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 GS-1 Pro (c. 1985) is a factory-configured kit variant of the GS-1 6x7 medium-format SLR. Where the base GS-1 shipped with a waist-level finder, the Pro bundle paired the body with the AE-G prism finder — the component that activates the body's aperture-priority metering — plus a 120 film back and typically the 100mm f/3.5 Zenzanon-PG lens. The underlying camera is mechanically identical to the GS-1; the "Pro" designation refers to the completeness and market positioning of the kit rather than hardware changes.
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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About this camera
The GS-1 as Bronica intended it: 6x7, leaf-shuttered, and bundled with the AE prism finder for a complete studio-ready kit.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 / 220, 6x7 cm |
| Mount | Bronica G |
| Introduced | c. 1985 |
| Shutter | 8s - 1/500s, Seiko electronic leaf (in-lens) |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | Aperture priority via AE-G prism finder |
| Modes | Manual, aperture priority |
| Battery | 1x 6V (required) |
| Weight | ~ (body alone) |
The GS-1 launched in 1983 as Bronica's sole entry in 6x7. By 1985 the system was established enough for Bronica to formalize a pro-oriented kit configuration. The GS-1 line continued production until around 2002, when Tamron's acquisition of Bronica wound down film camera manufacturing. The GS-1 Pro kit — like other factory bundles of the era — appeared in trade advertising targeting working portrait and product photographers who wanted a complete turn-key system rather than assembling components separately.
The practical significance of the GS-1 Pro is the inclusion of the AE-G prism. On the base GS-1, the waist-level finder gives no metering; buying the AE prism separately added cost and a purchasing step. The Pro kit removed that friction and positioned the GS-1 as a credible alternative to the Mamiya RB67 Pro-S for professional portrait studios — comparable leaf-shutter sync advantage, modular film backs, and a lighter overall weight, at a lower price point than Mamiya's dominant system.
For contemporary buyers, the GS-1 Pro kit represents the most complete entry point into the GS-1 system: body, prism, back, and lens together. Finding an intact kit in good condition commands a modest premium over assembling equivalent components individually.
The Zenzanon-PG lens line is shared with the base GS-1. Seven lenses cover the system: 50/4.5 PG, 65/4.5 PG, 100/3.5 PG, 110/4 PG Macro, 150/4 PG, 200/4.5 PG, 250/5.6 PG. The 100/3.5 PG was the standard kit lens. Film backs: 120 and 220 roll-film backs, a 4.5x6 mask back, and Polaroid proofing backs. Finder options: waist-level folding hood, AE-G prism (standard in Pro kit), magnifying chimney. Winders: Speed Grip-G, Motor Drive Wind Grip.
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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