I can't recall if the 503CW has a metering system integrated into it or not, but even if it does it may be rather slow to follow through and be spontaneous with. It ain't no point-and-shoot, that's for sure. Experience will get you fast enough with it to use for spontaneous work, but it sure does take a bit to really get comfortable. If you do choose the square format of the blad, you may want to also get one of their wide angles like a 50mm for your hankerings towards Architecture and Landscape. Family photos demand speed and spontanaiety to capture fleeting expressions, gestures, and moments. With architecture one also does find oneself depending largely on the wider angle lenses, though for architectural detail a normal to long lens and square format is quite wonderful. There are no hard and fast rules over which format to use for each type of photography, but if I may suggest some generalizations that you can take or leave for whatever they may be worth: In general landscape is often best accomplished with a wide, horizontal format. Also, they're all going to require maintenence at some point and the Blad stuff will be easier to get repaired in most places.Īlso, the reasons you quoted for getting into medium format are diverse Architecture, Landscape, and Family Pictures. If you are serious about it, spring for the Blad. In all fairness to Bronica, I have not handled the SQ-Ai, but have handled several of their previous encarnations and they'd have to come a long-mile to sell me on an improvement that large. If budget is your primary consideration I would sooner go Mamiya than Bronica as the availability is more widespread on the rental gear, and the samples I've seen and worked with are better made and designed. The Zeiss lenses are also second to none.
Bronica sq ai review professional#
You ain't gonna find much of it, and for good reason: It will not hold up to the rigors of professional use as well as Blad gear will, and a few other medium format brands. Also, if you want to rent lenses, backs, digital backs, or if your camera breaks down and you want to rent a spare till it gets fixed, just try to rent Bronica gear all over the world. If your question is strictly about the quality of construction and reliability of the gear in question, in no way shape or form can Bronica gear compete with Hasselblad.at least the stuff I've seen and handled.
I've seen absolutely brilliant and gorgeous photographs that were made with pinhole cameras, and absolutely horrible photographs made with the finest, most expensive 8X10 gear. I can tell you without any hesitation whatsoever that it is the person behind the tool, and not the tool itself that makes the pictures better or worse. If you're interested you can see some samples of my work on my website which is currently getting a facelift. Most of my work currently is in Advertising and Photographic Illustration. Been shooting constantly since I was about six (1966). I hope you enjoy this short video review.I've been a professional photographer for over twenty years now. I find the view finder installed on mine to be very bright, but the focusing is still a little challenging. Once one is used to this though, the camera is fun to shoot with. This is why I would not recommend it to someone interested in capturing quick action or decisive moments - unless you feel you have mastered this little gem and know all it's little quirks. It may be that the lens shutter and the film are out of sync, it may be that you simply forgot to remove the film protector, it may be that the battery is running low. The camera can be, in certain situations, frustrating, since there are several different mechanically controlled "safeties" which may prevent one from firing the shutter in a critical situation. This allows the traditional analog film photographer considerable amount of freedom in setting up the best system possible, to suit the occasion of a particular photo shoot. This means the lens, view finder, body and the film backs are all interchangeable. This camera was made in 1980's and it is a modular camera system, similar to Hasselblad. Letter A is the model number - Am, Ai and B versions were released as well. SQ designation stands for Square, as this particular model shoots 120 film, creating square negatives (6圆 cm or 2.25 x 2.25 in). Zenza Bronica SQ-A is a Japense made medium format camera.