ETRsi v SQai

[david_waugh3]

I know I'm talking apples and oranges here, but disregarding the format difference, is there any real build quality variance between them?

Also, how does the 80mm stack up against the 75mm?

 

Thank you very much.

[tscheung]

no difference between them just format

 

tak

[david_waugh3]

Thanks Tak - appreciate your time.

[tscheung]

but bigger is better.

[david_waugh3]

Yes :-) One other question while I've got you :-) ... Different sites post difference weights of the system. Is there a big difference between the ETRsi and SQai in weight / size? Thanks very much.

[tscheung]

sq is a bit heavy, i borrowed my friend's sqai (for studio), after compared, bought the etrsi due to i often shot the outdoors, travell & wedding. now, want to upgrade to 6x7, may be GS or RZ, although i have a 5D, the digital output still missed something, for me, especial B&W pictures.

[david_henderson]

I don't have the numbers available, though the answer is "some but not much". The reason why different sites post different weights is that they are measuring different things- with/without lens etc. Everything you put on a SQA-i is a little heavier than the equivalent of the ETRs-i. Which brings me to the point that the biggest influence on weight is not the native weight of the body only, but what you decide to put on it. Prisms are useful but weighty, Speedgrips are useful but weighty, and theres a decent difference between the weights of lenses. Outfit weight will depend more on how many lenses and accessories, and even the weight of the bag itself, than on whether the heart of the system is a 645 or 6x6 camera.

 

You shouldn't ignore format. If you want to take square pictures then you need the SQ series. If you want to take rectangular pictures, using a 645 is easier than trying to compose through a square finder and cropping everything later. The one real exception occurs if you expect to take a total mix of "landscape" and "portrait" shots on a tripod where it can be a pain to turn the camera on its side and many heads don't hold as firmly with the camera on its side. So some users choose to use a square format and crop rather than repeatedly turn the camera under time constraint.

[tscheung]

Hi Henderson,

i agreed with you some of your points. but as you said that

"Everything you put on a SQA-i is a little heavier than the equivalent of the ETRs-i. Which brings me to the point that the biggest influence on weight is not the native weight of the body only, but what you decide to put on it. Prisms are useful but weighty, Speedgrips are useful but weighty, and theres a decent difference between the weights of lenses. Outfit weight will depend more on how many lenses and accessories, and even the weight of the bag itself, than on whether the heart of the system is a 645 or 6x6 camera."

i assumed Waugh consider that compare with different formats, but, with a full system, same focus length of lens, same acessories etc., and for me, just personally, why i selected 645, the reasons are:

1. as the cam & lens are relative small, light and more portable

2. 6x6, the format can be limiting for general use, such as when shooting landscapes, architecture and so on, as most published pics are cropped to rectangles, for this reason, so why many pros. they are used to 67, espl. most popular RB or RZ because one of reasons the revolving back, instant change from V to H.

[david_henderson]

Well why don't you weigh your ETRsi and we'll see what the real difference is and give Mr Waugh the answer he's looking for? A SQA-i with back, batteries, wlf, and 80mm lens weighs a fraction over 1.5kg.

 

I have used the SQA-i professionally, for landscapes and architecture for ten years, without feeling restricted by its format, and I get no complaints from the stock agencies or galleries I supply about submitting square images. But this is a personal thing. You either like taking square photographs or you don't. I don't think I need to hear from you what professional photographers do or don't do- particularly in the context that Mr Waugh has given no indication that he intends to shoot for publication. He should choose the format that gives him most pleasure without feeling that his future use of his pictures are going to be constrained by his choice, because they won't be. Many, many thousands of professionals have used 6x6 happily. - just think of all the Hasselblads around!

 

Back on the subject of weight, there's more to think about than just simply comparing weights of identical systems. If I needed to save a couple of pounds on my outfit I wouldn't change to a 645 camera. I'd take a lens out, or try to manage without a prism, since I use a hand-held meter in any case. I might reduce the weight of the tripod , since I don't have to hold a camera on its side. I even saved a couple of pounds by swapping from one Lowepro bag to another. These options are available to new users too. If Mr Waugh's mind-set leads him in the direction of a square camera but is concerned about the weight ( and I have no idea whether this is the case or not) then he can choose the other items in the kit to produce a weight he's happy with, thats all.

 

The final point I'd make to Mr Waugh is this. If you really can't decide on format, bear in mind that you can crop a 645 from a 6x6; but if you crop a square from a 645 you lose a lot of real estate.

[david_waugh3]

Thanks for all the info. For what it's worth, I'l give you the real reason for the question... An ex-photographer kindly lent

me his old ETR some time ago, and I really enjoyed the experience. For the last few months, I've been looking to finally

purchase my own. About a month ago, by chance, I came across a Hassy 500cm and 80mm Planar for a good price. I

instantly fell in love :-) and certainly really enjoyed the square format. I say 'enjoyed' because I sold it back to the shop I

purchased it from after realising it was going to send me bankrupt! I feel guilty saying it here because the guys in the

Hassy forum here on photo.net were absolutely awesome in answering all my questions and giving advice! Now I sold

out! The cost of the CLA (required), lens cap, hood and simple accessories was going to cost more than 3 times that I

paid for the camera! Other lenses weren't going to happen in my lifetime so I called it quits. I wont go into details, but

there were a few things that bugged me also... I like the fact that the Bronica system is something I can expand on affordably.

Little things like being able to change a finder without changing the back I like too :-)

 

I am a graphic designer, not a photographer (well not a good one anyway), although I have been employed as a colour

management specialist, scanner operator and retoucher for many pro studios so understand the quality issues. I derive

a small part of my income from photography but not enough to justify a new D700 or it's ilk. I sold my last digital kit two

years ago and besides, I simply love shooting film. I've mainly been shooting 35mm rangefinders since (cheap fixed

lens cameras). Been fun but I want something that I can do 'real' work when required.

 

I really can't decide between square and 645 so I thought I'd let you guys decide for me - ha ha. The 500cm is no doubt

a beautiful piece of gear - stunning. I value workmanship, and just wondered if there were any major differences between

the 645 and 6x6 Bronica. Weight is still a little bit of an issue because my mode of transport is bike and trailer. But I

am happy to take 3-5kg including my Manfrotto 055 tripod.

 

So there's my life story - hope you are all still awake! Thanks for the help. Now I just need to decide... there are some

good deals here in Australia for both systems right now.