Bronica S2A

Photos by SK text by SK. From the collection of SK. Last update 2024-01-15 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Japan from 1972 to 1977.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 1587

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Bronica

M. Zenzaburo Yoshino, an industrialist from Japan¹, aimed to create the best Japanese camera post-war by openly drawing inspiration from the proven techniques of Hasselblad. The first Zenza Bronica model, the Z, was introduced in 1958. In 1961, the D and S models were released.

The models continued to evolve until the early 2000s. They were single-lens reflex cameras with interchangeable lenses and backs. The early models featured a focal plane shutter, later replaced by models with a leaf shutter. They were available in 6 x 4.5 cm or 6 x 6 cm formats, using 120 film.

Focal Plan Shutter(6 x 6 cm)
S	61-65
C		64-65
C2			65-72
S2			65-69
S2A				72-77
EC				72-78
EC-TL					75-78
EC-TL II								78-80
Leaf shutter
ETR (6 x 4,5 cm)
ETR						76-80
ETR-C							77-80
ETRS								78-80
ETRC								78-80
ETRSi											88-04
SQ (6 x 6 cm)
SQ									80-84
SQ-A										82-91
SQ-Am										82-91
SQ-Ai												90-03
SQ-B													96-03


Patent No. 3,675,557 for the mirror moving mechanism in a photographic camera	Patent No. 3,677,162 for the hood for a focusing screen of a camera

¹Alongside numerous patents in the field of photography, Zenza Bronica Ind Inc also filed patents for gas lighters.

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The Bronica S2A is a modular camera built around a 6 x 6 format removable back that accepts either 120 or 220 films interchangeably. This back is secured by a film protection flap, which must be in place to remove the back and cannot be removed itself until the back is attached to the camera. Thus, professionals could switch from black and white to color film in a matter of seconds, provided they had multiple backs.

The viewfinder uses a 45-degree angled mirror that can be articulated downward, allowing the use of recessed lenses. The mirror automatically returns after the shutter release. A ground glass with a retractable magnifier allows for framing and focusing.

The camera features a cloth focal plane shutter allowing for Bulb (B) mode and speeds ranging from one second to 1/1000th of a second with X sync at 1/40th of a second.

Intelligently, this camera has an incorporated helical focusing rack, allowing it to be equipped with simple lenses without internal focusing or central shutters, hence at a lower cost. The brand's lenses are of the bayonet type, but a thread also allows for the mounting of screw-type lenses.

At the beginning of production, Bronica approached Nikon to supply Nikkor lenses, but later the brand subcontracted its own high-quality Zenzanon lenses. Aimed at professionals, Bronica cameras could be equipped with various accessories such as prism viewfinders, built-in light meters, bellows for macro photography, rapid handles, etc.

The S2A is the evolution of the S2. Externally, apart from the size of the crank, there are few visible differences. Internally, the film transport system has been revised to prevent jams.

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