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-Am is a 6x6 medium-format SLR introduced alongside the SQ-Ai in 1990 as the manual-only sibling body. Where the SQ-Ai added TTL flash and aperture-priority autoexposure via an AE prism, the SQ-Am strips those electronics back to a purely manual system — no metering coupling in the body, no TTL flash support. The result is a lighter, less expensive entry point into the Bronica SQ system that shares all lenses, backs, and most finders with the SQ-Ai.
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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Before you buy used
About this camera
The stripped-down SQ: manual-only 6x6 modular SLR, no TTL electronics, lower entry price.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 / 220, 6x6 cm |
| Mount | Bronica SQ (bayonet) |
| Years | ~1990–2004 |
| Shutter | 16s – 1/500s, Seiko electronic leaf, in each lens |
| Flash sync | All speeds (leaf shutter) |
| Meter | None |
| Modes | Manual only |
| Battery | 1x 6V silver oxide (required for shutter) |
Zenza Bronica introduced the SQ-Am as a manual companion to the SQ-Ai in 1990 as the SQ line's final generation. The SQ-A (1982) had already refined the original SQ; the 1990 split created two market tiers — the feature-complete SQ-Ai and the simplified SQ-Am for photographers who preferred manual control and lower cost. Both bodies shared the same SQ lens and back ecosystem. Production ended 2004 when Tamron closed the Bronica brand.
The SQ-Am is the rarely discussed alternative within the Bronica SQ family. For photographers who never intended to use TTL flash or aperture priority, it offers the same Zenzanon-PS glass, the same modular backs, and a somewhat lower used price than the SQ-Ai. The trade-off is that upgrading to metered shooting requires swapping to an SQ-Ai body rather than simply adding an AE finder.
In 2026, the SQ-Am occupies a narrow niche: it is less desirable than the SQ-Ai for most buyers but useful to those who specifically want an uncomplicated manual system and don't mind the limitation. Prices tend to run slightly below SQ-Ai equivalents.
Full compatibility with the Bronica SQ lens and accessory ecosystem. Zenzanon-PS lenses (electronic leaf shutter): 80/2.8 PS (kit standard), 50/3.5 PS, 150/3.5 PS, 110/4.5 Macro. Earlier Zenzanon-S (mechanical leaf) also fit. Film backs: 120, 220, Polaroid, 6x4.5 mask insert. Finders: waist-level hood (default), non-AE prism finders (no metering coupling on SQ-Am body).
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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