Joachim
Hello everyone,
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If you had to choose between these two medium-format cameras, which one would you go for?
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- Mamiya C33 (6x4.5 negative)
- Zenza Bronica ETR (6x6 negative)
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Thanks for your suggestions.
Junkom
Hi Joachim,
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So the C33 is the 6x6 model and the ETR is the 6x4.5 camera.
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In terms of design and handling, the two cameras couldn’t be more different.
It starts with the fact that the Mamiya works entirely without a battery, whereas the ETRs won’t run without one.
Basically, it’s purely a question of format – what do you want to photograph?
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Personally, when I was starting out, I threw myself into the 6x6 adventure with a Rolleiflex, which I was able to buy quite cheaply back then.
And it was a wonderful time; the format is considered difficult, but that’s purely a matter of opinion.
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In terms of price, the ETR is cheaper, and the same goes for the range of spare and additional parts. The 6x4.5 format is roughly the equivalent of 35mm in medium format in terms of aspect ratio.
I can’t say much about the quality of the ETR; its bigger brother in 6x7 didn’t convince me in terms of handling.
I thought the C33 was great, but it was also very clunky to handle when shooting handheld.
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If you don’t want to spend too much money and want to get fully into medium format, and portability isn’t the main priority, I’d recommend a Mamiya RB Pro S or SD 6x7.
You can get those for roughly the same price.
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Hope this helps a bit ;)
Bonderer
I would definitely recommend the Bronica. Good cameras and lenses, a wide range of accessories and lenses, including zoom lenses. Interchangeable magazines that also allow for 35mm and panorama formats. A comfortable camera with plenty of scope for expansion. I have the RF 645, but I’m more of a fan of rangefinder cameras; however, the lenses are very good. That said, if you like 6x6, Bronica also offers a larger format. Personally, I find twin-lens cameras with interchangeable lenses too unwieldy, cumbersome and more suited to studio use.
Urnes
As I said, it depends on what you want to do. The Zenza is more practical when travelling. Especially if you have the prism viewfinder with Beli.
The C33 is pure mechanics that won’t let you down even at minus 15 degrees. You get the larger film format. And thanks to the bellows, you can get quite close to your subjects. OK. The parallax won’t be correct then, and you’ll have to estimate the final frame. If you were looking for a C, I’d go straight for a C330 s pro. That was the last series. Even though I wouldn’t sell my C 33, I’d probably look for an RB today because of the format. They don’t differ much in weight.
Regards, Sven.
Joachim
Hello everyone,
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OK, you’ve convinced me! Thanks for the detailed advice.
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I’m having a look around for a Zenza Bronica ETR(si)
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I might need a user manual in German as well.
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Thank you
Junkom
Joachim
So,
I
bought a Zenza Bronica ETRsi today!
Many
thanks for your help.
Joachim
Order sent
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I’ve just ordered a fair bit of black-and-white and colour film (Porta 400) from the shopkeeper for my Zenza Bronika ETRsi and my AGFA Synchro Box with a 6x9 cm format. This time, 120 film. I’ve still got plenty of 35mm.
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Now nothing can go wrong and I’m looking forward to my hobby, to our wonderful hobby, analogue photography!
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Have a great holiday, enjoy the summer and may the light be good for you all!
rlfsoso
Hi Joachim, my usual camera is the Zenza Bronica ETRSi (645), so here are a few more tips:
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a) Great camera; with the Speed Grip and prism (I prefer it without the Beli), it handles just like a (large) 35mm camera – perfect.
b) When you load the magazine – and if you have one of the newer ones with the double lock (two buttons to press together to remove the magazine) – the insert where the film goes in is probably also a matching ‘newer’ one. It’s really important to note that the locking discs in the two small flaps you open to change the film cartridge are made of plastic. This means you must close them first, THEN insert the magazine insert into the magazine and close it. The magazines have a built-in locking mechanism that prevents the two flaps from opening when the magazine is closed. However: if you’ve failed to close the flaps properly and the magazine is already ‘sealed’, and you simply close the flaps anyway, this will only work once: after that, the plastic discs are ruined. It happened to me; I’d used magazine inserts with this fault before and the film ended up partly black. I have quite a few magazines and they’ve since been fitted with the older inserts, where the locking discs are made of metal.
c) The battery – without which nothing works, because the central shutter is electromechanical (without power 1/500; the camera’s control system then ‘slows down’ the shutter to the correct speed) – lasts quite a long time for me. However: the switch around the shutter release button is also off when not in use, so no current flows.€
Enjoy your ETRSi!
Rolf
rlfsoso
PS: Only remove or fit lenses when the camera is locked! Unfortunately, I only have the instructions in English; see Butkus.org
Joachim
Thank you for the further helpful tips.
User manual:
Would anyone be able to provide me with a user manual – preferably in German?
DerReisefotograf
As I said, it depends on what you want to do. The Zenza is more practical when travelling, especially if you’ve got the prism viewfinder with Beli.
The C33 is pure mechanics that won’t let you down even at minus 15 degrees. You’ve got the larger film format. And thanks to the bellows, you can get quite close to your subject. OK. The parallax is no longer correct, so you have to estimate the final frame. If you were looking for a C, I’d go straight for a C330 s pro. That was the last series. Even though I wouldn’t sell my C 33, I’d probably look for an RB today because of the format. They don’t differ much in weight.
Regards, Sven.
Hello,
I’d like to add something about the C33. What you said about the macro capabilities is certainly true. But to avoid frustration when doing macro photography with the C33 (and all C-series cameras) because the framing was only estimated, you should use the Paramender. First, you set the frame and focus point using the viewfinder lens, and then you use the Paramender to shift the camera upwards by exactly the distance between the two lenses. And that way, you’ll have exactly the same frame on the film as you set it on the focusing screen. The Paramender is absolutely essential when using the 55mm Sekor, because with the 55mm you get so close to the subject that estimating is no longer practical. You should also use it with the other lenses if you want to do it properly.
As this information is no longer relevant to the OP, I’m writing it anyway for users interested in a Mamiya C-series camera.
Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about the ETRSi, as I’m not familiar with that camera.
Best regards, Tobias
HeinzB
@Joachim
If you still need the German instruction manual, I can copy the manual for my ETRS (built in 1981 or 1982). I can also provide the manuals for the AE-II viewfinder and the E quick-release handgrip, as well as the data sheets for the 75mm and 200mm lenses.
See also
http://www.myphotoweb.com/Zenza_bronica_camera/zenza_en/index.htm
and
http://www.troeszter.net/BronicaHome/ETRSiPage.htm
mattes
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to take photographs with an Exakta 66, a Kiev 60, the Brenner Edel China replica of the Yashica Mat 124, a Fuji 4.5×6 rangefinder camera, a Mamiya Press and a Mamiya C220.
Of all these cameras, I liked the Mamiya C220 best.
The twin-lens Mamiyas are brilliant cameras.
Anyone who struggles with the mirror slap of their medium-format SLR will come to love the concept of a fixed mirror combined with a vibration-free central shutter.
On top of that, the Mamiyas offer interchangeable lenses and a bellows extension suitable for macro photography.
Matthias
mattes
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to take photographs with an Exakta 66, a Kiev 60, the Brenner Edel China replica of the Yashica Mat 124, a Fuji 4.5×6 rangefinder camera, a Mamiya Press and a Mamiya C220.
€
Of all these cameras, I liked the Mamiya C220 best.€
The twin-lens Mamiyas are brilliant cameras.
Anyone who struggles with the mirror slap of their medium-format SLR will come to love the concept of a fixed mirror combined with a vibration-free central shutter.
On top of that, the Mamiyas offer interchangeable lenses and a bellows extension suitable for macro photography.
Matthias
