Bronica SQ-A shutter is not firing

[Formanproject]

Hello everyone!

I just purchased a Bronica SQ-A off of eBay and can't get it to fire, with or without a battery (battery loaded is a Energizer A544, but I've also tried a second battery that I've confirmed works in my Pentax 67).

I've tried with film or without when the camera is in multiple exposure mode. I have tried disconnecting both the lens and the back and it still doesn't fire. It just feels stuck, the same feeling you usually feel when you try to shoot with the dark slide in. I tried a cable release as well and same thing.

Does anyone have any ideas? This is supposed to be a working camera so I feel like I'm missing something, but I've owned one of these in the past and am stumped. I got a good deal on it so I'm hoping I won't have to return it.

I should add that I removed the lens and was able to get the lens to fire by itself manually using my nail to press in the lever, and also it seems to sometimes fire briefly when on the camera when switching from "S" back to "N" mode (I see it quickly open and close, and the little red dot illuminates).

Thank you!

 

[henryp]

It's been a while since I handled a Bronica (I used to own ETRS cameras). Check the shutter release button and see if there's a rotating locking collar. Just a thought.

 

[Formanproject]

Hi Henry! Thank you for your reply. There is, however it is not in the locked position.

 

[Colin Dutton]

I have an SQA and SQAi and over the years both have been in for repair with 'no-fire' problems. It sounds like you've tried everything that I'd have tried too. It's likely a fault with the electronics or power supply. You could try cleaning the contacts in the battery compartment and lens mount.

Does the red LED light up bright and consistent when you press the battery check button?

I've found that sometimes with a half-drained battery or anything like a dirty contact that might reduce power then the Bronica will not always fire.

Are you using the auto prism finder? If so make sure you keep it switched off or detached from the body as that will drain the battery quickly.

Hope that helps.

Colin

 

[Ringwraith69]

You've probably checked these already, but:

• Is the dark slide between the camera and the film back removed? If it's in place, the shutter won't fire;
• Is the shutter properly cocked?
• Is the shutter button's safety lock released?

 

[FrancoD]

If it is an A not an Ai, it should still fire on 1/500 without the battery. Try that and see if by any chance it starts the camera working again.

 

[Juan-Carlos]

Hello, I have exactly the same problem.

Everything seems ok, shutter cocks, batterry, shutter lock prevention, dark slide is out, but the camera does not shoot. The shutter button despresses without resistance, but without firing.

Once the camera is cocked I have to turn the lever from N to S, C, S and N again. Then, the camera shoots at the selected speed and a brief red light appears.

I tried different backs and lenses, and also an auto-exposure finder, no success.

Help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Alex Ethridge]

I bought two Bronica SQxx back in the eighties and soon both developed problems. Sent the first one for in-warranty repair and about the time it got back, the other developed the same problem and sent it for repair. They both gave sporadic problems from time to time but were out of warranty before I finally considered them too unreliable -- just paperweights.

My store rep was familiar with my problems and since back in that day I was regularly buying film in multiple bricks and having thousands of images processed at their lab, he wanted to keep me happy. He got in touch with the Bronica rep. Long story short, he discovered Bronica had stopped repairing that particular run of SQ and was simply refunding them. And they weren't telling anyone unless they showed up with problems.

In other words, internal design flaws. I never owned another Bronica. From that point forward, it was Mamiya, Pentax, Koni-Omega Rapid Press.

It's been too long now for me to remember any more details. I just hope you don't have one from that bad run.

Personally, I would send it back and look for a brand with a better reputation.

 

[Colin Dutton]

To be fair the Bronica is still a good camera for its age. My original SQA gave me 25 years of service and I made some of my best images on it. In that time I had it repaired twice: once for a ‘no-fire’ and once for a dislodged spring on the WLF, nothing serious. Having said that it’s a complex beast with ageing electronics. As such I’ve moved over to Hasselblad and eventually sold all my Bronicas last month. I figure any MF film camera is going to have problems eventually, given their age, but I feel more comfortable knowing that its only mechanics involved and not electronics.

 

[Juan-Carlos]

I'll send today my camera to a repair shop here in Barcelona. He still repairs old cameras and lenses... in possibly two weeks I should receive a phone call.

 

[Juan-Carlos]

Finally and sadly, it is an electronic issue. Notheing to do because the repairman has no available parts.

 

[Colin Dutton]

Finally and sadly, it is an electronic issue. Notheing to do because the repairman has no available parts.

Sorry to hear that Juan-Carlos. Maybe you can sell the parts separately: finder, back, lenses and so on, and put the money towards a Hasselblad 500c/m. That way you can still enjoy the square format and you'll have no electronics to worry about ;-)

I'm super happy after switching from the SQA to Hasselblad.

Colin