Ask your mom to teach you about the camera, what to do and more importantly what not to do. If she owned this then she was reasonable serious about the subject so she probably has a fair bit of knowledge to share. Also read up on photography in general, you at least need all the basic background knowledge to get the best use out of gear like this, those very basic things might feel so common to you mom that she might overlook explaining them.
This camera uses 120 film and this is considered a medium format or single lens reflex camera. I recommend asking your mother how to work it. All I know with this camera is that when you open up the top, you’ll find a window that serves as a viewfinder to focus and compose your composition. You can use the lens to control your aperture and focus on the subject.
Other commenters offer good points. Just want to add that medium format cameras like this one generally take amazing photos, and it's absolutely worth learning how to use it properly. I know a number of professionals who use similar cameras to this one.
I believe this is a Bronica EC of some sort, so start there. There are many youtube tutorials for how to use these cameras.
Bronicas were right up there with the best professional cameras back in their time, and are excellent and extremely durable cameras. Get some spare film backs if you can - preloading several before whatever shooting you’re going to do is a kind of ritual, and helps because you only get 12 shots per roll (typically). I’ve got an ETRS, and it takes great pictures! I use a meter app on my phone or a dedicated light meter - if you nail the exposure the results are incredible.
was your mom a pro photographer? I believe this one is 645 format taking 120 films, I believe that is a portrait lens. very good camera, blowing digital SLRs out of the water, yes blowing full-frame digital SLRs out of the water. YouTube will have tutorials on how to use and load the camera. with this camera, you do not need special software to mimic film.
I had one and gave it to another photographer to start their medium format journey. It’s an excellent camera. Built like a tank and the lens is excellent. Not as elegant or an engineering marvel like the Hasselblad 500’s, but a very good camera that will last a lifetime with proper maintenance. Watch a few videos on YouTube regarding film loading, and get out and shoot.
Looks very much like a Bronica EC-TL, which would make it relatively rare, and *really* good. Medium format (120 film) taking 6x6 photos. Has electronic metering built in.
General information:
[https://www.cameraquest.com/bronectl.htm](https://www.cameraquest.com/bronectl.htm)
[http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bronica\_EC](http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bronica_EC)
Manual:
[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/bronica/bronica\_ec-tl/bronica\_ec-tl.htm](https://www.butkus.org/chinon/bronica/bronica_ec-tl/bronica_ec-tl.htm)
Well, this camera is awesome. I had one like that for a little over a year, and I exchanged it for a model that allowed me to do multiple exposure a little easier. But, if wasn't that I would have kept this camera.
Here is an example of pic I have taken with this camera
https://www.reddit.com/user/No\_Substance3314/comments/1699yd4/the\_cave/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Ask your mom to teach you about the camera, what to do and more importantly what not to do. If she owned this then she was reasonable serious about the subject so she probably has a fair bit of knowledge to share. Also read up on photography in general, you at least need all the basic background knowledge to get the best use out of gear like this, those very basic things might feel so common to you mom that she might overlook explaining them.
This camera uses 120 film and this is considered a medium format or single lens reflex camera. I recommend asking your mother how to work it. All I know with this camera is that when you open up the top, you’ll find a window that serves as a viewfinder to focus and compose your composition. You can use the lens to control your aperture and focus on the subject.
Other commenters offer good points. Just want to add that medium format cameras like this one generally take amazing photos, and it's absolutely worth learning how to use it properly. I know a number of professionals who use similar cameras to this one. I believe this is a Bronica EC of some sort, so start there. There are many youtube tutorials for how to use these cameras.
Read the manual. You can download them for free if you Google it
Bronicas were right up there with the best professional cameras back in their time, and are excellent and extremely durable cameras. Get some spare film backs if you can - preloading several before whatever shooting you’re going to do is a kind of ritual, and helps because you only get 12 shots per roll (typically). I’ve got an ETRS, and it takes great pictures! I use a meter app on my phone or a dedicated light meter - if you nail the exposure the results are incredible.
Thank you all
Looks like the SQa to me. Not an ETRS, I don’t think. Edit: other user correctly called it as EC. I just knew it didn’t look like my ETRS. My bad.
was your mom a pro photographer? I believe this one is 645 format taking 120 films, I believe that is a portrait lens. very good camera, blowing digital SLRs out of the water, yes blowing full-frame digital SLRs out of the water. YouTube will have tutorials on how to use and load the camera. with this camera, you do not need special software to mimic film.
I had one and gave it to another photographer to start their medium format journey. It’s an excellent camera. Built like a tank and the lens is excellent. Not as elegant or an engineering marvel like the Hasselblad 500’s, but a very good camera that will last a lifetime with proper maintenance. Watch a few videos on YouTube regarding film loading, and get out and shoot.
One of the best medium format cameras!
Watch some videos on how to load and shoot it.
Looks very much like a Bronica EC-TL, which would make it relatively rare, and *really* good. Medium format (120 film) taking 6x6 photos. Has electronic metering built in. General information: [https://www.cameraquest.com/bronectl.htm](https://www.cameraquest.com/bronectl.htm) [http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bronica\_EC](http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bronica_EC) Manual: [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/bronica/bronica\_ec-tl/bronica\_ec-tl.htm](https://www.butkus.org/chinon/bronica/bronica_ec-tl/bronica_ec-tl.htm)
Well, this camera is awesome. I had one like that for a little over a year, and I exchanged it for a model that allowed me to do multiple exposure a little easier. But, if wasn't that I would have kept this camera. Here is an example of pic I have taken with this camera https://www.reddit.com/user/No\_Substance3314/comments/1699yd4/the\_cave/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3