Bronica ETRS Plus1985

History

The ETR series followed a clear progression driven by flash metering capability:

• ETR (1976) - founding body, no metering
• ETRS (1979) - refined electronics, AE finder support
• ETRS Plus (~1985) - enhanced TTL flash coupling
• ETRSi (1989) - full TTL OTF flash metering, multi-exposure

The ETRS Plus was developed as electronic flash became increasingly central to studio and wedding workflows in the mid-1980s. Photographers using the ETRS had to rely on manual flash calculation or a hammerhead meter; the ETRS Plus offered improved coupling with the Bronica SCA-system flash units available at the time, moving the system closer to automated flash without the full sensor integration Bronica would complete with the ETRSi.

The ETRS Plus was discontinued when the ETRSi launched in 1989, as the newer body fully superseded it on every feature dimension. Its production run of approximately four years was short relative to the ETRS (ten years) or ETRSi (fifteen years), contributing to its relative scarcity on the used market.

Why It Matters

The ETRS Plus illustrates Bronica's iterative approach to the ETR product line: rather than waiting for a complete redesign, the company offered intermediate upgrade paths to retain existing system users. For wedding and portrait photographers in 1985 who already owned ETRS bodies and ETR-series backs and lenses, the ETRS Plus offered improved flash workflow without requiring a full system investment.

For contemporary collectors and shooters, the ETRS Plus is a curiosity within the ETR family. Its practical imaging capability is identical to the ETRS: the same lenses, the same backs, and the same leaf-shutter flash-sync advantage at all speeds apply. The TTL flash difference between ETRS Plus and ETRSi matters primarily to photographers using on-camera or system flash in automatic mode. For manual flash, ambient, or studio strobe use, the ETRS Plus and ETRSi are functionally equivalent in results.

All Zenzanon-PE and older Zenzanon-E lenses are compatible, and all ETR-series film backs, winders, and finders attach normally.

Lenses & Accessories

Bronica ETR bayonet mount. Zenzanon-PE lenses (electronic leaf shutter): 40/4 PE, 50/2.8 PE, 60/3.5 PE Macro, 75/2.8 PE (standard), 100/2.8 PE, 150/3.5 PE, 200/4.5 PE, 250/5.6 PE. Older Zenzanon-E (electronic leaf) lenses are compatible. Film backs: 120 and 220 E-series backs; 35mm panoramic back; Polaroid back (where available). Finders: waist-level folding hood (standard), magnifying chimney, AE-III metered prism (aperture-priority, required for TTL flash coupling), non-metered prisms. Motor Winder E (separate attachment for auto-advance); some TTL flash capability requires the AE-III prism.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Wedding and portrait photographers in Japan and Europe in the mid-1980s updating from the ETRS for improved flash automation.
• Limited documented editorial use; the ETRS Plus's short production run and intermediate position in the ETR line mean published references are sparse.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Bronica ETRS - ETR family overview
• Wikipedia: Zenza Bronica - brand history and timeline