Zenza Bronica ETRC User manual

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BR0NICA
ETR-C
Instructions

Congratulations on your choice of the Zenza Bronica ETR-C single
lens reflex camera which should offer you high quality performance,
handling convenience and versatility required for professional-class
use. The Zenza Bronica ETR-C has been developed as a "system"
camera, with a high degree of interchangeability in lenses, finder.sand
focusing screens. At the same time, it is also backed up by a full range
of valuable accessories which permit its use in many other day-to-day
assignments which require a fast-handling camera with complete ex¬
posure automation.
To get best results from your camera, may we suggest that you read
this instruction manual carefully, before you even touch the camera.
Thoroughly familiarize yourself with its working parts, before loading
your first roll of film, and your pleasure in using the Zenza Bronica
ETR-C will be even greater.
NOTICE
The ETR-C system allows the photographer to build up a system
which suits his needs. Therefore, the choice of finder is also left to
the user's discretion. (However, instructions following are based on
the use of the Waist-Level Finder.)

Contents
Specifications.... 2
Parts of the ZENZA BRONICA ETR-C ... 4
1. Loading the Battery . 7
2. Checking the Battery. 8
3. Film Loading... 8
4. Film Unloading. 12
5. Setting the Shutter Speed Dial .13
6. Time (T) Exposures.. . ..14
7. Exchanging Lenses . 1 5
8. Waist-Level Finder.. . 16
9. Setting the Aperture.17
10. Focusing Adjustments.18
11. Film Advance and Shutter Cocking ... 19
12. Exposure Counter.. . 19
13. Shutter Release Button.. 19
14. Distance Scale and Depth of Field Scale . 21
15. Infrared Photography . . . . 22
16. Flash Photography.22
17. Multiple Exposures. 2 3
18. Interchanging Finders and Magnifiers . . 24
19. Interchanging Focusing Screens.25
20. Film Type Indicator Frame.26
21. Attaching and Removing the
Neck Strap. 2 6
22. Facts about the Battery.27
23. Pointers on Shooting with
the Zenza Bronica ETR-C.. . 28
24. Care of the Zenza Bronica ETR-C .... 29
25. Accessories for Increasing
the Versatility of the ETR-C.30
26. Zenzanon Interchangeable Lenses.34
Depth of Field Table.36
Accessories • ..37

Specifications of the ZENZA BRONICA ETR-C
Type
Frame size
Film
Standard lens
Filter size
Lens mount
Lens diaphragm
Shutter:
Multiple exposure
Film holder
4.5cm x 6cm format lens shutter single lens reflex
camera, with interchangeable lens, film holder, finder
and focusing screen systems.
42.5mm x 55.1mm (side/length ratio of 1:1.29 closely
matches standard paper and reproduction sizes)
120 roll film (15 exposures)
Zenzanon E 75mm F2.8 lens; interchangeable type; 5
elements in 4 groups; multi-layer anti-reflection coated;
50° angle of view, F22 minimum aperture, helical focus¬
ing from inf. to 60cm (2 ft.).
58mm diameter screw mount on 75mm lens; 62mm di¬
ameter screw mount on lenses from 40mm to 250mm
focal lengths.
Exclusive four-claw Bronica bayonet mount.
Fully automatic instant reopening lens diaphragm ac¬
tion; equal-distant aperture scale graduations; depth of
field previewing.
Electronic control SEIKO #0 between-lens leaf shutter;
shutter speeds 8 sec. to 1/500 sec. plus T (time expo¬
sures); mechanical control setting 1/500 sec.
Multiple exposures possible with lever on body.
Interchangeable type, exclusive film holders for 120 (15
exposures) and 220 (30 exposures) roll films. (Supplied
with 120 roll film holder.)

Finder system
Interchangeable finder system, with choice of four op¬
tional finders, waist-level finder, AE {automatic expo¬
sure) finder, rotary viewfinder and prism finder. (No
standard finder is supplied and therefore a suitable one
must be ordered separately.)
Focusing screen Interchangeable type; standard type has split-image
rangefinder spot surrounded by microprism ring; matte
center with full area fresnel lens type and grid lines with
super-slide type available.
Flash synchronization X-setting (up to 1/500 sec.)
Battery checking Battery check button plus green-colored LED light on
top of body.
Battery Single 6-volt silver oxide battery (Eveready No. 544,
UCAR No. 544 or Mallory No. PX-28).
Dimensions 110mm Wz') wide x 106mm (4Va") high x 157mm
(6%”) long(with standard lens and waist-level finder).
Weight 1,330 grams (2.9 lbs): ETR-C camera with waist-level
finder and Zenzanon 75mm lens
803 grams (1.7 lbs): ETR-C camera (with battery)
only
417 grams (14.6 oz.): Zenzanon 75mm f2.8 lens only
110 grams (3.8 oz.): Waist-level finder only

Parts of the ZENZA BRONICA ETR-C
Preview lever
Flash synch socket
Shutter release button
Focusing ring
Focusing
hood/magnifier
ca
Shutter speed i
Shutter sp
scale
Battery check
lamp
Back cover
release button
Back cover
safety lock
Lens release button
Lens alignment dot
Waist-level finder
Finder release
button
Exposure counter
Aperture ring
Depth of field scale
Distance scales
4

Neck strap stud
Multiple exposure lever
Film winding crank
I
Battery check button
Neck strap stud
Spool holders
Manual film winder
Flash synch contact
Shutter-release button
Speed-Grip shutter locking ring
release connection
Lens release button
Motor drive contacts
Cable release
socket
5 )

6
Film type indicator frame
Tripod mounting shoe
Tripod socket
(%" screw)
Battery chamber cover
Battery chamber button

| 1 | Loading the Battery
A. The electronically-controlled
shutter will not work without
loading the battery.
The shutter will be mechanically-
controlled when the battery is
not loaded or when it is loaded
with its polarity marks reversed.
It will then be released at 1/500
sec., regardless of the setting on
the shutter speed dial.
Use one silver oxide battery
(EVEREADY No.544or equiva¬
lent).
B. Depress the battery chamber
button with your finger and, at
the same time, move the battery
chamber cover in the arrow-indi¬
cated direction. The cover will
come off easily.
C. Coincide the plus (+) and
minus (—) marks on the battery
with similar polarity indications
in the battery chamber. Then,
push in the negative end of the
battery first and follow with the
positive end.
Insert the BATTERY end of the
battery chamber cover which
also has a mark coinciding to
that on the body. Then move
the cover in the other direction
(opposite to the arrow indica¬
tion) until it locks in place.
:x

Battery Checking
If the green-colored battery
check lamp lights up when the
battery check button is de¬
pressed, the battery is loaded
properly and there is sufficient
power for electronically-con¬
trolled operations.
* If the lamp does not light up,
(1) the battery is not loaded
properly or (2) the battery is
completely drained and should
be exchanged.
8
3 ! Film Loading
A. To open the back cover, first,
press the spring-loaded safety
lock of the back cover release
button and then push the release
button in the arrow-indicated
direction.
The safety lock protrudes from
the bottom edge of the release
button and prevents accidental
openings of the back cover. Sim¬
ply press it towards the lens to
unlock.

B. Opening the back cover dis¬
closes the film holder which can
be taken out for film loading.
The film holder has an insert or
frame for loading film, as well as
a built-in film winding mech¬
anism. Exclusive film holders are
available for 120 and 220 roll
films.
C. There are two spool holders
on the film holder, with the top
for the fresh film spool and the
bottom for the empty take-up
spool. The left-side shafts of
both spool holders open out¬
wards, as illustrated, for easy in¬
sertion of the spools. In other
words, insert the right-side first
and then close the left-side hold¬
er (shaft) which will engage the
spool.
* The spool holders on the left
side are locked securely when
the back cover is closed.

D. A f t er loading the fresh film
spool properly, draw out the
leading end of the film and turn
it across the film pressure plate
(as illustrated). Run it down and
turn it over to the take-up spool.
Insert the leading end into the
slit of the take-up spool and
wind slightly until securely en¬
gaged.
* The inside of the leader paper
must face out when running
across the film pressure plate.
E. U n f old the manual film
winder on the right side of the
film holder and rotate in the
arrow-indicated direction, while
checking the advancing film.
When the starting point, or ar¬
row mark, is aligned with the
triangular ▼ start-mark on the
top left side of the film holder,
stop rotation.
F. T h e film can be loaded in the
film holder without taking it
out. It is loaded in the same
manner as for the detached film
holder. However, the starting
point, or arrow mark, should be
aligned to the start-mark by ad¬
vancing the film with the film
winding crank on the camera
body.

* If the film is not advanced
when the film winding crank is
rotated, the film holder is not
inserted properly and/or the
camera body may be set for
multiple exposures. In the latter
case, return the multiple expo¬
sure lever to an upright or verti¬
cal position.
G. Close the back cover, by sim¬
ply pressing it firmly against the
camera body. The back cover
will automatically lock and
close, with the safety lock also
locking the back cover release
button.
H. Upon closing the back cover,
after loading fresh film, rotate
the film winding crank until it
stops to place the first frame
into place for taking the picture.
The exposure counter will also
change from "S" to "1" while
the shutter will also be cocked.

ij 4 \ Filrn Unloading
A. After the 15th exposure of
the 120 roil film (30th exposure
of the 220 roll film), the film
winding crank will turn freely
with further rotations. There-
fore,-continue rotating the film
winding crank until the remain¬
ing film and all the leader paper
is wound up on the take-up
spool.
Open the back cover when wind¬
ing action becomes very light.
B. Remove the film holder and,
while preventing the loose film
from unwinding, take out the
take-up spool. Seal the exposed
film and return it to its original
box until development.
* Load and unload film away
from direct sunlight and/or
strong illumination.

, r ] Setting the Shutter Speed Dial
A. The shutter 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 nurfibers 2 to
500 fractions of a second. For
example, "8S" is 8 sec., "2S" is
2 sec. and “BOO' 7 is 1/500 sec.
* The shutter is released at 1/
500 sec., regardless of the set¬
ting when the battery is not
loaded or is completely drained.
B. The numbers on the scale are
color-coded in red and white.
Red-colored numbers are full
number settings of 1 second and
longer while white-colored num¬
bers are settings from 1/2 to
1/500 second. There is no B
(bulb) setting.
See the following page for time
{T) exposures.
The shutter speed dial cannot be
rotated beyond the settings for
1/500 sec. and 8 sec., at both
ends of the scale.
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
I
2s
4s
8s
f White
Red

[~R~j Time (T) Exposures
A. Time exposures are made
with the time exposure lever on
the lens, regardless of the set¬
ting on the shutter speed scale.
However, the lever is locked to
prevent accidental movement
and must be unlocked for use.
Unscrew the setscrew on the
time exposure lever until further
revolution is not possible, which
will permit the lever to be
moved freely.
B. Next, cock the shutter with
the film winding crank and then
shift the time exposure lever to
the left (looking from the body
towards the lens) which will ex¬
pose a red-colored "T" on the
barrel. The shutter will stay
open when the shutter release
button is depressed in this con¬
dition.
The shutter is closed by shifting
the time exposure lever in the
opposite direction and exposing
the tetter "A" once more.
1
* Except for time exposures,
always shift the time exposure
lever so that "A" is visible on
the lens barrel and keep it lock¬
ed with the setscrew to prevent
accidental movement.

A. The lens cannot be detached
or attached unless the shutter is
cocked.
Therefore, first, rotate the film
winding crank and cock the tens
shutter. Then, rotate the lens re¬
lease button 45° in the clockwise
direction and depress it at this
position. Next, while keeping
the lens release button depressed,
rotate the lens in the clockwise
direction until it stops, at which
point it can be detached. The
lens release button will auto¬
matically return to "lock" when
the user's finger is lifted from it.
Next, while keeping the lens re¬
lease button depressed, rotate
the lens in the clockwise direc¬
tion, too, until it makes a full
stop, at which point it can be
detached.
The locking ring on the lens re¬
lease button will automatically
return to "lock" when pressure
is released from the lens release
button.
B. To attach the lens to the
body, first, align the red dots oh
the lens and body and then in¬
sert the lens fully into its mount.
Rotate in the counter-clockwise
direction until it stops, with an
audible click which will indicate
that it is securely locked.
* The lens cannot be attached,
unless the film is advanced and
the shutter cocked on the body.

[ H | Waist-Level Finder
A. T h e focusing hood of the
waist-level finder is opened by
pushing or pulling up on the
focusing hood/magnifier catch at
the rear end of the folded waist
level finder.
* As noted, there is no standard
finder for the Bronica ETR and
the user has a choice of several
finders. Instructions are made
on the basis of the waist-level
finder because of its popularity.
B. T o close the focusing hood,
first, push down the magnifier
(if it is flipped up). Next, press
in both side frames, as illustrated,
and, at the same time, press the
front frame back towards the
rear end. The focusing hood will
automatically be folded down.
C. T h e magnifier can be flipped
up into viewing position, by sim¬
ply sliding the focusing hood/
magnifier catch in the arrow-
indicated direction (to the left).
To return the magnifier to its
storage position, simply push it
down until it catches.
* The magnifier is interchange¬
able with one matching the eye¬
sight of the user. See "18 Ex¬
changing Finders."

Setting the Aperture
s
A. The aperture ring is rotated,
in either direction, to set the
required f/number opposite the
white index dot. The aperture
ring click-stops at the numbered
settings. Intermediate settings
are also possible.
* Intermediate settings cannot
be used when theAE (automatic
exposure) Finder is used.
B. All Bronica interchangeable
lenses for the ETR-C have fully
automatic lensdiaphragmswhich
means that the focusing screen
is always viewed at the full aper¬
ture, 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
(aperture), permitting the pho¬
tographer to check the depth of
field effect on the focusing
screen.
* The aperture ring must not be
adjusted while the depth of field
preview lever is being depressed.

11| Focusing Adjustments
A. The lens is focused on the
subject, by rotating the focusing
ring in either direction, while
checking the effect on the mi-
croprism/split-image rangefinder
spot in the center of the focus¬
ing screen (standard type).
B. The central split-image spot
splits the image diagonally, with
the upper and lower halves being
separated diagonally when the
lens is out of focus. When in
focus, however, the two halves
will coincide with the diagonal
displacement disappearing. The
microprism ring surrounding the
central spot can also be used for
checking the sharpness of the
focused image, since the image
will glitter when the lens is not
The full-area matte surface sur¬
rounding the central focusing
aids can also be used for check¬
ing image sharpness.
focused.