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 introduced in 1961, has new incompatible finders and backs. There were many features no longer on the Bronica S that were available on the previous models including: 2 to 10 sec and 1/1250 shutter speed, self-timer, multiple exposure, focus lock. Improvements include a fool proof dark slide system. The camera will not function properly with a dark slide inserted nor can the back be removed without a dark slide. Dual cable releases one on the shutter button the other on the base of the camera.
The Bronica C is the corresponding budget version of the S and S2, without the interchangeable back. It was released before the S2, but shares many of the same designs and functions. The Bronica C2 was released a year later, a few months before the S2. The improvements made to the S2 bodys were incorporated into a revised C2.
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 |
The Bronica EC has an electronically controlled shutter, and the Bronica EC-TL adds a TTL exposure meter.
Specifications
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Bronica S2 image by Howard Somerville (Image rights) |
D | S | S2 | C / C2 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction | 1959 | 1961 | 1965 | 1964 / 1965 | |
Type | 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 (6cm × 6cm) Single lens reflex camera | ||||
Film back | removable | integrated w/ film magazines | |||
Film | 120 roll film 12 exposures |
120/220 roll film 12/24 exposures | |||
Finder | Fresnel lens and large magnifier | ||||
Viewfinder hood | interchangeable with pentaprism finder or magnifying hood | ||||
Focusing | Removable, Helicoid type, stroke 14mm, rotating angle of focusing ring 250 degrees | ||||
Distance Scale | 75mm, 50mm, 135mm lenses | 75mm, 50mm, 135mm, and 200mm lenses | |||
Mirror | flip down, instant return, automatic mirror system | ||||
Diaphragm | Auto: 75mm, 50mm, 135mm lenses | Auto: 75mm, 50mm, 135mm, 200mm and 400mm lenses | |||
Depth-of-Field | Depth-of-field can be checked by pressing preview button | ||||
Shutter | Vertical-travel focal plane shutter | ||||
Shutter Speeds | B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1250, X (1/50) Long exposure: 1s to 10s |
B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 and 'X' (1/50) |
B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/500, 1/1000 and 'X' (1/40) | B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/500, 1/1000 and 'X' (1/40) (not all models have 1/1000) | |
Multiple exposure | yes | X | via multi exposure knob | ||
Self timer | yes, adjustable delay 1 to 10s | X | X | ||
Film winding | winding crank or knob | ||||
Dimensions | 89 × 86 × 136 | 100mm × 100mm × 140mm | |||
Weight | 1.165 kg | 1.790 kg | 1.780 kg |
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 1513–7. (See also the picture on p.22.)
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.102–3, 138 and 147.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). Pp.159–62.
- Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 2071–4.
Links
General links
In English:
- Bronica Users Group (BUG) at the Yahoo Groups site
- Bronica pages at medfmt
- Bronica D, Bronica S, Bronica EC and Bronica EC-TL at Cameraquest
- Bronica focal-plane cameras at Nikkor lenses for medium format cameras by Hiura Shinsaku
- Bronica S2 at Cosmonet's Classic Camera website
- Bronica Identification and Features at www.craigcamera.com
In French:
In Japanese:
- Bronica focal-plane cameras and lenses at Hiura Shinsaku's camera site
- Bronica Deluxe and more pictures at Hayata Camera Laboratory
- Bronica S and Bronica EC at Asacame
Sample pictures
Documentation and user manuals
- Bronica S2 sales brochure (#BR-302) at medfmt, provided by Bill Barton
- Bronica S2A manual at medfmt, provided by Mike Bond