ron_hughes

Thanks. Does anyone know if ROR-1 is available in the UK? If so where? If not, where can it be obtained in the US, via mail order?

Dust can usually be blown off, but when I recently bought some filters from a supplier of used equipment, one of them was particularly greasy and grubby (the filter - not the supplier!) so I asked him to clean it. He used a fluid, from an unmarked bottle and a soft cloth, but was extremely reluctant to tell me what the liquid was.

 

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Presumably glass filters could be washed with detergent and water to remove grease (eg finger prints and other grime). I guess it wouldn't be safe to use a liquid or solvent on a lens, in case it damaged the special anti-reflective vapour deposited coating.

 

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What is the recommended method for cleaning optics?

Many thanks for all your valuable comments.

 

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Update - I eventually decided to keep my Canon EOS, sold my Yashica TLR and bought a used Bronica ETRS with 75mm and two 120 film backs - one for colour and the other for B&W. I recently added a 50mm.

 

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The idea of getting a 24x54 filmback intrigues me. Are they readily available?

As an ex-owner of a Yashicamat 124, I concur with the previous comments. The shutter is quiet and this camera can produce impressive results. Visit www.findon.com/photo-rh.htm if you want to see a photo of one in use! I now use a Bronica and, as much as I love it, I still find the sound of the shutter being released quite alarming - like a gunshot - it would be hard to take photos unnoticed with an ETRS (unless you bought a silencer for it <g>) great camera to start out with though, if you can afford one.

Many thanks for the feedback above, and to Bob Monaghan who referred me to www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/broncameratest.html for lens and camera testing ideas and resources.

 

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He also mentioned:

 

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Bronica 6x6 medium format

www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/bronica.html

 

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Medium format cameras

www.smu/edu/~rmonagha/mf/index.html

Update ...

 

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Several dealers have told me that all 50mm Bronica "E" lenses were marked "MC", and that this lens has since been replaced by the "PE".

 

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I'm grateful to them for this clarification, and to my supplier MXV for giving me a full refund. I have now bought a "PE" lens.

Update ...

 

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Several dealers have told me that the "E" and "MC" lenses are one and the same (ie Bronica have only ever made 50mm lenses that are marked "MC") and Bronica currently supply "PE", which is a new improved optical design.

 

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As my 75mm is an EII and I want a wide angle lens that is at least as good, I returned my "MC" lens to my supplier MXV, who very were understanding and gave me a full refund - all credit to them.

 

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I have since purchased a "PE".

 

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Many thanks for everyone's help, including those who e-mailed me privately about this.

I recently bought a Zenzanon 50mm f2.8E lens for my Bronica ETRS.

 

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The advert described it as an "E". The supplier maintains it's an "E" and their invoice states that it's an "E". The box says it's an "E" and the serial number on the box corresponds with number on the lens. But, the lens itself is only marked "MC".

 

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It's been suggested that an "MC" lenses are inferior, or predate, "E" lenses and I realize that "EII", and the more recent "PE", lenses are better than "E" lenses.

 

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I would like to know if the "E" lenses were marked "E" or not! I would really like to know if my lens is an "E", or not!

 

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I'm getting conflicting advice - and a bit confused! Some people say one thing, others say something else.

 

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Surely, someone out there must be an expert on Bronica lenses?

 

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Please help!

 

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Thank you.

I recently bought a 50mm f2.8E lens and would like to know the best way of testing it. I realize this is a rather stupid question! Obviously, the thing to do is to use it. What I mean is, what if any, is the recommended procedure for testing a lens like this, given that it has a shutter built in? Apart from checking the smoothness of the focusing, should I test it at all shutter speeds? Anything else?

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

I bought my 50mm f2.8 via an advert in Amateur Photographer (ie UK magazine) from MXV. I paid 380 pounds (approx US$608).

 

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It was advertised as an "E" and the box says "E", but the lens it self is marked "MC" which presumably means multi-coated.

 

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I was worried that I'd been sent the wrong lens, but MXV have assured me that 50mm "E" lenses are only marked "MC".

 

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50mm seems to be the optimum wide angle lens for landscape work.

Are Bronica 50mm "E" lenses marked "E" or "MC"?

I recently ordered a used 50mm f2.8E lens for my ETRS, and that was what I expected to receive!

 

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The advert said 50mm f2.8 E and the supplier's invoice says 50 f2.8E but the lens itself is marked MC, unlike my 75mm lens which is marked EII.

 

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Presumably MC stands for multi-coated.

 

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Info elsewhere on this site, and other sites on the Internet, seems to suggest that there are 4 different lenses (ie MC, E, EII and PE) for the Bronica.

 

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Should my supplier have sent me an E lens? Have I been conned, or am I being paranoid?

Having purchased a used ETRS recently I was pleased to discover a webpage that explains the differences between the different models

 

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http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/bronetr.html

 

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Hope you might find it helpful. Perhaps the webmaster of this site could add a hyperlink to the above URL.

 

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The rest of the website seems to contain a considerable amount of info that should be of interest to medium format enthusiasts with other cameras.

 

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NB - I am not connected in anyway with the above website.

PS - If the zoom lens mentioned earlier in this thread can be bought for $1,439 in the US (ie approx 899 pounds), it's worth noting that it would cost 1170 pounds in the UK (ie approx $1,872)!

 

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Amateur Photographer's 13 June issue contains an excellent article on the pros and cons of grey importing.

 

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Apparently, if I grey imported the lens from the US to the UK, I would have to pay at least 4.8% (possibly 6% or even 8%) duty plus 17.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on the price, the postage and the duty itself added together (ie something around the cost in the UK). I doubt that it would be worth the hassle.

Well, I've finally made a decision!

 

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I think the 40mm would be a little extreme for general landscape work.

 

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I'd be interested in a 2nd-hand zoom, but am not willing to pay 1170 pounds, which is what the 45-90/4-5.6 PE would cost me in the UK.

 

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I've just ordered a 2nd-hand 50 f2.8E via mail order from MXV in the UK for 380 pounds, plus a Hoya polariser filter and 120 Ei filmback.

 

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I'll see how I get on, and might buy a 150 (or possibly a 200) later.

 

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Many thanks for all the advice.

 

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The next problem is how to break the news to my wife!

 

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Any advice?

 

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:-)

Once again, many thanks for the valuable feedback.

 

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The 40mm sounds impressive, but now I'm in a quandary:

 

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My experience with a 35mm camera, and knowledge gained from reading, has led me to the belief that the best lens for landscape is wide angle, but I'm new to medium format. Is it really so different?

 

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I realize that telephoto lenses produce a foreshortening effect and have see that technique used to good effect in some landscape shots.

 

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Whilst the 45-90mm f4-5.6 zoom sounds appealing, I haven't seen it being offered in the UK. If I imported one from the US I believe I'd end up paying pretty much the same as the standard UK price, by the time I've paid Value Added Tax and import duty!

 

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Are zooms available 2nd-hand yet, or are they relatively new for Bronicas?

 

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Would the zoom be compatible with my ETRS (rather than the ETRSi)?

 

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I suppose if funds allowed, ideally it would be nice have a couple of zooms and to dispense with the standard lens (that's what I've done with my 35mm camera). Or, would you advise hanging on to the 75mm?

 

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Your comments would be valued ...

Thanks for the feedback. Is that what I should get then (ie PE40mm) for my ETRS?

 

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NB - My camera is not an ETRSi and I don't know what the PE signifies!

 

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Does anyone use 50mm for landscape? If not, then what is 50mm best suited for? I gather that the 150mm is the best lens for portraiture and the 75mm is a general purpose lens (ie equivalent to a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera - though I've never found a standard 50mm much use and prefer to use a zoom lens on my 35mm camera).

 

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Any comments?

I have an ETRS with std 75mm lens. What's the best focal length for landscape? Specifically which lens (eg 40mm E). Would appreciate your advice. Thanks.

Thanks again for your replies. I'm definitely going to order a Bender kit, as soon as funds allow. Meanwhile, feel free to jump in with more comments. Seems Bender is the only company that sells kits, or am I mistaken?

Many thanks for all the info.

Thanks for the feedback. If I buy a Profiflash then what? How will the Profiflash help? What info would it provide?

 

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Will I need a speedgrip? Would this provide a hotshoe? If not, what else will I need?

 

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How should the Speedlite be used - in manual or auto mode?

 

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Any further info would be most welcome.

Can I use my Canon Speedlite 420EZ (in manual mode) with a Bronica ETRS? If so how? What accessories will I need? How can I best determine which of the Speedlite's manual modes (that vary light output) I should use, for any given condition? I have a Gossen Profisix, which doesn't measure flash output. I'd like to avoid having to purchase another flash unit and light meter, if possible - if only to reduce the amount of equipment that I have to lug around and to keep the peace with my wife :-)

Many thanks for the info. I've ordered a copy of the book from Amazon.

 

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Meanwhile, I've discovered that the Speedlite has a manual mode (which I hadn't noticed before, as I've always just stuck it on my EOS and fired away - the flash defaults to auto mode when switched on) in which it is possible to vary the light output.

 

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The Speedlite manual doesn't help much as it assumes it will be used with an EOS, irrespective of whether in auto or manual modes. I'm not sure quite how things will work out, but hopefully the book will help - otherwise I suppose I can always resort to experimentation! Failing that I might have to invest in another flash unit.

 

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If anyone out there has any experience in using a Speedlite with a Bronica, I'd be delighted to hear from you ...

I used a Yashica Mat as an entry level medium format camera (I recently sold it and bought a Bronica ETRS). The Yashica produced good results, but I wanted the flexibility of the modular Bronica system (interchangeable lenses, interchangeable filmbacks, etc). Close-up, wide-angle and telephoto lens sets are available for the Yashica, but they tend to be hard to find and rather expensive. Do a search using Yahoo! and you'll find at least one website of interest.

 

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What is ebay?