Going 6x6 what do you think.

medwaygreen

medwaygreen

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Richard
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After getting to grips with the Bronica ETRS obtain from this forum, I am delighted with the kit and have added two more lenses, some backs and other bits and bobs.

I am now going to obtain a 6x6 and have my heart on a Bronica S2A, your thoughts would be much appreciated regarding this camera and of course any alternatives that I may have overlooked, but I think I have been through a good amount of research and in most cases either cost(main one) or function seems to be the minus side, the aesthetics of the S2A also win me over.

Your views would be appreciated and if you come across this item for sale please let me know.

Thank you.
 
The S2A has a reputation for being unreliable. The oldest examples are more than 40 years old, and there is a tiny number of repairmen who can do good work on an S2A.

That said, the Nikon glass is reputed to be absolutely fantastic, and it is a beautiful camera. It is significantly heavier and probably louder than your ETRS though, in many ways an SQ-A is a much more obvious step up if you want a Bronica 6x6.

Also a few posts on the S2A on this very forum at the end of last year in this thread: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=452569

There are lots of 6x6 cameras, although it sounds like you have decided you definitely want an SLR camera. The most obvious choice is the 500C/M, although it'll probably be more expensive than a clean S2A.
 
Thanks for that link FC2, I did not find it and it does through a new light on the subject, yes I agree the Hasselblad 500C or CM, would be great apart from cost and I think I may like the Rollei SL66 instead, again the cost is the prohibitive factor.

I did bid on a SQ-A kit and went up to £400.00, but it sold for £450.00 without any opposition, so I may find something that on one wants at a good price.

Many thanks for your prompt reply.
 
The SL66 is even more notorious for reliability problems. I know I'm saying this as mostly hearsay, but old cameras are still old cameras. I mean look at all the old gits in this forum... :bonk::bonk:

I kid.

If that is your budget, you may be interested in this:

http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Bronica-SQ-A-KIT_69336.html

It's a lot of kit for the money. Some of the backs look a little rough (although the one that looks the most rough is the 6x4.5 back and you have your ETRS for that), and it is the perfect 3 lens kit (and the lenses appear to be cosmetically fine).
 
Like Richard, I have had a 645 system for a while (Mamiya 645 in my case) and find myself lusting after the 6x6 format.

When steve_mcg was looking for a 6x6 or 6x7 he posted up a link to a SQA on ebay that was £250 BIN for a decent looking kit. Needless to say it sold pretty quick but bargains do seem to be available. LCE do seem to be quite good for price as freecom2's link shows.

I think I will keep looking out for a Hasselblad bargain or some hen's teeth!
 
medwaygreen said:
I am now going to obtain a 6x6 and have my heart on a Bronica S2A, your thoughts would be much appreciated regarding this camera and of course any alternatives that I may have overlooked, but I think I have been through a good amount of research and in most cases either cost(main one) or function seems to be the minus side, the aesthetics of the S2A also win me over.

Your views would be appreciated and if you come across this item for sale please let me know.
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The S2A is a gorgeous camera, but with some um.. reservations. I think that the 'A', rather than the older S2 is reasonably reliable. I have had 3 with no probs. The Nikon standard lens is fantastic. However, it is heavy and the shutter goes BAAAM! So don't use it to photograph babies unless their parents like the look of terror on their sprogs face. The focussing screen can have some sort of problem to do with foam, that means it sits in slightly the wrong place and so focusses ever so slightly behind what you think you are focussing on. And sometimes the black leatherette stuff goes a bit peely. But that is it. But most importantly THE S2A IS BL**DY GORGEOUS! DONT GET A SQ-A BECAUSE IT HAS NO SOUL! Or chrome shiny bits.

An S2A is sexy. Other 6x6 cameras are for nerds. And camera nerds are not actually sexy. S' the truth.

Here is mine - tell me that ain't gorgeous...


Me Bronica S2A by Ali Lampard, on Flickr

Me Bronica S2A by Ali Lampard, on Flickr
 
Gorgeous indeed - nearly as many shiny bits as a 60's Cadillac - is it you that owns the fabled "unicorn" S2A? (the only one that hasn't broken down?):D
 
Organnyx said:
Gorgeous indeed - nearly as many shiny bits as a 60's Cadillac - is it you that owns the fabled "unicorn" S2A? (the only one that hasn't broken down?):D
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Tsk.... just vicious hearsay propagated by Hassy nerds...:p
 
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compulsivehordr said:
An S2A is sexy. Other 6x6 cameras are for nerds. And camera nerds are not actually sexy. S' the truth.
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Who are you calling a nerd?

6751457657_560c7b3312_z.jpg
[/url]
Mamiya C220 -16 by Raglansurf, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
freecom2 said:
The SL66 is even more notorious for reliability problems. I know I'm saying this as mostly hearsay, but old cameras are still old cameras. I mean look at all the old gits in this forum... :bonk::bonk:

I kid.
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The only time I'd ever get another Rollei is if a working one was going for £10 as about 35 tears ago my SL66 had to be repaired, a bit later I bought a tele-Rollei and that went wrong...IMO Rollei's are over engineered and made to a too high precision ?...which is the reason why they can go wrong.
The RB67 was crude in comparison to the SL66 but the RB or ETR has never let me down after 30 years...with an engineering background I've always believed:- "if possible keep things simple as there are less things to go wrong", so :razz: to Rollei.
 
:puke: :cuckoo: :thumbsdown: :exit::nono::shake:

I think that just about covers my response :D
 
freecom2 said:
:puke: :cuckoo: :thumbsdown: :exit::nono::shake:

I think that just about covers my response :D
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Have we derailed this thread enough yet? Just asking because i would quite like to return to relative normality... :D
 
Gotta agree with the RB or RZ67....just about square aint it?!! lol

However if you're wanting handheld then perhaps it would prove too heavy in comparison to the ETRS, I always use my RZ on a tripod.
Although grips are available, I doubt I would personally want to lug it around in my hand for long.
 
freecom2 said:
:D



I've never shot with the Rollei 35mm bodies actually, I've always been content with the Nikon and Pentax bodies I've owned.
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Very wise as when I think about it, all I really need is two cameras:- my T90 with the M42 adapter for screw lenses, and 300tl flash....and one for backup, usually a Konica for those lovely Hexanon lenses.
 
SQA is so much like an ETRS handling wise I think if you get on with that then that would be a good choice, as Freecom has said the S2A did have issues of reliablity though I must say in the several years I worked in a photgraphy shop never once did one come in for repair and we sold quite a few. they took longer to shift but the Nikon glass is pretty damn good on it.

The RBs/RZs if you only doing studio work are excellent. they start getting bulky and heavy for outdoor assinments if you're carrying them about.
 
chivers67 said:
The RBs/RZs if you only doing studio work are excellent. they start getting bulky and heavy for outdoor assinments if you're carrying them about.
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They are fine with a left hand grip. I have walked many miles carrying an RB67.


Steve.
 
Thanks for all the help, as the feedback on the S2A was not that encouraging, I decide to try my hand with TLR and have just received a Yashica-Mat 124G, but it needs a little bit of work which I am having done and a few bits to be ordered and then hopefully I can post a few a my lousy efforts :).
 
We'd only have half a forum without lousy efforts Richie..:)
 
joxby said:
We'd only have half a forum without lousy efforts Richie..:)
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Oh, how true you lovely man you:thumbs::):D;):thumbs:

Lets keep trying to bring down the level.:p:thumbs::bonk:
 
Is the bronica s2 younger than the ec? They look pretty similar so the ec might be an alternative I'd newer.

If I wasn't so invested in an sqa and if leaf shutter lenses for the s2 weren't so rare I'd jump ship just for some of that sexy chromeness.
 
Kev M said:
Is the bronica s2 younger than the ec? They look pretty similar so the ec might be an alternative I'd newer.

If I wasn't so invested in an sqa and if leaf shutter lenses for the s2 weren't so rare I'd jump ship just for some of that sexy chromeness.
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The EC is newer, and to be honest, nicer. It has electronic shutter speed control and more importantly, a handy slot to keep the dark slide in to stop you from losing it. And sometimes they do have some chrome bits. Loved mine..
 
Kev M said:
Is the bronica s2 younger than the ec? They look pretty similar so the ec might be an alternative I'd newer.

If I wasn't so invested in an sqa and if leaf shutter lenses for the s2 weren't so rare I'd jump ship just for some of that sexy chromeness.
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I've been considering going P6 for quite a while, I can't be overly fussed though or I'd have made more of an effort to sell it on.

The EC is child of the 70's, S2a is a 60's bairn, they share the lens range but nothing else even though they look alike.

If you factor out old school sexyness and factor in reliability, availability and the advantages of age and superior tech, the SQ is probably better value for money.
Focal plane shutters @ 6x6 are asking for trouble, whereas leaf shutters provide a much less violent method of doing the same thing.
To shoot the EC is not like my Mam 6 where you can hardly tell anything happened, its an event that disturbs time itself....even with a split mirror....:lol:
 
compulsivehordr said:
Um.. Isn't the Old School Sexiness why we are all here?
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I'm here to stalk Raglansurf......lol, and Kev, Yinny....and Asha has promised to come and look at my junk..:D



No, I'm here because I shoot film not because I shoot old school sexyness, its just a happy coincidence..
 
joxby said:
I'm here to stalk Raglansurf......lol, and Kev, Yinny....and Asha has promised to come and look at my junk..:D



No, I'm here because I shoot film not because I shoot old school sexyness, its just a happy coincidence..
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If I had been drinking, there would have been tea all over my keyboard after reading the "junk" remark!
 
joxby said:
I'm here to stalk Raglansurf......lol, and Kev, Yinny....and Asha has promised to come and look at my junk..:D



No, I'm here because I shoot film not because I shoot old school sexyness, its just a happy coincidence..
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robhooley167 said:
300px-KennethWilliams.jpg
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menthel said:
If I had been drinking, there would have been tea all over my keyboard after reading the "junk" remark!
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LMAO....I have a tendency to acquire junk (I have lots of carp knocking about including....oh lord best not mention her as steveo will be upping the supplies of blix for my tea :D)

I don't mind "removing some of your junk john :eek: " if it helps to make your life easier......:D
 
Asha said:
LMAO....I have a tendency to acquire junk (I have lots of carp knocking about including....oh lord best not mention her as steveo will be upping the supplies of blix for my tea :D)
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:lol:
 
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