What's the difference between Bronica ETR and ETRS?

Hi,

I am in the market for some MF gear and I keep seeing the Bronica ETR and ETRS. What's the difference between the two? I know the ETRSi is the current model but I'm not interrested in that model due to it's cost.

 

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Thanks

Jim

Jim,

 

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The Bronica ETRSi is the latest incarnation of the ETR 645 format system.

The ETR was the original, then the ETRS, Finally the'Si. Visit the Bronica site at www.tamron.com for the nitty gritty specifics. I have shot all 3 models and with very minor exceptions, prefer the latest ETRSi. I would definitely consider the ETRS over the ETR however. Also, the latest "PE" lenses are the best. Buy the most recent you can afford & good luck.

 

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~Ted

When I bought my ETRS recently I was told that not all Bronica lenses fit the earlier ETR.

 

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Apparently the ETRSi has a built in lightmeter. I was told that it's not worth paying the extra if you intend to use a handheld lightmeter. I'm not sure how true that is, but as I already had a good lightmeter it suited me (ie my limited budget) to get an ETRS ...

The ETRSi does not have a built in light meter. None of the previous model do either. Bronica has several metered prisms that are driven by the camera body. What the ETRSi does have is the TTL flash capability, via an SCA adapter for whatever brand of flash unit. I have not used this feature, but it is a medium priority on my wish list. Bronica's Metered prisms are the AEII and AEIII prisms. I think they also had a plain AE prism early in the game. Not all of the meter features are compatable up & down the ETR family of cameras. The spot metering and matrix functions on the AEIII prism are not compatable with ETR or ETRS cameras. I have used the AEII prism on my ETRSi however, and it works quite well. I'm not 100% sure on the meter compatabilities, so check the Bronica website at www.tamron.com. As far as I'm aware, all of the lenses for the ETR cameras are fully compatable up and down the product line. Early (pre ETR) Bronica lenses will not fit any of their curent models.

Thanks for the correction. Looks like I was given duff gen!

I own all three versions of the Bronica and can find very little difference between them. The most important thing to remember is that the ETR being the first out is over 20 years old. As a studio owner I can say that I have put a lot of miles on that camera and would not want to be the one buying it. The ETRs is also at least 10 years old making it a risky purchase to.