Bronica ETRS 645 Medium Format

Rob MacKillop

Rob MacKillop

Edinburgh Correspondent
This one has quite a bash on the outside of the lens, but it got me thinking about exploring medium format photography.

Bronica ETRS 645 Medium Format Camera Kit WIth Grip & Finder + Free UK Postage | eBay

So, if I, a complete beginner in this area, were to buy something like this camera...

What would I need to know in order not to feel I've wasted my money?
What film is needed, and where to buy it?
Would I have to develop it myself?
And what type of shots might one expect from such a box?
Any other equipment needed?
 
The film is 120, not as available as 35mm but still fairly easy to get hold of from a half decent camera shop or online
you will need a pro developers to have it processed as boots and the like don't do it.
I do it my self or send it to Joan - if you send it to Joan she can print or assuming you will want to digitally pp scan it for you
if you want to scan it your self you will need a medium format scanner (such as Epson v500)

The bronica is a 645 ... That means you get 6x4.5 cm negs
some cameras are 6x6 (hasselblad for eg)
Then there are 6x7, 6x8, 6x9 as more common sizes... then you get crazy 6x12 cameras ... Etc

You will get good quality photos if you use it right ... Loads of detail really nice smooth out of focus areas even from the least expensive of kit!
The way you shoot a bronie or similar is a lot different to your x100 for eg. You are forces to think more both for the reasons of cost and the way handling the camera makes you feel! You wait til you look through the viewfinder, it will blow your mind if you are used to that x100's (relative) key hole!!

The camera you are looking at is a "system" camera ... So lens, body, back and viewfinder are all interchangeable!
I don't know bronies too well, but I know there are a few different models ... It would be worth doing some research before choosing a model, or indeed system!
My main reason for choosing hasselblad was the 6x6 format ... I have since got a Fuji 645 ...

Another thing to take into account is focal length and how it differs on different formats ... That can be a bit of a mine field! Look for 75-90ish mm for a "normal" fov on a mf camera ...

Sorry or my slightly stream of conciousness answer ... Pete will no doubt pop up with a much more concidered answer ;)
 
Right, Hamish has answered most of your questions and that just leaves the big one; which system and what format! Bronica are perfectly capable cameras with electronic shutters in the lenses and, like many medium format cameras, are system cameras although not quite with the same flexibility of say Hasselblad and Mamiya. Rather unfairly I always think of Bronica as the 'amateur' MF system but many professionals used them but that was probably due to them being the most 'affordable'. As Hamish pointed out this is a 645 camera and is actually my least favourite format. As you may have noticed I have a preference for square (ie 6x6) but you get less shots from a roll: 12 vs 16. My main MF system (aside from the range-finders - http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/2410-m-other-family-mamiya-7ii.html, http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/7117-fuji-gf670-professional.html - and the twin-lens reflex, Mamiya C3 - http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/2114-mamiya-c3.html) is the Hasselblad V system (square and 645 - you switch by changing backs) although I do have an H1/H2 which is 645 only. Although I have a couple of film backs, it is almost only used with my PhaseOne P45 back. The lenses are only interchangeable via an adapter and the H system is AF whereas the V is manual focus. If I were starting again I would be very tempted by the Mamiya RB/RZ family. They are pretty hefty beasts though, but superb and for some reason absolute bargains at the moment. For example Ffordes have a RZ67 complete for £299 (Pro Complete by Mamiya - Ffordes Photographic). Again, these are system cameras with fabulous build quality and a vast range of components. Their lenses are extremely good. If I didn't have so much Hasselblad gear I would seriously be out buying stuff.

P7191051.jpg



I guess it all comes down to budget. The ETRS on Ebay is certainly keenly priced. You can take the prism off to shoot waist-level (my preferred approach, by Hamish feels more comfortable with the reflex approach) and even add the proper viewing 'hood' - here's a bargain for example (CHEAP....ZENZA BRONICA ETR WAIST LEVEL FINDER ?....TAKE A LOOK | eBay they normally sell for about £60. It's a shame about the dented rim to the lens but I'm certain it will be fine in terms of function etc. It just means you can't fit a hood / filter but I reckon careful application of a pair of pliers will sort it out!!

Sorry that this is a bit random but I hope it helps. There is also this that shows the anatomy of a MF camera although it is not that clear and I'll try and do an annotated version if that will help.
 
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I knew I could rely on you guys. Many thanks. Given me much to ponder over. I think being able to develop your own film would be a great boon here, so I'll think about that too. You never know...that Mamiya looks good, and not too expensive. But I also have my eyes on a Telecaster!
 
Yes, the Bronica has a system of lenses, as does Hasselblad and Mamiya. I don't know too much about Bronica and there isn't as much info as I'd expected on the Internet regards cross-compatibility between the models - I know there are problems with this. Hasselblad V systems are pretty well fully cross compatible (except for the F lenses which don't have a shutter and only work with the 2000 / 200 series cameras). With the Mamiya RZ, the shutter is electronic but you can use the mechanical RB lenses on the camera as well as the RZ lenses. There's a huge range and all are super. Another nice thing about the Mamiya (given that it isn't square) is that you can rotate the back to switch from landscape to portrait which is useful when you have the camera on a tripod. All of these cameras can be hand-held although they are heavy (especially the Mamiya) and there are various grips to facilitate this (as with the Bronica on eBay). I tend to use them on a tripod. For hand-held MF I use either the Mamiya 7II (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/2410-m-other-family-mamiya-7ii.html) or, as of the last week, the Fuji GF670 (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/7117-fuji-gf670-professional.html).
 
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Thanks for the offer, Hamish! I'm in two minds over accepting. What if I break it :confused: But it would be interesting to try out, as I have no idea how to use it or what to expect.
 
The blad would be the ideal choice to loan you as it is a system camera ..
But I've literally just put a roll of film in it ...
the Fuji GS645s would give you an idea of what to expect from 645 format I guess if that it any interest ...
its also a rangefinder so is very easy to use
I took these http://www.realphotographersforum.com/people-portraits/4265-hannah-connie-first-shot-gs645s.html
And these http://www.realphotographersforum.com/landscape-architecture/4436-mists.html
with it
It perhaps doesn't give quite the same feeling of slowing you down as a bigger system camera some how does though ...
up to you mate?
 
I hope we get to see a few photo's of your nice shiny new toy too...
 
Try stopping me :)

It's going to be a 'project' guitar. I'll be upgrading the pickups, electronics, etc. Might take a while to get the sound I'm after.
 
The Bronica ETR was one of my prime working systems. Since I was doing photojournalism in the sub-tropics at the time, the sun was overhead for a large part of the day, and fill-flash was essential. With leaf-shutters in all lenses, flash would synchronize at the highest shutter speeds. This was the primary reason for the purchase.

A Hasselblad would have done the same job, but they had a reputation for being a bit delicate outside of the studio. The Bronica was certainly rugged, and considerably lower in price. With a 6×6 Hasselblad format, one got 12 shots on a roll of 120 and 24 on a roll of 220, while a 645 did 16 and 32 respectively. Editors disliked square images, so the 645 could use the full format, and get more shots on a roll to boot.

Interchangeable backs meant that I could switch between emulsions as the day's assignments dictated. It also meant that I could load backs with the same emulsion if I were shooting say, a basketball game. Changing backs was much faster than loading backs. I would take advantage of breaks to reload. With the speed-grip, the camera handled much like a 35mm SLR, but yielded three times the image area. I was shooting for the world's most advanced web-offset press at the time, and the quality difference showed.
 
So, as mentioned above, here is my Telecaster guitar with upgraded pickups. I'm improvising here, and, especially in the second part, having a laugh. Very self indulgent, so don't feel you have to listen to the end.

Two contrasting blues styles...

[video=youtube_share;KJYZ222UlYM]http://youtu.be/KJYZ222UlYM[/video]
 
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