I also run a repair service here in the UK with a colleague who was trained in the factory in Japan before being shipped over here.

So if anyone has a problem with a Bronica of any age, please E-Mail me or write and I'll see what I can do.

My address:
28 Worcester Road,
Uxbridge,
Middlesex, UB8 3TH
U.K.

Thanks.
Michael Beard
Email [email protected]

[Ed. update: I have not been able to contact Mr. Beard online since 02/2000, so any updates on his status would be welcome...]

Date: Sun, 7 Jun 1998
From: Frank and Janet Marshman [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Bronica D, C, S, S2, S2A, EC, ECTL

I repair probably 10 to 20 focal plane Bronicas every month and to my knowledge am the only one in the country repairing these on a regular basis. There are several mistakes in my reading of your Bronica tips. These are fine cameras and the reason there are so many problems repairing them is that few repair shops ever got enough in to really become versed in the problems they had. For the most part the repairs that I have seen done in them are attrocious and wrong. They can still be brought up to a standard of high quality, however there are some clutch parts that are now becoming more difficult to obtain and will render the camera unusable. The ECTL has a board in the metering circuit, (one of 5), that goes out and when it does it leaves the camera dead. Bronica did correct that in the very end of their production in a metering modification but these are not common and telling the new design from the old is impossible without disassembling. Finally, foam deterioration of the focusing frame and the mirror dampening plate on the EC/ECTL are a problem for focusing and deterioration of the sub-mirror stop on the early EC is a problem which causes the mirror to hang.

These are the most common problems of these cameras otherwise they are quite fine.

Frank Marshman
Camera Wiz camera repair
169B Pleasant Hill Drive
Harrisonburg, Va. 22801
1 800 471 8133

Armatos Camera Repair
1-800-628-6801

BRONICA S2 and C 88p. service manual.........................$25

Warning: For information purposes only, not responsible if you end up with extra parts and non-working camera!

Address: http://www.fargo-ent.com/

rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: Zana Holley [email protected]>

Hello folks:

It's that time of year when many of you are putting that camera into storage. Here are some tips from Shores Camera Repair for safe storage of your camera:

--Most importantly: remove your battery -- You might hear advice to just turn the battery around. Don't take it. A short circuit could mean disaster.

--Clean all of your contacts before a winter's worth of corrosion wears them down

--Cleaning the mirror, the Fresnal screen and view finder (be careful here, you don't want to scratch any of these)

--When cleaning the top: If you want to use a cleaning solution use only Windex by name -- no generics, they'll damage the surfaces. Use an old toothbrush to get off grit and be sure to wipe down with towel --Finally, when all this is done, store camera in a plastic bag. It will keep out the elements and protect against inadvertent scratching.

You should be able to do this yourself, but if you need any camera assistance call us now or visit our web page at
http://trivia.gator.net/camera.htm

--
Shores Camera Repair
Expert Camera Repair by Mail
Toll Free 1 888 800 9431

If you insist on trying a local repairshop, see http://www.fargo-ent.com for a listing.

[Ed. note: this may be of interest if you need a mirror or prism re-silvered]

Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997
From: Terry Price [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Silvering Mirrors

If you look under "silvering mirrors" on www.metacrawler.com (my new favourite search engine) you will find all kinds of advice and companies that resilver mirrors. Most are for antique mirrors but some do rear view mirrors, compacts and even telescopes.

Terry

rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: [email protected] (Derek Zeanah)
[1] Re: Bronica EC TL Repair?
Date: Mon Jan 19

Chuck Hoffman [email protected] wrote:

LLKLODT wrote:

My newly acquired Bronica EC TL developed an advance problem.

You might also want to check out Camera Wiz in Virginia. In Shutterbug they advertise themselves as specialists in older Bronicas.

Ditto. Had excellent service on the equipment I've sent so far (some ETR backs, prism, currently has a 75mm MC lens of mine), excellent prices, and quick turnaround (under 3 days). I can't say enough about them.

No relation other than very satisfied customer.

Camera Wiz
Frank Marshman
169B Pleasant Hill Rd.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-434-8133

How to replace the deteriorating foam on your camera by Glenn E. Stewart [Ed. note: site dropped as of 1/2001]

The following listing is from the above camera service group RFD

         Other Camera Repair Resources
 
This is a short list of links to other camera repair resources. I hope you find it helpful! If
you'd like to suggest a link, e-mail it to [email protected], and Thanks!
 
Brooks Institute of Photography
C&C Associates
CamComp
Fargo Enterprises, Inc.
Fargo's Yellow Pages - Find a Repair Shop Near You!
Foto Imagen Magazine (Spanish)
Gateway Electronics Stepper Motor Kit
Minolta
NASA's Lewis Research Center
Nikon Japan
Olympus
Pentax
 Photo Marketing Association, International
PMAI's links
Photoshopper
Shutterbug
S.P.T.
Spokane Falls Community College's 2 year AAS degree program in Camera Repair

Zimmerman Test Equipment

Disclaimer:  Use at your own risk.  Inclusion or exlusion of entities or individuals on this list is not meant to be an endorsement for, or statement against, any products, goods, or services related to those respective entities or individuals.

For more info, please contact: Otto Roberson [email protected]

Cleaning a Camera by Philip Greenspun

Where to Get a Camera Fixed by Philip Greenspun

Camera Repair Experiences by Philip Greenspun
[Mr. Greenspun runs photo.net and posts many interesting photo pages.]

From: "Neal Morris" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: New web REPAIR site in UK
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998

Hi all

Book mark my new repair site for future reference. I update the site with constant usefull information and offer a top class repair service for you.

It is at http://www.morrisrepairservice.com

Best Regards Neal at Morris repair services UK.

ps please email me your comments on the site ( its my first ever publishing attempt) [email protected]

Best Regards Neal at Morris repair services UK.

ps please email me your comments on the site ( its my first ever publishing attempt) [email protected]

Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998
From: "R. Peters" [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Rollei] Soft Nikkors on early Bronica

There may have been some soft ones (I doubt it) more likely some shade tree mechanic tampered with either the camera or lenses. I had a Bronica EC with a full battery of Nikkors and they were needle sharp. I sold the camera only because it was getting difficult to find anyone who would service it. The largest photographic repair shop in Seattle wouldn't touch the EC. I am not sure that GMI, the importer, even services any Bronica with focal plane shutter. I really loved the EC for the type of photography I'm interested in (landscapes), but when only GMI serviced the EC/EC TL, they had you by the you-know-whats when it came to pricing repairs. This is one of the reasons I went back to Rollei TLRs. Get one serviced and it's generally good for many years of trouble free use.

--bob peters

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998
From: Mike [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Hi Robert;

I just visited your site.....its GREAT!!

I thought you might want to consider adding me as a repair source for medium format equipment. I was factory trained on Rapid and Koni Omega and Konica equipment at Berkey Marketing, Woodside New York in 1973.

For the past 20 years my repair business has been centered on Bronica, Mamiya and Kowa. From what I have seen there seems to be a lack of techs for older equipment, Bronica and Kowa in general. I receive both Bronica & Kowa referrals from a local shop who service Hassy and Mamiya. While there are times that I can't do much for some older cameras I do everything I can to locate parts and to help owners with their problems.

If you are interested I can provide you with references.

I can be reached at (503) 236-6109 or emai at [email protected]

Thank You

Mike Jenkins

From: [email protected] (Wilt W)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Bronica EC: shutter slow getting off
Date: 2 Jul 1998

The Bronica is designed so that the shutter does not actually open until the mirror has flipped up fully. So as a result, if the mechanicals of the mirror are in need of cleaning and renewed lubrication, the mirror would be sluggish in swinging up, causing the time delay you're seeing. With mirror lockup, you are circumventing the sluggishness by locking the mirror up, thereby allowing the shutter to open as soon as you press the shutter release.

--Wilt

From: Philip Quaife [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Bronica S2 needs repair
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998

Pierron wrote:

>
> I have a Bronica S2 that decided to go south! Does anyone know of a good repair
> shop somewhere between Dallas and Houston, TX, I live about half way  between.
> Thanks for any info!
>
> [email protected]

Yes. I have had my S2A repaired at Photography on Blad Mountain in Davenport, California. They are very, very good at what they do. Be prepaired to pay for first class service by waiting about a month to get it back though. I don't have their address with me but they advertise in Shutterbug.

Phil

From: Woody Kamena [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Bronica S2 needs repair
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998

You might also try:

http://www.photo-one.com/camerawiz/

I have three S'series bronicas out to them right now.

Woody

[Ed. note: I am listing this item (probably already sold) mainly for reference to interested repairers...]
rec.photo.marketplace
From: [email protected] (A. V. Banones)
[1] FS Bronica Repair Manual
Date: Sat Feb 06 08:39:13 CST 1999

Bronica S2, S2A, and C Service Manual> Parts, service, tools, etc. Published 1973 by The Society of Photo-Technologists.

Two hundred plus pages in a bound volume 6x8 in, good condition. Very well illustrated scarce offering. $55.00 shipped U.S.included.

Al

From: [email protected] (A. V. Banones)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: Bronica Repair Manual
Date: 23 Jan 1999

For sale.......

Published in 1973 by Society of Photo-Technologists.

Ninety Plus Pages dealing with servicing Bronica S2, S2A, and C. Profusely illustrated. Also covers accessories such as hand grip pentaprism, exposure meter, etc.

Priced including postage............$45.00

Al B
--

Date: Fri, 28 May 1999
From: Todd Martin [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BRONICA] EC body repair Summary

For thoes interested...

I called Frank at Camera Wiz. They have a flat rate charge of $175 to fix and tune up an older Bronica body. He says usually the turn around is 2 weeks.

KOH charges the same, but has a much longer turn around time (reported by Michael Lewin).

Ken Ruth at Photography on Bald Mountain doesn't have a flat rate charge for this camera. He estimates under $100 for what I described over the phone. He also does some standard preventative maintenance on these bodies (shutter cable wear I think). Turn around is somewhat arbitrary -- he pledges to meet your needs.

Thanks for all thoes that wrote with suggestions.

~Todd

Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999
From: Klaus Herrmann [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Found Excellent Bronica Rapair Shotp in Germany

Hi,

finaly I got an address for a Bronica repair shop in Germany ( Munich )- not Tamron.

The person how runs the shop has a very good knowledge about Bronica cameras - old and new models. He used ( I think he still does) to work at Linhof the former Bronica distributor.

Zgonjanin GmbH
Fotohandel & Service
Langbuergenerstr. 2
81549 Muenchen

Tel/Fax 0049-89-68074849

I had several lenses to repair and I got them back in excellent condition within one week at very moderate cost.

Please add this address to the "repair shop list

Thanks

Klaus Herrmann

PS: I own two ETRS(i) bodies with several lenses (PE and MC) and some extra stuff.

[Ed. note: possible resource person?]
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999
From: [email protected]
To: Robert Monaghan [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bronica Wanted to Buy Ad

Hi Robert, thank you so much for your information and the time taken to respond to me. I look forward to mails in the future, do you think anyone would be interested in my dealing with the Bronica EC series ? (I maintain and repair all of my cameras and specialise in making things fit where no other can be sourced ie. use of SQ series focus screens, brighter easily modded to fit etc.).

Brian

[Ed.note: While I understand Bronica's desire to reduce support costs for older Bronicas, including now the ETR and SQAM series, this seems to leave Hasselblad far ahead as far as service and support issues are concerned?..]
From Bronica Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999
From: Geoffrey Semorile [email protected]
Reply to: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BRONICA] SQ-Am VS SQ-A

Hi Tan,

>hi,
>
>    as a beginner in medium format photography, i am looking at the SQ-Am
>and the SQ-A.  does anyone has any comments or user experience with either
>or both of these cameras?  if anyone has anything to tell me about why i
>should get one over the other, pls feel free to tell me too.

First Bronica has discontinued all repair parts for SQA and SQAM bodies and their respective S lenses. I would not recommend buying the SQAM as the motor is full integrated to the body and not removable. Not one of their better designs. I would also not buy S lenses for the same reason.

The SQA is quite well built and can be had for bargain prices used, better built and more reliable than the current SQAI body. The SQB is the SQA with some features stripped out. Cannot use meter finders on this body. Unfortunately you have to buy it as a kit with B back and B 80mm lens. More features stripped out, no T function on B 80mm lens and no ISO communication from B back to meter finders. Also no ability to use speed grip or winder on the B body either.

Sort of a dumb move on Bronica's part, this body could have been a fully integrated component in the Bronica system with very little increase in cost at point of manufacturer. Someone's brilliant marketing idea. It actually costs them more to make a B body, back and lens than it does to make an SQAI, as they sell fewer of them and must make specific part design changes, costing more in smaller quantities and requiring a separate production line.

>    my views for the moment: all modern cameras use motorised drives now.
>there are people who advised me against the SQ-Am because they fear that
>once the motordrive breaks down, there is no way i can advance the film at
>all.  but isn't this what everyone faces now?  for eg, if the drive on the
>nikon F100 breaks down, doesn't this also leave the photographer with no
>means of forwarding or rewinding the film?  so i have no qualms about
>getting the "m" version, that is, unless it has a very bad reputation for
>breaking down, which i am trying to find out if there is.

This is somewhat irrelevant to current medium format cameras. Better for field reliability to have separate add on components. If one fails you can at least remove it and keep working rather than having a whole unit down for one component failure. Also more costly from a service stand point to have all in one.

Like buying a VCR built into your TV. If the VCR ties your movie tape in a million knots it is more expensive and time consuming to disassemble the whole TV rather than just the VCR and you can watch TV in the mean time.

>    also, does Speed-Grip S fits the SQ-A?  can i assume that the speed grip
>fits all 6x6 bronicas?
>
>    finally, what lenses from bronica (ie, PS series) must i avoid at all
>costs because of lousy image quality?  conversely, for someone with a
>limited budget, pls recommend lenses that are good for portraits.  i am
>thinking of a 50mm, 80mm and a 150mm.  how does that sound?

All the PS lenses in the Bronica line are excellent optics. Have found no lemons in their line up. They are optically as good and in some focal lengths better than any medium format camera on the market and a very excellent buy in comparison to some others at twice the price with no increase in optical performance. In some cases at twice the price for others they are not half as good optically.

PS lenses are a noticeable improvement optically over the S lenses as well.

Service issues aside. The biggest failing of the Bronica system from a service standpoint is that they supply no new internal shutter parts for any of their lenses. The only medium format company that does not.

If your lens shutter needs one wear part or the main springs replaced you have to buy a whole new shutter unit for several hundred dollars for lack of a ten to twenty dollar part. You may also have to wait months for them to obtain this component from Japan as they stock almost no shutter units in the US. Another short sighted product support issue on their part. They don't seem to find this the least bit strange. The public does not really see these issues from a consumer standpoint. They are for the most part seamless unless you have been waiting for months and months to get your Bronica product back from repair and are wondering why. Well now you know.

The next time you send your Bronica lens into the factory for service, specifically ask them to install new main springs in the shutter unit and send you the old ones and see what they say. My bet is you will get a dozen excuses why they can't do this. They don't have any. Of course they won't tell you this.

The mainsprings are made of high tensile case hardened spring steel. With time and age these springs become brittle, weak and eventually break. They have a direct effect on shutter speed accuracy and consistency. This is like have the motor of your car overhauled and not replacing the worn rings and pistons. The consumer has no way of measuring or verifying this effect. When you get your shutter back from service you have no way of telling whether the speed is actually 1/250, 1/200 or 1/160. Also no way to verify if all parts installed in your shutter are new or used. Since in most cases they do not return the old parts with your repair.

Many state consumer laws require that any service agency must return all used and replaced parts with the serviced unit. Whether this be a blender, a car or a camera. If you have paid for new parts the old used ones still remain your property unless otherwise stated in a written repair estimate and you can insist they be returned with the repair. Try this one on for size the next time you have your Bronica lens serviced.

This is not to say the product is not a worthy one, but lacks adequate service support. So rattle your sabers.

>    thanks and regards.
>
>---------------------------------
>Tan Chung
>[email protected]
>http://www.tanchung.com

Best regards,

geoff/camera tech
2308 Taraval St. S. F., CA 94116 USA
UNDERWATER PHOTO/VIDEO SALES-REPAIRS-RENTALS
BRONICA MEDIUM FORMAT SERVICE & REPAIRS
(415) 242-1700 Fax (415) 242-1719
email: [email protected] web site: http://www.cameratech.com

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999
From: "Rainey, William" [email protected]
Reply to: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [BRONICA] disaster

Oh crap! I do believe I would have broken down and cried if my Broni was destroyed like that!!! I can barely stand it when it gets a scratch or scuff mark; can't imagine total destruction... and don't want to!

With that said, a local pro friend of mine dumped his SQ in the studio not long ago and broke it up pretty bad. He sent it to the Bronica-authorized repair place in Florida for repair and got it back quickly and in excellent condition. The info is:

        Greens Camera Tech, Inc.
        1246 Ridgewood Ave.
        Holly Hill, FL 32117
        Tel: 904-257-1366
        e-mail:[email protected]

Hope this helps...

Bill

....

[Ed. note: a very satisfied owner notes...]
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Camera Wiz rated a 10+

Hi Bob

I recently sent a very sick S2 to Ralph Marshman after discussing the problem with him on the phone. He was kind enough to take time to discuss the problem (a broken shutter cord and bad foam).

Anyway to make a long story short.

The estimate was lower than the quote (much lower)

The work was done was excellent.

The camera was thoroughly cleaned and adjusted. It looks better than new.

The packaging for return was superb.

Shipping charges were more than reasonable.

At the end of two weeks after sending it to him, I called his shop to check on the progress. He came to the phone himself and appologized profusely that it wasn't finished yet. He promised that it would be by the end of the week.

Sure enough on Friday, the UPS man put it back in my hands. It is better than new I am convinced.

The Camera Wiz is a real professional operation and I highly recommend them. He says he has been very busy and I can see why. Give him a plug somewhere on your site.

Thanks and keep up this magnificent site.

Jim Creasy

From Bronica Mailing List:
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Digest Number 471

Not having any local repair shops nearby that fix old cameras as a rule, I
sent my S2 to Camerawiz in Virginia when the flash synch went kaput. Frank
Marchman did a fantastic job and was extremely honest. Not only did he fix
the camera perfectly, his fixit price was $100 less than what he originally
quoted me. He specializes in classic Bronicas. If you don't find
satisifaction locally, I'd definitely get in touch with him.

1-800-471-8133

Marie-otherwise knowsn as the "Bronicababe."