Buying a Bronica SQA or nor: I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lens 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This...

Douglas Tharp Loc: Texas

I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lens 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This makes me question if I should invest in the system. Finding the people that service the system are retiring or there are not any parts available.

bebop22 Loc: New York City

I would pick it up as I have been looking at a Bronco myself and think they are a great alternative to Hassy.

photon-collector Loc: Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Douglas Tharp wrote:

I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lenses 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This makes me question if I should invest in the system. Finding the people that service the system are retiring or there are not any parts available.

The SQA has seen many moons. The newest of Bronica's modular line is the GS-1, which ended production in 2002. If the camera has been idle for some time, it will likely need a CLA. Does it come with a finder (waist level, or metered), film backs, dark slide, grip, etc? If the price is right, it may be a wise choice. There are several locations in the US that service them.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Douglas Tharp wrote:

I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lens 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This makes me question if I should invest in the system. Finding the people that service the system are retiring or there are not any parts available.

I believe you answered your own question.

MrPhotog

Douglas Tharp wrote:

I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lens 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This makes me question if I should invest in the system. Finding the people that service the system are retiring or there are not any parts available.

if the price is good, get it. check ebay for comparison prices.

It is a good camera, and it isn't being made anymore, but there are plenty of used lenses available, so you can build a system.

Teardown manuals and repair guides are on the web. Any decent repairman should be able to follow them to clean and lube, now and in the future--though parts may be harder to find. But ebay sells old cameras and parts for old camera, so you might just find a junker, cheap, and keep it around for spares.

Get the 110 serviced now and it should have a 60 day to 1 year warranty--but probably not need service for a decade or more. In that time you'll probably have spent more on film and processing than the cost of the camera.

Enjoy It.

ELNikkor

I'd pass; I don't see in square...

BebuLamar

It all depends how much money and you didn't say how much they are going to cost you.

Douglas Tharp Loc: Texas

BebuLamar wrote:

It all depends how much money and you didn't say how much they are going to cost you.

The cost of the camera is $450.00 with a Bronica SQA including 2 lenes. The lenes are 80mm PS and 110mm PS that need service. Think I can get the 110 repaired at around $100 - $150.

Film cost is a driver for my thoughts and also darkroom access at the local junior college.

MrPhotog

Douglas Tharp wrote:

Film cost is a driver for my thoughts and also darkroom access at the local junior college.

Freestyle sometimes has good prices on 120 B and W film. Amazon and ebay may have some deals on color film, but be sure you get fresh stuff.

You can develop that at home in a daylight developing tank. Get a changing bag for loading the tank. You can do color negs, too. Save the darkroom time for making prints. Or, copy or scan the negatives to digitize them, and make prints from your computer.

Enjoy. There is a fascination with those big negatives.

BebuLamar

Douglas Tharp wrote:

The cost of the camera is $450.00 with a Bronica SQA including 2 lenes. The lenes are 80mm PS and 110mm PS that need service. Think I can get the 110 repaired at around $100 - $150.

Film cost is a driver for my thoughts and also darkroom access at the local junior college.

It's a significant amount of money but I think it's OK. If I were to buy them I would count on not having to service them. I really don't think they can be serviced for reasonable amount of money.

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

Douglas Tharp wrote:

I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lens 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This makes me question if I should invest in the system. Finding the people that service the system are retiring or there are not any parts available.

This must be my week for Bronicas. Hi. My name is Rick. I’m the owner and lead technician at Discount Camera Repair and a member in good standing here at the UHH. I’ve been doing repairs for other members here at greatly discounted rates and would be glad to help.

I'd be more than happy to repair the Bronica equipment for you and keep the cost as low as possible. If you’re interested, please respond by private message.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Douglas Tharp wrote:

I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lens 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This makes me question if I should invest in the system. Finding the people that service the system are retiring or there are not any parts available.

Here’s what Collectiblend gives as a pricing guide: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Zenza/Bronica-SQ-A.html
Also check the auction sites for sold prices. There are still some mechanical camera repair services out there. Get the camera and get it and lenses serviced now while they are still in business.

Stan

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Douglas Tharp wrote:

I have a chance to get a Bronica SQA with two PS lens 80 and 110. The 110 needs service and I am finding only a few companies that will service it. This makes me question if I should invest in the system. Finding the people that service the system are retiring or there are not any parts available.

In my younger and more foolish days I shot with a Kowa Six ( see my avatar). Lots of noise and vibration from the large flopping highly mechanized mirror !

Today I use a Pentax 645N - but only for long lens photography. Wide angle to normal focal lengths in medium formats I use (simpler) rangefinder (mirrorless) type cameras.

You may want to think about something like a Zeiss Ikonta or Voigtlander Bessa instead of a Bronica.
.

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

StanMac wrote:

Here’s what Collectiblend gives as a pricing guide: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Zenza/Bronica-SQ-A.html
Also check the auction sites for sold prices. There are still some mechanical camera repair services out there. Get the camera and get it and lenses serviced now while they are still in business.

Stan

Good camera techs are getting harder and harder to find. I'm one of the last and I'm not about to retire any time soon but eventually, there's going to be no one left who can repair Bronica and Hasselblad and all the other medium format cameras out there.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The 80mm is the one you really need. You can always get a 110mm later on. They turn up at garage sales and flea markets every now and then. All you need is a little diligence and patience.