Bronica SQ Series Medium Format
Bronica SQ Series Medium Format
USER REVIEWS
|
[Jun 19, 2001]
MB
Intermediate
Strength:
Light, flash-sync up to 500 1/s because of leaf shutter lenses, system camera with lots of accessoires, quality of the lenses (very good)
Weakness:
None up to now I can't say anything about if the camera is reliable or not (I just shot 3 rolls with it), I got a used SQ-Ai in mint condition (with 80 mm lens, back and finder). But I have just fallen in love with it when I saw my slides (Kodak E100VS) crisp and beautifuill color. The handling of the camera is nice even without the motordrive or speedgrip (but with, it would be better I think). A friend of my has a Bronica ETR-Si for 10 years now and is still very happy with it. I wanted a good 6X6 camera and also went for a Bronica. A good choice! Customer Service None Similar Products Used: Mamiya M645 + accessoires, Rolleiflex 3.5 Planar (Twin lens) |
|
[Aug 28, 2001]
Bruce Allen
Professional
Strength:
A good light tight box, on which to mount my lens. Durable! Easy to change formats by just changing film backs. Modular system is great. Not finicky like my freinds Brand X(Major Name).
Weakness:
I don't like the gyrations you have to go through for timed exposures. Other than that, no problems here. I have the earlier SQ-a, not the SQ-ai, although my lenses are the latest PS series. Having said that, I really like this system. I have the metered prizm finder, which without it I would feel dislexic, and the speedgrip, which helps the handling a lot. If you have a lot of money to burn, and are a poser, get the Hassleblad, otherwise get this camera for a lot less and get the same job done. The Bronica glass is second to none, so that makes this light tight box a major league hitter in my book. Because this camera is so under marketed, you can find good deals on a very capable system. Because of the good luck I've had with this camera, I would not hessitate to buy another one if the need ever arose. Customer Service Are you kidding? Never needed them. Similar Products Used: Aside from my freinds Rollei tlr(not the camera referred to under strengths above), 35mm systems from Pentax manual camera's, to Canon EOS systems. |
|
[Nov 24, 1999]
Derek Lee
Professional
Model Reviewed:
SQ-Ai Body
Strength:
Compared to the Hasselblad, I think it is neck to neck and the savings are plentiful
Weakness:
The shutter still fires with the dark slide. The film advance lever on the film back has a screw that holds it in place and both keep unscrewing themcelves and I've lost one. Also, on occasions, after tripping the shutter and begin to advance the film with the speed grip thumb advance, sometimes the mechanisim locks and I must remove the film back to get everything working again. I recommend the Bronica 6x6 Sq-Ai Customer Service I have been trying to get the replacement for the film advance crank on the film back for 6 months now. Similar Products Used: None |
|
[Nov 19, 1999]
Edwin Leong
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
SQ-Ai Body
Strength:
great overall value for the money over Hasselblad and Rollei. Excellent lenses and again at much cheaper prices for equivalent Zeiss/Schneider lenses.
Weakness:
Motor drive has a delcate part made out of plastic that should not be. Easily damages and not covered by warranty. A fine system for pro or amateur not smittened by useless name brand prestige. Other brands, especially Rollei are more advanced but you'll pay for it dearly. It will do what you need it to do in most types of shoots with simplicity but don't consider the SQ-Ai kit to be simple. It more then holds its own with other systems. Customer Service In Canada, not as good as it should be. Fairly fast service but not much empathy for the customer. Ask some tough questions and Amplis Foto is more likely to ignore you then answer them. Needs improvement in this regard - Canada only though. Similar Products Used: No other experience with medium format. |
|
[Oct 11, 1999]
Richlain Robinson
Professional
Model Reviewed:
SQ-Ai Body
Strength:
Ease of Use when Winder is Included. Reliable
Weakness:
Bronica body has design flaw that allows a dark slide to be inserted but will fire if slide is a fraction out and I do mean fraction. Great camera. Recommend painting slide red where it sticks out of body. Wish Bronica were a little more responsive to correcting design flaws. Still, I recommend the camera. Just be careful when in a hurry as it has not been designed completely with the busy photographer in mind. Customer Service When told about the flaw at a PPA show; they laughed and acknowledged that many have complained. Seemed to think nothing would ever be done to change the flaw. Similar Products Used: Hasselblad |