When I first got interested in medium format cameras, I spent countless hours, many weeks in fact, thinking about what kind of medium format camera I wanted to get. I initially wanted to dip my feet into the waters with a cheap seagull 203 folding rangefinder, I had great fun with it, but ultimately had to send it back because the focus was way off due to some play in the mechanism. A little bit disappointed with my experience I decided I needed to go all in, spending weeks scanning ebay, local classifieds, forums etc. for another MF rangefinder (I was specifically interested in the Fuji GS645), but then I found landscape photographer Adrian Vila’s Youtube-Channel (aows). At the time he was shooting mainly a Bronica SQ-Ai, and his shots blew me away, I knew I had to get a 6×6 SLR. After 3 failed attempts (Pentacon Six with a bad shutter, Bronica SQ with a dead shutter, Bronica SQ-B with dead Electronics) I finally found a Bronica SQ-A in like-new condition for a decent price and bought it.
Fast forward a few weeks, because of this camera, I now like medium format so much I barely use 35mm anymore.
A few things I really like about the Bronica:
Great ergonomics: Everything has its place, it is very intuitive and you get used to it very quickly
Build: Apart from the flimsy winder, everything is solidly build and feels like it will at least outlast the electronics.
Focussing screen: The bright focussing screen with Microprism collar around the split-image rangefinder is amazing!
Anyways, on to the shots:
This one was taken on a hike along the Austrian-German Border where cows where grazing along the trail and made this postcard-like shot possible. I didn’t mind the Bronica on this hike too much, it was heavy but the hike was not too steep. Zenzanon S 80mm 2.8 on Fuji Pro 400h.
This one was taken on another hike, this time near the summit of the Hahnenköpfle in Austria. The Bronica really bothered me on this hike, it was a lot steeper, sometimes rocky and all in all i regretted bringing this ~1,5kg camera. Zenzanon S 80mm 2.8 on Fuji Pro 400h
Another one from the same hike, the clouds hanging in the Valley looked really surreal.
My favourite thing to shoot, BMX or bike-riding in general. Zenzanon S 150mm 3.5 on Pro 400h
Final shot, biking again, this time in the woods at 1/125 resulting in a bit of motion blur and around 1-2 stops of underexposure
A quick note on the film borders: I scan with a Canon 9000f and have found no difference in Quality whether I lay the film straight on the glass or use the scanning mask. This is way less cumbersome to me and I like that the borders give the shot a sort of frame!
I hope you enjoyed some of the shots and my mini-review of the Bronica SQ-A, if you want to see more of my Stuff, check out my instagram @35000000nm!
Thanks for reading
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Comments
Terry B on 5 Frames with the Bronica SQ-A, my first (working) medium format camera – By Lukas Walter
Comment posted: 15/10/2019
Quality comes at a price - weight. But well worth the effort.
I use a Canon 9950F and the more up-to-date 9000F, mainly as it has drivers for W10. The 9950F can only be used up to W7, but I keep it for its 5x4 scan capability and which I still need. I think your images show that when using MF film they scan better than with 35mm. What dpi did you use, by the way?
Comment posted: 15/10/2019
Martin Cutrone on 5 Frames with the Bronica SQ-A, my first (working) medium format camera – By Lukas Walter
Comment posted: 15/10/2019
Comment posted: 15/10/2019
Lee on 5 Frames with the Bronica SQ-A, my first (working) medium format camera – By Lukas Walter
Comment posted: 15/10/2019
Comment posted: 15/10/2019
Paul Turner on 5 Frames with the Bronica SQ-A, my first (working) medium format camera – By Lukas Walter
Comment posted: 15/10/2019
Alexander Seidler on 5 Frames with the Bronica SQ-A, my first (working) medium format camera – By Lukas Walter
Comment posted: 16/10/2019
Marcel A Vie on 5 Frames with the Bronica SQ-A, my first (working) medium format camera – By Lukas Walter
Comment posted: 16/04/2022
I love my SQ too.
A question about „light“ hiking: how did you meter your shots? Did you had a hand-held with you?
Regards,
Marcel
Comment posted: 16/04/2022