Another Bronica problem

[mooseontheloose]

You ever have one of those days?

Yesterday I went shooting in Wells Grey Park and it was just one disaster after another. First, there was still a lot of snow on the ground, and when I tried to go cross-country to get to one of the waterfalls, I kept breaking though the icy top crust only to sink up to thighs with my foot in a pool of cold water below the snow. Gave up on that waterfall. Only thing I have to show for it are snow and ice burns and cuts all over my legs.

Then I went to another waterfall. On the way there I drove over some fallen rocks, one of them punctured my oil can. Luckily I got back home alright but now I've got a $600 repair to deal with.

I did manage to get some shooting in with my 'new' Bronica -- everything went fine until I tried to put the darkslide back in. The darkslide won't go in -- there seems to be something at the halfway-to-bottom mark that is blocking the slide. Obviously I can't take the back off to see what's wrong. I've tried researching the problem but nothing has come up. I haven't had this happen before (grant it, I've only shot a few rolls with it) -- does anyone have any advice as to what the problem might be and how to set it right?

 

[DWThomas]

Oh my, guess that's something else I can "look forward to." I've not had that happen (yet). I'm a little unclear -- are you saying there's an obstruction at the slot that prevents the slide even starting -- or do you mean it goes halfway closed and then hangs up? The former might suggest a slot light seal problem, the latter, I'm not sure -- something loose and falling around? Dunno. I trust the slide is smooth and flat, although I'd think it would take a heck of a kink to make it hang up.

I've not (yet) personally seen the slot light seal, so I'm not sure what's in there. I have replaced the seals around the back shell closures.

Good luck -- maybe another user will have more specifics.

DaveT

 

[glbeas]

Are you certain you are putting it back in the proper slot? If you are not familiar with it you might get it into the gap between the back and body.

 

[mongo141]

The one time that happened to me, (Bronica ECTL) it was a strip of tape that is used to tape the exposed roll from coming undone. Still it required use of a changing bag to correct, seems the paper tape was keeping the D/S from going in all the way. Dave

 

[Toffle]

Have you finished the roll? I don't know which model of Bronica you have, but if it's anything like the GS-1, you can most likely open the back and remove the magazine insert. You may be able to see what is up with the darkslide then.

Good luck... please keep us posted on your progress.

Cheers,

 

[mooseontheloose]

Thanks guys.

Being of a little calmer mind, I've looked at it again. The slide goes through except for a little bit at the bottom. I then realized there's a little silver piece from the body that is jutting into the back that is pushing something forward into the back. The little silver piece is almost directly across from the little film back release button. You can see that it's pushing the back slightly off alignment. Maybe I didn't put the back on properly? (I'd post a photo but I don't have a digital camera and my cell phone can't focus close enough, or with enough detail, to see it).



Okay -- finally figured it out. This post was a lot longer as I was detailing all the things I tried. FINALLY, I managed to get it off by pushing both the back release button and by pressing down on the back release little nub on the back itself. But the back is toast -- there's a very thin piece of metal that lies alongside the seal and somehow that's gotten all bent out of shape and pushed around and there doesn't seem to be a way to fix it. So...another back I guess -- but the 120 backs are not easy to find.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I really appreciate it -- it helped me break down (and eliminate) some of the possibilities. Let's hope this puts an end to my streak of bad luck.

 

[vdonovan]

Which Bronica do you have? Backs for the SQ series are readily available, and cheap, from KEH. I usually get the UGLY grade and repair the seals myself.

Everyday is an adventure with an old Bronica. They can work fine for years and then act up. I think this is because they have so many mechanical interlocks that sooner or later something wears down beyond tolerances and just stops connecting. One of my backs causes my SQ to lock up sometimes: I figured out that if I wiggle it a little the mechanical link clicks into place and everything is fine again.

 

[r-brian]

Cheaper yet, buy a 220 back and just use your 120 insert. The inserts are interchangable and I've seen complete 220 backs go for $20.

 

[paul ron]

Turn the dark slide around. One side has a little tab that hits a pin that unlocks the back so you can take it off the body.

 

[David Callard]

Hi All!
I have a couple of Bronica ETRS cameras. The only times I have had any problem with the D/S is if when working in a hurry I inadvertently tried to insert the slide the wrong way up. I'm not saying this is the problem in this case but I know from my own experience that it is so easy to do. I learnt to avoid this error by making sure that the D/S is always inserted with the little symbol on the plastic edge of the D/S (it looks a bit like an O with a . in the middle) uppermost. If you look at the body of the camera you will see the matching symbol, but it is not clearly visible when the dark slide is inserted. Sorry your back was damaged! But luckily new backs are readily available, the only problem I have found is that usually I have to buy the whole kit, insert and shell. Very occasionally one can find the shells without the inserts, KEH had a couple a while ago of which I bought one in EX (the other was UG). Hope this be of some help!

 

[Steve Smith]

I have both an ETRS and a Mamiya RB67. I find the darkslides a pain and don't use them. They stay in the bag. You can open the back and change the film without removing the film back from the body.

The only time I would use one is swapping between film backs mid roll. I have had a couple of cases where the dark slide has been in all but the last 1/4" and it has allowed the camera to operate as if the slide was not there. Result - a few blank frames.

I know this is operator error rather than camera error but by leaving them in the bag I can eliminate it.



Steve.