I recently sold my S2A and picked up a Pentax 67. My eyes aren't what they used to be and prefer the standard viewfinder rather than the WLF. I loved the Bronica, it went with me everywhere and while it has its issues, once I redid all the foam seals it became a joy to use. I will say if you want to do long exposures you don't need mirror lockup, just a remote cable that has a lock function. Cover the lens with a hat or a specialized dark cloth and trip the shutter open, allow the vibrations to dissipate and remove you cover, place the cover back when you finish exposure and release the shutter.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
Oh! That’s a great life hack! Thank you 👍
@harrisongould9460
10 ай бұрын
I shot in NYC between 1978 and 2000 professionally. All the Pros shot Hasselblad. Back then I had like six of them. I still have two of them with an 80mm, 150mm, 4 Backs and 2 Polaroid backs. I also liked the Pentax 67 system, what a beast. Pentax engineers made an adaptor to fit the 67 lenses to the Pentax 645 System. My favorite combo was the Pentax 645 coupled with the 165mm f2.8 from the Pentax 67. A combo that NONE of the medium format cameras could match.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
What were you shooting with this combo? People, landscapes?
@harrisongould9460
10 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue Fashion catalogues. A typical job was to take a crew of two photo assistants, fashion stylist, Stylist assistant, Hair & Make-up artist, store art director, tons of equipment and 300 rolls of Ektachrome. The models came in separately. This would be like a five day shoot with two days on the front for scout and prep and a day at the end to get home. I loved the adventures I had.
@anandarochisha
10 ай бұрын
@@harrisongould9460 I bet you got laid..
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
@@harrisongould9460 Sounds like fun times!
@ruudmaas2480
8 ай бұрын
Since a few months I use the Bronica SQ-A. I like the square format and the negatives out of this camera are realy good. The only thing I miss on this camera is the bulb mode. The SQ-Ai has a bulb mode.
@soundandhue
8 ай бұрын
I am tempted to try SQ-Ai - it’s a more modern model than S2A. I suspect it is lighter as well.
@usablellc6735
9 ай бұрын
I had the EC TL I think it was. I had a Polaroid back and a couple of other lenses I don't remember which ones. I've always loved the square format and composing on the ground glass. These are the two things I miss the most.
@alangauld6079
10 ай бұрын
I started my serious photography journey with a 6x6 film camera and finished up with a Mamiya C220 TLR with interchangeable lenses. It was a joy to use but very heavy. Now I shoot digitally but I still have a Yashica TLR with fixed 75mm lens and take it out for old times sake. I love a waist level viewfinder, it seems to isolate you from the background so you see the image more clearly. And yes, the size of the screen makes even a live view LCD seem small. I’ve never tried a medium format SLR but I’d love to try a Bronica, Mamiya or ‘Blad. Or even one of the very cheap Russian 6x6 Kiev models although they do weigh a lot!
@Edgy01
10 ай бұрын
I real do like the Hasselblad line up because of the Carl Zeiss optics. I’ve wound up with a 503CW, a 500 EL/M and the 903 SWC. The best Zeiss lenses are in my bag-250mm Superachromat, the 150mm, the 100mm, the 60mm, and a couple of 40mm. (And clearly the Biogon 38mm). Hassy is very affordable today along with the Zeiss optics. When I shoot Velvia slides, I in turn scan them with my Nikon Super Coolscan ED scanner for the digital world.
@bd048
9 ай бұрын
I owned S2As - with 6 lenses and 5 film backs. I was a wedding photographer from 1974-1994. I used this system from 1979-1994. I also used a Metz 60CT flash mounted on a Jones bracket. The who thing sat on a Majestic 4x5 tripod. It was heavy but the images with the Nikkors (that is all I ever used) was superb. The Metz really made the difference. It was called the F11 flash and that was true more often than not, so I used flash a lot. I stopped all that in 1994 but it was a wonderful system. I even had an S2. I had several finders but the waist level was my favorite. You brought back lots of memories, you also did a good job ta;lking about this camera.
@bd048
9 ай бұрын
P.S. I'm also in (just North) of Seattle.
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Wow! Photographing people with that camera must have been quite a challenge! Focusing on moving objects!
@bd048
9 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue The formals were pretty easy, even the wedding. Most of the reception was shot with the 50mm Nikkor (like a 28mm on 35mm) with the f-stop at f11 and sometime f8. So it worked well. I could have all that for the price on 1 Hasselblad with 1 lens and 1 film back. I shot this way for years but I never owned a Nikon camera until 2008 with a D40 Nikon.
@GeorgeK356
10 ай бұрын
If you miss the mirror lock up function see if you can find the next model in the range , the Bronica EC. Your S2 lenses will fit the EC but the film backs and viewfinders won't. The EC gives you an extended shutter speed range, from B, plus 4 seconds up to 1/1000 sec, electronically controlled shutter. 6x45. backs are more readily available too. I have both Bronicas, the S2A and the EC, I confess to liking the S2A more, just for the looks, mine is the Stainless Steel model, and it looks like a 50s Cadillac with all the chrome fins etc. Great video and good to see another photographer recognizing the worth of the Zenza Bronica camera.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
Thanks for the advice! Great to learn from the experience of others using these cameras. Hard to find good reviews and comparisons of this vintage but not glamorous stuff.
@UncleDansVintageVinyl
10 ай бұрын
Oh, I have one of these Bronicas! It's awesome.
@desgardner7169
10 ай бұрын
I had a Bronica S2a in the late 70s early 80s, it was big and heavy, when the shutter went off everybody looked around! when I shot the occasional wedding and in the church I used to cough each time I pressed the shutter button to muffle the sound. The camera never once let me down....Happy days with the Brony....
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
I cannot imagine how you shot wedding with that camera! It is very hard to focus on moving people.
@desgardner7169
10 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue never had a problem with focusing, the biggest problem was the vibration from the shutter when it went off, so the camera was definitely nearly always on a tripod!
@mono432mono
10 ай бұрын
Really enjoyed your video. Some day I'll buy a (digital) medium format camera, but by then the affordable ones surely will be painfully slow compared to smaller sensor cameras.
@minutte
10 ай бұрын
I have two. It is better than Hasselblad 5xx. Equivalent Hasselblad is the 2000 series focal plane shutter. The 500 series are just dumb overpriced bodies, the job is done in the lens and the optical quality mostly from Zeiss. The Bronica D, S and S2 are better designed, and S and S2 very versatiles. The point with Hasselblad 5xx is its use as studio camera because flash sync at all speeds (lens shutter), that's all.
@Hell0
10 ай бұрын
I handled one of these and a Pentacon Six in a camera store. The Bronica broke in my very hands as I cocked the shutter and I ended up buying the Pentacon instead despite it being touted as an unreliable camera by a lot of people. Just an interesting anecdote.
@cecilsharps
10 ай бұрын
bronica's got used hard by wedding photographers before y2k. they are 40+ years old. the p6's real weakness is the film advance and they are just as old. If you have a 40+ year old camera that works, enjoy it.
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Right! Isn't it remarkable engineering achievement - these products work for 40-50 years! Engineering masterpieces!
@Eigil_Skovgaard
9 ай бұрын
Which films are your favorites with this camera today, and are you doing the development yourself? I once had a Zensa Bronicas 4.5x6 and loved it (actually twice), and still have a very heavy Kowa/SIX in my display from the old days. This Kowa only have the integrated film magazine. I may give the Kowa another try one day. I have been inspired during the ongoing process of digitizing my stock of films, 35 mm, 120 and 4x5". There is a strange appealing quality to the classic film process, especially with the wet copying out of the equation. Extended editing is available, first the negatives have been digitized.
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
I develop in the local lab and then scan myself. Didn’t get into that rabbit hole yet. Among B&W I really liked new one Kentmere. I have a review of it. It’s cheap and the quality was comparable with HP5 in my test. For color I like Portra of course, Ektar is good in certain conditions in warm light. I did not like Kodak Gold, too much yellow/green tint to my taste. I prefer more orange. Bought a lot of Fuji Pro 400H when it was discontinued. It is alright, but nothing to write home about.
@TOMMYOOST
10 ай бұрын
These already go for 700-900 euro's depending on condition so affordable is already off the table, and if you're spending that money you might as well just save up for the hasselblad.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
Not sure where have you found these prices. I check eBay while recording the video and there’s plenty of options of Bronica S2A for $400-$500 in very good condition
@TOMMYOOST
10 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue thats ebay and in america
@TitanPhotoUK
10 ай бұрын
My S2A just arrived and can't wait to shoot with it. I need to find a strap for it, what were you using to attach your strap to the body? I could see something hanging on your strap lugs but don't recognise the fitting? thanks!
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
I’ve bought these clips from eBay and they work perfectly. Don’t need anything extra to put on the camera. They clip on the native strap mount www.ebay.com/itm/284315763159?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=pP7pZlLuR6u&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=R0AVEjgKSK2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
@FRIDOUNE1
9 ай бұрын
Very good souvenir. Hasselblad 500 C
@user-rd6vf7xk1x
9 ай бұрын
Absolutely love this camera, though it is hard to find lenses for it on the shelf, even in Japan. I was in a used camera store in Tokyo the other day looking for a strap and when I mentioned Bronica to the owner he laughed and said good luck finding anything Bronica! From what I've seen you'd have better luck with lenses in private sales on ebay than in camera stores. But anyway the gentleman dug around in his cupboards and pulled out a 6x4.5 filmback for the s2a and gave it to me free of charge saying he'll never sell it anyway! And I got a new strap in the end at the Yodobashi store in Ueno in the end. Actually this is my first time travelling exclusively with a 6x6 camera. I accidentally left my regular 35mm Spotmatic in the over head compartment on a plane in Australia (since reclaimed but too late for my holiday). But honestly I'm grateful that I'm 'stuck' with the Bronica because its given me a real good chance to get familiar with square format. I'm so used to seeing the world in 35mm format, and it probably took about a dozen rolls before I really started to get used to the format. Can't speak more highly of this camera.
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Yes! I was curious about square format, but getting Hasselblad to just try it out is a bit too much commitment.
@user-rd6vf7xk1x
9 ай бұрын
Actually struck it lucky today at a camera store in a in a small town in Japan called Myoko. Was able to add to my collection a bronica 150 f3.5, Nikkor 200 f4, eye level vf and a filmback all for only $90!! I don’t know what planet the dealer was on but the items are all mint condition and function perfectly
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Wow! Congrats!
@nimbas9824
10 ай бұрын
Thank you for bringing back memories. Many years ago I had a Bronica S2A, It was a great camera. Unfortunately the transport and cocking mechanism started to give me trouble. I eventually switched to the SQ which like the Hasselblad had the advantage of flash sync at any shutter speed. I still have my SQ, I can't bring myself to part with it. I remember reading that you couldn't take action photographs with such a camera because of the reversal of the image. This is not true, if you were using it everyday your brain programmed itself. Framing your shot, even panning with action became second nature. I still think that looking down into the viewfinder was more natural. You could brace the back against your chest when shooting hand held. I often shot at 1/15th of a second that way. Those were the days of proper photography when shooting a wedding every shot had to work. None of this shooting 500 0r 1000 shots and hoping enough of them are OK.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
That was one of the main reasons for me to get back to film photography - I don’t like taking whatever shots just in case and then scrolling through 500 exposures to find anything decent. And the to have to edit it for hours to develop a look. I wanted to be more intentional with every shoot and force myself to think and grow.
@unclefart5527
10 ай бұрын
As a Hasselblad guy since 75 I considered these to be the south end of a north bound cow.
@michaelmcnally1242
10 ай бұрын
The S2A is an amazing system
@randallstewart1224
10 ай бұрын
About thirty years ago, I had the opportunity to buy a Bronica kit which had been traded-in at my local photo store. It had two bodies of the S2 class, not sure which ones, plus a set of three lenses (and extra standard lens), a couple of extra backs, and some small stuff, all in a fitted, smallish, suitcase of sorts. One of the bodies was reported as having intermittent shutter issues. We talked about $450 for the lot, but they were not ready to deal. I dropped discussions based on the terrible mechanical reputation of the bodies and difficulty in finding anyone who could do a proper repair, parts also in issue. The store sold the kit at a regional swap meet a few months later for $400. (Should have called me first?) The buyer called the store a week later, bitching and moaning; never heard what his problem was. I didn't know whether the store refused to take it back, refused to pay for repairs, and/or the buyer didn't want to return the kit. Nothing more was done to make the guy happy. At $400, he was just a jerk.
@butchgo8930
9 ай бұрын
Just for novelty and curiosity, maybe, for those who have not hurdled film cameras for decades. They’re no match for the ease and use of DSLRs that just keep improving.
@Tenskwatawa4U
10 ай бұрын
Those Bronicas were SO AFFORDABLE a decade ago! I was CRAZY to have not bought one!
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Prices for film cameras went up quite a bit in the past years…
@loochan325
10 ай бұрын
S and EC have MLU. EC-TL has TTL metering. EC-TL II is a downgrade. SQ series have leaf shutters in lenses and from SQA also have MLU. Some had even Aperture priority, integrated motors, etc. Some models are downgrades so be aware. On S2A you have FP sync up to 1/1000s ( also on EC). Not all but a lot of cameras that have a dedicated FP sync PC socket ( FP comes from long burning flat peak bulbs, not from focal plane) can sync up to the fastest shutter speed, so even 1/2000s. Some cameras don't have good implementation of FP sync and some don't even have a dedicated FP sync even on pro models like Contax RTS old and II, that have only 1/60s X sync and II can be forced only up to 1/30s FP sync. FM2, FE2 and Contax S2 and 645 don't have a dedicated FP sync so no 1/4000s FP sync, but some newer cameras ( just a few not all) have HSS with a dedicated HSS flash with bust flash in sync with the moving slit..., Olympus was first with up to 1/2000s HSS ( named (new) FP... on OM4Ti @ F280 flash, true speed only 1/60s with cloth shutter but up to 1/2000s with the slit artifice and F280 can burst long enough so as to cover al the frame, later Nikon from F5 with SB26 ( mode also named ( new) FP sync /HSS) Canon only from eos 1V, later some Minoltas and Pentax MZ-S @ AF 360 FTZ, but you can use other aditional light source for fill light on any speed. S2A true max speed without the slit artifice is 1/40s. But if you want fill light in bright day light to open the aperture so as to blur the crap in the background, even 1/1000s is not good enough. In bright light like for f16 @ 1/125s@100 iso with 1/1000s you can open only up to f5.6 @ same 100 iso, f8 @ iso 200... For f2.8 @ 100 iso we need 1/4000s. For f2 - 1/8000s. For f1.8 1/12Ks. For f1.4 - 1/16Ks on newer MILCs...etc. Some non Nikkor lenses like MC Zenzanon 80 f2.8 are Carl Zeiss Jena DDR, MC coated but not T* AR coated like Zeiss RFG or Japan that was in fact based on Pentax SMC that Zeiss RFG got in exchange for some optical designs like 28 f2 (NOT on the M and A series...) and 15 f3.5 AS and non AS, Pentax was a brand of Carl Zeiss like Contax. But altrough Pentax managed to have a good bokeh with SMC ( not on the M and A 28 f2...) up to DSLR era when some got bad, Contax Japan got too contrasty from mid '70s and after 2000 even got to pretty horror bokeh on some lenses released for multiple mounts. MC CZ Jena DDR has pretty good bokeh so there is that. Nikon before very recent was pretty bad on bokeh, at least for 35, not so obvious on 6x6 but 35 has faster lenses and shalower DOF then any MF, even MF with F2. 85 f1.4 renders shalower DOF then 150 f2.8 from 1.5m bust portret distace, and 50 f 1/1.2/1.4 shalower then 80 f2. Bronica does't even have f2, even for SQ 6x6 series, but Contax has for 645 and newer PhaseOne FF645. BRONICA SQ-Ai was more advanced and SQ-B is a downgrade.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
Thank you for a ton of valuable info!
@Kokoro-ss5iv
9 ай бұрын
You can use this camera to take 13 shot for 1 roll of 120 films if you set it to 24 in your film back, but be ware development company may put a sticker on your first frame, so it will be better to develope yourself
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Wow! That’s an interesting hack! Thanks for sharing!
@Kokoro-ss5iv
9 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue the tricky point is, you should load the stop film half frame earlier than the arrow reach the red dot, then you can shoot 13 frames, and the magazine will not stop as normal like you finished 12 shows, after 13 photos you need to switch back to "12" to unload the roll
@KeigoMoriyama
10 ай бұрын
Thebhasselblas is becoming more and more affordable nowadays, at least here in jp
@Raevenswood
10 ай бұрын
this is what I would buy too. Prices for S2a used to be like 200 bucks for everything now they want 800 or more lol. not worth it when you can get a Hasselblad 500cm that will last for years without trouble and actually have resale value.
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Not sure where did you find $800. Maybe for camera + 3 lenses. Hasselblad 500cm with 3 lenses will cost around $4500 by my moderate estimate. This is a big difference for most people.
@Raevenswood
9 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue You are right about the prices they seem to have dropped a bit recently but last year I saw a bunch of S2A's with the standard Nikon 75mm lens going for just shy of 800$. In any case after owning one I don't think Boronia S2a is worth it ... fragile internals (Although better than the S2) and clunky focal plan shutter that slaps like Thors hammer and the camera weighs like 10lbs. To me getting a hasselblad is buy once cry once but getting something like a Bronica you will definitely be buying something better later on (or paying for repairs) and if you turn to sell the bronica you probably won't get your money back. You are right though, a whole kit of hasselbald is expensive but for me I'm perfectly happy with 80mm f2.8 lens and a couple spare backs. Thats around 1800 for mint condition 500cm setup. You can get a whole bronica SQAI setup with multiple lenses and backs for around $2000 now but a few years ago you could get the same thing for $750. Relatively speaking Hasselblad prices have gone down and Bronica have gone up.
@KeigoMoriyama
9 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue japan
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
@@Raevenswood This old camera market is very confusing. Prices definitely don't reflect quality of cameras or any practical concern. The demand is frequently driven by some irrational appeal and collecting intentions.
@robertharries2185
10 ай бұрын
The older model Bronica s 1961 has the mirror lock up
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
I didn’t know that! Thanks for the info!
@lightbox617
9 ай бұрын
I can't do this anymore. I had, after a lot of time and effort, two C500 bodies, lenses and a strobe that all worked and satisfied my urge to work with "the pros." I eventually gave it up as digital became a vial, a preferable, option for everything
@Raevenswood
10 ай бұрын
used to be Bronica cameras were kind of a sleeper value camera due to the low price but somewhat decent performance but with todays prices they are just not worth it. This is from someone who has shot with S2a, SQ-AI, and GS-1 and at one point had fairly complete kits of all of them. I didn't really regret selling off all my Bronica stuff when I did. I'd never pay what people are asking for them in todays market, just not worth it. My advice to anyone thinking about buying into a Bronica system is to just keep saving a bit longer and get a better camera. To say Bronica are "almost as good as a Hasselblad" is a crime lol. Reality is there is no comparison.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
I didn’t say it is as good. “Good” is very subjective. Something good for me might not be good for somebody else. My point was that I get almost all features I need: 6x6, 120, waist level viewfinder, interchangeable backs and lenses. I do understand Hasselblad quality is unmatched.
@Raevenswood
10 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue Taken from your video description ... "Reviewing this incredible medium format camera that is almost as good as Hasselblad 500cm, but will not break the bank! Great for the introduction into 6x6 120 film photography." The last part of the statement is true I suppose. Bronica are good for people testing the waters of medium format but I wish I would have just ripped the bandaid off and bought a Hasselblad from the start ... could have saved a lot of money in the long run.
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
@@RaevenswoodFair enough! I'll change it.
@Raevenswood
9 ай бұрын
@@soundandhue the purpose wasn't get you to change anything I was just sharing my opinion 🙂 you do you bro, All good.
@Mingster72
9 ай бұрын
@@Raevenswood I've owned the Hasselblad 500CM and sold it because I never really got into it for numerous reasons. The Bronica S2A is a far more sophisticated camera in almost every way, the 500CM is very basic. Even the weight difference doesn't really amount to much because with the Bronica there is just one helicoid & you swap the optics, but Hasselblad lenses (aside from the 80mm) all weigh significantly more than Bronica lenses because for each lens you carry they each have a helicoid, so the weight difference is minimal if you carry more than one lens. The Zenzanon 50mm lens for example is about the same size & weight as the standard 75mm, but the Zeiss 50mm is huge & weighs a ton in comparison. With Hasselblad you have Zeiss glass, but even that wasn't enough to tempt me to keep it.
@DessieTots
10 ай бұрын
FFS switch off the crazy musak. I want to hear what your saying.
@lohikarhu734
10 ай бұрын
rollei sl66
@orsoncart9441
9 ай бұрын
6x6 is for studio work. The format is seriously flawed. If you want medium format buy a Pentax 6x7 a far better investment and you can use it for studio,sport or anything you can a 35mm camera.
@soundandhue
9 ай бұрын
Why 6x6 is for studio work?
@mason5557
9 ай бұрын
🌸 Promo`SM
@RobertDrake5984
10 ай бұрын
Not 'NEARLY AMAZING AS MY NEW iPHONE'S CAMERAS!!! And if fits in a pocket of my new Scottijacket!!!
@HarveyWallbanger-ho2cq
7 ай бұрын
How to destroy a great video with heavy metal in one easy lesson.
@singletrack29349
10 ай бұрын
I’ve bought 3 of these and had to return every single one. They’re so poorly built.
@soundandhue
10 ай бұрын
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with them. Did you find any better option that works for you?
@wildmano1965
10 ай бұрын
Dude, they weren't even good when they were new. Worst camera ever. The Nikon Lenses were nice tho.
@familymanbarrett
10 ай бұрын
I've owned one for several years and never had one issue. Got lucky I guess.
@user-rd6vf7xk1x
9 ай бұрын
I’m really surprised to hear that.. was it the S2 or the S2a? I’ve got nothing but praise for the one I have
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