This mainly concerns old Bronica Focal Plane Shutter models S2, S2-A and
C, although it might also concern models S, EC, ECTL, ECTL II and other
medium format SLRs.
The design and function of the original Bronica Z/Deluxe was influenced by
the original boxy 6x6cm SLR, Primarflex and by extension its imitator,
Hasselblad. The Primarflex was in effect a miniature version of those
large SLR cameras for up to 4x5 and 5x7 film- Graflex, Mentor Reflex, Hall
Reflex and such. All of these cameras were designed to be used at waist or
chest level, with the photographer looking down into the viewing hood.
The same can be said for the original 35MM SLR, Exakta I, an outgrowth of
the 127 VP Exakta models. With the emergence of the Contax S and other
similar cameras in the late 1940s, 35MM SLRs were being made with eye
level prism finders and eventually Exakta pioneered such interchangeable
finders for their 35MM cameras. This made the 35MM SLR suitable for use in
action photography, a field formerly dominated by 35MM Rangefinder models.
This popularity of eye level 35MM prism finder SLRs, led to the creation
of prism finders for 6x6cm reflexes. And, up to today, photographers
weaned on 35MM Eye Level prism SLRs, when they switch to mdium format
cameras, desire to continue their use habits of working with eye level
prisms on their cameras.
That is how eye level prisms came to be made for the focal plane shutter
Bronica models.
I had previously had a "S" series 45 degree prism finder, which I found to
be dim, heavy and uncomfortable to use. I have just gotten the 90 degree
model of same and my original comments also apply to this. These boxy
reflexes of the Graflex/Primarflex style were designed to be used as
waist/chest level and they are awkward to use and hold as eye level
cameras. I am amazed how so many modern photographers have continued to
use new models of the current boxy medium format cameras, Hasselblad,
Bronica and others with heavy handgrips to accomodate use at eye level.
True, with modern brighter plastic screens and brighter prisms these
cameras are more eye-worthy than older models. However, they are still
awkward in the extreme to hold.
Large 35MM-style medium format cameras like Pentacon 6 (with the bright
condensor lens model 2 prism without TTL), Norita, Kiev 60, new Exakta 66
and Pentax 67 - are hand holdable at eye level and can be easily used like
prism 35MM SLR models.
What amazes me is the comparison in brightness and ease of use of old
Bronica S2 etc. models with the waist level finder as compared to those
awful old prisms. However, many photographers recently switching to medium
format have never used an old Rolleiflex TLR and never learned to properly
use a Waist Level finder. It is sheer ease itself. One having a good high
power magnifier will always be easier to use, for all uses other than
action photography, than any prism and will give a sharper image than any
prism, if one focuses on the groundglass areas and not just split image.
True, the reversed mirror image takes getting used to, but it allows more
for composition as the design elements appear unfamiliar and are design
objects only. One can work fast with these finders when one acquires the
skills.
Something recently astounded me when I was at an elaborate wedding. The
photographers were using Hasselblad cameras with 2 - Vivitar 283 flashes
on each camera. They did not use the prism on the camera and must have
been using wide angle lenses as they just held the cameras out in front of
their faces without using any finder of any kind - they must have covered
such a wide field with great depth of field too.
I am advocating more use of waist level finders on medium format cameras
and less use of the eye level prisms. You will find that you take much
better pictures this way. Many great photographers through the years have
taken outstanding photos with waist level TLR, Graflex-type and medium
format SLR models, without the need to heft these heavy beasts to eye
level.
Furthermore, as for the old Bronica eye level prisms, I think they make
better collector's items on the shelf than anything for practical use.
Consider my suggestions and try them, you may be getting better results.
Anybody who has read some of my writing knows I am highly critical of the
old eye level prism finders for "S" model Bronica cameras.
I have had a 45 degree model in the past and recently got a defective 90
degree model (inexpensively) to experiment with. If a photographer really
wants/needs one of these finders, my advice is the get the latest,
brightest model in as near mint condition as possible.
The one I just got had two big black blotches in the center of the viewing
area. This is not the first time I have seen this defect in old Bronica
and other medium format prisms. Taking the thing apart revealed the
following- the foam on the clamp holding the main prism down (there are 2
inside) deteriorated and ate away at the black paint and silver coated
under it on the top of the prism. This foam meant to cushion the glass
prism agains its clamp, turns out to be its enemy.
In my experiment/repair I used some nail polish remover on Q-tips with
cardboard sticks, to clean away the remainder of the deteriorated
foam-black paint-silver mess spots on the top of the prism. Now the
blotches were completely clear. Since I could not re-silver these spots, I
took an old front surface mirror from a 35MM Exakta (from my old parts
box) and put it silver side down in contact with the eaten away areas. To
my surprise when looking through the prism the black areas were gone and
filled in with full silver reflecting whatever I was looking at.
I replaced the glass prism in its interior frame and adjusted the clamp
that goes over it by filing down the side screw holes to allow for the
greater height of the prism with the Exakta mirror on top of it. I added
two layers of masking tape to the underside of the metal clamp to give a
softer hold to the mirror/prism sandwich combination.
While not perfect, when the whole thing was assembled and tested on a
camera, the black blotch areas were gone and I could see full picture with
only a faint outline of where the blotches had been - not the best, but a
great improvement.
Now- I received a great surprise. This prism fit perfectly on my Bronica
Deluxe, and solidly, when it was not supposed to take the same finders as
the "S" series - how untrue. As a matter of fact, using the Bronica
Deluxe's side focusing knob made this prism far less clumsy to use than on
a Bronica C. To the best of my knowledge, no such interchangeable prism
was made for the Bronica Deluxe, only the Prism "B", which is awkward in
the extreme and clamps onto the top of the waist level finder.
I will give these prisms some value, for use in bright daylight with the
camera on a tripod using long telephoto lenses (as shown in the original
Bronica S2-A sales brochure) - they do have some valid use.
[Ed. note: I rather like the simple
magnifying hood or metering hood versions (see above photo). They retain
the brightness of the waist level finder, even enhancing it with the
eye-cup. The magnifying hoods also have variable diopter optics, so they
can easily adjust for vision changes over a wide +/- diopter range. They
are very lightweight, and relatively low cost ($50-75-100). And they bring
the camera into a mid-chest position rather than waist level, requiring
less back bending for some users. You also don't feel like you are
looking through the camera at the real world (as with a 35mm SLR or prism)
but rather at an image in the camera. I find this makes it easier to treat
what I see as an image, a photograph in the raw, which can be leisurely
studied and optimally framed. In my book, the magnifying hood is cheaper,
lighter, brighter, more vision problem forgiving, and higher contrast
(eye-cup and solid construction versus sometimes bent and light leaking
WLF sections). The main shortcoming is you still have left-right reversed,
as with the waist level finder. You get pretty used to this quickly; many
of us find it is part of the fun of medium format to have a different feel
and style of shooting. For fast action shots an accessory sports finder
is faster, cheaper, and easier to use than most prisms.... Bob
Monaghan 9/14/2000]