Impressed by the Bronica ETRS

[PatrickT]

This camera, with the 75/2.8 lens and a slew of accessories, was given to me for Christmas by my parents. Before that day, I had no idea what a Bronica was. Initially disapointed, I took the camera out for a few spins and was fairly impressed. It wasn't until I got back these negatives and scanned them that I really was impressed. Not the greatest photos, but I was very impressed with the sharpness and color.

These photos are SHARP. All taken on Ektar 100 with the 75/2.8:

If you're looking for an inexpensive 645 SLR, go no further than the ETRS. Fantastic.

 

[Mablo]

The idea of a small(ish) 6x4.5 SLR is very tempting and ETRS(i) prices are really good these days. Did yours come with the power grip and/or AE viewfinder?

 

[Brian Legge]

Very nice! I really like the flower photo in particular.

The Bronica and Mamiya 645s were great deals last year. Like a lot of other gear, prices seem to be on the rise. I have a Bronica SQ-A - great camera but a decent amount larger. It takes stellar photos though. I really should use it more but I've been on a compact camera kick recently. 🙁 I found having a 50mm lens for the camera really inspired me to take it out more though as there aren't many TLR/folder wide angle options out there.

Here are a few square shots from its big brother:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/5257767487/sizes/z/in/photostream (soft as i was shooting open and handheld at a low speed but still nice)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/4565245560/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/5016808138/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/4565246506/

 

[PatrickT]

Mablo...I got mine initially without the grip or AE viewfinder. I purchased the AE finder later, but find it awkward to use without a grip (which I might be getting next).

Brian....yes, prices do seem to be on the rise all around. Still, the ETRS is a great bargain. My whole kit was purchased in BGN condition and looks (and works) great. Nice photos by the way, especially the second one 🙂

 

[kuzano]

Most Underappreciated 645 Slr Ever

Most Underappreciated 645 Slr Ever

Small for it's format
Reliable
Lots of Inventory out there
Lots of lens selection, ALL with leaf shutters (synch at all speeds)
Sharp, Sharp, Sharp glass
Good meters in the metered prisms
A rare but occasionally found 35mm Panorama back (135W)
The Pano 35mm back shoots same pano lenght as Hasselblad X-Pan, I believe. 56mmx24
Low prices due to under appreciation and large inventory.
Last model... ETRSi (and perhaps ETRS) have mirror lockup
Fully a system camera
latest backs Dual Latch, 120 and 220, can load preloaded film inserts without taking the back off the camera. Inserts carried in light tight boxes.

Used the ETR, ETRS and ETRSi for a few years, because they were lighter than Mamiya and Pentax 645.

Sharp as can be seen by the original OP.

Hell, I think I'll get another one. My best internet source on eBay for many accessories and bodies was Shutterblade

 

[John Lawrence]

The Pano 35mm back shoots same pano lenght as Hasselblad X-Pan, I believe. 56mmx24

The Xpan shoots 65mm x 24 (hence you get 21 shots on a 36 exposure roll) whilst the ETRS panoramic back shoots (as you say) 56mm x 24 (24 shots on a 36 exposure roll).

John

 

[PatrickT]

Thanks guys, yeah, it's a great system. I only wish there was some "fast" glass for it! I'm itching for the Mamiya 80/1.9 or Contax 80/2 🙂

 

[PatrickT]

More and more impressed each time I use it!


Cassie by patricklikeslight, on Flickr

 

[Keith]

A friend of mine used to shoot weddings in colour with one of these and swears that he had never seen so much detail in negatives until he got the Bronica!

 

[agoglanian]

Wish I held onto my kit a bit longer. When I had to sell my ETRSi kit last year I barely got $300 for the whole thing. I had an ETRSi body w/ WLF and Prism, 2 120 backs, 50 PE, 75 PE, 150 PE.

Like I said, should have kept it.....

 

[joachim]

More and more impressed each time I use it!


Cassie by patricklikeslight, on Flickr

Patrick, you have a prism for it? Is that from a tripod or handheld?

Thanks
Joachim

 

[Mablo]

Last weekend I went shooting with a friend who had just bought an ETRSi set. The package (without AE prism and grip) is surprisingly compact and handy to be a medium format SLR camera.

 

[PatrickT]

Patrick, you have a prism for it? Is that from a tripod or handheld?

Thanks
Joachim

Joachim - I do have a prism for it (the AE-II I think) and the waistlevel. That shot was with the prism and handheld. I hate tripods 🙂

 

[joachim]

Joachim - I do have a prism for it (the AE-II I think) and the waistlevel. That shot was with the prism and handheld. I hate tripods 🙂

My Rollei spends most of its shooting live on a tripod. Not sure how much it enjoys it though 😉

For holding it portrait with the prism, you got a grip by now?

Thanks
Joachim

 

[PatrickT]

My Rollei spends most of its shooting live on a tripod. Not sure how much it enjoys it though 😉

For holding it portrait with the prism, you got a grip by now?

Thanks
Joachim

Nope, no grip, although I have considered getting one. I find the camera easier to hold with the prism in vertical orientation. In the horizontal orientation I find it mildly awkward. I'm sure a grip would fix that 🙂

 

[PatrickT]

Loving it more and more...


cassie by patricklikeslight, on Flickr

 

[blw]

Now you post this thread....I just sold my whole kit for peanuts so that I could swing my first M. No regrets, but I would certainly have loved to have gotten more than I did for it. ETRSi body, 2 120 backs, the 40mm and the 75 mm lenses, the speed grip, and the AEIII prism.

At least I attained my goal though. Nice shots on this thread nonetheless.