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Reviews (3)
10 Feb, 2011
ETRsi 645 Film Camera
2 of 2 found this helpful I have been a photograper for over 25 years and have always wanted to purchase this camera, but since I had so much invested in the Pentax line, which I love,I decided to stick with that line. Now that the Bronica line has been discontinued for some years, I decided to check out the used market on ebay.
To my surprise, there is a large number of the ETR cameras being sold at what I would call a "steel". I have managed to acquire the entire line with all the lenses plus the zoom lenses.
Well on to the camera, I had the opportunity to take it on a small trip and really try it out. I love the feel of the camera in my hands, especially with the speed grip attached. It fits my hands perfectly and every control is easy to reach and operate, except for the double exposure lever. With the speed grip attached, the double exposure lever is almost completely inaccesible. If you have tiny fingers, it probably is easy to push down. This is really the only complaint about this camera set up.
I personally never had a need for the changable backs with the dark slide, but I can see where some pros would need this feature. The nice thing about the dark slide is that the camera will not take a picture unless the dark slide is removed or partly pulled out. Rememeber to pull it all the way out, or you will be taking small slices of life on each frame.
I really enjoy the Auto Meter III metered prism. It seems to be dead on in all of my exposures. I had installed a Beattie Inten Sceen in the body and it will change your meter reading by about one stop. All I had to do was change the I
SO setting to compensate for the increased light transmission.
I have read some of the reviews about this camera and some people seem to have a problem with loading the film in the insert. I personally do not see how anyone could load the film the wrong way. All you have to do is look at the insert and picture where the film has to be in order to load it properly. The emulsion has to face the front of the camera in order to be exposed properly. This camera will not cock the shutter without film in the back, but you can fool it by pushing down the double exposure lever and it will cock the shutter every time you wind the speed grip.
I know there are a lot people out there that have never shot film in their life. All you have to do is take a photo with your digital camera and take the same photo on a medium format camera and look at the results. Every time I scan a medium format neg and see it for the first time on the monitor, I am amazed at the clearity and the contrast range that film provides. With digital most highlights will blow out if your exposure is off by 1/2 f stop. Film handles it much better. The exposure latitude is much better with film, espeacially with the latest films available today.
I would pesonally recommend this camera system to anyone wanting to try their hand at film photography. With the super low prices this equipment goes for on ebay, you can not go wrong. It is a real shame that Bronica does not hold its value any better than it does. I know that they were never advertised as heavily as Mamiya and Pentax models. It is true that Bronica never had as large a selection of lenses as the above mentioned lines, but there are enough lenses to cover just about any photography you want to try.
10 Jan, 2009
Pentaz 645 NII Camera body
4 of 4 found this helpful Fantastic camera. The auto focus is fast enough for the type of work I do with this camera, mainly landscape photography. The metering sytem seems to be right on if you keep in mind that no metering system is perfect. I love data imprinting between the frames on the film and not on the image.
This camera is a little heavier than the old 645, but not by much. The viewfinder is extremely bright when you compare it with the older model. The metering info is very bright and easy to see. In old 645, I was never able to see the meter readout in the bright sunlight. The old camera had little red dots that formed the information and were impossible to see.
One thing that most people don't realize is that this is far superior, image wise than any 35mm size digital camera. You take the pictures, have the film developed and then scan the negs and you have 140 meg digital image to work with. None of the digial camera out there can come close to this and they may not for a long time.
Long live film!!!
11 Mar, 2011
Great for static subjects, landscapes, still life.
4 of 4 found this helpful I would have to say that the real reason I purchased this camera, is because I have always wanted one, ever since it was introduced, but could not justify investing in another camera system. With todays market for used Bronica cameras, just about anyone can afford to purchase these cameras on the used market. I have used KEH camera for much of my purchases, they are honest, reliable and price the equipment at a fair price. Their ratings are dead on. I have purchased what they call Excellent condtion equipment and it arrives looking brand new. Enough about the purchase.
I have owned two Pentax systems for many years and when Bronica stopped production of their camera line, prices really started to drop on the used market. It is a shame that Tamron did such a bad job of marketing these cameras, most people don't even know what a Bronica is.
I love the way this camera feels in your hands. You have to purchase the speed grip or you will want to throw this lead weight in the trash. I personally don't know how anyone could get much use from this camera without it. Some people complain that it is awkward to shoot verticals with this camera. It isn't any different than shooting with a 35mm camera in the vertical position, it is just a little heavier. The mirror up lever is a little awkward, but very easy to use, at least it is for me.
The 6x7 format is known as the ideal format as is the 645 format. Both can be enlarged with very little cropping. There is a big difference from 645 to 6x7 image quality. Once you shoot 6x7 it is hard to go back, but the 645 has it's uses also. I have made 30x40 prints from the 6x7 format and it looks so beautiful once printed.
Both of my GS-1's are equiped with the Auto Exposure Pentaprisms. This is the only way to go, although it is just a easy to use a hand held meter and use the standard prism. For my use, I will stick with the AE prism. I don't care for the waist level finder, since the image is reversed, it drives my crazy.
I am using the 120 6x7 backs since 220 film is just about exstinct. I do have one 220 6x7 back for use with Fuji Velvia 50 & 100, which both are still available in 220. I believe that the portrait films from Kokak still are available in 220. These backs will give you 10 exposures for 120 and 20 for 220.
I have no use for the 645 or 6x6 backs that are available, since I own both Bronica and Pentax 645's. I can't see carrying the extra weight when you don't have to.
Since I purchased my camera's on ebay, each one came with a lens. I now have just about all the lenses that were made for this camera. One that I will probably never obtain is the 500mm lens. This lens is of very little use in this format for my purposes.
Personnally I think that the rotable AE finder could be very useful when doing verticals and when shooting from a tripod. I do not own one presently, but might consider it if the need arises.
All in all,this is a great, well thought out camera. The modular build makes it useful in just about any situation. One thing to keep in mind is that most of these lenses are rather slow, abount f/4 and 5.6 and they don't focus real close. Just obtain the 18 or the 36mm extension tubes and this changes the close focusing ability, you will lose more light in the process.
Hope this helps someone with the decision for a purchase or just general knoldege of this cameera.
Film will probably always trump digital.