bronica concerning the framelines.

"Most likely it has the 135mm frame lines, which you can usually see if there is no lens on the camera and in the viewfinder you will see L shaped brackets in the top right and lower left corner. They sort of define the frame. If those are there, then it is set up for the 135mm lens. If you cannot tell, we will be glad to look at the lens and then estimate any repair or modification if needed."

All the best,


Tamron USA

Thanks for finding the email, Jim. Mine has the L shaped brackets only on the top right. I wonder if they have it backwards? Here's the 100mm framelines from the manual and it shows the L brackets on at the top right and lower left. If they are correct then mine are 100mm framelines. I wodner if Rey can check his framelines and compare the L brackets?

 

[Jungle Jim]

Way, my frame lines are top right only, just like your picture in the original post in frame 2. I don't have the "L" bracket on the lower left. BTW, thanks for posting the 100mm frame line picture. Now I know what Tamron is talking about. Looks like we both have the 135mm frame lines.

Best Wishes.

 

[Doug]

Agreed, JJ; the 135 frame has the big L at upper right only, solid bottom line and a partial left line as shown in Way's first photo. I have two RF645's, one each 100mm and 135mm framelines. I bought the 100 kit new and got the 135 body from KEH in hopes of someday getting a 135 lens at reasonable price. Unlikely hope....

 

[Way]

Just recieved an email from Tamron. Cost of the framlines change would be about $90.