Film photographers - Mamiya 6 versus Bronica?

Cafe Society
1

Right now I have an opportunity to acquire a Mamiya 6 6x6 120 camera. It would be in exchange for a trade; a valuable item I don’t have much use for anymore. I’m currently in negotiations with the seller (he wanted $2500 for the Mamiya 6 plus three lenses.) The camera is in mint condition, by the way.

I’m hoping this deal goes through, but if not, I may buy a different kind of 6x6: a Bronica. This is a totally different kind of camera. It’s of the big “cube” design, with a pop-up waist level viewfinder (some have prism eyepieces that make it more like a conventional SLR.) Fairly clunky and heavy, and a good deal more primitive than the Mamiya 6. Also, totally different focusing system (the Mamiya is a rangefinder.)

The big benefit of the Mamiya is its compactness and convenience. The big downside is the price.

The upside of the Bronica is the low price, and the vintage-cool factor. And the thing does look pretty damn cool. But the handling and maneuverability won’t be great.

All things being considered, which would YOU rather use? I’ve seen lots of great shots on Flickr from Bronicas, but I assume the learning curve would be a good deal greater.

Any opinions?

2

Get the Mamiya. I haven’t used a Mamiya 6, but I will part with my first-born child before giving up my M645. They make really fantastic cameras.

3

No, go with the Bronica.

I’m being evil. Go with the Mamiya. They always made good lenses.

Really, at this level I’m out of my element. <rimshot> Listen to anybody but me.

4

Well the thing is that this arranged trade with the Mamiya might not go through. It seems promising, but I’m still negotiating. The guy selling it is a lawyer and he’s going to be a challenge to negotiate with, but he also seems reasonable and fair.

If I can’t get this - I will go for the Bronica, because I don’t have $2500 in cash at the moment but all my assets are tied up in other things (things that I can trade.)

5

Is this the right time to be buying a camera? A FILM camera?

6

I love film…and especially love 6x6. It’s still going strong in art photography. Actually, it’s probably only going to get bigger. Young people are rediscovering analog technology in droves.

I’ve got a local lab that is top-notch at processing film, and I have a great relationship with them…they process my film for 6 bucks, I scan it with my V500, and I get resolution and color that - in my opinion - surpasses digital.

7

Color? Not B&W?

That is only half :wink:

8

I haven’t shot B&W in a long time. I think I got kind of burned out on it in my several years of high school photography/darkroom where I did NOTHING but black and white…I may revisit it though. It has a lot to offer. But I love, love, LOVE COLOR!!!

9

And at the risk of sounding totally ignorant: do Bronicas have light meters? Do some of them have them and others don’t? Anyone know which ones?

THANK YOU in advance so much for the help, people.

10

You need an SQ-A or SQ-Ai body to use the AE prism. The AE prism gives you “Aperture Priority” shooting. The SQ-Ai body also has TTL flash if you have the right flash (Quantum or Metz).