Medium Format

excalibur2 said:
Well I was happy just using the ETRs with 75mm lens for about 20 years (have the RB with 65mm and 180mm), anyway in the last 2 years have bought three lenses and this morning decided to test them out for sharpness...erm but learnt the hard way in that when changing lenses and all hands over the body LOCK THE SHUTTER BUTTON as I wasted two frames :(
Click to expand...

Too tip - I'll remember that!!
 
Sir SR said:
Too tip - I'll remember that!!
Click to expand...

For those who don't know:- the RB and Etrs (and probably others) you have to load the shutter etc otherwise you can't change lenses....if storing (I'll have to check with the manual) and if it's the same as the RB, it's best to uncock the shutter (on the lens) un re-cock it to fit to the camera....phew.
 
As an aside, I'd like to say that Peak were excellent and will probably use them again next time! Sent off Sunday night Freepost, came back Friday(received at peak on weds). Quick turnaround and responded to my queries very quickly!
 
skysh4rk said:
Assuming the camera and back are functioning properly, you can take the back off anytime you want provided the dark slide is inserted, as far as I'm aware.
Click to expand...

Well I thought Shaheed meant........ if you take the back off can you change lenses without cocking the shutter.
 
skysh4rk said:
you can take the back off anytime you want provided the dark slide is inserted
Click to expand...
That's my understanding too.

excalibur2 said:
if you take the back off can you change lenses without cocking the shutter.
Click to expand...
I don't think so.

It's also my understanding, and I'd be happy to be corrected on this, you need to insert the dark slide before changing lenses.
 
Last edited:
simon ess said:
That's my understanding too.


I don't think so.

It's also my understanding, and I'd be happy to be corrected on this, you need to insert the dark slide before changing lenses.
Click to expand...

I just meant that if you took the back off, regardless of whether you have to cock the shutter, you won't waste frames.
 
Sir SR said:
I just meant that if you took the back off, regardless of whether you have to cock the shutter, you won't waste frames.
Click to expand...

Ah but easier to just lock the shutter button by turning it to the red dot.
 
Sir SR said:
I just meant that if you took the back off, regardless of whether you have to cock the shutter, you won't waste frames.
Click to expand...

excalibur2 said:
Ah but easier to just lock the shutter button by turning it to the red dot.
Click to expand...

You two are beginning to confuse me and I'm pretty darn familiar with the workings of the various Bronica cameras.

If you don't want to accidentally take a picture, you have a few options with Bronicas: lock the shutter button, leave the dark slide in, or don't wind onto the next frame (after taking a shot) until you're ready to take the next photo.

Even if you accidentally do take a picture, however, if the lens cap is still on (e.g., tripped the shutter while camera in bag), you could just flip the multi-exposure lever, which will allow you to drop the mirror and cock the shutter when you wind the crank, but the film will not advance to the next frame, so you're still good.

As for cocking the shutter, which is in the lens, I always left the shutters in my lenses cocked 100% of the time and I never had any problems. Whether the shutter is cocked or not has nothing to do with the backs.
 
skysh4rk said:
You two are beginning to confuse me and I'm pretty darn familiar with the workings of the various Bronica cameras.

If you don't want to accidentally take a picture, you have a few options with Bronicas: lock the shutter button, leave the dark slide in, or don't wind onto the next frame (after taking a shot) until you're ready to take the next photo.

Even if you accidentally do take a picture, however, if the lens cap is still on (e.g., tripped the shutter while camera in bag), you could just flip the multi-exposure lever, which will allow you to drop the mirror and cock the shutter when you wind the crank, but the film will not advance to the next frame, so you're still good.

As for cocking the shutter, which is in the lens, I always left the shutters in my lenses cocked 100% of the time and I never had any problems. Whether the shutter is cocked or not has nothing to do with the backs.
Click to expand...

In the RB67 manual it says:- if storing the lens un cock the shutter...I assume it's because it's not good to leave the springs tensioned.
 
excalibur2 said:
In the RB67 manual it says:- if storing the lens un cock the shutter...I assume it's because it's not good to leave the springs tensioned.
Click to expand...

I think it says the same thing in the Bronica manuals, but I still haven't had any problems with this in practice as far as I'm aware.

It's possible that it's a bigger issue for the Mamiya as the RB67 is mechanical, whereas Bronicas have electronically-controlled shutter speeds.
 
I used a Bronica ETRS for years, no idea how many weddings and portraits i must have covered.
I could just pick it up and work effortlessly, so simple to use no mass of buttons and endless menus, it was like an extension of myself.

I came across the case last year with it all packed inside. When I saw it I was dying to get it out and hold it, caress it like a long lost love.
I opened the box, I had to sit down, my heart sank and I burst into tears.
It had been stored at a mates flat and the damp had got in to it, it was covered in a fine dust like coating and the paint was peeling off.
I must have cried for over an hour,
This thread has brought it all back. I feel a need to get another and go shoot portraits with it.
 
Flashphill said:
I used a Bronica ETRS for years, no idea how many weddings and portraits i must have covered.
I could just pick it up and work effortlessly, so simple to use no mass of buttons and endless menus, it was like an extension of myself.

I came across the case last year with it all packed inside. When I saw it I was dying to get it out and hold it, caress it like a long lost love.
I opened the box, I had to sit down, my heart sank and I burst into tears.
It had been stored at a mates flat and the damp had got in to it, it was covered in a fine dust like coating and the paint was peeling off.
I must have cried for over an hour,
This thread has brought it all back. I feel a need to get another and go shoot portraits with it.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your camera. That's just horrible.

If you've any medium format portraits, stick them in the portraits on film thread.

Look forward to seeing your work!
 
Flashphill said:
I used a Bronica ETRS for years, no idea how many weddings and portraits i must have covered.
I could just pick it up and work effortlessly, so simple to use no mass of buttons and endless menus, it was like an extension of myself.

I came across the case last year with it all packed inside. When I saw it I was dying to get it out and hold it, caress it like a long lost love.
I opened the box, I had to sit down, my heart sank and I burst into tears.
It had been stored at a mates flat and the damp had got in to it, it was covered in a fine dust like coating and the paint was peeling off.
I must have cried for over an hour,
This thread has brought it all back. I feel a need to get another and go shoot portraits with it.
Click to expand...

Sad but it still might work....for me I couldn't care less what a camera or lens looks like as long as it works and produces results I want....as good as new cameras are inconvenient as you are always worried about scratches and dents.
 
Last edited:
excalibur2 said:
and if it's the same as the RB, it's best to uncock the shutter (on the lens) un re-cock it to fit to the camera....phew.
Click to expand...

Why? There is no need to un-cock a lens for storage. The tension in an un-cocked spring is probably about 90% of the pressure of a cocked spring. The difference is negligible.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Why? There is no need to un-cock a lens for storage. The tension in an un-cocked spring is probably about 90% of the pressure of a cocked spring. The difference is negligible.


Steve.
Click to expand...

Well if you want to argue with the bloke who wrote the manual...I'm just the messenger. ;) But it depends on how much a spring is stressed for it to lose it's properties and then it could be months or 100 years.
 
excalibur2 said:
Sad but it still might work....for me I couldn't care less what a camera or lens looks like as long as it works and produces results I want....as good as new cameras are inconvenient as you are always worried about scratches and dents.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean but I seem to remember the lenses are also full of fungus :(
Should soften the image nicely though.
 
Sir SR said:
Sorry to hear about your camera. That's just horrible.

If you've any medium format portraits, stick them in the portraits on film thread.

Look forward to seeing your work!
Click to expand...

I have a few 20x16 prints knocking around I would have to copy those.
Cant scan negs as my scanner will not work with Win7 or Win10 - No drivers :(
 
excalibur2 said:
Well if you want to argue with the bloke who wrote the manual...I'm just the messenger. ;) But it depends on how much a spring is stressed for it to lose it's properties and then it could be months or 100 years.
Click to expand...

Perhaps if you're going to store it for years (or many months) but just swapping between lenses, there is no point.


Steve.
 
Flashphill said:
I know what you mean but I seem to remember the lenses are also full of fungus :(
Should soften the image nicely though.
Click to expand...

Well get the lenses out into the fresh air and sunlight ASAP that should stop further growth and if you store in dry conditions it shouldn't get worse.....fungus on the front lens is less important than fungus on the rear one.
 
Steve Smith said:
Perhaps if you're going to store it for years (or many months) but just swapping between lenses, there is no point.


Steve.
Click to expand...

Well guys selling on the bay could be selling lenses cocked that they have had for say 15 years...what difference that makes is anybody's guess. :eek:
 
So, I've been on hols this week before starting a new job. In one of my favourite places -Northumberland. Made me realise that my next investment should be a light meter (unless I can locate my l308 at home) as I've been carrying the d800 and Bronica around. My main issue was not trusting the meter on the iPhone but I believe the histogram/meter on the d800.

Got sick of carrying them both today....so ditched the d800! I'll see how badly exposed the pics are when they come back[emoji85][emoji85][emoji85]

IMG_1470342536.921225.jpg

Need to get a more comfy strap - any suggestions?
 
I wouldn't worry about the iPhone meter. I use it for shooting velvia slide film which has pretty much no latitude and haven't had any incorrect exposures yet (other than user error!)
 
stevelmx5 said:
I wouldn't worry about the iPhone meter. I use it for shooting velvia slide film which has pretty much no latitude and haven't had any incorrect exposures yet (other than user error!)
Click to expand...

Maybe I just don't trust myself then!!!!
 
Sir SR said:
I have that on my d800 and my daughters d90[emoji106]

How do you attach the strap to the camera. The Bronica strap has the metal triangle bits on the end and the optech didn't look straightforward to attach!
Click to expand...

If you look at the range of connectors they have them for all MF cameras you choose the type for either Hasselblad,Bronica,etc.

I use them on all my MF cameras so I have three types of connectors and just two straps,it is an excellent system.
 
Sir SR said:
I have that on my d800 and my daughters d90[emoji106]

How do you attach the strap to the camera. The Bronica strap has the metal triangle bits on the end and the optech didn't look straightforward to attach!
Click to expand...

Another Optech user - i went for the "uni-loop adaptor" connectors onto the metal triangular things - I've basically 2 of the main straps, and different "ends" for my main cameras, but the uni-loop ones are so easy to remove and swap to any camera with a strap loop, they serve multiple duty...

IMG_0052.jpg
 
Last edited:
I didn't realise you could get different connectors.

Both the straps I have came with those uni-loops
 
Sir SR said:
So, I've been on hols this week before starting a new job. In one of my favourite places -Northumberland. Made me realise that my next investment should be a light meter (unless I can locate my l308 at home) as I've been carrying the d800 and Bronica around. My main issue was not trusting the meter on the iPhone but I believe the histogram/meter on the d800.

Got sick of carrying them both today....so ditched the d800! I'll see how badly exposed the pics are when they come back
emoji85.png
emoji85.png
emoji85.png
Click to expand...

Doesnt the film packet still have those little pictograms on the inside that show exposures for different conditions?
Its based on the sunny 16 rule.
 
Flashphill said:
Doesnt the film packet still have those little pictograms on the inside that show exposures for different conditions?
Its based on the sunny 16 rule.
Click to expand...

The ilford fp did I think, but I can't remember. I did end up mentally using the sunny 16 rule as a check. The portra 5 pack certainly didn't as I only had the foil wrappers!!

I guess because I learnt on digital (despite knowing exposure triangle etc) I never really had to worry too much about it (that looks a bit dark, histogram skewed to the left, I'll just reshoot that and add in some exposure compensation/slow shutter speed/open up the aperture). One of the main reasons for shooting film (apart from the quality) was to feel more part of the process (yes you can shoot manual on digital but it's not the same).

Found something at home that I wish I'd have thought about earlier though[emoji85]
 
IMG_1470422992.536484.jpg

So I've had this in my office for a couple of years. Bought it for when I was learning to use flash......hence why it didn't occur to me to use it for film. Stupid is as stupid does.

It's in like new condition as it's barely been used!!

Time to rtfm as I've forgotten how to use it!
 
Sir SR said:
View attachment 70833

So I've had this in my office for a couple of years. Bought it for when I was learning to use flash......hence why it didn't occur to me to use it for film. Stupid is as stupid does.

It's in like new condition as it's barely been used!!

Time to rtfm as I've forgotten how to use it!
Click to expand...
LOL :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top