Difference between revisions of "Bronica ETR"
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== Chrome bodies and accessories == | == Chrome bodies and accessories == | ||
| − | Throughout the life of the ETR line Bronica kept producing chrome bodies and backs, starting with the line's introduction in 1976. They made chrome ETR and | + | Throughout the life of the ETR line Bronica kept producing chrome bodies and backs, starting with the line's introduction in 1976. They made chrome ETR and ETRS bodies and chrome 120, 220, and 70mm backs probably until 1981 when they switched from metal body panels to polycarbonate. Then in 1996 they produced the Limited Edition chrome ETR-Si body and matching chrome Ei 120 back. The original chrome ETR and ETRS bodies came with chrome winding cranks, while the 1996 Limited ETRSi came with a standard black crank. Also the ETR and ETRS backs had chrome shells/frames and chrome inserts, while the 1996 chrome 120 backs had a standard black painted shell with a chrome insert. |
You can view an ETR manual that shows the original chrome components of the system in [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/bronica_etr/bronica_etr.htm this page] at [http://www.butkus.org/ butkus.org]. | You can view an ETR manual that shows the original chrome components of the system in [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/bronica_etr/bronica_etr.htm this page] at [http://www.butkus.org/ butkus.org]. | ||
| − | There were never any chrome metal finders. | + | There were never any chrome metal finders, though most of the pre-1981 finders seem to have been black painted metal just like the standard black bodies. |
| − | To confuse buyers greatly however there was a later, silver colored polycarbonate (plastic) | + | To confuse buyers greatly however there was a later, silver colored polycarbonate (plastic) 40th Anniversary edition that did have it's own matching AE-III Finder and Speed Grip. This set uses grey instead of black leatherette. It is very pretty (and Bronica finally got rid of the typographic mishmash of the ETRSi line and used their great original type and logo from the 60s)-- but no part of it is metal chrome. |
| − | Original ETR and | + | Original ETR and ETRS chrome bodies, backs, and cranks all look good and work well together with the other standard black components and the 1996 chrome Special Edition. Raymond Bradlau's photos referenced above make a nice example of mixing the 1996 chrome ETRSi with the older components. |
| − | Finally one can replace the black plastic ME and MLU levers and the whole winder cover of the 1996 edition with metal chrome versions scavenged from any black metal paint ETR or earlly ETR-S parts bodies. | + | Finally, one can replace the black plastic ME and MLU levers and the whole winder cover of the 1996 edition with metal chrome versions scavenged from any black metal paint ETR or earlly ETR-S parts bodies. Doing so makes a thoroughly modern ETRSi body hark back to the looks of the legendary Bronica S and S2 series-- and more importantly gives you a very rugged, compact, modern medium format body. |
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Revision as of 03:15, 13 October 2006
A Bronica ETR-S.
The Bronica ETR is a series of 4.5×6 SLRs made by Bronica.
Contents
ETR series special editions
- 20th Anniversary ETRS (probably 1978 or 9): Matching body, 120 back, and AE-II finder in black painted metal with brown leather. See this page of Koh's Camera website.
- Safari ETRS (sometime between 1982 and 1988): a surprisingly complete color-coordinated system with ETRS body, 75mm lens, 120 E back, AE-II finder, waist-level finder, speed grip, professional lens hood, and system case in green (possibly painted) polycarbonate with tan leather and accents.
- “300,000 ETR Series Cameras Sold” ETR-Si (Chrome Limited Edition, 1996): Matching body and 120 back in silver metal chrome with fine-grained black leather. See this page, this page, and this page in Raymond Bradlau's pbase Camera gallery.
- 40th Anniversary ETRSi (probably 1998): Matching body, 75mm PE Lens, 120 Ei back, AE-III Finder, and Speed Grip all in silver-colored polycarbonate (plastic) with grey leatherette— even the lens barrel is polycarbonate.
Chrome bodies and accessories
Throughout the life of the ETR line Bronica kept producing chrome bodies and backs, starting with the line's introduction in 1976. They made chrome ETR and ETRS bodies and chrome 120, 220, and 70mm backs probably until 1981 when they switched from metal body panels to polycarbonate. Then in 1996 they produced the Limited Edition chrome ETR-Si body and matching chrome Ei 120 back. The original chrome ETR and ETRS bodies came with chrome winding cranks, while the 1996 Limited ETRSi came with a standard black crank. Also the ETR and ETRS backs had chrome shells/frames and chrome inserts, while the 1996 chrome 120 backs had a standard black painted shell with a chrome insert.
You can view an ETR manual that shows the original chrome components of the system in this page at butkus.org.
There were never any chrome metal finders, though most of the pre-1981 finders seem to have been black painted metal just like the standard black bodies.
To confuse buyers greatly however there was a later, silver colored polycarbonate (plastic) 40th Anniversary edition that did have it's own matching AE-III Finder and Speed Grip. This set uses grey instead of black leatherette. It is very pretty (and Bronica finally got rid of the typographic mishmash of the ETRSi line and used their great original type and logo from the 60s)-- but no part of it is metal chrome.
Original ETR and ETRS chrome bodies, backs, and cranks all look good and work well together with the other standard black components and the 1996 chrome Special Edition. Raymond Bradlau's photos referenced above make a nice example of mixing the 1996 chrome ETRSi with the older components.
Finally, one can replace the black plastic ME and MLU levers and the whole winder cover of the 1996 edition with metal chrome versions scavenged from any black metal paint ETR or earlly ETR-S parts bodies. Doing so makes a thoroughly modern ETRSi body hark back to the looks of the legendary Bronica S and S2 series-- and more importantly gives you a very rugged, compact, modern medium format body.
Links
General links
User manuals
- Bronica manuals at the Tamron official website, including the ETR-S and ETR-Si
- Bronica ETR manual and Bronica ETR-S / ETR-C manual at butkus.org
