Bronica 150mm f/3.5 MC Zenzanon-E for Bronica ETR Series Cameras *USED*

The Bronica 150mm f/3.5 MC Zenzanon-E is widely considered the quintessential portrait lens for the Bronica ETR 6x4.5 medium format system. With a 35mm equivalent focal length of approximately 93mm, it provides the flattering telephoto compression and perspective ideal for headshots and fashion photography. This "f/3.5" version is an optical improvement over the original f/4 model, featuring a 5-element, 5-group design that offers a slightly brighter viewfinder image and improved performance wide open. The "MC" designation confirms the use of multi-coating, which is essential for preserving high contrast and reducing flare—especially important when working with the backlighting often used in studio portraiture.

Like other lenses in the ETR system, the 150mm f/3.5 features a built-in, electronically controlled Seiko #0 leaf shutter. This allows the lens to synchronize with flash at all shutter speeds up to 1/500th of a second, a significant technical advantage for photographers who need to overpower ambient light or balance outdoor sunlight with strobe fills. The lens is built with a rugged metal barrel and a 62mm filter thread, ensuring it remains compatible with the standard accessories found across the Zenzanon-E lineup. Its minimum focusing distance of 1.5 meters (roughly 5 feet) provides a tight enough crop for environmental portraits, though many photographers pair it with an E-14 extension tube for more intimate, close-up headshots.

In practice, the 150mm f/3.5 is celebrated for its "smooth" rendering, often striking a balance between modern sharpness and a classic, gentle fall-off in the out-of-focus areas (bokeh). This characteristic makes it more forgiving for skin textures compared to some ultra-sharp modern optics, while still providing the immense detail expected from a medium format negative. Its lightweight construction—at approximately 620 grams—ensures that even with its telephoto reach, the camera remains balanced and manageable for handheld shooting. Whether used on a classic ETR, ETRS, or ETRSi, this lens is a fundamental tool for any ETR system user focused on people-centric photography.