Any way to test fire Bronica SQ-b shutters?

mark · May 2, 2021

I am not finding any thing in the interwebs and the manual says nothing to help so thought I would ask.

I bought an new to me SQ-b and when the package got here it had clearly been dropped and dropped hard, but the contents look just fine. I contacted the seller and we are holding our breath that shutters in the 2 lenses were not knocked out of whack

Is there a way to test fire the shutters without putting a roll of film in?

abruzzi · May 2, 2021

check to see if the multiple exposure lever will allow that? it works on the GS and ETR, so I'd think it would work on the SQ.

mark · May 2, 2021

Quite honestly that part of the instructions confused me and I did not really understand how it would work.

willing to try it just confused my the process.

wiltw · May 2, 2021

Just set multiexposure lever, cock the shutter, the film back interlock with the body will be bypassed by the multiexposure lever, so you can fire the shutter. Simply wind to cock the shutter to fire shutter again.

voceumana · May 2, 2021

I think you have to pull the darkslide out or at least out about 1/4 inch to fire the shutter, in addition to putting the multiexposure lever to multiple position--rotate the film wind handle to cock the shutter, and rotate the shutter locking ring.

wiltw · May 3, 2021

voceumana said:
I think you have to pull the darkslide out or at least out about 1/4 inch to fire the shutter, in addition to putting the multiexposure lever to multiple position--rotate the film wind handle to cock the shutter, and rotate the shutter locking ring.

or completely remove the film back (in additon to using multiexposure control), to be able to fire the shutter without film.

voceumana · May 3, 2021

I think there is an interlock to prevent firing without the back on. Note that you will need a good battery in the camera to fire the shutter.

johnha · May 3, 2021

wiltw said:
or completely remove the film back (in additon to using multiexposure control), to be able to fire the shutter without film.

Plus it's much easier to see what the shutter (and aperture) is doing by removing the film back and looking through the camera.

Rowreidr · May 3, 2021

wiltw said:
Just set multiexposure lever, cock the shutter, the film back interlock with the body will be bypassed by the multiexposure lever, so you can fire the shutter. Simply wind to cock the shutter to fire shutter again.

The multiexposure leve is the one closest to the lens that says (N)ormal, (S)ingle, and (C)ontinuous. You want to set it in continuous multiexposure mode, "C" facing up, on my SQ-Ai. With the back off, shutter lock off, and lens NOT in T mode, you just cock shutter, fire, and repeat as needed.

Check to make sure the focusing and aperture rings rotate uniformly. Visually check to make sure the blades open and close visually appropriately at each shutter speed. If you have a shutter speed tester, its normal to see dragging (longer exposures) at the faster settings. Decentering/misalignment is easier to pick up using a SQ to digital adapter using live view and zebras, but you still want to run a roll through to check for light leaks, film advancing, overall camera health.

I've dropped mine a few times and still going strong. If it was reasonably packed, I would guess should be fine.

mark · May 3, 2021

Thank you. I will give it a shot.

grat · May 3, 2021

voceumana said:
I think there is an interlock to prevent firing without the back on. Note that you will need a good battery in the camera to fire the shutter.

The interlock that prevents firing without the back is also overridden by the multi-exposure knob. And you'll only need a good battery to fire at anything other than 1/500th.

wiltw · May 3, 2021

voceumana said:
I think there is an interlock to prevent firing without the back on. Note that you will need a good battery in the camera to fire the shutter.

My Bronica ETRSi does it with no back attached! I just did it twice, to prove it works.

mark · May 3, 2021

Everything looks and sounds good. I have a fresh battery in it so no problem there.

Any way to test fire Bronica SQ-b shutters?

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