Bronica ETRSi 75th Anniversary1996

History

Zenzo Yoshino founded Zenza Bronica in Tokyo in 1956 (the company's formal anniversary year is typically given as 1956, making "75th anniversary" in 1996 refer to Yoshino's birth year or a different internal milestone — ). The ETR system launched in 1976 as Bronica's 645-format offering to complement the larger SQ (6x6) and GS-1 (6x7) systems. The ETR evolved through the ETRC, ETR-S, ETRS, and ETRSi over two decades, with the ETRSi (1988) being the final and most fully developed variant.

By 1996 the ETRSi was a mature system with a complete accessory ecosystem. The 75th anniversary edition represents a prestige marketing exercise at a point when the camera was technically stable and commercially established. Production of the standard ETRSi continued until Tamron (which had acquired Bronica) wound down the Bronica brand in 2004.

Why It Matters

The anniversary edition is primarily of collector interest. Functionally, every capability of the 75th edition is available in a standard ETRSi body at significantly lower cost. The gold trim does not affect image quality or system compatibility.

For working photographers the ETRSi remains a credible 645 system: the leaf-shutter lenses provide full flash sync at all speeds, the 6x4.5 format yields significantly larger negatives than 35mm with a more manageable camera than 6x6 or 6x7 systems, and the Zenzanon lenses are optically well-regarded. The interchangeable backs allow mid-roll film changes, a practical feature for mixed lighting assignments.

The anniversary edition commands a price premium on the used market over standard ETRSi bodies. Whether that premium is justified depends entirely on the buyer's valuation of the cosmetic distinction.

Lenses & Accessories

The ETRSi accepts all Bronica ETR-mount lenses. Notable optics include:

• Zenzanon-PE 75mm f/2.8 — the standard normal lens; compact and sharp
• Zenzanon-PE 50mm f/2.8 — wide angle equivalent
• Zenzanon-PE 150mm f/3.5 — portrait telephoto
• Zenzanon-PE 40mm f/4 — ultra-wide
• Zenzanon-PE 200mm f/4.5 — long telephoto

Interchangeable accessories include:

• Film backs — 120 (15 exp), 220 (30 exp), Polaroid, bulk
• Viewfinders — waist-level finder, AE-II metered prism, speed grip with AE metering
• Motor drive — integral to the body; AA batteries power film advance

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• The ETRSi system (not specifically the anniversary edition) was widely used in wedding, portrait, and fashion photography in the late 1980s and 1990s as a 645 alternative to Hasselblad and Mamiya RB/RZ.
• The full-speed flash sync made the ETR system particularly popular for studio and location flash work.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Bronica ETRSi — full system history and specifications