Bronica EC-TL II (Announced April 1972, Introduced October 1978–Discontinued March 1980)

Name: Bronica EC-TL II
Brand: Bronica

It weighs 1980 grams. This is a system camera, not a snapshot camera.

Overview

The Bronica EC-TL II is a heavy camera. Introduced in October 1978, it was the last of Bronica's medium format SLRs built around a focal-plane shutter. The company soon moved to leaf-shutter systems. The camera was first announced in April 1972. It was sold as a professional medium format single lens reflex, built for photographers who wanted a modular system.

The EC-TL II has manual exposure control only, with no built-in metering. Metering was handled externally, mainly by the optional Electro-Controlled Meter/Finder. That accessory connects electronically to the shutter with no mechanical linkage, and it supports an ASA range of 16 to 3200. The shutter is electronically controlled, with speeds from 4 seconds to 1/1000th of a second plus Bulb, totaling 13 steps according to manufacturer documentation. Flash sync is fixed at 1/60th, a limit of the electronic timing system.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Zenza Bronica
Model	EC-TL II
Type	Medium format single lens reflex camera
Format	Medium format 6x6
Film type	120 roll film, 220 roll film
Mount	Bronica [89mm]
Lens mounts	Large bayonet mount, Small bayonet mount
Interchangeable lenses	Yes
Standard lens	Nikkor-P 75mm f/2.8
Shutter Type	Focal-plane
Shutter Model	Electronically controlled
Shutter Speeds	4 - 1/1000 + B
Exposure metering	None
Exposure modes	Manual
Weight	1980g
Dimensions	139x117x170mm

Key Features

Electronically Timed Focal-Plane Shutter

The shutter is a focal-plane type with electronic timing circuits regulating exposure. Unlike earlier mechanical shutters, it gives more consistent results across all 13 speeds, from 4 seconds to 1/1000th, plus Bulb. The price of that precision is a dependence on battery power. The sync speed is fixed at 1/60th second, a trade-off for the stability of the electronic control.

Split Mirror Mechanism

A medium format SLR has a lot of mirror slap, so Bronica used a split mirror design to reduce it, along with viewfinder blackout and vibration. The upper portion of the mirror flips up during exposure, while the lower section moves in opposition and counter-balances the motion. That dampens shock and steadies the camera, which matters with longer lenses or slower shutter speeds on a tripod.

Electronic Integration with Meter/Finder

Historical Context

The Bronica EC-TL II was announced in April 1972, introduced in October 1978 and discontinued in March 1980. That is a production run of less than two years. It was the last of Bronica's focal-plane shutter medium format SLRs. Its short run coincided with a shift in the professional market toward more automated, leaf-shutter-based systems like the Bronica SQ series.