Thankfully due to some side gigs that brought in some pocket change, I was able to step up from the Twin-lens medium format cameras that I had been shooting with.  Basically my choices came down to either Mamiya or Bronica, and either 6×6 or 6×7.  I decided to branch out from my love for the square format, and step up to the “Big Negative” the 6×7.  But I still hadn’t chosen between Mamiya or Bronica.  I had been leaning toward Bronica for a while, I liked the styling and lines of the camera.  I have a Mamiya C330, so I was familiar with the solid metal build of Mamiya cameras…and the weight.  This ultimately led me to go with the Bronica GS-1.  And of course I went to my first and sometimes my only place for used camera gear:  KEH!  I found this outfit, the body, eye level prism, standard 100mm lens, a 120 back, and the Speedgrip all for a nice price.  You really have to love how digital basically bottomed out film camera prices (most film camera prices – you still have to shell out some cash for a Hassie…), I’m anxious to run some film through it!

With the addition of the Speedgrip, it almost handles like a huge 35mm.  Even vertical handheld shots seem doable.