The separate helicoid focussing was sheer brilliance and gave the early Bronnie's a big advantage. It meant that it was extremely easy for third party manufacturers to make lenses for the system. Within 10 years of release there were around 30 lenses from ultra wide angle to 1000mm made by several manufacturers, although Nikon was the official lens supplier. It also made it easy for photographers to 'hack' together lenses out of their old lenses to fit the Bronnie and photographers loved this. This made the Bronnie the leading 6x6 brand by the end of the '60's. It was only the Mamiya RB67 and M645 that put an end to their dominance. Far from being a mere Hasselblad 'copy' these cameras were once market leaders well loved by photographers.
I have owned one since 1969. The flash syncs at 1/40 on the X Sync for electronic flash. I have the S2A (two of them). I shut along side a friend with his Hasseblad and the only way we could tell our negs apart in the darkroom was the Hassey of his had a uneven spacing between neg frames. the Nikkor lens are the best and the camera has served me well.
I used one of these for years!! Bought mine in 1973 and I still have it. It was an awesome camera and I loved it! Today, I'm shooting a Sony a7III... Wow, how things have changed! Lol
Thank ever so much, I shoot a 5d Mk IV digital and a 1eos 1V HS 35 mm. I just purchased a Bronica Zenza and had a little figured out but was still a bit lost. This helped tremendously! Extremely well-oriented video.
You have the best most common sense video of all. Nobody in any video but yours say to push the dark slide in order to get the back off. I struggled a long time with it before I watched your video. I had a Mamyia 654 but forgot how to take backs off. Beautiful presentation. Its 2020 and I am shooting film again
Great first impressions review. Ok I know we are 7 years on now but with my research into the s2a I have found out that there is 2 different 120 backs the 6x6 and a 6x4.5. I am currently looking at a kit with 3 lenses the 2 different backs and other accessories, hopefully the seller will not sell it before Christmas because that could be my late Christmas present to myself lol.
nice video, the reason for the fast shutter speed is it's a FOCAL plane shutter, unlike the LEAF shutter in the 'blad. an IMPORTANT safety measure with these is: SET the 12/24 the INSTANT the film goes in!!! the "main" crank on the camera body has FULL control of film motion (unlike the 'blad in which there is a separate 'wind off' crank(on the magazine) for loading as well.) this means the instant the film counter hits 12 or 24 the winding knob goes into "wind off" mode, which is irreversible {until the film cartridge is dismounted from the magazine} and if 220 film is in, and it's set to 12, you have just wasted the last 12 shots!!!, BUT you can change this up UNTIL shot 11 on the counter. the reason it's irreversible is the film wind is FIRST, then the shutter is cocked, NOT like the Hasselblad and most other cameras, 35 mm or otherwise; where the shutter & film are moved simultaneously [ mamiya 6*7, press and others are independently controlled and manually, so No issue here].
These early Bronicas are notorious for their weak film transports and difficulty to get repaired. The lenses are great, so with some care to not physically abuse, it can be a great medium format user.
You keep taking the slide in and out. You need to keep it out to advance the film and cock the shutter for the next shot. Only put it in if you want to change backs. It is 2018 and I've used my Bronica S since it was bought in Japan in 1963.
Great review Brian,i have the SQAi but i have to say that the S2 is a better looking camera good luck with your shooting of it. PS i like your relaxed style videos keep them coming;-)
Great review! I was thinking of getting a Mamiya 645 till I saw this :-) Very nice camera and 6x6. Do you have any pictures taken with that lens? Sincerely Lars
I enjoyed this review very much. Your comments about the noises the camera makes made me laugh. They're so true. Using this camera is indeed very much like firing a .357 magnum. It's big, loud, has a bit of a kickback. But the very first time I used mine, I got some beautiful, high quality images. I might send mine out for a professional CLA, based on what I've seen so far, it's worth every penny.
Hasselbad copy? I've been a collector and user of Bronica cameras for decades and I'll tell you first hand Bronica is better than the jamming over priced Hasselbad camera you call perfect. I have Bronicas from the 196o's that will put your perfect Hasselbad to shame with picture quality and of course overall camera durability. You should do a video of 36 ways to jam a Hasselblad.....
good point you made, a very much cheaper alternate to the Hasselblad 2000 f c/w cameras, as this is a focal plane shutter ( curtain shutter) too, just like the blad and you get the Nikon lens quality NOT Zeiss like the blad, but good enough esp. for the price! because as this is 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" (6 x 6 cm for the majority of us, not in the USA or Europe) and as we all know, the less you enlarge a negative, the less grain and noise you get and the better the reproduction. There is also the fact that the shutter can go to 1/1000th of a second, this speed is a good thing, as we can use the higher f stops these lenses have, in strong light outdoors getting the d.o.f. we want, not what the exposure meter is limiting us to.
Looks a lot like a Hasselblad, works a bit like a Hasselblad. Maybe a cheaper alternative to a Hasselblad? It doesn't have to be a Ferrari to be a sportscar.
You did a size comparison with a 645? A size comparison to the Hasselblad is more appropriate. Btw, the shutter is not faster than a focal plane Hasselblad. The 1600F goes to 1/1600s.
Hi there great video, I am new to medium format and would love to give it a go, I do Landscape photography and long exposures, so will my Lee filters go on the lens do you think I have the foundation kit with lee also do you need a cable release for this camera and if so what is the name of the camera release cable specific to this camera? I currently own a Canon 5Ds and 5D mkiii and love those digital cameras but want to go back to film and expand my knowledge. Would love to get some advise on landscape photography with this camera and what lens? I know I need a wide angle lens but a 17mm wide angle lens for a full frame camera or 35mm equivalent is 17mm so what is a 40mm on a medium format camera? would that be around 24mm or something like that? Lots of questions I know and do apologise but I am a newbie with medium format
I was given a camera like this. It has three lenses but I can't get the body cap off! Help... I know this has been up a long time so I hope someone reads my message. Thank you!
Like most of old pieces, depends on the current states, the quality of results can change a lot between the same model. On eBay a lot of them have différents haze and fungus. So contrary to the digital cameras , the most interesting part with those analog cameras is the mechanism witch is well demonstrated on this review.
Yes, sorry it is not easy to explain. My camera can not shot (or better can not roll the curtain) if the back is mounted without film. I can roll the curtain and shot without the back, like in the video. However, in the meantime I loaded the film and the camera seems to work properly. Thanks you M.
all you need is a "test roll" of film, OR on the EC version use the switch on the back ( the A or D switch)- set to D -guess it means Disconnected film transport {or Double exposure mode?}, A is ACTIVE?, or normal mode. Also this could be a safety feature ( remember the titanium shutter of the Hasselblad 2000 series?) so as to stop your greasy fingers touching the shutter or the "safety curtain" behind the mirror box.
the bronica S 2 \ S 2 A /E C cameras use 1/60th of a second shutter speed for flash sync. and seems not a great idea if you are using flash as the only source of light. you are better off using the other hasselblads with a leaf shutter, as this is practically a better choice for studio applications, or has seemed to be from the past. what I see as the use for these cameras, is as an "outdoor" and 35 mm camera substitute/ companion camera which offers the same outdoor freedoms as the 35 mm equivalent option, but with a far better image quality than it's 35 mm counterparts, and with the ability to change film stock on the fly, and not be stuck with 200 ASA or b&w film for the whole trip.
that's not a giant - you need to put the focusing unit and the 500 mm lens on, NOW that looks like a GIANT BAZOOKA, ~ 2 ft long!! you need to use the tripod ring on this focus unit, or hold it over your arm!
The separate helicoid focussing was sheer brilliance and gave the early Bronnie's a big advantage. It meant that it was extremely easy for third party manufacturers to make lenses for the system. Within 10 years of release there were around 30 lenses from ultra wide angle to 1000mm made by several manufacturers, although Nikon was the official lens supplier. It also made it easy for photographers to 'hack' together lenses out of their old lenses to fit the Bronnie and photographers loved this. This made the Bronnie the leading 6x6 brand by the end of the '60's. It was only the Mamiya RB67 and M645 that put an end to their dominance. Far from being a mere Hasselblad 'copy' these cameras were once market leaders well loved by photographers.
Amazing! Any brands or key words to search to find compatible lenses?
I have owned one since 1969. The flash syncs at 1/40 on the X Sync for electronic flash. I have the S2A (two of them). I shut along side a friend with his Hasseblad and the only way we could tell our negs apart in the darkroom was the Hassey of his had a uneven spacing between neg frames. the Nikkor lens are the best and the camera has served me well.
I'm putting together my LF rig now. I have a Burke & James 4x5. Can't wait to get started with it!
Thanks for watching!
I used one of these for years!! Bought mine in 1973 and I still have it. It was an awesome camera and I loved it! Today, I'm shooting a Sony a7III... Wow, how things have changed! Lol
Thank ever so much, I shoot a 5d Mk IV digital and a 1eos 1V HS 35 mm. I just purchased a Bronica Zenza and had a little figured out but was still a bit lost. This helped tremendously! Extremely well-oriented video.
Bought this yesterday. Great video. Thanks!!
if I had to choose between this camera or my Hasselblad, my Hasselblad would collect dust
You have the best most common sense video of all. Nobody in any video but yours say to push the dark slide in order to get the back off. I struggled a long time with it before I watched your video. I had a Mamyia 654 but forgot how to take backs off. Beautiful presentation. Its 2020 and I am shooting film again
Great first impressions review. Ok I know we are 7 years on now but with my research into the s2a I have found out that there is 2 different 120 backs the 6x6 and a 6x4.5. I am currently looking at a kit with 3 lenses the 2 different backs and other accessories, hopefully the seller will not sell it before Christmas because that could be my late Christmas present to myself lol.
his name was Zenzaburō Yoshino
nice video, the reason for the fast shutter speed is it's a FOCAL plane shutter, unlike the LEAF shutter in the 'blad.
an IMPORTANT safety measure with these is: SET the 12/24 the INSTANT the film goes in!!! the "main" crank on the camera body has FULL control of film motion (unlike the 'blad in which there is a separate 'wind off' crank(on the magazine) for loading as well.) this means the instant the film counter hits 12 or 24 the winding knob goes into "wind off" mode, which is irreversible {until the film cartridge is dismounted from the magazine} and if 220 film is in, and it's set to 12, you have just wasted the last 12 shots!!!,
BUT you can change this up UNTIL shot 11 on the counter.
the reason it's irreversible is the film wind is FIRST, then the shutter is cocked, NOT like the Hasselblad and most other cameras, 35 mm or otherwise; where the shutter & film are moved simultaneously [ mamiya 6*7, press and others are independently controlled and manually, so No issue here].
These early Bronicas are notorious for their weak film transports and difficulty to get repaired. The lenses are great, so with some care to not physically abuse, it can be a great medium format user.
You keep taking the slide in and out. You need to keep it out to advance the film and cock the shutter for the next shot. Only put it in if you want to change backs. It is 2018 and I've used my Bronica S since it was bought in Japan in 1963.
Thanks liked the video so much, I bought an S2A... really looking forward to putting some film through it.
Great review Brian,i have the SQAi but i have to say that the S2 is a better looking camera
good luck with your shooting of it.
PS i like your relaxed style videos keep them coming;-)
haha great and fun review ! love this type of casual work!
Great review!
I was thinking of getting a Mamiya 645 till I saw this :-)
Very nice camera and 6x6.
Do you have any pictures taken with that lens?
Sincerely
Lars
I like the presentation style. Very cool.
As far as I know this Bronica has a focal plane shutter...hence the 1000 shutter speed.
Later models had in lens leaf shutter with max speed of 500.
I enjoyed this review very much. Your comments about the noises the camera makes made me laugh. They're so true. Using this camera is indeed very much like firing a .357 magnum. It's big, loud, has a bit of a kickback. But the very first time I used mine, I got some beautiful, high quality images. I might send mine out for a professional CLA, based on what I've seen so far, it's worth every penny.
I had the Bronica EC with the Zenzenon 80mm 2.4 and the 50mm F4 Nikkor lens.
The Nikkor was an excellent lens.
Some years on, how was this to shoot in the end? Did you keep it? :)
I'm considering finally getting into medium format!
I made a typo I meant to ask him if you shoots Large format besides medium format
Hi my fried. Would you say this one is ligther than a RB67? I mean, for hikings and stuff. Tks for the video anyways!
love this camera so much I have 4 of them.....by the way do shoot large format?
MY shutter curtain doesn’t work on the Bronica Zenza C... can’t take a picture
Guess that type od shutter (central one) syncs at all speeds available.
what about the kiev 88??? is it any good??? prices on e-bay are much higher than the bronicas
Hasselbad copy? I've been a collector and user of Bronica cameras for decades and I'll tell you first hand Bronica is better than the jamming over priced Hasselbad camera you call perfect. I have Bronicas from the 196o's that will put your perfect Hasselbad to shame with picture quality and of course overall camera durability. You should do a video of 36 ways to jam a Hasselblad.....
Lol cant afford a hassy so gets deffencive....
Hasselblad is piece of selfbreaking sht.
Hahaha i owned both and no way can a Bronica compare to a Hasselblad haha u a funny man...
In lenses not bodies.
hasselblad "inspired" should be the better term
A question. If the film is not loaded, is it possible to shot keeping the black film back attached to the camera body?
Is there a mirror up option on this camera?
Bronica Zenza S2 is a Tank? Then, what Mamiya RB67 is? Land Cruiser?
good point you made, a very much cheaper alternate to the Hasselblad 2000 f c/w cameras, as this is a focal plane shutter ( curtain shutter) too, just like the blad and you get the Nikon lens quality NOT Zeiss like the blad, but good enough esp. for the price! because as this is
2 1/4" x 2 1/4" (6 x 6 cm for the majority of us, not in the USA or Europe) and as we all know, the less you enlarge a negative, the less grain and noise you get and the better the reproduction. There is also the fact that the shutter can go to 1/1000th of a second, this speed is a good thing, as we can use the higher f stops these lenses have, in strong light outdoors getting the d.o.f. we want, not what the exposure meter is limiting us to.
Nice review, thanks for the handy information! :)
You have four and you don't know what film standard they use?
why does *every* reviewer on youtube assume that all medium format cameras are substitute for a hasselblad?
Looks a lot like a Hasselblad, works a bit like a Hasselblad. Maybe a cheaper alternative to a Hasselblad? It doesn't have to be a Ferrari to be a sportscar.
@@brianjacobs8755 I miss your videos a lot! I was hoping you just forgot your account password and gave up.
You did a size comparison with a 645? A size comparison to the Hasselblad is more appropriate. Btw, the shutter is not faster than a focal plane Hasselblad. The 1600F goes to 1/1600s.
Thank you
hi there just wondering can i use this camera with my bowens studio flash units
Hi there great video, I am new to medium format and would love to give it a go, I do Landscape photography and long exposures, so will my Lee filters go on the lens do you think I have the foundation kit with lee also do you need a cable release for this camera and if so what is the name of the camera release cable specific to this camera? I currently own a Canon 5Ds and 5D mkiii and love those digital cameras but want to go back to film and expand my knowledge. Would love to get some advise on landscape photography with this camera and what lens? I know I need a wide angle lens but a 17mm wide angle lens for a full frame camera or 35mm equivalent is 17mm so what is a 40mm on a medium format camera? would that be around 24mm or something like that? Lots of questions I know and do apologise but I am a newbie with medium format
What song is the intro?
Please help just purchase this at an antique shot and not working
I was given a camera like this. It has three lenses but I can't get the body cap off! Help... I know this has been up a long time so I hope someone reads my message. Thank you!
Says both Zanza and Zenza on the same camera. Slight translation problem.
How can you review a camera before you run a couple rolls of film through it??? And which is it, f8....f2.8...? C’mon.....
Like most of old pieces, depends on the current states, the quality of results can change a lot between the same model. On eBay a lot of them have différents haze and fungus. So contrary to the digital cameras , the most interesting part with those analog cameras is the mechanism witch is well demonstrated on this review.
my name is bronica :)
just as pretty as the camera
Are you Jamaican?
No they're medium format film cameras.
Yes, sorry it is not easy to explain.
My camera can not shot (or better can not roll the curtain) if the back is mounted without film.
I can roll the curtain and shot without the back, like in the video.
However, in the meantime I loaded the film and the camera seems to work properly.
Thanks you
M.
all you need is a "test roll" of film, OR on the EC version use the switch on the back ( the A or D switch)- set to D -guess it means Disconnected film transport {or Double exposure mode?}, A is ACTIVE?, or normal mode.
Also this could be a safety feature ( remember the titanium shutter of the Hasselblad 2000 series?) so as to stop your greasy fingers touching the shutter or the "safety curtain" behind the mirror box.
the bronica S 2 \ S 2 A /E C cameras use 1/60th of a second shutter speed for flash sync. and seems not a great idea if you are using flash as the only source of light.
you are better off using the other hasselblads with a leaf shutter, as this is practically a better choice for studio applications, or has seemed to be from the past.
what I see as the use for these cameras, is as an "outdoor" and 35 mm camera substitute/ companion camera which offers the same outdoor freedoms as the 35 mm equivalent option, but with a far better image quality than it's 35 mm counterparts, and with the ability to change film stock on the fly, and not be stuck with 200 ASA or b&w film for the whole trip.
that's not a giant - you need to put the focusing unit and the 500 mm lens on, NOW that looks like a GIANT BAZOOKA, ~ 2 ft long!! you need to use the tripod ring on this focus unit, or hold it over your arm!
Why putting out a review if every third sentence you say is “I’m not an expert on this, I don’t know”?
Not really a copy. Total new design.