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NIKON KIU wrote:

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A while ago Bob was selling a bunch of Bronicas with Nikkors.
I tried to buy one but got outbid!! More than once.
Now, we have our own expert.
I thought the Bronica started with the S...How wrong I was!
This thread is dedicated to them.
Does anyone have the complete list of Bronica cameras that were equiped with Nikkors?
Are there any exotic Nikkors? super wides? out of ordinary?

Help me Roger...


Kiu

Kiu,

Before the "S" was introduced in 1961 there were three versions of the first Bronica cameras produced: The 1958 model "Z", the 1960 "Deluxe type 1", and the 1961 "Deluxe type 2". They were all pretty much the same camera, with the later designs having improvements to the gear mechanisms, which had become the leading cause of early failure. The fit and finish of the first Bronica cameras is outstanding. Aside from some poor choices in materials for the gears (brass), these cameras were mechanical "works of art" and had some of the most advanced features of the day.



All of the early mechanical Bronicas ( Z, D-1, D-2, S, C, C-2, S2, S2A, S2A-2, EC, ECTL, and ECTL-2 ) were standard with the 7.5cm/75mm f2.8 Nikkor. A host of optional Nikon lenses were available from a 40mm. superwide to a 1200mm. telephoto, and just about everything in between. Although a 30mm. was shown in 1975, it was never mass produced, and only a couple of examples are known. The rarest lenses that you see from time to time are the Nikon rangefinder lenses that were produced by the factory specifically for the early Bronica cameras. The 18cm., 25cm., 35cm., 50cm., and 100cm. were all produced from the factory with a special mount to fit the Bronica. These were probably produced by special order, and for some of them, possibly less than 10 exist today. I believe that the only 100cm. exists in the Nikon Museum. In the late 70's, as electronics started creeping into the designs, Nikkor lenses started phasing out, and were replaced by Zenzanon lenses.

Roger

Could this be the largest Bronica "Deluxe","Z", and Bronica specific Nikkor lens collection on the planet?



Plain vanilla Deluxe cameras are on the right, much rarer "Z"s are on the left.








Some rare Bronica specific Nikkor 18cm, 25cm, and 35cm lenses with special mounts, plus some more common ones.




Rare model "Z" Bronica cameras (first model, 1958)




Deluxe model accessories.




More Bronica/Nikkor lenses in the background plus some lens accessories.


Roger
The Zenza Bronica Collector

mynikonf2 wrote:

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This is an incredible collection. How long have you been collecting Bronicas?

I have been trying to find one of the D models but no wonder there none of these to be found, you already have all of them!

Thank you!

This collection was started back in 1994, when the prices on these
somewhat scarce first model Bronica cameras was not "through the roof" as it is
now.

The first cameras were purchased in the older NYC camera stores (all gone
now), at NYC camera shows, and through the Shutterbug monthly magazine. Later
ones were acquired through eBay (of course).

Over the years it has been a pretty intense effort to collect as
much Deluxe stuff as I could. Lately, I have not been too successful in winning
things on eBay because I'm not willing to pay today's prices.

Originally, I was one of the first in the country to own a Deluxe. My order
was placed over a year before the camera was introduced here in 1959, and I was
waiting on the doorstep when the first salesman's samples were shipped to Caprod
Ltd. in NY. The salesman I was dealing with felt so bad that I had waited so
long, that he gave me his sample.

They still show up on eBay once in a while, so you just have to keep looking. Generally
though, they end up selling for $750-1000 depending on condition, and who is bidding.
The model "Z" is much harder to find, maybe one every year or two, and if a serious
collector is looking, they will bring $1500 (working or not).

Roger