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Bronica GS-1 User manual

User manual for Bronica GS-1. 44 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.

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Brand
Bronica
Model / document
Bronica GS-1
Document type
User manual
Language
English
Pages
44
File size
3.7 MB
Category
Film cameras
Document date
Not specified in catalog

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Congratulations on your choice of the Zenza Bronica GS-l, a lens shutter type
singlelens reflex camera in the 6x7 format.
The GS-1 provides the professional user with a lightweight and compact 6x7
format  single lens reflex of extremely useful versatility and multi-functional
performance, which is based on the history and experience gained in the devel-
opment of the Zenza Bronica ETRS and SO-A single lens reflexes, as well as the
latest technological advancesin the electronic field.
The GS-1 has been developed as a full-scalesystem camera, with a wide range of
versatile accessoriesand especially with complete film back interchangeability
which gives it multi-format capability for use in a wide field of applications,
including commercial photography, news photography, scientific photography,
etc., as well as giving this 6x7 format single lens reflex versatility equal to the
35mm singlelens reflex camera.
Although  instructions following are based on the GS-1 camera main body, the
Zenzanon-Pc 100mm lens and the Film Back GS 120, the choice of finder is left
to the discretion of the photographer who should also read the instructions for
the finder chosen. The choice of lens, film back and finder should be basedon
the type of assignmentcontemplated by the user.
To obtain best results from theZenza Bronica GS-1, may we suggestthat you
read this instruction manual through carefully, before you even touch the cam-
era, as your pleasurein using the camera will be even greaterif you thoroughly
familiarize yourself with  its working parts before loading your first roll of film.
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                        corvtenrrs
Specificationsof the ZenzaBronicaGS-1      2   18. SettingtheApertureRing                     . . .23
Partsof the ZenzaBronicaGS-l              4   1 9 . F o c u s i n g A d j u s t m e n t s . .             . . . . 2 4
 1. LoadingtheBattery                   7   20. DistanceScaleand Depthof FieldScale . .25
 2. Main Switch                          8   2 1 . I n f r a r e d P h o t o g r a p h y   . . . .             . . 2 5
 3.       Displayand BatteryChecking. .  . . 8   2 2 . F l a s h P h o t o g r a p h y                       . . . . 2 6   ,Finder
 4. Attachmentand Removalof Film Backs. .   I   2 3 . M u l t i p l e E x p o s u r e s                       . . . . 2 7
 5. ConstructionofFilm Back .           . . . . . .11   24. Mirror Lock-Up                                        . .28
 6 . F i l m L o a d i n g . .                            . . . . . . 1 1     25. RemoteControl Operations. . .           . . .30
 7. Film SpeedDial                                       . . 15  26. InterchangingFocusingScreens      . . . .30
 8. ExposureCompensationDial   . . . . .15   27. Removaland Attachmentof the Film
 9. Film Type IndicatorFrame                     . . 16   W i n d i n g C r a n k A s s e m b l y            . . . . 3 2
1 0 . E x p o s u r e C o u n t e r                       . . . . . 1 6    28. Attachmentof the Neck Strap            . . . . 33
11. Film Winding/ShutterCocking          . . . .17   2 9 . F a c t s a b o u t t h e B a t t e r y . . .                . . 3 4
12. Film Unloading                                     . .17   30. Pointerson Shooting                             . . . 35
13. Settingthe ShutterSpeedDial            . . . . 18  31. Careof the ZenzaBronicaGS-l .           . . .35
1 4 . S h u t t e r R e l e a s e B u t t o n             . . . . . 2 0    32. Depthof FieldTables                             . .37
1 5 . T i m e ( T )E x p o s u r e                           . . . . 2 1    33. Specificationsof Zenzanon-PGLenses . . . 38
1 6 . E x c h a n g i n g L e n s e s                      . . . . 2 2
1 7 . I n t e r c h a n g i n g F i n d e r s . . .              . . . 2 3

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                      Specification$'ofthe Zenza  ihicarcs-t                                                                i  iiiiirrri;:.:..t

 Type                 6 x 7cm format lens shutter single lens reflex camera, with interchangeablelens,film back,
                          finder and focusing screen systems.
 Frame size           55.6 x 69.0mm (4:5 ratio matching the size of the photographic paper).
 Fifm                120 roll film;22O  roll film; 135 roll film  in film cartridges;and Polaroid Land Pack films
                         (with exclusivefilm backs required for each film type).
 Standard lens        Zenzanon-PG 100mm F3.5; interchangeabletype; six elements in four groups; multi-layer
                         anti-reflection coated; 48o angle of view; F22 minimum aperture; and minimum 0.75m
                       focusing distance.
  Filter size         72mm diameter on 100mm F3.5 standard lens.
 Lens mount           Bronica GS mount (exclusivefour-claw bayonet).
 Focusingadjustment   Helical focusing system built into each lens.
 Lens diaphragm         Fully automatic instant reopening lens diaphragm; 1 12 stop increments; equal-distant aper-
                            tu re scale graduations.
 Shutter                 Electronic control SEIKO #0  between-lens leaf shutter; shutter speeds from 16 sec. to
                       1 /500 sec.,without intermediatesettings,plus T (time exposure), B (bulb) and A (automatic
                    exposure).
 Shutter release        Electro-magnetic shutter releasesystem; also has electro-magnetic cable releasesystem.
 Film winding          Film winding crank, with one full forward revolution or ratchetedwinding action.
 Multiple exposure     Multiple exposure possiblewith multiple exposure lever on camera body.
 Mirror lock-up        Continuous mirror lock-up possiblewith mirror lock-up lever on camera body.
 Film back            Dayfight loading interchangeabletype; exclusivefilm backs tor 12O and 22O roll films (6x7,
                     6x6 and 6x4.5 formats), 135 roll film (24x36and 24x69 formats) and Polaroid Land Pack
                            film; with ASA/ISO film speed dial and exposure compensation dial (coupling to finders
                        with built-in exposure meter).                                                                                                                                    ]
 Finder                               f nterchangeable type; shows 94o/oof the actual f ield of view (which does not change upon
                     exchangingfinders).

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ,t::.


Focusing screen       Interchangeabletype; standard type, supplied with camera, has full-area matte screen.
Finder indications     Shutter speed, etc., is shown at the top of the finder area, outsidethe screen area;5 digits,
                      7 segmentsand dot indication, depending on finder attached.
Flashsynchronization X€etting  (for all speeds up to 1/500 sec.); automatic flash control, with direct exposure
                     metering of film surface is possible (with exclusivededicated electronic flash unit).
Battery checking     Steady illumination or flickering of shutter speed display in finder, with half-stroke of the
                        shutter releasebutton.
Battery                Single 6 volt silver oxide or alkaline-manganesebattery.
Dimensions          106.5(wide) x 99(high) x 80(long) mm - GS-l main body only.
                    106.5 (wide) x 1 16 (high) x 196.5(long) mm -  GS-l, with standard100mm lens,Film Back
               GS 120 and Waist-levelFinder G.
Weight             630 grams (GS-l main body only, without battery).
                   1830 grams (GS-l, with standard 100mm lens, Film Back GS 12Oand Waist-levelFinder G
                       but without  battery).



                    The above specifications are subject to changeswithout  prior notice when necessaryfor the
                      purpose of improving performance.





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A. Depress the battery chamber          B. Coincide the  plus (+) and
button with your finger and, at        minus (-) marks on the battery
the same time, move the battery          with similar polarity indications
chamber cover in the arrow-in-           in the battery chamber. Then,
dicated direction. The cover will        push in the battery.
come off quite easily.                      lnsert the battery chamber cover
                                             into  the BATTERY  end  first
                                  and then move the cover in the
                                        other direction until  it locks.
                                                       *                                   The shutter will not operate
                                when the battery is loaded with
                                            polarity marks reversed.



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 2  I MainSwitch            3  I FinderDisplayand BatteryChecki





 The main switch is located on          A. An LED display located over         B. Turn ON  the main switch
 the upper left side of the main          the top center of the focusing        and then stroke the shutter re-
 body . There will be no opera-        screen shows the shutter speed,        lease button  halfways.  lf  the
 tions unless the main switch           etc., wh ich  is viewed laterally       LED display in the finder lights
 is pushed down  (i.e., switched         reversed with  the  waist-level        up  steadily or  flickers, as the
oN).                                                                   f inder.                              case may  be,  the  battery  is
                                     Since the LED display differs        loaded properly and there  is
 * There is no power consump-          with  the  finder  in use, please         sufficient power for operations.
 tion, even with the main switch         read the  instructions supplied
 ON" However, the  battery-life          with the f inder for correct usage             {t  lf the LED display does not
 will be shortenedwhen the shut-        and reading.                                 light up  steadily or does not
 ter  release is stroked halfways                                                           flicker,  as the  case may  be,
 and the shutter speed disPlaY                                                       (1) the  battery  is not  loaded
 lights up  steadily or  flickers.                                                properly or  Ql  the battery  is
 Therefore, switch OFF  (push                                             completely drained and should
 up) the main switch when  it is                                           be exchanged.
 not planned to use the camera
 for some times.
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4  Attachment and Removalof Film Backs

The film back is a film cham-        with   built-in  exposure meters         in a rush, or used for checking
ber that can be attached or de-        are attached on the main body.       composition  or  lighting effect,
tached   f reely   f rom  the  main        This will, of course, be very con-       before taking the actual picture.
body, thus permitting   f ree ex-       venient when using films of dif-
change of    f ilrn  types,  at  all        ferent sensitivities in the  film        {F Film backs are avaifable op-
times. Since the main body and        backs.                                     tionally and the type meeting
film back are always fully cou-                                                the requirernents of the photog-
                                            iF Make full use of film back in-       rapher should be chosen.pled, upon connection, always
turn  the  film  winding  crank        terchangeability, in the  f ollow-
completely one time, upon at-        tng manner:-
taching the film back.  lf wind-         1. Take  full  advantage of the
ing  is not possible, all prepara-        multi-format  superiority of the
tions for taking the picture have       GS-l  and  use  film  backs  in
been completed.  lf winding  is      many different formats, wh ich
possible, however, rotating the          will not only give you different
f ilm winding crank until it stops        effects but  will economize on
automatically takes care of the               f ilm.
incompleted action, whether un-         2. Take \/our pictures in color
cocked shutter or film  not ad-       and black-and-white, and in dif-
vanced. Th is means, of course,        ferent film speeds, as required.
that  it's possible to choose the         3. Keep a sufficient guantity of
film  type  most suited for  the        preloaded film  backs on hand
shot, even midway in a roll.           and speedy, continuous shoot-
                                        ing will be possible.
An  ASA/ISO   f ilm speed dial         4.  Don't waste unsuitable film
and an exposure compensation       used in a previous session but
dial are available on  the  film        simply load up a new film back
backs. When used for setting the        with the required film type.
film speed of the film  loaded        5. The Polaroid Film Back can
in the film back, there is auto-       be used for  instant  color  or
matic  coupling when   f inders       black-and-white pictures, when
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   A. To attach the film back to          B. The dark slide must be in-         C. Depressthe film back release
   the main body, simply insert the          serted into the dark slide slit,         button and the lower end of the
   latches at the upper end of the            for removing the film back from            film  back can be removed, as
    film back into attachment open-          the main body. Insert, with the           illustrated. Simply shift the f ilm
   ings at the upper end  of the     @ mark at the top, as illustrat-        back up  slightly and  pull   it
   main  body.  Then,  press the          ed, and then push in all the way.         away.
   lower end  of  the   f ilm back
   against the main body  until  it              * There  is danger of the film              * The  dark  slide cannot be
   locks securely.                        back becoming detached from         withdrawn from the film back,
                                            the main body,  if the dark slide       when the film back is detached
    * The dark slide must be with-             is left in its slit while the camera         from the main body.
   drawn from its slit, upon attach-            is being carried. Therefore,make
   ment  of the film back to the                  it a rule to withdraw the dark
   main  body,  as otherwise the           slide whenever the film back is
   shutter cannot be released.              attached to the main body.


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       F i l m h o l d e r

A. The film back consists of a          B. The film back frame has a          A. To  open  the  back  cover,
film holder and f ilm back frame,        base with a dark slide slit and a        squeeze the  top  and bottom
with exclusive film backs avail-        back cover with  an ASA/ISO         back cover release buttons,  in
able for 120 and 220 roll films.                  f ilm  speed dial, an exposure         the  arrow-indicated directions,
The film holder is not only de-        compensation dial and a  film           at the same time and the back
tachable from the film back but          type  indicator frame. The film         cover will open.
also has a built-in film winding        back frame completely encloses
mechanism.                            the  film  holder and shields it
                                     from  outside light, as well as
* Read  instructions  supplied         connecting it to the main body
with the Film Back GS 135 for        and also coupling with  finders
loading135 roll film.                     with built-in exposure meters.



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E. Rotate  the  manual  film           F. The starting point can also             *   lf  the  film  is not advanced
winder on top of the f ilm holder        be aligned with the start-mark,       when the  film winding crank
in the arrow-indicateddirection          with  the film holder loaded in             is  rotated, however, the   f ilm
and wind up the film  leader.         the  film  back.  In  this case,        holder is not loaded properly in
When the starting point, or ar-         simply rotate the film winding         the film back and/or the camera
row mark, appears,align it with          crank of the main body to align        main body may be set for multi-
the  triangular V  start-mark on          the start-mark. This method is          ple exposures.In the latter case,
the  right top side of the film          preferable since there  will be          return  the  multiple  exposure
holder. Then, stop rotation.              coupling with the camera body          lever to an upright or vertical
                                 mechanism,from the beginning.         position.
                                                                     (See "Multiple Exposures" on
                                                                      page 27.l



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  G. Close the  back  cover, by          H. Upon loading the film, ro-                l.  The manual film winder is
  pressing it   f irmly  against the           tate the film winding crank until         used  to  place the   f irst   f rame
  right side of the film back base,                 it stops to place the first frame          into  position, when the  film
  as illustrated. The back cover           into place for taking the picture.        back is detached from the main
  will  automatically lock  and        The exposure counter will also         body.
  close.                            change from "S"  to "1", with        The manual f ilm winder will not
 The same operation will close          the film advancedand the shut-         stop  rotating, even when the
  the back cover when the film            ter cocked.                                  film   is  in  place for  the  first
 back is detached from the main                                                                                                 f rame, but  should be rotated
  body.                                                                        2 or 3 times more, in order to
                                                                             take up slack in the loadedfilm.




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  1 2 0 r o l l f i l m  I             S t a r t i n g m ark

 22O         roll             film
         I    Do               t t e d                                l i n e  S                                        t a r t i n g ma rk
* When loading 220  roll film         Set the film  sensitivity of the         Exposure compensation up  to
in the Film Back GS 220, do           film  loaded in the  film back,        +3 stops is possibleat 1/3rd in-
not mistake the dotted line be-       when using finders with a built-         crements. To  set the  required
fore  the arrow mark  for  the            in exposure meter. To  set the         compensation, slide the expo-
start-mark.                                  film speed,depressthe ASA/lSO         sure  compensation  dial  lock
                                             film speeddial lock button and,          button,  in the arrow-indicated
*  For  the  use of   f ilm backs           at  the same time,  rotate the          direction, then  rotate the ex-
other than the 6x7 format, read        ASA/ISO film sppeddial and set         posure compensation dial, as
the  instructions supplied with          the required film speed to the         required.
the film back.                           index. The dial has click-stops      When  compensation  is  not
                                             at 1/3rd increments.                 needed, simply  set  to  "O",
                                                                     where it is locked.
                                                                                                               * There will be no effect on the
                                                                          exposure, no matter where the
                                                                 ASA/ISO film speeddial and ex-
                                                                        posure compensation dial  are
                                                                                          set, when a finder with a built-in
                                                                       exposure meter is not used.
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 Upon loading the film, tear off
  the end  flap from  the empty                                                   O ran ge
  film packageand insert it in the
  film type indicator frame. This
  will help you keep track of the
  film  loaded in the  film back,
 even when two  or more  film
  backs are used with  different
  types of films.




                                                         Or ange          White                 Or ange


C9
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The  filrn winding crank auto-          A. After  the 10th exposure of          B. Remove the film holder and,
matically stops, when  rotated         the 120 roll film (20th exposure        while preventing the loose film
completely one time in the for-           of the 22O roll film), continue        from unwinding, take out the
ward  direction, with  film  ad-          rotating the film winding crank         take-up spool. Seal the exposed
vanced one frame and shutter        and the film only will be ad-          film and return it to its original
cocked, at the sametime.              vanced until the remainingfilm        box until development.
Or, short, rapid strokes, up to         and leader paper are wound up
an  accumulated full  rotation,         on the take-up spool.                           * Load and unload film away
will  also do the same job be-        Open the back cover when there                  f rom   direct  sunlight  and/or
cause of a ratcheted mechanism.            is no resistancein the winding         strong illumination.
                                           action.
* The mirror lock-up lever must
be vertical at  all times, except
when shooting with the mirror
locked up.
(See "Mirror Lock-Up" on page
28.1

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C. The shutter speed dial is set              It The shutter speed, when the
to  A,  for aperture-priority AE         shutter speed dial is set to A, is
photography when a f inder with        16 seconds,when a finder with
a  built-in exposure meter  is        a built-in meter is not attached.
attached. To  set A,  press the
shutter speed dial lock button
and  rotate the  shutter speed
dial,  at  the  same time. To
change from A to another set-
ting, for manual photography,
pressthe lock button and rotate
the shutter speeddial to the re-
quired  setting. However, the
shutter speed dial cannot be
moved directly from A to B, in
this case,or from B to A, too.

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 An electro-magneticshutter re-           In the following cases,the shut-           6. Lens release buttin   is de-
 lease button  is incorporated in            ter will not be releasedand the          pressed.
 the Zenza Bronica GS-l . Strok-         shutter releasewarning LED will            7.  All frames (i.e., 10 frames
 ing the release button halfway           light up, except in the first in-           for 120 roll f ilm and 20 for 22O
 illuminatesthe shutter speed,as         stance:-                                         roll film) have been exposed.
 digits and dots, etc., in the dis-         1 . Main switch is OFF.
 play panel in the top center of           2. Dark slide is inserted.                         'rr There will be u nderexposure
 the   f inder, outside the screen          3. Film is not advanced.(Same                if the film winding crank is ac-
 area.                            when exposure counter  is be-          cidentally rotated before con-
 The display will go out when        twggn "S" and "1".1                     clusion of  the exposure, on a
 the releasebutton is stroked all           4. Shutter is not cocked.               slow shutter speed setting. Fur-
 the way and a shutter release          5. Lens is not attached Proper-         thermore, the shutter will not
warning LED will light up mo-             ly. (Same with automatic exten-        be  released on  the  following
 mentarily, when the exposure         sion tubes, too.)                       shot until the remaining time
 is completed and  the  shutter                                                                                                f or  the previous exposure has
 blades are closed,which should                                              elapsed.
 be checked when using a slow
 shutter speed.
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A.  First, cock the shutter with          B. Slide the time exposurelever
the f ilm winding crank and then        and releasethe shutter, when a
pull up the time exposurelever        red-colored "T"   is exposed on
re lease.                               the lens barrel. The shutter will
                                        stay open until the time expo-
                                      sure lever is moved in the op-
                                       posite direction, exposing the
                                             letter "A", which will close the
                                     shutter.
                                                       *  Except  for  time exposures,
                                    always shift the time exposure
                                          lever so that the  letter "A"   is
                                            visible on  the  lens barrel and
                                   keep the  time exposure lever
                                       releasepushed in all the way.

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   l5  ExchangingLenses            l





                                            A. To attach the lens, align the          B. To detach the lens, pressthe
                                          white dot on the main body and          lens release button down and,
                                           the red dot on  the  lens, and           at the same time, rotate the lens
                                       then insert the lensf ully into its         clockwise (as arrow indicated)
                                      mount.  Rotate  counter-clock-           until   it makes a  full  stop, at
                                        wise   (in  the  arrow-indicated        which point   it will be possible
                                             direction)  until   it  stops, with           to detach the lens.
                                     an audible click, which will in-
                                           dicate that  it is securely locked.





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A. Various types  of  optional          B. To detach the finder, simply          A. The aperture ring is rotated,
finders can be interchanged to         depressthe finder releasebutton            in  either direction, to  set the
match shooting conditions to          and, at the same time, slide the          required F/number opposite the
photographic conditions. To at-           finder backwards where  it can         white index dot. The aperture
tach the finder, align the front         be detached.                              ring click-stopsat the numbered
end of the finder with the front              * Read instructions suppplied          settings, as well as intermediate
end of the finder frame on top          with  the  optional   f inders on         112 stop settings. The aperture
of  the main body, as shown.           their use.                                 ring may also be set midway be-
Then, gently lower the finder                                           tween tne 112 stop click-stops,
and, when  well  seated, slide                                                      too.
forward until  it locks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'l                                                                                                               *                                                                     The  intermediate                                                                                           14 stop
                                                                                   settings cannot be used when
                                                                                   finders with a built-in exposure
                                                                         meter are used. Click-stop set-
                                                                                     tings only can be used, in this
                                                                                case.

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  B. The Zenzanon-PG Series in-              * When using finders with  a        The lens is focused on the sub-
 terchangeable lenses have fully            built-in exposure meter, expo-           ject, by  rotating the focusing
 automatic   lens   d iaPhragms        sure measurements should not          ring in either direction, while
 which means that the focusing        be taken with the depth of  f ield         checking the effect on the cen-
 screen is always viewed at the          preview lever depressed, as the             tral  matte  surf ace area of  the
  full aperture, with the brightest          shutter  speed  indicated  will          focusing screen (standardtype).
  possible image. Depressing the         cause over-exposure.This is be-
 depth  of    f ield  preview lever        cause proper exposures are ob-
 stops the lens diaphragm down          tained with exposure measure-
  to  a pre-selected lens opening        ments made at the f ull aperture.
 and  permits checking of  the
 depth  of   f ield  effect on  the
 focusing screen.
  * The aperture ring must not be
 adjustedwhile the dePth of  f ield
  preview lever is being depressed.

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