Nikkors? Zenzanons? What's the Deal with Bronica Lenses??
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ย. 2023
- #filmphotography #bronica #lens #lensreview #filmcamera #mediumformat #6x6 #nikkor #zenzanon #lenses
Nikkors? Zenzanons? Komuras? What's up with these Bronica lenses? In this episode we'll try to sort out what's what and take a look at the lenses for the early 6x6 Bronicas.
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Wow, I don't even have a Bronica, nor have plans for the near future, but I listen from the very beginning till the last sentence, every and all this amazing information.
This is photography history and common knowledge on a high level. Thanks a lot, Steven.
You’re much too kind, but many many thanks. I really do appreciate it. And it’s very encouraging to get this kind of feedback. Strengthens my resolve to keep it going.
Almost the same situation, but I do want to get a Bronica GS-1.
First and foremost, thank you for the fantastic, entertaining video. Second, I believe your review of the Bronica Nikkor lenses is the most accurate I have ever heard. My favorite lens in the system is the 75mm P 2.8. I also loved the 200 because of the close-up focus adapter. However, I also love the lens nobody cares about in this system, and that is the 135mm 3.5 lens because most people find it a bit soft, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I see the softness as a plus because it delivers beautiful skin texture, which is great because you don't have to overedit when you shoot portraits when the lens is adapted to a digital camera.
Many thanks for the kind words! Yes, the 135 doesn’t get a lot of love. But like you say, it good be a great match for portraits. I also like its ability to focus closer than the Zenzanon 150s to get a nice tight shot. Cheers!
Wow! That is one comprehensive line of lenses. Thanks for all the pertinent information. I always look forward to your posted images, which are all very impressive. Love your formatting for showcasing them! Also, your entire video formatting, in general, is always crafted so perfectly from beginning to end. Everything is well planned, designed, and executed. An absolute pleasure watching every week.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it - as well as your dedicated viewership!
I have a Bronica S2A and an EC, and i have both Nikkor 50 mm lenses in the uncoated versions, the f2.8 and the f3.5, and I find that the f3.5 lens is sharper, more contrasty and all round nicer to use.
They is a great video and in 13 minutes gives pretty much all the old Bronica camera user the information he or she needs.
Top marks, Sir.
Thanks so much! And thanks for the info on the 50 3.5. I was hoping someone would come forward with real-world user experience. I certainly need to check it out now. Cheers!
Recently, I saw a foreigner comment on a Japanese channel that featured bronica, “Is there a company in Japan that can repair my bronica?”
Isuto technical service, the company of Zenzaburo Yoshino's son, can repair Bronica.
Thanks for that info! That makes me happy. And the fact that it’s still in the family…priceless!
Brilliant channel for a Brilliant camera.
I had a Bronica s2a with Zenzanon 100mm f2.4 that I received as a birthday present from my mum.
My friends in church wanted me to do a portrait shoot for a book cover. The Bronica didn't disappoint!
Five rolls of fuji astia 100 later and vola a book cover and promotional posters.
Subscribed.
Thanks so much! I was absolutely captivated by the design of the early Bronica 6x6s. The look, the chrome…like a classic auto! Always gets comments when I’m out with it.
Thank you for this video! The last few weeks I've gone down a massive rabbit hole on the Bronica Focal Plane Lenses.
I hope it helped! I’ve been down that rabbit hole. Lots of places to get lost!
Really enjoyed this review, despite not having a Bronica system. It is a welcome complement to your camera reviews, that adds the other important aspect of photography gear : the optics. I'm looking forward to see another presentations of lenses lineups as an add-on of your cameras reviews. It would be great if you could produce content like this.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the suggestion. I’ll certainly add lenses to the episode list. Makes total sense now that you said it.
Great breakdown of the lenses available for the system. - Hayden
Thanks for tuning in, Hayden!
I have several lens for my Bronica S2A and EC-TL. The first one is Zenzanon 50mm F2.8, It is sharp and have nice color. The Nikkor-H.C 75mm F2.8 may be the most expensive standard lens for Bronica. Zenzanon MC 200mm F3.5 has the same weak point as the Nikkor 200mm P.C which is the nearest focus length.
Thanks for the comment. I’ve seen the Zenzanon 50 and have wondered how it was. And I’ve never even seen that Nikkor-H for sale anywhere, but it is quite rare so I’m not surprised it would be the most expensive. I’ve also wondered about that Zenzanon 200. Thanks for this info!
So I have not had the pleasure to own one of these older Bronica.. I Have two ETRs versions and love them.. Now the first season I shot with them I used the MC version lenses .. The 75 and 150 lenses. Both of them did well . I decided to try one of them on my Fujifilm GFX system and see what kinda results I got.. The 75 MC gave me a flat softer image that after editing was very film like .. I liked it. I then decided to buy one and keep in the case because I had been borrowing one from my film cameras lol.. When buying one I did some research and people said get the PE versions I believe they are.. Said they changed some things and they had better coatings and there size was a bit different and sharper .. Sure thing the PE version is different.. The glass is different sized and looks to be a whole new version of the 75mm . I put that on my GFX Digital and noticed right off that there newer PE version is for sure sharper and the color is better then the older MC version. So that is something to think about if you get into the newer ETR models and up.
Thanks for this great info! I have yet to try my hand at any of the later Bronica designs, but this is definitely something I’d want to know going into it. I mean, it’s only a matter of time, lol.
There's actually some TLRs out there with Nikkor glass too. I've got a buddy who is a huge Nikon fan. He owns the full F series uses them all. Then for his MF he has an S2A with only Nikkor glass, and then that TLR with Nikkor. For large format again, Nikkor glass😂
Great coverage of an amazing system!
Sounds like he’s a fan, indeed. That’s some serious dedication. I’m aware of the Nikon lenses for LF, but I’m completely in the dark about the TLR, and I am intrigued. What TLR features Nikon lenses?
@@vintagecameradigest Airesflex Automat and Aires Reflex Z - Aires used both Nikkor and Zuiko glass, with the Nikkor being an upgrade cost.
Thanks! I’ll have to check those out.
@@vintagecameradigestAlso, of the TLRs I've handled, I'd put the Airesflex on par with the Autocord and Rolleiflex 3.5 models, but below the Kallovex.
Good to know! I’ve heard of the Aires rangefinder line, but not of the TLRs. But after just looking them up, they seem quite nice. EBay has several - and a couple with the Zuiko or NIkkor glass. The NIkkor is labeled as a QC, so it’s a multi coated, 4-element design. It should be very nice on the TLR.
Am I right in assuming that all these lenses are interchangeable across the entire S2 and EC lines? Even with the EC-TL aperture priority?
That is correct. These lenses will fit the S, C, and EC series. In other words, any camera body where the focusing helical is separate from the lens body.
To add to the confusion, there are focusing helicoids that are identical but have different markings for focusing scale. I have 2 because my first "kit" one didn't have markings for 200mm.
You’re absolutely right. And I did’t even think about mentioning the different markings on the helicoids. The older ones have distance scales for four lenses: 50, 75, 135, 200. Later versions of the helicoid have only two: 75 and 100. And the only 100mm lens for this system that I’m aware of is the Komura.
@@vintagecameradigest The original one I got with the camera has markings for 100, 80 and 75mm. The one I bought separate has markings for 200, 135, 75 and 50mm. Both metric only.
There are at least 3 different versions, then. I have both examples of the ones I mentioned. One from my Bronica C2, and the other from the S2A. And I need to make a correction. There was indeed a Zenzanon 100mm - not just the Komura version.
@@vintagecameradigest My camera is the EC, maybe the 3rd version was introduced with that?
That does make sense, since there were Zenzanons being released with the ECs that had slightly different focal lengths than the Nikkors.
Nice video! I just bought a S2A with the 75 and 150 and noticed the previous owner had the clos-up lens for the 200 mounted on the 150mm. Do you think that would work?
It probably will work to some degree. I don’t know if that CU lens was actually “matched” to the 200 or not. But, I’d check it and see what happens. I actually tried it out on the 85mm lens on my Kowa Six. Turned out it didn’t focus much closer at all. And that makes me think it must have been matched to that 200mm. Because with the 200, it focuses a LOT closer - like 1/2 the distance.
Thanks! It says CU lesn for 200mm so I guess it's for that lens. Also, in the manual with it, they just mention it for the 200mm. I'll try to, for now only on the viewfinder as it needs new seals. I've also got the extension tube set but I see you need lots of extra light. I'll let you konw!
@@vintagecameradigest
Yes, keep me posted. I thought about using it on my 150 for a test but didn’t get around to it. I have the extension tube set, too. You shouldn’t need TOO much extra light if you use the smaller extension. But stacking them you’ll need more for sure. Good luck!
I pulled my Pentax 645NII from the hutch and will give it a dust off. It's time to get The Beast out in the field for a walk around.
That’s what I’m talkin’ about! Knock off the cobwebs and let that thing live!
@@vintagecameradigest It's a heavy carry, that's for sure. I put a roll of XP2 in it and took it with me for the walk with The Girl, but only made a few captures. The light was not very good (heavy overcast -- rare for western Nevada), but we should have some sun tomorrow (might require an ND filter) and I'll finish the first roll.
I had a friend that let me borrow his original P645 for a trip once. Only time I ever used one, but I’ve got a print hanging on the wall from that trip. Pentax seldom disappoints.
@@vintagecameradigest Good story! The sun is supposed to shine today... well, the sky is supposed to clear. ;) So maybe there will be some additional opportunities for decent frames.