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Bronica EC-TL II1975
- Mount
- Bronica S (bayonet)
- Years
- 1975–
- Shutter
- 8s – 1/1000s
- Meter
- CdS-TTL
The Bronica EC-TL II (1975) is the second iteration of Bronica's TTL-metered aperture-priority 6x6 medium-format SLR, a direct refinement of the EC-TL introduced in the early 1970s. It uses a rubberized cloth focal-plane shutter (1/1000s maximum — unusually fast for a 6x6 of its era), a CdS TTL metering system coupled to the eye-level prism finder, and operates on the Bronica S-mount bayonet lens system that stretches back to the original Bronica C. The EC-TL II corrected a number of reliability and assembly issues that had affected the original EC-TL, making it the more dependable version for working photographers.
Reference
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Before you buy used
- **Shutter curtains** - rubberized cloth curtains from the 1970s are prone to pinholes and brittleness; a light-leak test (run a roll of film in subdued light and inspect for edge fogging) is essential before trusting the camera for important work.
- **CdS meter cells** - CdS cells can drift or fail with age; compare AE-set shutter speeds against a hand meter to verify calibration.
- **Battery substitution** - the original PX625 mercury cell is no longer available; use a zinc-air hearing-aid cell (MRB625), a Wein cell, or a 1.5V alkaline with an adapter. Meter calibration may shift depending on the substitute; verify against a known meter.
- **Mirror foam** - replace as standard practice on any body of this vintage.
- **Mechanical advance** - wind-on mechanism is more complex than leaf-shutter Bronica bodies; test for smooth, consistent advance and confirm the interlock with film backs operates correctly.
- **EC-TL vs EC-TL II** - the II is the preferable unit; if buying unsure of variant, inspect the body serial number or consult a Bronica reference for the break point. Physical differences between the two are minor.
- **Service availability** - the EC-TL II predates most current Bronica technicians' primary experience (which skews to ETR and SQ); verify that a CLA candidate has a technician familiar with the EC-series focal-plane mechanism.
About this camera
The refined 1975 EC-TL: same TTL aperture-priority 6x6, with improved reliability over the original.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What battery does the Bronica EC-TL II take?
- The Bronica EC-TL II uses a 2x PX625 mercury / equivalent battery.
- What lens mount does the Bronica EC-TL II have?
- The Bronica EC-TL II uses the Bronica S (bayonet) mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Bronica EC-TL II offer?
- The Bronica EC-TL II's shutter speeds range from 8s to 1/1000s.
- What light meter does the Bronica EC-TL II use?
- The Bronica EC-TL II meters with CdS-TTL.