C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Zenza Bronica S2 Black is the black-paint body variant of the Bronica S2, introduced in 1965. The S2 itself was a significant refinement over the original Bronica D and S, with a more reliable focal-plane cloth shutter and improved film transport. The black-paint variant was produced in smaller quantities than the chrome version, making it rarer on the used market. Functionally, it is identical to the chrome S2: manual exposure, Bronica S-mount lenses (Nikkor-branded at this period), modular film backs, and interchangeable finders.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the — format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
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About this camera
The rarer black-paint version of Bronica's 1965 focal-plane 6x6 SLR - functionally identical to the chrome S2, visually distinct.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 (6x6 cm) |
| Mount | Bronica S |
| Years | ~1965 – ~1969 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/1000s + B, focal-plane cloth |
| Flash sync | 1/30s |
| Meter | None (body) |
| Modes | Manual |
| Weight | ~1,700 g |
| Battery | None |
| Viewfinder | Waist-level (standard); prism optional |
The Bronica S2 followed the original Bronica S (1961) and replaced it with a refined shutter mechanism and improved reliability. The black-paint finish was offered alongside the standard chrome version, likely targeting professional studio and press photographers who preferred the non-reflective finish. In 1969, the S2 was succeeded by the S2A, which itself carried the same external black variant option. The S-mount focal-plane Bronica line ended with the EC (1972), which moved to an electronic shutter before the company pivoted to leaf-shutter designs with the ETR (1976) and SQ (1980) lines.
The S2 Black occupies a small niche: it is the only way to get an early-era Bronica S-mount focal-plane camera in a black body finish. The black-paint versions of classic medium-format cameras have historically attracted collector premiums - similar to the pattern seen with Leica, Hasselblad, and Nikon black-paint bodies. For working photographers, the black finish reduces reflections in bright environments. The camera uses the same Nikkor-branded lenses as the S and S2A, meaning glass options are shared across the early S-line.
Bronica S-mount lenses used on the S2 are Nikkor-branded at this period: 75mm f/2.8 (standard kit), 50mm f/3.5 (wide), 105mm f/3.5, 135mm f/3.5, and 200mm f/4. Accessories include 120 and 220 film backs, prism finders, and a right-angle finder. Later Zenzanon-branded S-mount lenses are also compatible.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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