I hope I have influenced readers for the good, who have taken their first
plunge into Medium Format with a good used Bronica S2-A, S2 or C.
Below I have listed some thoughts relative to the subject of these cameras-
1- They are relatively inexpensive for the features and precision quality
they deliver.
2- They have limitless expansion possibilities.
3- High quality Nikkor and other optics.
4- Rugged construction - still requiring treating cameras properly. I have
used these for over 20 years and have never stripped a wind gear on any of
the 3 above listed models. I do not abuse equipment.
5- A solid piece of equipment that feels right in the hands. I suggest
using the camera with the original Waist Level Finder with the magnifier
in place most of the time. However, without the magnifier you can hold the
camera upside down over your head to shoot over crowds, point it out the
window of a car or cab and place it on the floor for low angle shots. I
advise getting the vinyl heavy duty neckstrap for the model EC, which will
fit all of these earlier cameras. Avoid the leather eveready case and
carry the camera in a small shoulder gadget bag with meter, extra film,
lenses etc.
6- Buy a second film insert and you can preload it and keep shooting
rapidly without needing extra backs. How many people actually change film
in mid roll? Except for the occasional use of the Polaroid back, the
Bronica C is a fine camera for use and is stronger in many ways than the
S2-A with no interchangeable back linkages to present problems. The C is a
strong one unit construction camera, which has multiple exposure provision
and the ability to easily wind and click the shutter without film to
exercise the shutter, which should be done periodically. The S2-A and such
requires taking the back off the camera to release the shutter and is not
as easy to hold when firing as a C. Some may even drop their cameras doing
such.
7- Be sure to have your finder foam replaced and your viewing screen
properly calibrated for infinity focus. (See my article on this). I think
this problem went back as far as even when some of these cameras were new.
It is their one weak link... but easily correctable. I think this is why
some photographers got less than crisp results with these cameras and some
photography magazine lens tests on the Nikkor optics were less than
superb. It had nothing to do with the lenses only the finder alignment.
8- Don't be afraid of 400 speed film - some color negative film (like
Fuji) today are as sharp and grainless at ISO 400 as earlier 100 speed
films. With the faster films you can shoot in low light levels and shoot
your exterior shots hand held at 1/250th and 1/500th eliminating any
possible hand held vibration ruining picture sharpness.
9- Try Black and White - Ilford XP-2 and Kodak T400CN - both are C41
process and great quality.
10- Don't compare these cameras to Camera H, P, M etc. In many ways these
Bronica cameras are better than all of them. In many ways the other
cameras are better than the old Bronica cameras..... if you want to pay
more than 10 times the price!!
11- Don't be scared about the slow flash sync speed of 1/40th second. The
flash duration 1/1000th or 1/5000th second makes the exposure. Be sure to
set your speed dial to "X" and not a numerical speed for electronic flash.
Just shoot the flash pictures and don't worry about what anybody claims
about leaf shutters and flash sync. Most of that is B.S. - except
synchro-sunlight. I have shot electronic flash with focal plane shutter
cameras at slow sync. speeds of 1/25th second and such for over 25 years
and have never seen a ghost image. Of course I am not shooting Basketball
games under bright lights. But, who is? I would think those games could
be shot without flash and with fast lenses and high speed film. For
closeup flash pictures, just buy a cheap flat flash bracket and I suggest
the $19.95 Vivitar 1900 flash - you will be amazed what you can shoot with
that flash. Most effective at 3-10 feet .. but can be used further away.
It is very small and light. For extreme versatility I advise the classic
Vivitar 283 flash plus bounce card and its adapter holder. You can do
incredible work with this studio in a small case/flash.
12- Read about lens hacking/adapting odd lenses to Bronica. I just adapted
a $15 Kodak 161MM f4.5 enlarging lens to Bronica. I have been taking great
flash portaits with it and the people in the photos stand out sharp with
the backgrounds blurred out at f5.6 to f8.
13- Do your own thinking about these cameras and don't let anybody tear
them down or diminish you for using them.
14- If repairs or clean-lube-adjust is needed I have had great results
with Ken Ruth-Photography on Bald Mountain and Frank Marshman-Camera Wiz.
They both advertise in the back of Shutterbug magazine. Don't trust your
camera to a repair jockey jack of all trades. If he is not a specialist
with these cameras.... stay away!
15- Carefully study Bob Monaghan's Classic Bronica Website. Join the
Bronica email list. Write here and to the list and tell the world about
your Bronica experiences.
16- Have fun and take great photos.
Cheers,
Sam Sherman