I LOVE these cameras. I have an S2A. They're big, heavy and flashy, but handle beautifully, though as you said they ain't stealthy. A mechanical marvel, though that <snap> right before the film is fully wound is always rather disconcerting.
Nick, this is the S model, it does not have that last "snap" when winding the shutter. That's why I said it's smooth
I took that last shot inside an antique mall on a -- literally -- a rickety-wooden stairway. When the shutter tripped, I thought it'll bring down the house, it seems to me everyone in the shop stopped and looked. The camera quickly disappeared into my bag :p
I love that fourth shot, (the color one)! Gosh that's nice, especially for a guy with a brain wired for symmetry.
A big Bronica like that was my first interchangeable lens MF camera. Had two backs and three lenses. I went
into debt for that one, back in the late 70's. The only thing louder is a Kowa.
Thank you Dean, that's a tribute for Paul (PC Headland) whose composition I like a lot and very symmetry-driven. Kowa is louder?? now that I have to see...
Ah yes, the Japanese Hasseblad. Always thought they were cool looking. And it's kind of hard to go wrong with a Nikkor.
PF
Exactly Phil, first, it's the chrome that attracted me, then I found out that Nikon and Komura both made lenses for these models, then it was the focal plane shutter and in-body focusing that made me think of possibilities of fitting something (old barrel lens, maybe) to experiment with.
The camera now is in the good hands of Jim from Garland Camera in Texas for focus adjustment and service. I didn't get to meet him when I drop it off, but his son told me that he worked on lots of Bronicas before.
