Bronica S2a (1969). - a photo on Flickriver

Bronica S2a (1969).

            This 6x6 Japanese rival to the Hasselblad C was technically a more advanced camera in having an instant-return mirror. The Bronica's mirror was of unique design, dropping downwards at the moment of exposure; this enabled reflex viewing with wide-angle lenses whose rear parts would get in the way of a conventional rising mirror.

Bronica's Nikkor lenses were similar in quality to the Hasselblad's Zeiss optics, although (I am told by a retired camera repairer) that in build quality and reliability, the body was not.  

Its very complexity was a liability; on other SLRs, the mirror, in its 'up' position, prevents light entering the viewfinder from reaching the film.  The Bronica needed a special moving blind to do this.  Another problem with the down-moving mirror is that its reflective surface faces the film chamber at exposure time, so a second moving blind is needed to cover the mirror. A lot happens inside the camera when the shutter is released, but even so the viewfinder blacks out for only 1/30th second.  But quiet it is not.

Initially, waist-level reflex viewfinders take getting used to, as the (reversed) image moves in the opposite direction to the camera.  But the appropriate reaction soon becomes automatic, and with a square-format camera which never needs to be turned sideways, it is a very convenient, comfortable way of viewing and composing both on a tripod and hand-held, particularly for spectacle-wearers.  The heavy Bronica does not appear very ergonomic, but resting against the chest, supported by the left hand with the right hand free to focus, release the shutter, and advance the film, it is both comfortable and easy to hold steady.  To advance the film and re-cock the shutter takes several revolutions of the winding knob, a slower process than on a 35mm camera.

And the advantage it had over most 35mm cameras of having interchangeable film back magazines  - enabling (e.g.) the same picture to be taken both on colour slide and black and white film without swapping cameras or lenses or removing the camera from the tripod  -  was an important one.

The Bronica S2 was introduced in 1965.  This camera is a later S2a version with an improved film transport mechanism.  The mirror is a single unit.  The unique Bronica split mirror (part of which swung upwards at exposure time) appeared only in the later EC model.

With fine-grained film and a heavy tripod, these cameras produce serious-quality images. Compose to fit the 5:6 or 4:5 aspect ratio of traditional paper sizes, and cropping of the 6 x 6 negative is minimal, and grainless enlargements of up to 10" x 12" are possible with detail and tonal smoothness far beyond the capabilities of 35mm.

Taken on: November 25, 2009

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Bronica

Nikkor 75mm f2.8

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