Having shot an extensive amount of film through my Yashica on multiple continents, it having gotten me addicted to shooting medium format, I felt a little desire to get a camera that was more interchangeable and had the ability to shoot multiple lenses and multiple films and formats without much film.

Obviously, the first choice here would be something like a Hasselblad 500c, though, that is a pricey potato when it comes to my meager budget. Another option would be a cheaper Mamiya 645, though, I do not like that format. There are a vast amount of options with interchangeable lenses and backs, though most had options I did not like. The Bronica Sq series is battery operated, for example, and I prefer a fully mechanical camera.

One option that I landed on, and comes at a lower price point than the rest is the Bronica S2A, which is the top of the line and last fully mechanical S series camera Bronica made. The S2A has an updated gearing that stands the test of time better than the S2 or S.

This is the heaviest camera I have ever used, or carried around. Even heavier than my Crown Graphic. It is a total tank. This camera is a masterful piece of equipment, and is modeled straight out of the 1960s.

It has interchangeable lenses, backs, and viewfinders. With a top speed of 1/1000th of a second, it is able to capture fast motion better than my Yashica, which only has a top speed of 1/500th. It has a top sync speed of 1/40th a second, wahoo! The shutter is a cloth shutter that travels vertically. The mirror slap from this camera is amazingly loud.

The lenses for this camera are mostly Nikkors, which range from 40mm wide angle to 500mm zoom. I have a Nikkor 50mm 3.5 as well as a Nikkor 75mm F2.8. Both of them are extremely sharp. The focus helical is separate from the lenses, making them pretty cheap to come by. Because of this, they lenses recess into the body, giving the front a pretty low profile. The 75mm is a standard view, and I love that it is fast at F2.8. The Bokeh is amazing.

One of the best features of this camera is the interchangeable backs; this is not exclusive to the s2a, many cameras have them, but each of these backs can shoot 120 or 220 film with the flip of a switch. They do not require a back for each film. A 645 back is also available, but I have not been able to find one. You can also get polaroid backs.

I travelled all over Asia with this camera, as well as a Mamiya 7, and a Nikon S3, and my back did not feel that great after that. I loved that I was able to bring an extra lens as well as back, and this camera was able to handle multiple films. It is a point of discussion for everyone who sees it, and wonder if it still works, what film it takes. I love this aspect about older film cameras, people just seem so open and interested in them.

Now, some photos from the S2A.