Advice on buying square format Bronica

Hi

 

I'm looking for advice on buying a square format Bronica (secondhand).

 

I currently shoot all my editorial assignments (portrait) on my Mamiya 645AF, but

increasingly I'm being asked to shoot my portraits in square format - either for square

format magazines, or to be run across the gutter in conventional magazines. Up until now

I've been using a masked off viewfinder screen in the 645, but I would prefer to use a full

6x6 screen, with square polaroids and the bigger negative...

 

I've ruled out Hasselblad as too expensive and too fiddly. A friend recommended Bronica.

 

Here's what I need:

 

A body, prism-finder, motorwind/grip, polaroid back, 2 x 120 film backs, 50mm lens, 80

mm lens.

 

Here's what I don't need:

 

Any form of metering.

 

Researching the archives here on photo.net, I initially thought that the SQB was the camera

for me, but it seems that it will not take a motorwind.

 

So which of the SQA models should I be considering? And which model of lenses - are the

newer ones significantly better? I'm looking for top quality, so will be looking for amateur/

hardly used - is it more economical to buy a complete kit, or to buy the components

individually?

 

I will continue to use the 645AF for all non-square commissions.

 

Thanks for any tips.

I think that the SQAi is what you want to find.

 

Here is a link to darn near everything you want to know.

 

http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/gbronica.html

Elliot,

 

You probably want the sqai. It was the highest specified bronica square and the latest

model before they stopped making them. You'll probably want to stick to the newest PS

multicoated lenses, too.

 

You can compare specs at: http://www.tamron.com/bronica/prod/sq.asp

 

KEH always has a lot of used kits on hand.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Mike

Just a side angle, you could always buy a Bronica GS1 and use a 6x6 back, and have the option of 6x7 when you want it as well.

Hi,

 

I had the Bronica SQ and I recently upgrade to bronica SQ-Ai (for motordrive)and I'm very happy with this change, I have the motor drive, which is excellent and 50, 80 mm PS lenses, I bought two days ago a 150mm PS on ebay, still waiting for it, I use to 120 back and a polaroid back too, I have to say I'm not a professional, but I would like to and of course I can not buy a hasselblad. (I'm from europe, so my english is not so good)

The thing is that I think that if you tale bronica, the SQ-Ai is THE one you need, don't buy SQ or SQ-B, as soon as you get home you would want the motordrive, and the only model that take it is the SQ-Ai, well, I hope my comments are usefull to you, bye.

 

www.franciscomarciano.com

Many thanks to you all for the excellent advice.

 

I'm now convinced that I need the SQAi, with the 45 degree non-metered prism, a

motordrive, the 50mm PS and 80mm PS lenses, a couple of 120 film backs, and a polaroid

back.

 

I'm waiting for the right camera/kit to appear on eBay.

 

- I've ruled out buying a 6x7 camera, and then cropping down to a square. Last week I

borrowed a

friend's Mamiya RZ (with 50mm lens, 45 degree prism, motordrive, grip etc.) for a square

portrait

commission. Beautiful negs, but the camera is extremely cumbersome. What I disliked

most were the 7x7 polaroids (and the lack of masks in the viewfinder when shooting

polaroids).