68degrees
Well-known
The more I think about it I wonder if a Bronica system would be better than my Nikon FM system. Medium format being so awesome and all, whats the point of 35mm slr when I can have medium format slr. The thing I like most about the Nikon Fm is the interchangeable lenses. Wide, macro and tele. But If i could have that with a bronica slr mf then why stay with the 35mm FM?
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Well, if the camera can be three times the size and twice the weight, the lens range missing ultrawides, fast and very long lenses, the DOF half as shallow and using three films instead of one (including cost and loading time) is ok with you, a medium format will give you significantly better IQ (provided that you use slow film and a tripod).
TANSTAAFL!
TANSTAAFL!
Thardy
Veteran
I used a MF camera camera for a few years instead of a 35mm. I was very happy with its slow operation, and 10-16 frames per shot. They are great if you really have a hankering for one, but they tend to be heavy after a while, and film loading can be a bit of a challenge. Also best quality is obtained by using a tripod.
So those are some very weak arguments against a MF camera. I say get it if you want it. You already know the advantages.
Keep the Nikon too.
So those are some very weak arguments against a MF camera. I say get it if you want it. You already know the advantages.
Keep the Nikon too.
farlymac
PF McFarland
You'll never know unless you actually take photos with them.
PF
PF
redisburning
Well-known
IMO the best combo is 4x5 & 35mm
35mm for when I want to move, 4x5 for when I dont.
35mm for when I want to move, 4x5 for when I dont.
kuzano
Veteran
Fwiw
Fwiw
Look at the difference in acreage.
645 is 2.7 times the area of a 35mm frame.
Bronica glass is likely equal to any glass that Nikon poured.
6X9 is 4.5 times the area of a 35mm frame.
What frame size are you considering? You said SLR MF which, for the first level of MF, would be the ETR for 645, of which the most evolved is the ETRSi, which includes everything a Nikon would do, including Mirror Lock Up on that last model. The AEIII prism is the most evolved meter for the ETRSi.
There is an obscure wide panoramic film back for the ETR bodies that shoots a 24X56 pano. Also, there is a standard 135 35mm back for the ETR bodies that shoot a 24X36 frame.
The square 6X6 SQ-Ai is the most evolved square format and both of the 35mm backs are available for the SQ-Ai body.
The GS-1 is 6X7. Don't know about the 35mm backs.
Each body has it's own series of lenses with good selection through the focal lengths, and a couple of zooms...
Do you use flash, because ALL Bronica lenses are LEAF shutter in the lenses, allowing flash sync at all speeds.. every lens.
Lots of used inventory in Bronica, and the prices are VERY reasonable.
A good ETRSi with the regular 645 backs and the 35mm back would obsolete the need for the Nikon. The ETR system is modular, but I personally don't consider it all that much larger than a pro SLR film camera.
Fwiw
Look at the difference in acreage.
645 is 2.7 times the area of a 35mm frame.
Bronica glass is likely equal to any glass that Nikon poured.
6X9 is 4.5 times the area of a 35mm frame.
What frame size are you considering? You said SLR MF which, for the first level of MF, would be the ETR for 645, of which the most evolved is the ETRSi, which includes everything a Nikon would do, including Mirror Lock Up on that last model. The AEIII prism is the most evolved meter for the ETRSi.
There is an obscure wide panoramic film back for the ETR bodies that shoots a 24X56 pano. Also, there is a standard 135 35mm back for the ETR bodies that shoot a 24X36 frame.
The square 6X6 SQ-Ai is the most evolved square format and both of the 35mm backs are available for the SQ-Ai body.
The GS-1 is 6X7. Don't know about the 35mm backs.
Each body has it's own series of lenses with good selection through the focal lengths, and a couple of zooms...
Do you use flash, because ALL Bronica lenses are LEAF shutter in the lenses, allowing flash sync at all speeds.. every lens.
Lots of used inventory in Bronica, and the prices are VERY reasonable.
A good ETRSi with the regular 645 backs and the 35mm back would obsolete the need for the Nikon. The ETR system is modular, but I personally don't consider it all that much larger than a pro SLR film camera.
68degrees
Well-known
I was thinking of eliminating some of these cameras. If the Bronica can do all the FM can do and I can have 6x4.5 preferably 6x6 then I would be interested. Id like the equivalent of 24mm wide, 55mm macro and 300mm tele. I dont mind heavy. I dont want to shoot with a tripod all the time, Id like to hand hold most of the time. I love the Nikon FM just 35mm .. IDK mf scans and projects so nice. help me out here friends.
kuzano
Veteran
35mm equivalents
35mm equivalents
The bronica 40 mm for the ETR series is equivalent to approximately a 35mm eq of 24mm.
The bronica 40 for the SQ-A mount is approx a 35mm eq of 28 mm for 6X6.
There is a fairly complete range of lenses for either format.
35mm equivalents
The bronica 40 mm for the ETR series is equivalent to approximately a 35mm eq of 24mm.
The bronica 40 for the SQ-A mount is approx a 35mm eq of 28 mm for 6X6.
There is a fairly complete range of lenses for either format.
68degrees
Well-known
I read that the early ones from 78 and 1980 take Nikon lenses. Are these the same lenses for my FM? adapter?
Heh, no....
John Cox
Member
Nikon made special lenses for bronica at that time. If you got a Bronica you would need to get Bronica lenses as the shutter is actually inside the lens.
Spicy
Well-known
This is like saying a Humvee is just as good as a 911 GT3
skahde
V for Victory!
Words, features and data can hardly tell the difference: Try both and you'll know. There is no real way around it.
enero
Killer of Threads
apples and oranges, but you really need to try one before you decide. Bronica's ETR series can be had for dirt cheap these days and theyre great cameras. You should be able to get a good kit for under $200 body/80mm lens/finder/back. It wouldnt be that much more heavy then your Nikon with a big lens. But it is a different way of shooting. ETR lenses are pretty awesome too. I had a 40mm and 80mm that I enjoyed using on both my Bronica and my D700 with adapter. I sold my ETS kit off last year. I just wasnt into the 6x4.5 format. But its a good start for 35mm users. 6x6 (SQ) is more fun! and 6x7 (GS) is more practical. But both are more expensive and also bigger in size.
Armoured
Well-known
I would not get rid of the FM system for the other - they're completely different. Get a medium format camera (almost any) to try it out and see if it works for you.
Keep the FM for when you want something light and simple.
Keep the FM for when you want something light and simple.
kyonthinh
Established
I have Bronica ETR system for portrait works, and Minolta SLR system for landscape and etc works. They are different, and do different jobs.
FrankS
Registered User
Right. Apples vs oranges.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Easy answer,
This is what you need:
That's a Nikkor lens on the Bronica S, also available are Komura and Bronica lenses.
This is what you can expect:
Nikkor 75mm 1:2.8 on Ilford XP2
This is what you need:
That's a Nikkor lens on the Bronica S, also available are Komura and Bronica lenses.
This is what you can expect:
Nikkor 75mm 1:2.8 on Ilford XP2
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
Go Bronica! But I was never a Nikon user; that's my grain of salt. My longtime film SLR habit is Olympus.
The ETRSi v 35 SLR is more like pineapple v apple--there is a significant handling difference. But an entirely different sort of tonal sweetness and flavor too. It's great for portraiture, formal and candid, no matter what the shallow- DOFers say. And if you have shot TLR, the shift to hand-held waist view will not be disconcerting, though TLR was my first discipline and I am reverent about its bowed, meditative approach to the subject. And there are multiple accessory viewfinders for the ETR and other Bronica series, including metered/direct view. I got my ETRSi/75 2.8/WLV/120 back for $113, and have added the 50, 100 macro, 150 and 250 for not a lot of money. Best bang for MF buck next to my Mamiya C3.
Will's Bronica S is the Bronica-purist's approach to 6x6. It's harder to find them in a condition where you don't have to send one part or another to Frank Marshman. Some day I'm going to get my S-body overhauled.
I also agree with those above who say don't give up one for the other unless finances and desire dictate. I like pineapples and apples, yet eat more of the latter....
The ETRSi v 35 SLR is more like pineapple v apple--there is a significant handling difference. But an entirely different sort of tonal sweetness and flavor too. It's great for portraiture, formal and candid, no matter what the shallow- DOFers say. And if you have shot TLR, the shift to hand-held waist view will not be disconcerting, though TLR was my first discipline and I am reverent about its bowed, meditative approach to the subject. And there are multiple accessory viewfinders for the ETR and other Bronica series, including metered/direct view. I got my ETRSi/75 2.8/WLV/120 back for $113, and have added the 50, 100 macro, 150 and 250 for not a lot of money. Best bang for MF buck next to my Mamiya C3.
Will's Bronica S is the Bronica-purist's approach to 6x6. It's harder to find them in a condition where you don't have to send one part or another to Frank Marshman. Some day I'm going to get my S-body overhauled.
I also agree with those above who say don't give up one for the other unless finances and desire dictate. I like pineapples and apples, yet eat more of the latter....
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kuzano
Veteran
Watch the Bronica S models...
Watch the Bronica S models...
Watch the Bronica S, S2 models. There was one gear in the gear train that is soft. That weakness was remedied in the S2a model. They are great camera's and many of them saw hard duty. They were strong competitors against Hasselblad. I had two of the S2 models, and I never stressed the wind on mechanism because of the known issue. They never failed me. At one time, I was going to send one of them to Photography on Bald Mountain in California because they were converting the gears to make them S2a models. However, somebody broke a window out of my car and got the bag, both bodies and 4 lenses. The only time I EVER left them in the car by themselves.
I then became a fan of the ETR series, particularly the ETRSi. My current hunt is for the 135W back that shoots a 24mm x 56mm panorama on 35mm film.
My current and past 35mm film platform is Olympus.
Watch the Bronica S models...
Watch the Bronica S, S2 models. There was one gear in the gear train that is soft. That weakness was remedied in the S2a model. They are great camera's and many of them saw hard duty. They were strong competitors against Hasselblad. I had two of the S2 models, and I never stressed the wind on mechanism because of the known issue. They never failed me. At one time, I was going to send one of them to Photography on Bald Mountain in California because they were converting the gears to make them S2a models. However, somebody broke a window out of my car and got the bag, both bodies and 4 lenses. The only time I EVER left them in the car by themselves.
I then became a fan of the ETR series, particularly the ETRSi. My current hunt is for the 135W back that shoots a 24mm x 56mm panorama on 35mm film.
My current and past 35mm film platform is Olympus.