Bronica 6×6 focal plane
The Bronica S2 was released in 1965 as the successor to 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.
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. Because all of the camera functions are fully mechanical, no batteries are needed to operate it.
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.
Features
Type: 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 (6cm x 6cm) Single lens reflex camera
Film: 120 roll film, 12 exposures and 220 roll film, 24 exposures
Finder: Fresnel lens and large magnifier
Viewfinder hood: interchangeable with pentaprism finder or magnifying hood
Focusing: Helicoid type, stroke 14mm, rotating angle of focusing ring 250 degrees
Distance Scale: for 75mm, 50mm, 135mm, and 200mm lenses
Mirror: flip down, instant return, automatic mirror system
Diaphragm: Fully automatic diaphragm - 75mm, 0mm, 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, 1/500, 1/1000 and 'X' (1/40).
Film winding: winding crank or knob.
Dimensions: 100mm x 100mm x 140mm
Weight: 1.790 kg
Links
- The Classic Camera
- Medium Format Photography Megasite
- Bill Barton's S2 Sales Brochure Online
- Bronica Trivia
