• Bronica Sq Serial Numbers Identification
• Bronica Sq Serial Numbers Lookup

Bronica SQ 140-280/5,6 Zenzanon-S Variogon. €490.00. Prices incl. VAT plus shipping costs Add to Cart Product number. Serial Number 13895132.

• Model, after the almost identical Bronica Z. Both are very rare, and very Both have 1/1250th top speeds. There are actually two model D's. With serial # CB21 while the D Type 2 starts with serial # ACB23.
• The Bronica SQ series is a line of 6x6 medium format SLR camera system introduced in 1980. Production of the last Bronica SQ-Ai model (including lenses and accessories) finished at the end of September 2003, with sales continuing until inventories were depleted.
• Serial Number 6500426 Estimated shipping weight: 2 Lbs BRONICA BOX ONLY FOR 50/2.8 ZENZANON-E ETRS/151942 $15 BRONICA BOX ONLY FOR SPEED GRIP-E ETRS, WITH INNER FOAM, EX/EX+.

The Bronica SQ series is a line of 6x6 medium formatSLR camera system introduced in 1980. Production of the last Bronica SQ-Ai model (including lenses and accessories) finished at the end of September 2003, with sales continuing until inventories were depleted^[1].

• 2SQ-A

SQ

The Bronica SQ is a 6x6 medium formatSLR camera that replaced the Bronica EC as their 6x6 format camera from August 1980^[2]. The SQ is often said to mean square.

Similar to the 6x4.5 based ETR series that came before it, the SQ uses a leaf shutter based lens design. They are not compatible with the older series of focal plane shutter cameras. The lens system has a Seiko manufactured electronic shutter with speed of 8 sec. to 1/500 sec. plus T with the focusing helicode built-in to each lens. The sync connector is located on the front of the camera by the lens mount. Since it's a leaf shutter based camera system, flash sync is available at all speeds.

An interchangeable back system was incorporated that has the ability to use 120 or 220 (12 / 24 ) exposure film backs. The backs contain a ISO speed dial setting that is coupled to metered finders. Since the body and back need to be synchronized, make sure to wind the film crank completely before attaching the back. The film back also contains a crank, useful for setting the film start index. The main film crank can be removed to attach a winder or speed grip. The shutter release button can be locked with a twist of the collar to prevent mistaken exposures. The film back adopted some of the dark slide features of previous models. The camera will release the back when the dark slide is inserted and release button pressed.

The shutter cannot be released with the dark slide inserted. Unlike the older Bronica models, when the film back is detached from the body the dark slide can still be removed. The shutter cannot be cocked without film, but use of multi-exposure mode will enable you to cock it and test fire the shutter. The lens cannot be removed or attached without cocking the shutter. A red LED will illuminate in the viewfinder during shutter fire. The light will go out when the shutter fire has completed. Observe that the cocking pin colour is green on both the lens and body before attaching or removing the lens. If they are not, manually cock the shutter on the lens or body.

A battery check button is located by the shutter knob along with a cable release socket. The camera is powered by one 6V PX28A battery located in a compartment at the base of the camera. A 1/4 inch tripod socket as well as a flash sync connector for accessories are also on the base.

SQ-A

In 1982 the SQ-A was released with mirror lockup and a new view finder system now supporting auto exposure. The newer AE finders are not fully compatible with the older SQ cameras, they are unable to mount properly because there are now more electronic connector pins. The film back dark slides are now locked when not attached to the camera. The new dark slides are now grey in color.

SQ-Am

Introduced in January 1983, the SQ-Am is an 'integrated motor-drive only' version SQ-A body (in other words, the SQ-Am has no manual film advance). Up to this date installing the accessory motor drive to the SQ series of Bronicas was a tricky and somewhat unreliable process. To make a reliable motor-driven SQ, therefore, the motor was incorporated into the body of the SQ-Am. The SQ-Am uses six AA batteries to drive the motor, in addition to the a small 6 volt battery to power the camera's shutter and meter. The drive runs at two frames every three seconds, with the batteries lasting for approximately 60 rolls of 120 film.

SQ-Ai

The SQ-Ai was a slightly updated SQ-A, announced at the 1990 Photokina, with availability in the US from early 1991^[3]. The camera has the ability to use a motor drive. The drive is specifically for the Ai and does not function properly with other SQ models. Also OTF metering is possible. TTL automatic flash requires the use of the SCA connector located on the shutter side of the body for attachment to a SCA flash adapters. When multiple exposure mode is enabled, the right of the viewfinder now displays an square indicator. A longer shutter speed of 16 seconds is added to the body, along with a traditional bulb mode shutter setting instead of just T, but it drains battery power while in use. The 16 second and bulb modes does not work with the ME or MF finders. This camera switches to 4x LR44 batteries that are held by a battery holder. The backs changed slightly, with the ISO dial on the back instead of the top. This makes it much easier to view and change the ISO settings with larger finders. The ISO has increased and can go up to ISO 6400. Exposure compensation is also on the newer (SQ-i) backs. It allows adjustment of up to 2 EV in 1/3 increments.

SQ-B

The SQ-B is a simplified version of the SQ-A. It is sometimes called SQ Basic. It was made in 1996, making it the newest camera in the SQ line. The main difference with the B model is when mounted the light metering functions in prism finders are not functional. The film back also lacks the ISO dial; since a dial does not serve a purpose of coupling to the meter which will not function. The often bundled lens 80mm PS/B lens does not have a T mode. The T mode will function on lenses equipped as such. Does not have bulb mode, since the SQ-A did not have it either. The motor drive accessory also will not function with this camera.

Gallery

System

Lenses

A lens- or leaf-shutter camera, the SQ-series will synchronize flash at all available shutter speeds. Lenses are designated 'S' and 'PS'.

Compared

Bronica Sq Serial Numbers Identification

O: works X: not work O-: no 16s or B mode OX:mount no meter

Bibliography

• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.160 and 169.
• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). Pp.159–62.

Notes

1. ↑End of Bronica production message from Tamron
2. ↑PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES vol. 41 no. 9 '83 p. 77
3. ↑Popular Photography, January 1991 p. 54

Links

In English:Manuals

• Bronica SQ Camera Manuals (SQ-A, SQ-Am) at Photo-Manuals.com
• Bronica manual for SQ / / SQ-A / / SQ-Am / / SQ-Ai / / SQ-B at Mike Butkus' Orphan Cameras

In French

• Bronica SQ at Collection-appareils by Sylvain Halgand

At around 1960, a man the Americans called “Mr. Zenza” came to the USA and had lunch with Burt Keppler, the former well-known publisher of Modern Photography and Popular Photography magazines in the United States and one of the most respected and influential figures in the history of the camera industry. Keppler, who passed away in 2008, was a driving force behind the success of the Japanese camera industry. Mr. Zenza was in America to sell his camera, the Zenza Bronica. It was to become a widely used camera family, not least by recording millions of weddings shot on medium format film.

Rewind.

Zenzaburo Yoshino was born in 1911 as the third son of a prosperous rice dealer, which even at that time had over 150 employees. Yoshino initially continued his family’s rice business. However, in the aftermath of WW II and the resulting US occupational forces’ rice rationing and control over rice distribution he was keen to expand and diversify the business into new areas. Why he got interested in cameras is not clear, but he was known to enjoy a stroll over Ginza and looking at the various camera stores there. Being from a wealthy family he was certainly in a position to afford the expensive hobby of photography. Yoshino began to be known as a real camera mania, an obsessive photo enthusiast. He admired Victor Hasselblad, the Swedish inventor and photographer, known for developing the modular Hasselblad 6×6 cm medium format camera.

In 1946, Yoshino opened a used camera store called 新光堂写真機店 — Shinkoudou Shashinki-ten in Kanda-Tachō (神田多町), the ward of Chiyoda in Tokyo. Despite the hard times of the post-war era, many still affluent Japanese would sell off their cameras to buy the latest models. The shop was a viable business and prospering. Nonetheless Yoshino grew tired of simply buying and selling cameras. Thus behind the shop’s premises the 新光堂製作所 — Shinkoudou Manufacturing workshop was established in 1947, with the primary intention to design and manufacture cameras. They failed to do so, but to improve their skill and workmanship the workshop started producing delicate fashion accessories made of metal, such as metal cigarette cases, brooches, lighters and women’s compacts (portable beauty accessory with powder and mirror). In 1952 Yoshino wanted to try building a camera once more but realised that a better workshop was needed.

The actual birthplace of Bronica was an old Japanese-style building in Kami-Itabashi in Itabashi ward in northern Tokyo, a district known for its numerous small manufacturing operations. Zenzaburo Yoshino was a child of the Meiji era and was content with a modest and simple factory. It even served as a home for the Yoshino family, including their two children aged two at the time and a maid, on the first floor and the machinery, reception and delivery areas on the ground floor. The division of the house was not too dissimilar from his earlier experience of running the rice store.

The accessory business blossomed and a large proportion of the company’s income was re-invested into the development of a camera. Yoshino was not a trained camera designer, but he had a dream and two common Japanese personality traits: persistency and tenacity. It took eight years to finalise the design and build the camera, which he named Zenza Bronica – the name being partly derived from his name Zenzaburo and the Japanese term for 120 medium format sized film, buroni (Brownie).

Originally that first camera that went on sale in 1959 was simply called Zenza Bronica and later renamed Zenza Bronica type D (Deluxe) and the follow on model type S (Standard). The Bronica D was the Japanese answer to the Hasselblad and in several ways outclassed the Swedish offerings.

It was a 6×6cm single-lens reflex camera similar to Hasselblad in design style and size, but this camera had various advantages over the original Hasselblad 1600F and 1000F with focal plane shutters:

• the reflex mirror and aperture are returned to the original position after exposure
• to allow intruding retro-focus lenses, the reflex mirror is not just flipped up but sliding down
• very long exposures up to 10 seconds using self-timer
• inserting a dark slide automatically detaches the back preventing accidental exposure
• the film can be loaded fully automatically just as with the Rolleiflex without aligning the start mark

Bronica Sq Serial Numbers Lookup

However, the Bronica D was not just a technical feat, it also was a very pleasing object to handle and showing Yoshino’s workshop’s experience in manufacturing fashion accessories. The chrome (actual stainless steel) elements and subtly curved lines gave it a delicate and precious appearance, not simply a metal box with a lens in front, despite the modular design. More information and pictures on Cameraquest.

The following Bronica Z and successor Bronicas, using large-coverage, high-quality Nikkor lenses, became instant successes. Bronica later introduced lenses of its own manufacture with its later camera designs.

Zenza Bronica Ltd. was eventually acquired by the lens manufacturer Tamron in 1998. Zenzaburo Yoshino died in 1988. As a response to the digital revolution Tamron discontinued the brand’s single-lens reflex models (SQ, ETR and GS) in October 2004. Bronica’s last model, the RF645 rangefinder camera, was discontinued in October 2005 and Tamron announced the termination of the Bronica brand and medium format cameras.

Classic Bronica Resources

Bronica Classic Medium Format Cameras pages — the most comprehensive information in English on all things Bronica

Bronica Users Group on Yahoo! Groups

Bronica D, C, S, S2, S2a, EC Group on Flickr

Maintainance of Zenza Bronica cameras: The son of Zenzaburo Yoshino established a company named “1st Technical Service”. They have many genuine Bronica parts. Electronical circuits also stocked. No parts for type D and type S. Tel +81-3-5390-2833 (Japan) [Note: not verified whether this still exists]

Tamron are still providing parts and service to the more recent Bronica medium format cameras. In case you need help, please take advantage of our Camera Parts & Repair Service.

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