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@excalibur2 , I do want to stress that I'm not saying the ETR series cameras aren't any good; they take perfectly fine pictures. In fact, they take the exact same pictures as the SQ as far as I can tell, as the lens lineups and the lens designs are basically identical.
In the film era, I do think that the ETR was a far more compelling option than it is today, primarily because every single piece of equipment was cheaper than its SQ counterpart and it did the exact same thing. For the same features, you would have had to have been certain that the 6x6 was worth the price premium as you would needed to have spent considerably more money to compile the pieces of the SQ system compared to the ETR.
ETRSi vs SQ-Ai prices from USA catalogue from around 2001:
Kit with lens and back:
In the digital era, however, as the prices for both of these cameras have crashed, I feel the SQ is the better option for most folks as you can get both 6x6 and 645 for about the same money.
Personally, I'd actually love to try a Bronica GS-1 with 6x7, 6x6, and 6x4.5 backs (vertical), but the GS-1 isn't quite as versatile as the SQ as the lens options are just a bit slower, the minimum focusing distances longer, and the stock focusing screen lacks any 6x6 frame lines. If I ever came across a GS-1 with the focusing screen with the 6x6 markings though, I'd be tempted to jump at it.
In the film era, I do think that the ETR was a far more compelling option than it is today, primarily because every single piece of equipment was cheaper than its SQ counterpart and it did the exact same thing. For the same features, you would have had to have been certain that the 6x6 was worth the price premium as you would needed to have spent considerably more money to compile the pieces of the SQ system compared to the ETR.
ETRSi vs SQ-Ai prices from USA catalogue from around 2001:
Kit with lens and back:
$2,241 vs $2,899
40mm lens:$1,315 vs $1,799
Standard lens:$759 vs $1,099
135mm lens:$1,135 vs $1,450
180mm lens:$1,535 vs $1,995
120 back with insert:$359 vs $539
In the digital era, however, as the prices for both of these cameras have crashed, I feel the SQ is the better option for most folks as you can get both 6x6 and 645 for about the same money.
Personally, I'd actually love to try a Bronica GS-1 with 6x7, 6x6, and 6x4.5 backs (vertical), but the GS-1 isn't quite as versatile as the SQ as the lens options are just a bit slower, the minimum focusing distances longer, and the stock focusing screen lacks any 6x6 frame lines. If I ever came across a GS-1 with the focusing screen with the 6x6 markings though, I'd be tempted to jump at it.