#BRONICA SQ REVIEW PC#

So despite using batteries to move the mirror, the Bronica SQ-Ai is able to take really long exposure without using them. Once enabled it will keep the shutter open for as long as you want, until you put it back to Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎв„ўA-modeР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎС™ (without wasting battery). The solution is to use the T-mode in the lenses. The Bronica SQ-Ai added a BULB mode, but this is only recommended for exposures that donР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t go over a minute, since it needs power to function and that will eat your batteries really quick. The lenses have leaf shutter, a depth of field preview switch, and the ability to shoot in T (Time) Mode. Both generations of lenses are compatible with the SQ-Ai. The Bronica lenses I have are all Zenzanon PS, and are supposed to have slightly better optics and coating than their predecessors, the Zenzanon S. No matter which finder you are using, the camera has the following features:Р В РІР‚СњР вЂ™Р’В«ronica SQ-Ai Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ Lenses Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ 50mm f/3.5, 90mm f/2.8, 250mm f/5.6 The camera takes LR-44 batteries, and fortunately I canР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t tell you how long they last because IР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›ve run 100+ rolls through this camera over the last 6 months and itР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s still running with the batteries it came with!Р В РІР‚СњР В РІР‚С›s you might imagine, the finder takes all the space on the top of the camera. On the bottom, we have the tripod socket, the battery compartment and some connections to use with a speed grip accessory. To do so, finally, we have the wind-on lever. IР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›m not sure if this is a Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎв„ўfeatureР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎС™ of the camera or mine is defective, but if the shutter is not cocked and you flip the mirror up, it wonР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t let you take a picture and youР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›ll lose a frame when you wind the film. I always use this for low shutter speed shots, or when taking long exposures. We see another two switches, one for multiple exposures and another one to lock the mirror up Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ single or continuous. Moving onto the right side, we find another switch (top right), in this case to take the finder off.

#BRONICA SQ REVIEW PC#

Bronica SQ-Ai Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ Kit (left)Р В РІР‚СњР В РІР‚С›lso present on this side, cable release socket and PC flash sync that I havenР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t used.Р В РІР‚СњР В РІР‚С›nd finally, on the bottom right of the picture above, a button that releases the film back. Then the shutter speed dial, a very Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ for some reason Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ satisfying one to use. Moving to the left side of the camera, you have the switch to take the lens off (top left). Not because it could fire (it wonР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t if you have the dark slide in), but it will drain the battery if for some reason it gets pressed in a backpack or somewhere like that. You can (and should) lock it when the camera isnР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t being used. The front of the camera is very simple, on the bottom right (when you are holding it) is the shutter. This was going to be my first film camera for Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎв„ўseriousР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎС™ use, I wasnР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t sure if it was going to work out.Р В РІР‚СњР вЂ™Р’В«ut then, I learned about this Japanese brand that made some medium format cameras similar to the Hasselblads, and they had a few 6Р В РІР‚СљР Р†Р вЂљРІР‚Сњ6 cameras thatР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›d fit my budget!Р В РІР‚СњР вЂ™Р’В®nter the Bronica SQ-Ai: my favorite camera, ever. Hasselblad: this one seemed to be my dream camera, but it was way too expensive.

Not being able to use different lenses, a not very bright finder, a very desatisfying shutterР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р вЂ™Р’В¦ TLRs: I already had one at home (Rolleiflex) that I didnР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t enjoy using. I began what turned out to be a very quick search: thereР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s nothing in the digital world using a square sensor that I could afford.Р В РІР‚СњР В РІР‚РЋilm had to be it, then. Even post-processing the photo would mean you are Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎв„ўwastingР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р РЋРЎС™ a third of your sensor (16MP 1Р В РІР‚СљР Р†Р вЂљРІР‚Сњ1 instead of the 24MP 3Р В РІР‚СљР Р†Р вЂљРІР‚Сњ2). Yes, you have a grid that helps a bit, but the stored photo (both RAW and JPEG) was your traditional 3 by 2. You see, my Sony digital camera didnР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t support square format natively. These two changes were enough to make me feel very excited about photography again. And I loved the square format.Р В РІР‚СњР вЂ™Р’В¬omposing a square photo isnР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t as easy as it might sound or look, and I wasnР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›t good at it. I tried to do something different to avoid this: first shooting black and white (never shot it before, or at least not thinking in black and white from the beginning but rather converting color photos), and then I started experimenting with different aspect ratios. Just a few months ago, I was happily shooting digital.

Bronica sq review