Bronica Etrsi picture quality with a digital back

andy_schulz · July 22, 2009

Hello there,

I'm a long time bronica-etrsi 645 lover and I'M thinking to use the camera with one of this capture group or silvestri adapter plates to get the use of a Hassleblad V-digital back or any other universal -system back like a Phae one P30+ or p40+.

How good is the quality with a 30-40 Megapixel back with the PE Lenses?

Especially the new ones like 60,105 macro PE lenses.

I think perhaps first to rent the backs like the new CFV 39 MP back from Hasselbald or a Phase one p40+ back as I dont need any one shot cable I heard anymore for my etrsi with these backs and see how they perform. only problem is I have to buy this adapter and this one is quiet pricey for a test.

So would like to find anyone out there who has tried a digital back for an etrsi and can give me some advice please.I love the look of the PE lenses and would like to find a way to get them used in the digital age.

Best Regards Andy Schulz

Photographer

<a href="http://www.andyschulz.net">www.andyschulz.net</a>

yongfei · December 23, 2009

I recently bought the Kapture Group's plate, and tried it on a ETRSi. I did some initial testing. Both 60MM PE and 105Macro looks very clean.

I used 105Macro to duplicate some 6x6 slides, and found the focusing is very accurate. Here is a link to my sample slide duplication pictures. It is in Chinese, but all the pictures are from 105MM + CFV I.

<a href="http://forum.xitek.com/showthread.php?threadid=690945">http://forum.xitek.com/showthread.php?threadid=690945</a><div></div>

david_callard · December 24, 2009

Hi Yongfei, Thanks for your email on this subject. I have just replaced my 50mm f2.8 MC lens with a near new PE version with the view to hooking up my ETRSi with one of these backs. Yes, you are right, the Kapture Group adapter is very expensive - I wonder if there might be a Chinese manufacturer prepared to produce them at a cheaper price? As far as the digital backs are concerned I guess most of us will have have to rent them as required. Given the rate at which this technology continues to evolve hiring probably makes better economic sense. Even for the common sensor sizes I wish camera makers like Canon, Nikon et al would provide an upgrade path instead of expecting us to replace the whole camera every year or so.

yongfei · January 12, 2010

David, just see your question.

Right now, Kapture or Silvestri is the only option. I used to have an Eyelike M11 back, which can be bought from eBay for $1000+. The important thing is to get involved in the hobby, while waiting for the price to go down, or upgrading to a better back. I was break-even on the Eyelike M11 deal.

david_callard · January 12, 2010

Thanks Yongfei. I expect MF backs will gradually come down in price although obviously very slowly given the much lower volumes of this sector. Also when we learn how to manufacture large sensors with a high error free success rate. I use 4x5 as well - imagine a full frame sensor of that size! In the meantime I think I'll stick to film - which I love using anyway. There is still something beautiful about a well exposed transparency whatever the format.

andy_schulz · March 6, 2010

Hello there,

thanks you all for your help with the digital back infos for the bronica etrsi.

The good news is I got an adapter from a photographer collegue for 160 Dollars from silvestri camera from italy.

But we have a huge focusing problem when the adapter is attached to my bronica.

We used lenses : 60,75,105 macro and it seems that always the focus was like one meter behínd the model and I focused on the eyes with aperture 8 or 11. I'M really confused and dont know why this happens. the face was out of focus but the jacket was in focus.

Sorry for my bad english by the way, I give my best as a bavarian german guy:)

The adapter is nearly brand new 4 times used and looked really good.

I could send some exampels would that help to give some advices?

IF I do close ups the problem is not that huge it looks really in focus.

Any Advices would be of great help as the in focus areas looked really good with the quality of the PE lenses. I used a Hasselblad CFV-39 Megapixel back from my rent house.

Best Regards and any advice about the problem would be great.

Andy Schulz

Photographer

munich Germany

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A complete system of adapters to interface the professional digital backs:

</td>

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<tr>

</td>

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</td>

<td colspan="4" align="center" valign="middle"><img src="../img/prodotti/accessori%20digitali/sinarback.jpg" alt="" width="60" height="83" />Sinar</td>

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to Silvestri, <a href="../eng/prodotti_eng/adapters/adapters.htm#bronica">Zenza Bronica</a>, <a href="../eng/prodotti_eng/adapters/adapters.htm#bronica">Mamiya</a> cameras and to other <a href="../eng/prodotti_eng/adapters/adapters.htm">view cameras : Linhof, Sinar, Arca, Toyo, Cambo etc.</a>

</td>

</tr>

<hr />

</td>

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<td colspan="11" height="19" valign="top">Adapters of digital backs on MAMIYA RB67</td>

</tr>

Intermediate Adapter Backs to trasform the attachment of the Mamiya RB67 camera into Hasselblad V interface allowing the use of digital backs: Eyelike, Imacon, Leaf, Megavision and Phase One.

Code 7006

</td>

</tr>

<hr />

</td>

</tr>

<td colspan="11" height="34" valign="top">Adapters of digital backs on MAMIYA RZ67</td>

</tr>

Intermediate Adapter Backs to trasform the attachment of the Mamiya RZ camera into Hasselblad V interface allowing the use of digital backs: Hasselblad, Leaf, Phase One, Eyelike etc.

Code 7012

</td>

</tr>

<hr />

</td>

</tr>

<td colspan="11" height="19" valign="top">Adapters of digital backs on ZENZA BRONICA</td>

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Intermediate Adapter Backs to trasform the attachment of Bronica ETR 4,5x6 and SQ 6x6 cameras into Hasselblad type attachments allowing the use of digital backs: Eyelike, Imacon, Leaf, Megavision and Phase One.<a id="bronica2" name="bronica"></a>

Cod. 7010 Adapter for Bronica ETR 4,5x6

Cod. 7008 Adapter for Bronica SQ 6x6

<a href="../documentation/Adattatori per Bronica 09eng.pdf"><img src="../img/prodotti/documentazione/pdficon.png" alt="" width="25" height="25" /></a>Instructions

</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<tbody>

<tr >

A complete system of adapters to interface the professional digital backs:

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

</td>

<td colspan="4" align="center" valign="middle"><img src="../img/prodotti/accessori%20digitali/sinarback.jpg" alt="" width="60" height="83" />Sinar</td>

</tr>

<tr >

to Silvestri, <a href="../eng/prodotti_eng/adapters/adapters.htm#bronica">Zenza Bronica</a>, <a href="../eng/prodotti_eng/adapters/adapters.htm#bronica">Mamiya</a> cameras and to other <a href="../eng/prodotti_eng/adapters/adapters.htm">view cameras : Linhof, Sinar, Arca, Toyo, Cambo etc.</a>

</td>

</tr>

<hr />

</td>

</tr>

<td colspan="11" height="19" valign="top">Adapters of digital backs on MAMIYA RB67</td>

</tr>

Intermediate Adapter Backs to trasform the attachment of the Mamiya RB67 camera into Hasselblad V interface allowing the use of digital backs: Eyelike, Imacon, Leaf, Megavision and Phase One.

Code 7006

</td>

</tr>

<hr />

</td>

</tr>

<td colspan="11" height="34" valign="top">Adapters of digital backs on MAMIYA RZ67</td>

</tr>

Intermediate Adapter Backs to trasform the attachment of the Mamiya RZ camera into Hasselblad V interface allowing the use of digital backs: Hasselblad, Leaf, Phase One, Eyelike etc.

Code 7012

</td>

</tr>

<hr />

</td>

</tr>

<td colspan="11" height="19" valign="top">Adapters of digital backs on ZENZA BRONICA</td>

</tr>

Intermediate Adapter Backs to trasform the attachment of Bronica ETR 4,5x6 and SQ 6x6 cameras into Hasselblad type attachments allowing the use of digital backs: Eyelike, Imacon, Leaf, Megavision and Phase One.<a id="bronica2" name="bronica"></a>

Cod. 7010 Adapter for Bronica ETR 4,5x6

Cod. 7008 Adapter for Bronica SQ 6x6

<a href="../documentation/Adattatori per Bronica 09eng.pdf"><img src="../img/prodotti/documentazione/pdficon.png" alt="" width="25" height="25" /></a>Instructions

</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

david_callard · March 6, 2010

Andy, I have heard of the use of shims to correct focusing problem such as you describe, but in this case the error seems rather extreme for that to be a solution. Are you sure the adapter plate is undamaged? I would suggest taking the camera and back to the rent shop to seek their advice. The problem in physical terms is pretty simple: Clearly the back is not placed correctly in the focal plane at infinity focus which means it is 'out' everywhere else as well. The others may have some better ideas on this.

andy_schulz · June 14, 2010

Hello David,

havent answered for a long time. Okay I tried the silvestri adapter with a CFV -39 back, a phase one back P30+ and a leaf back Aptus 75.

The last 2 ones didnt fit on the silvestri adapter, yeah you are right ´perhaps there is some problem with the adapter you are right. But no damage is visable. I send the adapter to silvestri, will see whats going on.

Then I still have the focus problem. Shouldnt be there as I spoke with a London Rent company and the confirmed that with the adapter on a bronica you have full focus like without the adapter.

I'm just interested to get this adapter route sorted out as , backs become affordable for a bronica etrsi and this is like a reborn of the camera system. I saw a CF-39 back for 5000 € the other day second hand.

Keep you bronica friends informed if I could get the adapter sorted and will send results then.

ciao andy

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