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Bronica S

On face value the Bronica S (for Supreme) seems a really nice camera, until you compare it to the earlier and much rarer Bronica Z or D. 

    Introduced in early 1961, the Bronica S is very similar to the earlier Bronicas.  They can easily be confused for each other, especially if all you have to go by is the standard price guide descriptions.  Yet, closer examination shows they are very different cameras.  The earlier Z and D have an "improved Hasselblad 1000f" feeling reminiscent of the beautiful and graceful 1957 Thunderbird.    The Bronica S takes on a more gaudy aesthetic style,   reminiscent  of the 1959 Cadillac El Dorado.  

• Bronica S improvements  pointed out by Michael Beard: 

• Mirror lockup button on bottom of camera below shutter release. 

•   Two cable release mounts, one inside shutter release, one on bottom of camera

•    Amazingly, you can not accidentally leave the dark slide IN the camera --- and so miss a shot.  As a safety device preventing lost Pullet Surprise opportunities,   the dark slide will actually pull itself about half way out, to remind you to remove it completely.   No, I am not making this up.  To remove the back, you have to insert the dark slide and push it all the way in--the back will come off.  Accidentally leaving the dark slide in and so missing a good shot is impossible with this design.  OK, some of you don't believe it.  I didn't either, but it's true.   Gee.  I wonder if Linhof could do this with 4x5 dark slides??

• Easy Bronica S Identification points: 1/1000th shutter, lever advance, no dark gray center trim, very heavy chrome trim, focusing helical built into body.

• The D's 1/1250th top speed was reduced to 1/1000 on the S.

• 

• The D's more complicated advance, shutter speed dial and   focus knob was replaced with the S's simpler advance and focus knob, with retractable advance lever.

•  

• The D's shutter speed dial was moved from the advance/focus knob to the other side of camera

• The D's special tripod bayonet replaced by a standard tripod socket

• The D's serial # on the back edge of the body, ala Hassy, replaced with a serial # on top edge of magazine.

• The D's opening of magazine back on left side of magazine, replaced with opening latch on top edge of magazine.

• The D's dejamming screw was eliminated on the S.

• The D's self timer and shutter speeds from 2 to 10 seconds eliminated on the S.

• The D's focusing lock eliminated on the S.

• The D's double exposure button eliminated

• The D's Hasselblad like styling was replaced with much heavier, gaudier chrome trim.

• The D's distinctive center dark gray strip styling on finder top and camera back was eliminated

• The flash sync connection moved from the left side on the D in the center of the slow speed

• Notice the Bronica Z/D/S lenses use focusing helicals built into the camera body.  Later Bronicas used a more conventional design with each lens having its own helical.   Later lenses will not fit the earlier cameras, but the earlier lenses can be used on the later camera with a Bronica helical adapter.

• Finders and backs ARE NOT interchangeable between Z/D cameras and the S.  Strange, but true.   Neither are the magazine slides.

    Bronica D dark slide on the left, Bronica S dark slide on the right.

These pics show the new magazine back opening latch, and covering safety latch.

All in all, I have to say I find the S a cheapened D.  The D, in fact, is a much more feature laden  and aesthetically pleasing camera. While some may consider the addition of a winding crank an advantage of the S, I think it turned into a disadvantage.  Bronica apparently changed the winding gearing and springs in their transition from the D to the S.  The problem, at least in the examples I have examined, is that   the S advance and mirror mechanism  has considerably more noise and vibration than the D.

Alas, the curse of a beautiful older sister, or smarter older brother. If the D did not exist, I would describing   the advanced Bronica S with its advanced instant return mirror, wonderful craftsmanship, easy fast handling, and intelligent system approach.

Left to right, the Bronica D and Bronica S.

Revised: November 25, 2003 .  Copyright � 1998-2002  Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved.    This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind.  Information in this document is subject to change without notice.  Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.