Bronica S2a Prism Viewfinder
Photo Courtesy of Bob - [email protected]

Those Horrible Old Bronica Prisms

by Sam Sherman

([email protected])


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.


MORE ON OLD BRONICA PRISMS

By Sam Sherman ([email protected])


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.



Bronica S2a Magnifying Hood
Photo Courtesy of Bob - [email protected]

[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]



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