Bronica ETRS

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kabooi

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I am interested in getting the bronica etrs. I was thinking about the yashica 124g but the bronica has pulled me more.

I'm really quite confused about all the 'parts' you can get for it. It's all a bit confusing. Also the prices seem to vary. There is one on here selling for 300 and something, ebay varies slightly and then I've just found one for 165 (pounds...)

I would like to buy from a shop, online or not, with some kinda return procedure. FFords have a couple for 299 pounds, and I've just found this website http://www.collectablecameras.com/specials.htm and this is the description Bronica ETRS, complete camera. With 75mm f2.8 Zenzanon EII lens, Waist Level finder, 120 back wth darkslide. VGC and working well. " for around 165 pounds. Is that good,?

I'm so confused and sleepy.
 
The Yashica and the Bronica are rather different cameras, one is a TLR and the other is a modular SLR with the option of a waist level finder.

The Bronica is a system camera in the truest sense of the word, you have the body on to which all the other parts attach. So the body is basically just a box with a flappy mirror and some basic controls on it, to it you attach lenses to the front, viewfinders (waist level, eye level prism like a SLR, even ones with light meters in them) to the top, film backs on the back and other things like speed grips which let you hold the camera differently.
There might be different versions of the parts as some of them were upgraded during the lifespan of the camera, so some will be older or newer, research usually tells you what is what.

I have a Yashica MAT 124g and a Bronica SQ-Ai (square format), and i got the Bronica because i learned i loved medium format but hated using the Yashica, i shoot my Bronica like a big SLR and that's how i like it.

I did get my Bronica SQ-Ai body, prism and lens from Ffordes because i wanted the 6 month parts and labour warranty they offer on EX class items for the body if it went wrong. Which was fortunate as the film back release was faulty and the focus screen looked like it had been in a fight with a cat, and true to the warranty i sent it back and a month later i got the camera back with a working film back release and a better focus screen. So take from that what you will, you could easily question the thoroughness of Ffordes inspections prior to sale or lack thereof or admire their warranty.
I know Ffordes is more expensive than most places but those repairs were £90 easy, which if i had to pay for them would have erased any saving i might have made elsewhere.

I can't speak for the reputation of the other website you linked but they appear to have a physical store and phone numbers so give them a ring and enquire about the camera, their returns policy if it's faulty etc. i certainly rang Ffordes before buying the Bronica to check a few qualms i had.

Also download the manual(s) for the cameras you are interested in, they show you how the camera works in a decent amount of detail, Bronica manuals are particularly detailed, here's the mike butkus page for the Bronica ETRS with the download links for the manual in PDF form.

Err i don't know if that helps you but ask any more questions if it doesn't.
 
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im looking around for a mid - top end medium format camera too, and the prices are all over the place :/
 
As stated the ETRS and the 124g are very different cameras and you might want to try and get a look at them in the flesh before making a final decision. I use both a Rollei TLR and an ETRS. They do different jobs and I love both.

One reason the ETRS prices vary is that there are two different models of the ETRS and I don't mean the ETRS and the ETRSi. There are two different ETRS models. In the early 80's Bronica stopped making the all metal ETRS and replaced it with a plastic body and back model, as a cost saver. They did not change the name. The tell tale signs of the different model is that the all metal version has the lens releases button on the front whilst the plastic version has the lens realise on the side. Both are good cameras in my view. The plastic version is a lot lighter if carrying weight is an issue. The metal version is perhaps a little more robust but will also be older. This difference sometimes accounts for the wide price variance. There is also the ETRSi a s a third and final version.

For what it's worth I use my ETRS a lot, the lenses are relatively cheap and although not as good in my view as some other more expensive systems, they still yield great results. If you like the idea of 645 the ETRS is a great entry into that MF at a pretty good price.

Some of my Bronica lenses and my AE111 prism came from FFordes who were quick, reliable and the kit matched the description.

Hope this helps
 
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In the early 80's Bronica stopped making the all metal ETRS and replaced it with a plastic body and back model, as a cost saver.
Click to expand...

Ah i only know of the SQ system but they did the same and changed the model name which makes it easier to tell. The SQ and SQ-A are body metal body and the SQ-Ai and SQ-B are plastic. I will say this isn't crap plastic, it's poly-carbonate and very tough so OP don't worry about metal vs. plastic; also with plastic you don't get chipped paint.
 
Don't knock the ETRS, they are capable of stunning results - I once had a print made from a Reala negative I'd taken using one blown up to 10x7..............FEET! - it was cracklingly sharp, corner to corner:cool:
 
The first MF camera I brought was a Bronica ETRS, don't regret it a bit. Really enjoy using it and love the images from it! I got mine off eBay for £140 with a grip, needed a bit of a clean but other than that it's perfect!

Only thing is WLF is a nice change but I can never get anything straight! (Waiting for my Prism finder to come)
 
Got mamiya c330 twinlens and a broni sqa got cracking images from both must admit I love square format for composition reasons. The mamiya was my tool of choice always delivered the goods and I always found it quicker to load than the Broni . The fact that you can still pick them up now is a testament too their quality, bit of a sod for close up work though being a twin lens always had the paramender in my bag for that reason .
 
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