Difference between revisions of "Bronica"
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| − | Bronica or Zenza Bronica (ゼンザブロニカ, Bronica or Zenza Bronica | + | Bronica or Zenza Bronica (ゼンザブロニカ, Bronica or Zenza Bronica) was a Japanese brand of professional medium-format roll-film cameras. Over a period of 47 years, the company produced a variety of SLR and rangefinder designs that proved popular with both amateur and professional photographers. |
| − | Bronica cameras first appeared in 1958, when its founder, Zenzaburo Yoshino, introduced a camera of his own design, the Bronica Z | + | Bronica cameras first appeared in 1958, when its founder, Zenzaburo Yoshino, introduced a camera of his own design, the Bronica Z, at the Philadelphia Camera Exhibition. Because Zenzaburo had invested nearly all company resources into production of the camera body, he sourced the Bronica's lenses from an established Japanese optics and camera manufacturer, none other than Nikon (Nikon Kogaku Kikai). With its superb, precision-ground Nikkor lenses, the first Bronica became an instant success. |
| − | Bronica SLR cameras employ a modular design: the major components of the camera—lens, body, film back and | + | Bronica SLR cameras employ a modular design: the major components of the camera—lens, body, film back, and viewfinder — are separate and interchangeable. Bronica cameras were mainstays of wedding and portrait photographers for many years, and their relative affordability made them popular with amateur photographers as well. |
As the company expanded Bronica would later introduce lenses of its own design, along with continued refinements to the Bronica SLR camera designs, in different rollfilm formats. Tamron, a large Japanese lens manufacturer who was a supplier of Bronica lens elements, eventually acquired Zenza Bronica Ltd. Zenzaburo Yoshino died in 1988. | As the company expanded Bronica would later introduce lenses of its own design, along with continued refinements to the Bronica SLR camera designs, in different rollfilm formats. Tamron, a large Japanese lens manufacturer who was a supplier of Bronica lens elements, eventually acquired Zenza Bronica Ltd. Zenzaburo Yoshino died in 1988. | ||
Revision as of 16:38, 2 June 2006
Bronica or Zenza Bronica (ゼンザブロニカ, Bronica or Zenza Bronica) was a Japanese brand of professional medium-format roll-film cameras. Over a period of 47 years, the company produced a variety of SLR and rangefinder designs that proved popular with both amateur and professional photographers.
Bronica cameras first appeared in 1958, when its founder, Zenzaburo Yoshino, introduced a camera of his own design, the Bronica Z, at the Philadelphia Camera Exhibition. Because Zenzaburo had invested nearly all company resources into production of the camera body, he sourced the Bronica's lenses from an established Japanese optics and camera manufacturer, none other than Nikon (Nikon Kogaku Kikai). With its superb, precision-ground Nikkor lenses, the first Bronica became an instant success.
Bronica SLR cameras employ a modular design: the major components of the camera—lens, body, film back, and viewfinder — are separate and interchangeable. Bronica cameras were mainstays of wedding and portrait photographers for many years, and their relative affordability made them popular with amateur photographers as well.
As the company expanded Bronica would later introduce lenses of its own design, along with continued refinements to the Bronica SLR camera designs, in different rollfilm formats. Tamron, a large Japanese lens manufacturer who was a supplier of Bronica lens elements, eventually acquired Zenza Bronica Ltd. Zenzaburo Yoshino died in 1988.
The last Bronica SLR cameras (SQ, ETR and GS) were discontinued in October 2004, and their last model, the RF645 rangefinder camera, was discontinued in October 2005. Secondhand Bronica cameras are still widely used by professional and serious amateur photographers, in no small part due to superior image quality of 6x45, 6x6 and 6x7cm rollfilm over smaller film and digital sensor formats.
Focal plane shutter SLR
Leaf shutter SLR
- Bronica ETR
- Bronica ETR-C
- Bronica ETRS
- Bronica ETRSi
- Bronica SQ
- Bronica SQ-A
- Bronica SQ-Am
- Bronica SQ-Ai
- Bronica SQ-B
- Bronica GS1
Rangefinder
- Bronica RF645
Links
- Summary of Bronica Models
- [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ PDF instruction manuals (at bottom of page, under Professional) of many Bronica cameras and some system booklets showing available lenses and viewfinders available.
