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My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 7 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ 1.8m
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Montée de l'Amphithéatre
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
So i was in the dark room today printing out some medium format. I accidently got out 2 pieces of light sensitive paper, They we're stuck together so i had no idea. So i used the enlarger, Exposed the top paper with my image, Went through the devloper, fixer and stopper. Put it in to wash and the two pieces of paper fell apart. This was the outcome. I thought it was a pretty cool abstract.
Sorry for wasting paper jan!! :( :)
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 4: 1/250s f/9 focusing @ 3.4m
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 7 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ 1.8m
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Montée de l'Amphithéatre
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 1 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ infinite
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Rue des Tables Claudiennes
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
Developed C41 in black and white developer.
Presoak for a couple of minutes.
2 rotations in the first minute, stand develop for 30 minutes, 1 rotation and twist, develop for another 30 minutes.
5ml Rodinal Spezial and 495ml of water. 5 minute stop.
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 6 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ 3.7m
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Montée de l'Amphithéatre
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 5 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ infinite
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Rue Julien Sportisse
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 5 : 1/250s f/12.5 focusing @ 4.25 m
Butia odorata (South of Brazil, Uruguay), October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 2 : 1/60s f/18 focusing @ 4.25m (hyperfocal distance)
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Rue des Tables Claudiennes
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 6 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ 3.7m
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Montée de l'Amphithéatre
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 3 : 1/60s f/8 focusing @ 2.7m
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Jardin des Plantes
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 5 : 1/250s f/12.5 focusing @ 4.25 m
Butia odorata (South of Brazil, Uruguay), October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 7 : 1/500s f/8 focusing @ 0.94 m
Statue de Bernard de Jussieu, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 5 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ infinite
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
Rue Julien Sportisse
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
I used to go to this mansion like building turned cafe/restaurant for lunch or cake & tea. It remains my all time favourite.
Nikon FA
Kentmere 400,
TMax Devloper, 1+4, 20c, 5'30"
I used to go to this mansion like building turned cafe/restaurant for lunch or cake & tea. It remains my all time favourite.
Nikon FA
Kentmere 400,
TMax Devloper, 1+4, 20c, 5'30"
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 8 : 1/30s f/6.3 focusing @ 10m
Grande nef des serres tropicales, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 10 : 1/30s f/4.5 focusing @ 4.9m
Grandes Serres, le petit pont, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 12 : 1/125s f/9 focusing @ 0.49 m (incident light +1EV)
Roseraie des concours, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 2 : 1/500s f/11 focusing @ 30m
Serre Hollandaise, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 2 : 1/500s f/11 focusing @ 30m
Serre Hollandaise, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
Developed C41 in black and white developer.
Presoak for a couple of minutes.
2 rotations in the first minute, stand develop for 30 minutes, 1 rotation and twist, develop for another 30 minutes.
5ml Rodinal Spezial and 495ml of water. 5 minute stop.
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 4: 1/250s f/9 focusing @ 3.4m
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaulles*, October 22, 2024
69001 Lyon
France
* About the antic theater "des Trois Gaules" (Wikipedia):
The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, France, at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône . An inscription on one of the blocks found in 1957 (Inscription latine des Trois Gaules, n°217 (AE 1959, n°61)) connects the amphitheatre with the sanctuary of Rome and Augustus and allows its origins to be identified.
[...]E TI(beris) CAESARIS AVG(vsti) AMPHITHEATR
[...]ODIO C IVL C[?] RVFVS SACERDOS ROM(ae) ET AVG(vsti)
[...]FILII F. ET NEPOS [-]X CIVITATE SANTON. D(e) S(ua). P(ecunia).FECERVNT
Which can be completed as
[... Pro salvt]/e Ti(beri) Caesaris Avg(vsti) amphitheatr[-...] / [ ......... cvm] pod/io C(aivs) Ivl(ivs) C(aii) f(ilivs) Rvfvs sacerdos Romae et Avg(vsti) / [ ...... C(aivs) Ivlivs C(aii) ?] filii f(ilivs) et nepos ex civitate Santon(orvm) d(e) s(va) p(ecvnia) fecervnt.
For the safety of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, C. Julius Rufus, citizen of the city of Santons (Saintes), priest of Rome and of Augustus, [and Caius Julius ?...] his son and grandson built this amphitheatre and its podium at their own expense.
This dates the building to 19 AD. The figures who financed its construction belonged to an old Gallic family in Saintes which had held Roman citizenship since the Gallic Wars and also built the Arch of Germanicus there. The curious formula "filii f(ilius)" perhaps derives from a wish to affirm the antiquity and continuity of the family's lineage, as on the Arch of Germanicus, which names Rufus's ancestors.
Other stones bear the names of Gallic tribes (Arverni, Tricasses, Bituriges) confirming its identification as federal sanctuary. The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century, according to J. Guey by C. Julius Celse, procurator of Gallia Lugdunensis from 130 to 136. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 meters to 105 meters and its capacity to about 20,000 seats (though this was still modest compared to the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles). In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs. Historians identify the building as the site of Saints Blandina and Pothinus's martyrdoms as part of the persecution in 177 and a post in the middle of the arena commemorates this event and Pope John-Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986.
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. : 1/--s f/-- focusing @ --m
October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. 10 : 1/250s f/9 focusing @ infinite
Place des Terreaux, October 22, 2024
69001 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
Developed C41 in black and white developer.
Presoak for a couple of minutes.
2 rotations in the first minute, stand develop for 30 minutes, 1 rotation and twist, develop for another 30 minutes.
5ml Rodinal Spezial and 495ml of water. 5 minute stop.
--
The atelier of artist Ans Markus.
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 9: 1/30s f/4 focusing @ 1.56 m
Anthurium hookei (Antilles, Guyanne), October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
View Nr. : 1/250s f/9 focusing @
October 22, 2024
690061Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
never achieved decent results with this devloper before.
Neopan 1600@1250 developed in Rollei RHS High Speed (Amalco AM74) 1+7 @ 20°C for 5:50 min agitation every 30s
I'm really pleased with the results, I think this is my new favorite highspeed combo
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 10 : 1/30s f/4.5 focusing @ 4.9m
Grandes Serres, le petit pont, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
Developed C41 in black and white developer.
Presoak for a couple of minutes.
2 rotations in the first minute, stand develop for 30 minutes, 1 rotation and twist, develop for another 30 minutes.
5ml Rodinal Spezial and 495ml of water. 5 minute stop.
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 11 : 1/125s f/12.5 focusing @ infinite
Roseraie des concours, October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...
The Zenza Bronica S2A was loaded with a Kodak Professional Tri-X (TX400) 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's or by measuring the incident light with the opalescent dome.
View Nr. 9: 1/30s f/4 focusing @ 1.56 m
Anthurium hookei (Antilles, Guyanne), October 14, 2024
Parc de la Tête d'Or,
69006 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 70mm large film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+50 and the film processed for 14min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 13 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera : The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
My photowalk of October 22, 2024 down the hill of La Croix Rousse, in Lyon, France.
The Zenza Bronica S2A camera (see details below) was equipped of the Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) wide-angle lens Nikkor-H 1:3.5 f=50mm and loaded with an Ilford HP5+ 120-format film exposed for the nominal 400 ISO using a Minolta Autometer III and its 10° viewer for selective measurement privileging the shadow area's.
October 22, 2024
69001 Lyon
France
After the view #12 exposed, the film was fully rolled to the taking spool and was developed in a Paterson tank with a spiral adapted to the 120-format film. 500 mL of Adox Adonal (Agfa Rodinal) developer were prepared at the dilution 1+25 and the film processed for 6min at 20°C.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) held on a Minolta vertical macro stative device and adapted to a Minolta MD Macro lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The light source was a LED panel (approx. 4x5') CineStill Cine-lite fitted with film holder "Lobster" to maintain flat the 120-format film.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 14 and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
The Zenza Bronica’s S (ゼンザブロニカ) were often referred to the « Japanese Hasselblad ». Conceived in the year 50’s (Bronica D, 1959) was manufactured in ToKy,o Itabashi-ku, Minami-Tokiwadai with the Japan engineering spirit of that time : « we wlll do as … in better! »; The Bronica (ETR, SQ series) camera’s were progressively discontinued twenty years ago between 2002 and 2004 and the brand was bought by Tamron company and disappeared from the market.
The Zenza Bronica S2A version was produced by Bronica Industries founded by Yoshino Zenzaburo, between 1972 and 1977 and was the ultimate model of fully mechanical medium format modular SLR of the S series. The camera is covered with stainless steel 18-8 quality. The S2A is still a focal-plane shutter camera with automatic diaphragm and automatic film back coupled to the shutter cocking through a re-arming crank. Bronica were equipped either with Nikon Nikkor lenses, Zenzanon of Komura optics.
I got this exemplary from a French eBay auction for a quite reasonable price, equipped with a Nikkor-P normal lens 1:2.8 f=75mm, a generic 67mm lens cap, and a neck/shoulder Bronica strap. I found at my monthly trade -exchange photo meeting new-old stock 67mm filters (Hoya HMC anti-UV, Yellow K2, and a Zenzza Bronica Skylight 1A) and two shade shade hoods (one generic foldable and a rigid metal Zenza Bronica Japan). I also found a nice storage box 15x20x20cm to store the machine with silica-gel protectant.
The camera fit in my ThinkTank Retrospective 5 usual bag as easily as my TLR Semflex. The weight is however higher by about 1;8 kg (0.8 kg for my Semflex TLR).
About the lens:
I won on eBay for 70€ an auction for a Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Nikkor-H wide-angle lens 1:3.5 f=50mm for my Zenza Bronica S2A (1972-1977, see below for details).
The lens left island Syros (Σύρος in Greek) in the Cyclades, Greece on September 27, 2024. It travelled all across EU, transiting trough Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Germany, and was finally home delivered on October 10, 2024, fortunately, in perfect condition.
It is an impressive piece of optics, covering 77° of view angle with 6 elements in 6 groups and a very large front lens necessitating a filter diameter of 82mm. The lens came with the original front and rear caps.
The lenses for Zenza Bronica camera of the S-series require a separate focusing helicoid with a specific distance scale. I had already an additional helicoid with a special distance scale for 4 different focal lengths : 75, 50, 135 and 200mm. The standard helicoid for the 75mm could used as well but the distance scale should be adapted if used.
I found from my preferred photo store in Lyon a protective generic AUV 82mm filter with a slim ring mount, and a clip-on cover more easy to use on the filed than the original screw-on metal front cap.
This wide-angle lens is much more heavy than the standard 75mm lens with more than 500g instead of about 200 g. Mounted in the Bronica camera body the weight is more than 2kg ...