Bronica SQ Series

Review Date
March 27, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
B-rad , Intermediate

Price Paid
$400.00 at e-bay & keh

Photography Experience
11-20 years

Summary
I'm going to reiterate much of what has already been said... before the advent of digital photography I could never have afforded Medium Format equipment of any kind. Thousands of wedding photographers dump their bread & butter Bronicas on the used market & suddenly the SQA body that retailed new for about $1500.00 can be found on e-bay for $34.50 + $10 shipping. THAT'S WHAT I PAID FOR THE BODY! I still can't believe it... Quality reminds me for my old Nikon FE (same circa), can be used to pound nails in a pinch & will still work. Mine is ugly all over, I have the 110 PS macro and the 50 PS and they are both very sharp. The AE finder gives me aperture priority (it really is like my old Nikon FE) and I have yet to have any problems with the film backs (knock wood). Don’t bother to acquire a 220 back as, at least in my experience, 220 film is becoming difficult to obtain.

Strengths
Cheap, good quality & optics, modular.

Weaknesses
No bulb setting, Ugly!

Similar Products Used
Nikon FE

Review Date
August 3, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 6 votes

Reviewed by
txind76121 , Expert

Price Paid
$675.00 at eBay/KEH

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
I've always liked these. I've owned Hassie and Mamiya RZ, but I went through a long period in the '80s-'90s when I would rent Bronicas for certain jobs. Once even had to rent one when my Hassie 500C/M jammed!! Don't quite know why I like Bronicas so much better, but they feel friendlier, more trustworthy. Never had one go down.

Recently I finally bought one of my own, because the deals available right now are so amazing--people are giving these away. I bought a mint SQ-A with back and grip for $400, and a KEH "Ex+" (which to KEH means collectably perfect) 80mm PS lens for $275. Can't beat those prices with a stick.

It's been fun re-acquainting with Bronica SQ. Encourages a different kind of photography for me--I've been working slower, using setups more, enlisting greater cooperation from subjects, using tripod more often. Fun.

Strengths
The SQ-Ai was officially discontinued a while back now, and everyone is switching over to digital, which means that the bargains are just outrageous. Strengths of the camera? Results, results, results.

Weaknesses
Occasionally the electronics or interlocks get flustered and you have to coax them back to life. Also, I really wish they had metering in the body, preferably aperture-priority AE but at least uncoupled manual. I really like using the waist level finder but don't get metering that way.

Similar Products Used
Hasselblads, Mamiya 6, Mamiya RZ67, Rolleiflex 6002, Rolleiflex 6008, Rolleiflex TLRs and Rolleicrds, Mamiya TLRs, Mamiya AF 645, Bronica ETRSi, Pentax 645 (non-AF), Exakta 66 Model II.

Customer Service
n/a

Review Date
January 8, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
11-20 years

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
jpp , Professional

Price Paid
$575.00 at Charles Waldron

Summary
I have just purchased a Bronica SQ-B and I am very happy with it. The weight/build quality balance is just about right for me. Any heavier and it would be impracticle in the field, yet it is suprisingly tough and sturdy feeling in the hand.



An external exposure meter is required with the SQ-B.

Price is in Pounds Sterling.

Strengths
A very balanced camera.
System Expandability.
No frills.

Weaknesses
Lack of a B exposure setting.
No TTL exposure metering or flash control.
Dark slide NEEDS a home on the film back, like Mamiya system film backs.
No frills.

Similar Products Used
Bronica ETRSi
Bronica RF645
Mamiya 645 Super
Canon 35mm

Customer Service
Not used

Review Date
September 13, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Reviewed by
another , Intermediate

Price Paid
$150.00 at ebay

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Outdoor

Summary
My review is based on the SQ-A which pre-dates the SQ-Ai. As many professionals switch from medium format to digital, the price of this equipment falls to almost unbelievable prices. It will still produce high quality large negatives and transparencies for years to come without becoming obselete next month too! I bought my SQA from a wedding photographer who was switching to digital, and although well worn it works great. And it really was only $150 for the body!

Strengths
Full system offering many types of lenses, finders, backs and macro accessories. Very similar to a Hasselblad and easy to use. With so many professionals switching to digital, used equipment is very available and surprisingly inexpensive. Relatively small and light compared to some other medium format camera systems.

Weaknesses
The SQA can only do a long exposure (longer than 8 seconds) by controlling the exposure from the lens (note that every lens has it's own electronic shutter). This means that it can't be completely controlled by a cable release - the exposure is started as normal but ended by sliding a switch on the lens barrel. This can easily shake the camera unless you first cover the lens with a black hat, etc. The later SQ-Ai takes care of this problem with a "B" setting on the shutter speed dial on the camera body. Other than that, the shutter uses a relatively hard to find and expensive battery, so don't forget to pack spares.

Similar Products Used
I own no other medium format equipment, but somewhat familiar with Hasselblad.

Customer Service
Not needed.

Review Date
May 25, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
Grant , Expert

Price Paid
$1000.00 at Private Sale

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
Excellent camera. Many prefer to buy Hassies for 6x6 , then realise they can't buy lenses. The Bronica is affordable and easy to use. I don't have the manual. intuitive to use. I originally bought a basic unit with a waist finder, AE finder, motor drive, 110 PS macro (1:4) and 80mm S. I quickly added a 50mm and three more backs. The S lenses are Ok. Actually it looks pretty nice but you only have full F-stops. I sold my first camera with a back and the waist level and 80mm to go digital. I regreted immediately so I bought another with no financial loss. Camera takes great photos and is a must have for portraits. With the motordrive it is like a BIG 35mm camera. The waist level finder is a must to focus with wide angles. Speaking of wide angles, take a look at the 35mm fisheye price compared to the Hassie. This again re-iterates it is great value for money. Another thing about the motor drive, it takes 6 AA batts so it will keep chugging a long time. The drive is great for model shoots. It gives the model the cue to change pose.

Strengths
-Flash sync up to 1/500 second (Very important)
-AE meter makes it an aperture priority wonder.
-Half stop aperture stops on PS lenses
-cheap lenses compared to the competition
-Tamron is doing great things with the lens line up, recently releasing a zoom, which shows they are committed to the design, as well as revamping various lenses in the line up.
-TTL flash, if you are into it. I think it is nice to have however not essential.

Weaknesses
The double exposure lever! If you do not remember to flick it back yourself when done it will keep shooting on the same frame! Never happened to me yet, but it is an accident waiting to happen. They should have made it flick back to normal after each shot, then you would be safe. If it had happened with me I'd mark the unit down to a four, but I will stick with my rating. The electronics on my first unit were stuffed. It had an intermittant cut out, so sometimes it worked, then an hour later it mightn't. I think the guy who sold it to me knew about the problem, as it happened on my first shoot. Fortunately it fired during the portraits, but I was mortified and nearly reached for my 35mm equipment. It was a private sale in a public place in Singapore, so I couldn't track him down. He denied all knowlege when I emailed him. Fortunately the repair was cheap and could be done locally. Don't let this put you off, a mechanical repair on a Hassie can be pricey and it is really easy to incorrectly cock their lenses.
No decent digital backs. Not a big worry, but it would be nice ;-)
Lastly, use same tape over the battery door. If you don't have the motordrive it may open and you could be chasing small cells all over the floor ;-/

Customer Service
Very good in malaysia. Tithes Corp also distribute Contax and Tamron (who now own Bronica). Friendly people but not a lot of parts up here.