Bronica ETR doesn't fire properly with release cable -- trouble shooting

L_E_Miller · Jul 5, 2024

I can't figure this one out. I have an original model ETR that in all other ways seems to work perfectly fine -- except for when I use a release cable.

When I use the release cable it sounds like its firing, and I'm able to advance the film, but I get back blank frames.

Am I stuck in bulb mode or something? I'm at a loss.

Please and thank you.

DevStopFix · Jul 5, 2024

Not familiar with the ETR but have you tried another release cable to rule out that possibility?

L_E_Miller · Jul 5, 2024

DevStopFix said:
Not familiar with the ETR but have you tried another release cable to rule out that possibility?

I've tried two, yeah

reddesert · Jul 5, 2024

Have you tried testing it without film? Set the camera on some intermediate aperture and a longish shutter speed, look through it from the front, fire the shutter and see if the lens stops down for the right amount of time. Next, same thing but remove or open the film back and look through it while firing to see if the shutter is opening for the right amount of time. Getting back blank frames isn't a diagnosis. You have to look at what the camera is actually doing.

Don_ih · Jul 6, 2024

I'd never used one on mine before but just tested it (and it works). It's possible that, sometime in the past, someone used a cable with too long a throw and pushed too hard and broke something in there.

Anyway, check to see if the shutter is defaulting to 1/500 with a cable. There may be wires down there that got corroded somehow.

BobUK · Jul 6, 2024

Don_ih said:
I'd never used one on mine before but just tested it (and it works). It's possible that, sometime in the past, someone used a cable with too long a throw and pushed too hard and broke something in there.

Anyway, check to see if the shutter is defaulting to 1/500 with a cable. There may be wires down there that got corroded somehow.

I did something similar on an SQa.
It was one of those small clockwork time release accessories.
I did not realise that the movement of the firing pin should be adjusted with the adjusting rings around the pin end. The pin extended too far when firing.
The force of the pin extending is incredible.
Sorry I have no idea what the fix was as it went away for repair and returned with no communication.

Just a warning to be careful with accessory timers.

Don_ih · Jul 6, 2024

BobUK said:
The force of the pin extending is incredible.

I was thinking of exactly one of those things, actually. Some of those have pins that will stick out 3/4".

neilt3 · Jul 6, 2024

L_E_Miller said:
I can't figure this one out. I have an original model ETR that in all other ways seems to work perfectly fine -- except for when I use a release cable.

When I use the release cable it sounds like its firing, and I'm able to advance the film, but I get back blank frames.

Am I stuck in bulb mode or something? I'm at a loss.

Please and thank you.

I have the ETRS , ETRSi and a few of the SQ models , so I'm not sure if the basic functions are the same .
If the battery is dead does your camera not default to 1/500th second shutter speed ?
So if it's not so bright and you've used a small aperture , you might end up with blank negatives .
But that should be the same regardless of if the shutters fired by hand or cable .

If it's somehow gone into bulb mode , your more likely to overexpose an exposure .
Easy to check , set the shutter speed to a high setting and a small aperture , then whilst looking into the lens , press and hold the cable release in .
If the shutter is on bulb , it will remain open with the aperture stopped down until you release the cable .

It is possible somethings been dislodged inside the camera .

Have you tested the camera with another lens , to rule out the lens being the issue ?

BobUK · Jul 6, 2024

I have not used my Bronica in years and it is packed away safely. So I am not sure if I am correct.

Could it be set for multiple exposure on one frame. It might still have to be cranked to wind the mirror into place for subsequent viewing. This and the click of the shutter would give the impression of working normally, even though all exposures would be on the one frame.

Just a thought.

L_E_Miller · Jul 6, 2024

Don_ih said:
I'd never used one on mine before but just tested it (and it works). It's possible that, sometime in the past, someone used a cable with too long a throw and pushed too hard and broke something in there.

Anyway, check to see if the shutter is defaulting to 1/500 with a cable. There may be wires down there that got corroded somehow.

You raise an interesting possibility. When I got the camera the cable release port didn't work at all with my cable. So someone suggested I get a long throw cable, so I did and that triggers the shutter (but blank frames) but maybe someone broke it before I owned it with a long throw cable.

Don_ih · Jul 6, 2024

L_E_Miller said:
You raise an interesting possibility. When I got the camera the cable release port didn't work at all with my cable. So someone suggested I get a long throw cable, so I did and that triggers the shutter (but blank frames) but maybe someone broke it before I owned it with a long throw cable.

It would be the number one way to wreck one of those things.

reddesert · Jul 6, 2024

The cable release is so far as I know mechanical (it will fire without a battery in), and triggers the body to fire, raising the mirror, and mechanically triggering the lens shutter to close and open. The open time is timed electronically by the body, so without a battery you just get the 1/500 second speed.

There's not an obvious reason why the cable release mechanism would interfere with the lens shutter. If it's broken, it would probably either not work or jam the release action. If it's firing the mirror and the body-to-lens shutter firing pins move, the shutter should open. This is why I'm saying you need to look at what the camera is doing and not just talk about blank frames. It could be something like the shutter of the lens with which you used a cable release is not working.

250swb · Jul 7, 2024

The firts thing I would have done is try another cable, but then I'd have tried cleaning the contacts on the body and lens. But the problem may be related to what was described in this thread

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...-etr-and-zenzanon-lenses-blank-frames.161389/

L_E_Miller · Jul 15, 2024

250swb said:
The firts thing I would have done is try another cable, but then I'd have tried cleaning the contacts on the body and lens. But the problem may be related to what was described in this thread

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...-etr-and-zenzanon-lenses-blank-frames.161389/

I had two cables they both do the same thing

Bronica ETR doesn't fire properly with release cable -- trouble shooting

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