Difference between revisions of "Bronica GS-1"
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It is easy to use the camera both in vertical and horizontal orientation with one of the eye level finders. However, it is difficult to shoot vertical pictures with the waist level finder. Bronica had the same design challenge with waist level horizontal shots for the ETR, and used the same patented (No. 950970) solution for the GS-1, a rotary prism viewfinder, with both average and spot meterng<ref>PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 81</ref>. | It is easy to use the camera both in vertical and horizontal orientation with one of the eye level finders. However, it is difficult to shoot vertical pictures with the waist level finder. Bronica had the same design challenge with waist level horizontal shots for the ETR, and used the same patented (No. 950970) solution for the GS-1, a rotary prism viewfinder, with both average and spot meterng<ref>PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 81</ref>. | ||
| − | Using an AE-finder in aperture priority mode, allows the camera system to set the shutter using 1/8 steps, while manual | + | Using an AE-finder in aperture priority mode, allows the camera system to set the shutter using 1/8 steps, while the manual shutter speed dial only has full steps<ref>PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 80</ref>. By default the camera came with a plain matte focusing screen. |
==Backs== | ==Backs== | ||
Revision as of 19:01, 27 December 2016
Introduced in 1983, the Bronica GS-1 in 6×7 cm format was the largest SLR produced by the company. It is a completely modular camera, with several optional focusing prisms and viewfinders (with and without exposure metering), lenses, and film backs. It was discontinued in 2002.
Development
In developing the camera, Bronica paid particular attention to implementing a LED display, using a Seiko #0 electronic shutter with digital control, an upgraded PG-series of lenses to overcome the small aperture of the #0 shutter, TTL-flash, multi-format backs and rejecting the use of a revolving back to reduce size and weight, and make it a mobile camera.
During the design phase a #1 shutter with a larger 30mm aperture was considered. However, Bronica found that the helicoid diametre would have become 100mm or more, countering the purpose of a (relatively) small and light weight system, and in addition the shutter speed would be limited to 1/400 (not 1/500 as with #0 shutters). The choice of a #0 shutter was then made even if it restricted the possibility of large aperture lenses, especially of longer focal lengths. In practice the design of the GS-1 made it possible to differentiate the GS-1 from its main competitors, the heavy Mamiya RZ and Mamiya RB 6x7-cameras with rotating backs and Seiko #1 shutters.
Designing the new PG-lenses for the small shutter aperture, Bronica emphasized correction of aberrations, reducing vignetting and a unified color balance for the whole series, with particular attention paid to distortion, aberrations, field curvature and chromatic aberration for the wide angle lenses.[1]
Body
The GS-1 body is wider than the SQ-A, due to the larger film format, however the depth and height are about the same. The body, back base and mount are made of a die cast light alloy. The mount is stainless steel, while the front, left and right body covers are made of reinforced plastic. The body weighs 630g.[2]
Lenses
|
| Lens block chart image by PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 82 (Image rights) |
A lens- or leaf-shutter camera, the GS-1 will synchronize flash at all available shutter speeds. Lenses are designated 'PG', with available focal lengths of 50, 65, 80, 100, 110, 150, 200, 250, 500 mm, and two teleconverters (1.4× and 2×). At the introduction of the camera, only the 50, 65, 100, 150, 200 and 250mm lenses were available, with a 110mm, 350mm (never released) and 500mm being announced[3]. The 80mm was the last of the GS-1 lenses, introduced in 1997, and is difficult to find.
All lenses have electronic Seiko #0 shutters, which communicate with the body. The shutter dial and digitized control circuit is on the body.
The lenses have comparable or better close focusing distances than Hasselblad or Pentax 6x7 lenses, but less than bellows focusing cameras, such as the Mamiya RZ67. Extension tubes of 18mm and 36mm are available for specialized close focus photography, and the 110mm macro with 36mm extension tube goes to 1:1.
While the lens flange is different from the SQ-mount, the focal flange distance of 85mm is the same[4]. Fotodiox makes adapters for mounting PG-lenses on Mamiya M645, Pentax 645, Nikon F, Canon EF, Pentax K and Sony Alpha mounts.
| Lens | Lens construction | Filter diameter | Overall length | Diameter | Minimum focusing distance | Shutter | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenzanon-PG 50mm F4.5 | 11 elements in 8 groups | 95mm | 74mm | 98mm | 0.5m | Seiko #0 | 790g |
| Zenzanon-PG 65mm F4 | 9 elements in 7 groups | 72mm | 71mm | 87mm | 0.6m | Seiko #0 | 715g |
| Zenzanon-PG 80mm F3.5 | 8 elements in 6 groups | 72mm | 71.5mm | 87mm | 0.55m | Seiko #0 | 765g |
| Zenzanon-PG 100mm F3.5 | 6 elements in 4 groups | 72mm | 67.5mm | 87mm | 0.75m | Seiko #0 | 630g |
| Zenzanon-PG 110mm F4 | 6 elements in 4 groups | 72mm | 78.5mm | 87mm | 0.66m | Seiko #0 | 725g |
| Zenzanon-PG 150mm F4 | 5 elements in 5 groups | 72mm | 62mm | 87mm | 1.5m | Seiko #0 | 650g |
| Zenzanon-PG 200mm F4.5 | 6 elements in 5 groups | 82mm | 97.5mm | 87mm | 2m | Seiko #0 | 970g |
| Zenzanon-PG 250mm F5.6 | 6 elements in 5 groups | 82mm | 142mm | 87mm | 3m | Seiko #0 | 1200g |
| Zenzanon-PG 500mm F8 | 11 elements in 10 groups | 122mm | 307.5mm | 87mm | 8m | Seiko #0 | 3760g |
Viewfinders and focusing screens
The GS-1 had a waist level, prism, AE-prism and rotary AE-prism viewfinders. The field of view ratio for all viewfinders is 94%. The waist level finder has a 4.3X magnification. The basic prism finder was based on the ETR-finder, and has a magnification of 0.87 with the 100mm lens at infinity and a 1.5 diopter. It weighs 425 g[5].
It is easy to use the camera both in vertical and horizontal orientation with one of the eye level finders. However, it is difficult to shoot vertical pictures with the waist level finder. Bronica had the same design challenge with waist level horizontal shots for the ETR, and used the same patented (No. 950970) solution for the GS-1, a rotary prism viewfinder, with both average and spot meterng[6].
Using an AE-finder in aperture priority mode, allows the camera system to set the shutter using 1/8 steps, while the manual shutter speed dial only has full steps[7]. By default the camera came with a plain matte focusing screen.
Backs
With the appropriate back, the camera will shoot a wide range of film sizes, including 6×4.5, 6×6, 6×7 cm, and Polaroid. The 6x4.5, 6×6 and 6×7 cm formats could be obtained in either 120 or 220 roll length. Unlike some other Bronicas the GS-1 never had backs for 35mm film, even though 24x69mm and 24x36mm backs were announced with the system[8]. The 6x7 back is landscape and the 645 back is vertical unless the camera is rotated.
Accessories
The GS-1 was also available with a dedicated G-1 speedlight flash and manually operated speed grip. The G-1 speedlight with the speed grip made the GS-1 the only 6x7 with TTL flash capability. According to some sources, the Sunpak MX-2D TTL module designed for older Minolta cameras also can be used with full TTL support on the Bronica GS-1.[9].
Notes
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 77-82
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 77-78
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 83
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 80
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 80-81
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 81
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 80
- ↑ PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 83
- ↑ Photo.net post regarding Adorama comment
Links
- Bronica Users Group (BUG) at the Yahoo Groups site
- GS-1 information from the medfmt.8k.com website (archived copy from the Internet Archive, from March 2011; mostly an archive of even older bulletin board-based discussion, with a few pictures).
