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RF645
Thank you for your purchase of the Bronica RF645 medium format rangefinder camera.
Incorporating the best of Bronica's know-how and technological expertise, the Bronica
RF645 achieves a new dimension in compactness as the world's first medium format 6 x 4.5
rangefinder camera to feature interchangeable lenses, and comes with a superb line up of
lenses to take full advantage of the rangefinder camera. The RF645 employs manual film
advance lever and dual-image superimposing rangefinder focus
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Contents Page Special Features of the Bronica RF645 3, 4 Nomenclature 5, 6 1. Getting Started 1-1 Loading batteries 6, 7 1-2 Attaching and detaching lens 7, 8 1-3 Attaching strap 8 1-4 Attaching the proper diopters adjustment lens 8 2. Preparing to Shoot 2-1 Checking the battery capacity 9 2-2 Loading film 9, 10, 11 2-3 Setting the film speed 11 2-4 Exposure counter, Film memo holder, 12, 13 How to remove a used roll of film 12 3. Shooting 3-1 Main switch 13 3-2 Viewfinder
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Special Features of the Bronica RF 645 ·A medium format coupled-meter rangefinder camera. The Bronica RF 645 is a very compact and lightweight camera with a picture area approxi- mately 2.7 times larger than the 35mm format. The superior portability and versatility of this model compared with other medium format cameras ushers in an entirely new world of photographic possibilities. ·The remarkable lens shutter system The electronically controlled #00 type lens shutter system developed for the Br
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Special Features of the Bronica RF 645 ·Shooting parameters of the camera are clearly indicated on the internal viewfinder display panel. An oversized LCD panel is installed inside the viewfinder to display constantly updated shooting status data such as shutter speed, lens aperture, AE lock setting, exposure compen- sation setting, correct exposure setting and exposure deviations of manually set exposure values and so on. ·Easy AE lock method with continuous AE lock memory system The AE lock fe
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Nomenclature Rangefinder window Shutter speed dial lock release button Light intake window Hotshoe Shutter speed dial Finder Exposure meter window Film advance lever Aperture ring Shutter release button Depth of field scale Distance scale Focusing ring Strap lugs Lens hood attachment Index Lens Fiber thread Rear cover lock release Lens lock release button Selftimer indicator Selftimer indicator Exposure compensation Exposure compensation dial index dial scale AE lock button Exposure compensation
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Nomenclature Film type selection lever Lens mounting index Rangefinder (camera body) coupling roller Printed circuit cable Film pressure spring Electronic contacts (camera body) Light shielding curtain Flash synch terminal Film start alignment mark Light shielding curtain Lens Lock pin Lens lock release button Rear cover Film spool shaft lock Spool holder release button Pressure plate 1. Getting Started 1-1 Loading Batteries The RF645 will not function without batteries loaded. 1. Appropriate ba
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1. Getting Started 1-1 Loading Batteries 5.Battery Checking Battery status, the proper battery positioning of the loaded batteries, and the remaining battery power, must be checked prior to operation of the camera. Turn on the main switch and press lightly on the shutter speed dial. An LCD indicator lights up on the left side of the viewfinder field to indicate the operational status of the cam era. As long as a "dead battery" mark does not appear on the LCD, the battery is properly loa
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1. Getting Started 1-2 Attaching and detaching the lens Note 1: The 65mm and the 100mm viewframes in the viewfinder are automatically switched as the respective lenses are attached. Note 2: When mounting the 45mm lens, insert the dedicated viewfinder into the accessory hotshoe on the camera body. Refer to the instruction manual of the 45mm lens for more information. Note 3: When attaching or detaching lenses, do not use excessive force to rotate or twist the lens. Note 4: Never attempt to de
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2. Preparing to Shoot 2-1 Check battery capacity 2-1 Check Battery Capacity The Bronica RF 645 requires a set of batteries to function, since the camera employs an electronically controlled shutter. 1. Check the battery level before each shooting session. 2. Turn on the main switch and lightly press the shutter release button while looking through the viewfinder. The battery power is at a satisfactory level for shooting if the LCD on the left side of the viewfinder turns on and the battery wa
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2. Preparing to Shoot 2-2 Loading Film 3. Install the film take-up spool in the right hand film chamber, align- ing the key-hole of the spool shaft of the camera. Push up the pro- truding film spool shaft into the bottom plate of the camera until it locks into position. 4. Load a fresh roll of film into the left hand film chambers as illustrat- ed in the drawing. Ensure that the film leader rolls off the outer edge as shown instead of the inside edge of the film chamber. The inside black surface
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2. Preparing to Shoot 2-2 Loading Film 8. Close the back cover and lock it securely. Operate the film advance lever with few strokes until it stops. At this point, the exposure count- er window displays a "1". Note: After closing the camera back, make sure both film shafts are completely pressed back into the camera bottom. Caution: Be careful not to pinch your finger or hand between the back cover and the camera body as you open or shut the cover. Be alert to prevent the skin of the hand from b
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2. Preparing to Shoot 2-4 Exposure Counter 2-4 Check the number on the exposure counter 2-4-1 Exposure Counter The exposure counter resets itself to "S" (start) position as the camera back is opened. When the fresh film is loaded and advanced to the first frame, the exposure counter displays "1". The counter indicates all odd numbers with consecutive numerals and all even numbers with dashes. After 16 pictures shot with 120 type film, the advance lever is released from frame positioning lock and
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2. Preparing to Shoot 2-4 Exposure Counter 3. Remove the empty film spool from the feeding side film chamber and transfer it to the take-up film chamber in preparation for loading of the next roll of film. Note: When opening the camera rear cover for film loading and removal, avoid exposing the camera to direct sunlight. Also, handle film in the shade at all times. 3. Shooting 3-1 Main Switch 3-1 Main Switch Turn on the main switch and take off the lens cap to prepare for shooting. 3. Shooting 3
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3. Shooting 3-2 Viewfinder 3. Taking advantage of a tripod or a monopod: The difference between sharp pictures and shots blurred by camera shake is one second away. When using a 100mm lens, 1/100 sec., is the limitation for holding the camera steady. A faster shutter speed is strongly recommend- ed for shooting with a medium format camera, since this unit is larger and heavier than a 35mm camera. If a shutter speed slower than 1/60 second is required when using a 65mm, a tripod or monopod is hig
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3. Shooting 3-3 Shutter release button Shutter speed (half step display) Aperture value (Program AE mode and Aperture-priority AE mode), proper exposure deviation with + and - (M mode) Shooting mode display (P: program AE, A: aperture-priority AE, M: manual) AE.L (exposure memory) ON display. Shutter open status indicator Exposure compensation display is used when the compensation dial is set to anything other than “0” Speedlight ready display Not-ready-for-shooting indicator Battery warning: bl
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3. Shooting 3-4 Exposures The numerals 1 to 500 on the shutter speed dial represent shutter speeds or exposure times expressed in reciprocals. In other words, "500" actually means 1/500 second and "60" is 1/60 second. The lens aperture can be set by rotating the lens aperture ring. The 65mm lens provides an aperture range of f/4 to f/32. Between any two f-numbers, there is an intermediate stop with the distance/aper- ture index line to set the aperture as required. 3-4-2 Exposure Metering System
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3. Shooting 3-4 Exposures 3-4-3 Exposure Control Modes The Bronica RF 645 provides three exposure control modes: the Program AE mode, the Aperture-priority AE mode and the manual exposure control mode. Any of the three exposure control modes mentioned can be selected and set using the shutter speed dial. 1. Program AE mode This is the preferred exposure control mode when focusing the sub- ject without paying too much attention to detailed camera settings. To set this mode, rotate the shutter spe
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3. Shooting 3-4 Exposures 3. Manual Exposure Control This exposure control mode is particularly important to those serious pho- tographers who intentionally determine specific shutter speeds and lens apertures in order to produce creative images. The Bronica RF 645 with its extremely precise electronic shutter speed and lens aperture control system makes an ideal manual exposure control camera. To set the manual exposure control mode (from "P" to "A" modes), rotate the shutter speed dial while p
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3. Shooting 3-4 Exposures When an exposure compensation is applied, a (+) or (-) warning sym- bol is illuminated in the viewfinder panel. It is important to remem- ber there is no numerical indication for exposure compensation. Note: Once the exposure compensation is completed in a photo ses- sion, do not forget to return the exposure compensation dial to the original "0" position. 3-4-5 AE Lock The AE lock system is a useful tool to obtain the correct exposure on a limited portion of the subjec
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3. Shooting 3-5 Focusing The image contrast will become noticeably sharp when the two images superimpose precisely. That is the point where the lens criti- cally focuses on the subject. 3. Split image focus: Split-image is an image divided into upper and lower halves. Human vision naturally perceives the most critical image matching when comparing the alignment of edges in a split image. The optical sys- tem of the Bronica RF 645 is so constructed that the sliding side image in the focusing fram
