Bronica 6×6 focal plane
The first Bronica cameras were a series a 6×6 focal plane shutter SLRs, similar in concept to the Hasselblad 1000F.
Contents
Evolution
The first model is the Bronica Z. The Bronica D is a similar camera.
The Bronica S has new incompatible finders and backs, and the Bronica C is the corresponding budget version, without the interchangeable back.
The Bronica S2, released in 1965, is the successor of the Bronica S. The new model included a number of minor changes, but the main improvement was the switch to a removable helical focusing mount. This helical mount could focus lenses with focal lengths from 40mm to 200mm; longer lenses had their own helicoids.
Because all of the camera functions are fully mechanical, no batteries are needed to operate it.
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Bronica EC, by Luciano Lazzarotto (Image rights) |
The S2 uses a vertical-travelling cloth focal plane shutter. Shutter speeds are available from 1 to 1/1000s and B. Flash sync uses X and FP on an automatic PC terminal at a 1/40s sync speed. The shutter must be cocked before each shot by cranking the film winding lever. The "Filminder" rollfilm back can use 120 or 220 film, selectable with a small dial on the film back. A peel-apart Polaroid back was also available for the S2. Film backs are removed from the camera by inserting a dark slide. As a safety feature, the shutter will not fire if the dark slide is not removed.
The standard lens for the S2 was a 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor P.
The Bronica S2A is the successor of the S2. The main difference is an improved film advance gear mechanism, reputed to result in fewer jams.
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Bronica S2A with Nikkor P 75mm f2.8, by Alex Theodin (Image rights)
The Bronica EC has an electronically controlled shutter, and the Bronica EC-TL adds a TTL exposure meter. Features of the S2
Type: 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 (6cm × 6cm) Single lens reflex camera Bibliography
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Sample picturesDocumentation and user manuals
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