Bronicas

[richardHaw]

wanting to buy a Bronica for my Nikkors. I am eyeing for the S for the ease of use. do you have any recommendations for a Bronica to be used on old Nikkors? 

[Roland Vink]

I'm not sure many even know that Nikon used to make lenses for medium format 6x6 Bronicas. The lenses are listed on my site, but I don't know much about the cameras. The old super-telephotos with the separate focus-unit were designed to work on the Bronicas - same lens head, different focus unit.

I expect the newer camera models would have improvements and better features. This site seems to have useful information: http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bronica_S2 I'm sure there are plenty around the Tokyo junk shops that you can try

[Akira]

According to Japanese Wiki, the "S" lacks the self-timer and the slow shutter speed between 2-10 seconds that utilized the self-timer mechanis.  Instead, the mirror-up function is added.  Apparently this is the only mechanical shutter model with the mirror-up mechanism.  The shutter shock of the mechanical Bronica was known to be strong, so the mirror-up function would be of great help.  The fastest shutter speed is 1/1000 sec.

The larger mount for the telephoto lenses was changed on the following model "C".  I'm not sure of the compatibility between the older and newer mounts.  The fastest shutter speed of the model C and later is 1/500.

Would this info of any help?

Here is the link to the Japanese Wiki:

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B6%E3%83%96%E3%83%AD%E3%83%8B%E3%82%AB

[richardHaw]

thanks! i settled with the S2a since many people consider this to be the better classic broni in terms of value and reliability
i got one from a shop that i know

[Akira]

thanks! i settled with the S2a since many people consider this to be the better classic broni in terms of value and reliability
i got one from a shop that i know

Good for you.  The Wiki also says that S2 was the most consummate model in the series and was the longtime seller.

[richardHaw]

from 日東カメラ. the old couple there know me and so they gave me a nice price for this

[Akira]

Wow, it looks like a very clean sample!

[richardHaw]

not perfect unfortunately. the finder screen has scratches 

[Akira]

You would find the spare part (or the entire body for spare) anyway.   

[richardHaw]

i will teach myself how to fix bronicas. not many people do this anymore i was told 

[simato73]

I'm not sure many even know that Nikon used to make lenses for medium format 6x6 Bronicas. The lenses are listed on my site, but I don't know much about the cameras. The old super-telephotos with the separate focus-unit were designed to work on the Bronicas - same lens head, different focus unit.

I expect the newer camera models would have improvements and better features. This site seems to have useful information: http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bronica_S2 I'm sure there are plenty around the Tokyo junk shops that you can try

I have the Nikkor-P 75mm f/2.8 and the Nikkor-O 50mm f/2.8. Also the Komura 45mm f/3.5.
The Nikkors are fine lenses, especially the 75mm. I have yet to test the 45.
I use all of them on a Type II T/S bellows unit for Bronica, that I have bought for a miraculously low price and adapted for use with Nikon and Fujifilm cameras.

[Hugh_3170]

The Plaubel Makina 67 was a stylish Medium Format folding camera that had a (fixed) 80mm/2.8 Nikon Lens.  There were a handful of others IIRC with Nikon lenses - but can't recall their names.

[Akira]

The Plaubel Makina 67 was a stylish Medium Format folding camera that had a (fixed) 80mm/2.8 Nikon Lens.  There were a handful of others IIRC with Nikon lenses - but can't recall their names.

Were there that many?  Yes, Plaubel Makina 67 and W67 were fitted with the Nikon lenses 80/2.8 and 55/4.5 respectively.  A rangefinder camera called "Nicca" was essentially an L39 mount Barnack Leica copy, but it was sold as a kit with the Nikkor 50mm lens.  But I cannot think of anything else.

[Hugh_3170]

Yes, I had forgotten about the Nicca, although I have seen and handled one (and of course, I am not counting the very early screw thread mount Canon cameras).  I thought that there were one or two others, but happy to stand corrected.

[chambeshi]

hi Richard

Here's an interesting item of information in Tale 11 :

"The optical design of NIKKOR-H 300mm f/2.8 was made by Mr. SHIMIZU, Yoshiyuki introduced in Tale Five. Though it is not well known and to our surprise, this lens has the covering power enable to cover 6 x 6 cm format. It was originally designed so as to be switched to "Bronica Nikkor"."

https://web.archive.org/web/20131016141521/http://imaging.nikon.com:80/history/nikkor/11/index.htm