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 Original (c. 1985) is the first production version of the SQ-Am body, a mid-cycle update to the SQ-A within Bronica's 6x6 medium-format SLR line. The SQ system was Bronica's square-format answer to the Hasselblad 500-series — fully modular with interchangeable finders, backs, and lenses, all sharing the Bronica SQ mount. The SQ-Am added minor operational refinements over the SQ-A without overhauling the core system, maintaining full backward compatibility with existing SQ-mount glass and accessories.
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 first SQ-Am: Bronica's 6x6 SLR mid-generation refresh, bridging the SQ-A and the eventual SQ-Ai.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 / 220, 6x6 cm (12 frames per 120 roll) |
| Mount | Bronica SQ |
| Introduced | c. 1985 |
| Shutter | 8s - 1/500s, Seiko electronic leaf (in-lens) |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | Via AE-S prism finder (optional) |
| Modes | Manual, aperture priority (with AE-S prism) |
| Battery | 1x 6V (required) |
| Weight | ~ (body alone) |
The Bronica SQ family ran from the original SQ (1980) through the SQ-A, SQ-Am, and SQ-Ai, ending with the SQ-B as a simplified final variant. The SQ-Am appeared around 1985 as a transitional model, adding incremental improvements before the more substantially updated SQ-Ai arrived. Bronica marketed the SQ system aggressively against Hasselblad through the 1980s on the basis of price: an equivalent SQ kit cost substantially less than a 500CM outfit while offering the same leaf-shutter-in-lens flash sync advantage and a similar accessory ecosystem.
Tamron's ownership of Bronica (from the late 1980s) continued the SQ line through the 1990s until film SLR production ceased around 2002-2004.
The SQ-Am Original occupies the overlooked middle ground of the Bronica SQ family. Collectors and users who know the line tend to gravitate toward the SQ-Ai (most refined, latest production, widest used-market supply) or the SQ-A (earliest refined body). The SQ-Am Original sits between them: slightly harder to find than the SQ-Ai, with fewer definitive references distinguishing its body changes from neighboring variants.
Practically, the SQ-Am Original is a fully capable 6x6 studio and portrait camera. The leaf shutter in each lens provides full flash sync at any shutter speed — a meaningful advantage for on-location work with strobe or speedlight fill. The system's modularity means backs can be swapped mid-roll and finders changed to suit the shooting style.
For buyers in 2026, the SQ-Am Original offers entry into the SQ system at a price below the SQ-Ai. Confirm full compatibility of any second-hand accessory against the specific body generation before purchasing.
The Zenzanon-S lens line covers the SQ mount. Common focal lengths: 40/4 PS, 50/3.5 S, 65/4 S, 80/2.8 S (standard kit lens), 105/3.5 S Macro, 110/4.5 S (wide-angle), 135/4 S, 150/3.5 S, 180/4.5 S, 200/4.5 PS, 250/5.6 S, 500/8 S (mirror). The 80/2.8 S is the most common kit lens and the benchmark for the system.
Film backs: 120 (12 frames), 220 (24 frames), Polaroid proofing. Finders: waist-level folding hood (default), AE-S prism (TTL metering), magnifying chimney, sports finder. Winders: Speed Drive S, Motor Drive S.
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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