Bronica SQ-A, Manual

Page 1: ...ocusing screens film backs etc To obtain best results from your camera we suggest that you read this instruction manual carefully before you even touch the camera Thoroughly familiarize yourself with its work ing parts before loading your first roll of film and your pleasure in using the Zenza Bronica SQ A will be even greater NOTICE Although instructions following are based on a standard combinat...

Page 2: ... 14 Exchanging Lenses 15 Interchanging Finders 16 Waist Level Finder and Interchanging Magnifiers 17 Setting the Aperture 18 Focusing Adjustments 19 Distance Scale and Depth of Field Scale 20 Infrared Photography 21 Flash Photography 22 Multiple Exposures 23 Mirror Lock up 24 Interchanging Focusing Screens 25 Attachment of the Neck Strap 26 Facts about the Battery 27 Pointers on Shooting 28 Care o...

Page 3: ...enses 95mm diameter on 40mm lens and 500mm lens Lens Mount Exclusive four claw Bronica SQ bayonet mount Focusing Helical focusing system built into each lens angle of rotation 171 for standard lens Lens Diaphragm Fully automatic instant reopening lens diaphragm action equal distant aperture scale graduations depth of field previewing Shutter Electronic control SEIKO 0 between lens leaf shutter shu...

Page 4: ...ptional focus ing screens are available Flash Synchronization X setting up to 1 500 sec Battery Checking Red colored LED lights up at front end of finder outside screen area when battery check button is depressed also doubles as shutter closing signal Battery Single 6 volt silver oxide battery No 544 PX 28 or 4G13 or alkaline manganese battery No A544 or 4LR44 Dimensions 92mm wide x 109mm high x 1...

Page 5: ...tter release button Neck strap eyelet Multiple exposure lever Film winding crank Finder release button Manual film winder Shutter release button locking ring Mirror lock up switch lever Cable release socket Depth of field preview lever Lens release button Battery check button Film plane mark Spool holder Dark slide slit Neck strap eyelet Film back release button Film type indicator frame Battery c...

Page 6: ...and there is suffi cient power for operations If the LED does not light up 1 the battery is not loaded properly or 2 the battery is completely drained and should be exchanged 1 Loading the Battery The electronically controlled shutter will not work without loading the battery The shutter will be mechanically controlled when the battery is not loaded and will be released at 1 500 sec regardless of ...

Page 7: ... latches at the upper end of the film back into the attachment open ings at the upper end of the main camera body Then press the lower end of the film back against the main body until it locks securely 3 Attachment and Removal of Film Backs If winding is not possible all preparations for taking pictures have been completed But if winding is possible rotating the film winding crank until it stops w...

Page 8: ...he back cover squeeze the left and right back cover release buttons in the arrow indicated directions at the same time and the back cover will open B The film holder can be taken out for film loading upon opening the back cover 4 Construction of Film Back 5 Film Loading C There are two spool holders on the film holder The top one is for the fresh film spool and the bottom is for the empty take up ...

Page 9: ...top rotation F The starting point or arrow mark can also be aligned with the start mark with the film holder loaded in the film back Simply rotate the film winding crank on the main camera body in this case This method is preferred since there will be coupling with the main cam era body mechanism from the beginning If the film is not advanced when the film winding crank is rotated the film holder ...

Page 10: ...tate the manual film winder and it should be rotated two or three times more in order to take up any slack in the loaded film When loading 220 roll film in the Film Back SQ 220 do not mistake the dotted line before the arrow mark for the start mark To set the film sensitivity of the film loaded in the film back revolve the ASA ISO film speed dial with a slight lifting action as illustrated and set...

Page 11: ...d at the same time cock the shutter with the winding action stopping automatically On the other hand short rapid strokes up to an accumulated full rotation will also do the job Please make sure that the mirror lock up switch lever is set at N opposite the index when taking pictures It does not require mirror lock up The exposure counter shows the number of frames exposed or in other words is an ad...

Page 12: ...tter speed scale is viewed in its window over the shutter speed dial The numbers on the scale are shutter speed settings with numbers 1 to 8S full numbers and numbers 2 to 500 fractions of a second For example 8S is 8 sec 2S is 2 sec and 500 is 1 500 sec but no intermediate setting between click stops are possible The shutter is released at 1 500 sec regardless of the setting when the battery is n...

Page 13: ...lly lower The shutter cannot be released in the following cases 1 Shutter release button is locked 2 Dark slide is inserted 3 Film winding crank has not been rotated fully Same when exposure counter is still between S and 1 4 Shutter is not cocked 5 Lens is not properly attached Same with extension tubes and bellows 6 Lens release button is being depressed 7 All frames 12 on 120 roll film and 24 o...

Page 14: ...he time exposure lever in the opposite direction and exposing the letter A once more The lens cannot be attached or detached unless the shutter is cocked Therefore first rotate the film winding crank and cock the lens shutter A To attach the lens to the main body align the orange dot on the main camera body and the red dot on the lens and then insert the lens fully into its mount Rotate in the cou...

Page 15: ...the folded waist level finder There is no standard finder for the Bronica SQ A with the user hav ing a choice of several finders Instructions are based on the waist level finder because of its popularity B The magnifier is flipped into viewing position by simply sliding the release lever in the arrow indicated direction To store the magnifier simply push it down until it catches The magnifier can ...

Page 16: ... B All interchangeable lenses for the Zenza Bronica SQ A have fully automatic lens diaphragms which means that the focusing screen is always viewed at the full aperture with the brightest possible image However depressing the depth of field preview lever will stop the lens diaphragm down to the pre selected lens opening and permit the photographer to check the depth of field effect on the focusing...

Page 17: ...rea matte surface can also be used for checking image sharpness A Distance scales on the Zenzanon S lenses can be used for focusing at the required distance actually focused Simply rotate the focusing ring and set the required distance opposite the orange colored index which will adjust the lens for the required distance B There is an apparent zone of sharpness both in front and back of the focuse...

Page 18: ...istance index is the infrared index 3 After focusing in the normal manner re set the distance indicated by the orange colored distance index to the infrared index by shift ing the distance ring 4 Follow instructions enclosed with the infrared film and filter and to be on the safe side make several bracketing shots In general more exposure rather than less seems to be a safe guide A Always use flas...

Page 19: ... same frame A The mirror lock up switch lever has three settings or N S and C with the lever rotated to set N normal to the index for shooting without locking up the mirror S single frame and C continuous for shooting with the mirror locked up On shooting with mirror locked up always use Manual mode when the AE Prism Finder S is attached B For shooting with the mirror locked up first cock the shut...

Page 20: ... 1 Shutter will be released or 2 Shutter will not be released furthermore it will not be possible to press the shutter release button In order to prevent the above shooting should be continued in the following manner E When C is set to the index with the mirror lock up switch lever the lever will not return to N with the next film advancing and shutter cocking action Therefore shooting with the mi...

Page 21: ... of the screen in the corresponding groove on the main camera body Then slide both screen removal levers forward to secure the focusing screen Seven types of focusing screens are available for the Zenza Bronica SQ A A The focusing screen can be exchanged depending on the type of photographic work being undertaken First remove the finder attached to the main camera body Then move the screen removal...

Page 22: ...stic ring cover and the U shaped ring and pull it out as illustrated D After adjusting the length of the neck strap pass the leading end of the strap through the buckle as illustrated which will fix it securely There should be no slack between the buckle and the plastic ring cover or in A section which means that both straps must be of the same length at this point 25 Attachment of the Neck Strap ...

Page 23: ...outdoors in freezing weather Keep the battery and camera under cover next to the body and load just before beginning the session and or preferably use the optional Remote Camera Battery Pack E The shutter cannot be cocked when the film is not loaded in the film back The use of the multiple exposure lever will however permit you to cock the shutter in such instances This feature is of course very c...

Page 24: ...weather or at the seashore Wipe the camera carefully with a well wrung damp cloth using fresh water if exterior is affected by salty air Then wipe it dry with a soft dry cloth If necessary send it out for a quick inspection at an authorized repair station If the equipment is not being used for a long period store everything in tin lined containers with plenty of desiccant such as silica gel Store ...

Page 25: ...8 1 61 1 28 1 06 0 91 0 83 0 74 22 oo oo 97 0 6 67 3 08 2 00 1 48 1 18 1 04 0 90 5 17 3 46 2 60 1 96 1 49 1 21 1 01 0 87 0 80 0 72 F num bers Feet oo 30 15 10 7 5 4 3 5 3 2 8 oo 38 7 16 8 10 8 7 35 5 17 4 10 3 57 3 05 131 24 5 13 5 9 34 6 68 4 84 3 90 3 43 2 95 4 oo 43 5 17 7 11 1 7 49 5 23 4 14 3 60 3 07 94 8 22 9 13 0 9 11 6 57 4 79 3 87 3 40 2 93 5 6 oo 53 4 19 1 11 6 7 72 5 34 4 20 3 65 3 10 6...

Page 26: ...ertures 4 22 3 5 22 2 8 22 3 5 22 3 5 22 Minimum focusing distance M 0 4 0 5 0 8 0 85 1 5 1 3 ft 1 6 ft 2 6 ft 2 8 ft 4 9 ft Filter Size mm 95 67 67 67 67 Overall length mm 83 62 52 60 61 Weight grams 660 560 470 540 590 Equivalent focal length in 35mm for mat camera mm 21 28 45 58 85 30 Specifications of the Zenzanon S Lenses ...

Page 27: ...of View 22 30 18 9 Apertures 4 5 32 5 6 32 8 45 Minimum focusing distance M 2 5 3 8 5 8 2 ft 9 8 ft 28 ft Filter Size mm 67 67 95 Overall length mm 97 129 255 53 Weight grams 740 870 1890 500 Equivalent focal length in 35mm format camera mm 105 135 280 30 Specifications of the Zenzanon S Lenses con t ...