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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slr-medium-format
The Bronica SQ (1980) is the first camera in Bronica's SQ system, introducing the 6x6 cm format to Bronica's modular SLR line after the earlier ETR (6x4.5) series. It uses Bronica's SQ bayonet mount with electronic Seiko leaf shutters built into each Zenzanon-S lens, synchronizing flash at all shutter speeds. The body itself is fully modular: interchangeable lenses, interchangeable film backs (120, 220, Polaroid), and interchangeable viewfinder heads. It was produced for approximately two years before being superseded by the SQ-A in 1982, which added AE prism finder compatibility and refined the electronics.
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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 original 1980 Bronica 6x6 system SLR: leaf-shutter Zenzanon-S lenses, modular backs, predecessor of the SQ-A.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 / 220, 6x6 cm (12 frames per 120 roll) |
| Mount | Bronica SQ |
| Years | ~1980–1982 |
| Shutter | 8s – 1/500s + B, Seiko electronic leaf, in each lens |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | None (body); optional via prism finder |
| Modes | Manual |
| Weight | ~1,700 g (body with waist-level finder) |
| Battery | 1x 6V (required for electronic shutter) |
Bronica launched the SQ in 1980 as its square-format answer to the Hasselblad 500-series. The ETR line (1976), covering 6x4.5, had established Bronica's modular reputation; the SQ extended the same philosophy to 6x6. The original SQ had simpler electronics than what followed: it lacked the AE prism integration and multi-exposure mode that the SQ-A would add in 1982. Production was short - the SQ-A superseded it within roughly two years. The full SQ line progression:
Because of its brief production run the original SQ is the rarest body in the line and less common on the used market than the SQ-A or SQ-Ai.
The SQ is significant as the origin point of Bronica's entire square-format modular system. Every Zenzanon-S and Zenzanon-PS lens made for the SQ-A and SQ-Ai is fully compatible with the original SQ body, making it a functional (if occasionally underserviced) entry into the SQ ecosystem at lower cost than later variants. Its leaf-shutter design - with shutters residing in each lens rather than the body - means flash synchronization at any speed up to 1/500s, a significant advantage over focal-plane designs for studio and outdoor fill-flash work.
The SQ was Bronica's direct challenge to the Hasselblad 500C/M: same 6x6 format, same modular philosophy, similar leaf-shutter approach, but at a substantially lower price point.
The Bronica SQ mount accepts all Zenzanon-S lenses (mechanical coupling) and later Zenzanon-PS lenses (electronic coupling). Core lenses:
Interchangeable finders: waist-level folding hood (standard), 45-degree chimney, AE prism (requires SQ-A or later for full AE function - ). Film backs: 120 (12 exp), 220 (24 exp), Polaroid.
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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