Difference between revisions of "Bronica"
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| − | Bronica cameras first appeared in 1958, when its founder, Zenzaburo Yoshino, introduced a camera of his own design, the [[Bronica 6×6 focal plane|Bronica Z]], at the Philadelphia Camera Show. Because | + | Bronica cameras first appeared in 1958, when its founder, Zenzaburo Yoshino, introduced a camera of his own design, the [[Bronica 6×6 focal plane|Bronica Z]], at the Philadelphia Camera Show. Because Yoshino 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]] (Nippon Kōgaku 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. | 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. | ||
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The [[Bronica GS-1]] was discontinued in 2002, and the last Bronica SLR cameras ([[Bronica SQ|SQ]], [[Bronica ETR|ETR]]) were discontinued in October 2004. The last Bronica camera, the [[Bronica RF645|RF645]], was dropped in October 2005. Secondhand Bronica cameras are still widely used by professional and serious amateur photographers, in no small part due to the superior image quality of medium format film over smaller film and digital sensor formats. | The [[Bronica GS-1]] was discontinued in 2002, and the last Bronica SLR cameras ([[Bronica SQ|SQ]], [[Bronica ETR|ETR]]) were discontinued in October 2004. The last Bronica camera, the [[Bronica RF645|RF645]], was dropped in October 2005. Secondhand Bronica cameras are still widely used by professional and serious amateur photographers, in no small part due to the superior image quality of medium format film over smaller film and digital sensor formats. | ||
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== Focal plane shutter SLR (6×6) == | == Focal plane shutter SLR (6×6) == | ||
Revision as of 13:49, 18 January 2010
Bronica or Zenza Bronica (ゼンザブロニカ; Zenza buronika) 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.
Contents
History
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| ETR with mighty f2.8 75mm lens image by Lee Coates Images (Image rights) |
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 Show. Because Yoshino 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 (Nippon Kōgaku 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 and new models of the Bronica SLR, in different rollfilm formats. A rangefinder model, the RF645 in 4.5×6cm format, was also introduced in 2000. Tamron, a large Japanese lens manufacturer and a supplier of lens elements, eventually acquired Zenza Bronica Ltd. Zenzaburo Yoshino died in 1988.
The Bronica GS-1 was discontinued in 2002, and the last Bronica SLR cameras (SQ, ETR) were discontinued in October 2004. The last Bronica camera, the RF645, was dropped in October 2005. Secondhand Bronica cameras are still widely used by professional and serious amateur photographers, in no small part due to the superior image quality of medium format film over smaller film and digital sensor formats.
Focal plane shutter SLR (6×6)
Leaf shutter SLR
4.5×6
6×6
6×7
Rangefinder (4.5×6)
Links
In English:
- Bronica Users Group (BUG) at the Yahoo Groups site
- Summary of Bronica Models
- Tamron statement of termination of Bronica camera business and seven years of support (October 2005).
- PDF instruction manuals of many Bronica cameras, booklets and accessories: showing available lenses and viewfinders available.
- George Masters' review of the Bronica RF645 and 100mm lens
- Bronica Classic Medium Format Cameras
In Japanese:
- Bronica page in the museum section of the Tamron official website
In French:
- Cameras at www.collection-appareils.fr
