Bronica ETRSI Darkside

[jazzmechanic]

My recently received Bronny came with no darkside. I have the film back with the two latches on the top. My confusion is, the manual only talks about the dark slide upon reattachment of the film back. I shot a roll of film with the dark slide so does this mean that the roll of film is damaged and must I get a dark slide before using the camera again?

???????

 

[jazzmechanic]

Ouch!!!

After some additional research, the obvious has been explained. The role of film, I shot yestersday is probably toast. I contacted Tamron here in Germany and they are sending me one for the low cost of 11 euro plus shipping. Total costs will be about $21 dollars.

Oh well...and I was anxioulsy awaiting the outcome of that roll.

Craps

 

[AllanD]

The ETRSi has an interlock that means you should not be able to remove the film back without the darkslide in place. However, you will still be able to open the filmback and therefor ruin some of the shots on the film, if you open the film back mid film. However, there is a good chance that some of the shots will be OK, because the backing paper will be covering the exposed film on the takeup spool (I am assuming that you have 120 film, not 220). Most of the unexposed film on the other spool should also be OK. Opening the back mid-roll will reset the exposure counter and lose you some shots as the mechanism will then be set to take up the paper leader, as if a new roll of film had been inserted.

It is possible to operate the ETRSi without a darkslide, as the film insert is removable with the film back in situ.

 

[Soeren]

Hi again Jazz
You recieved the Zenzei Without a darkslide ?
You shot a film ? It should be ok unless you opened the back midroll.
With the darkslide in place your shutter wont/shouldn't fire. The only use you have for the darkslide is when removing the back from the camera. that cannot be done without it in place.
Beware of the multiexposure lever. you can activate it when dryfiring the shutter but remember to deactivate it before real use (unless you want to multi expose ofcource)
BTW con gratulations, the Bronica is a great camera (Ive got a SQ-Ai)
Ill be back if I come up with some hints
Regards Søren

 

[jazzmechanic]

Thanks...but I was able to remove the film back and the film was completely rolled in the cannister. Soeren you stated "The only use you have for the darkslide is when removing the back from the camera. that cannot be done without it in place" I was able to open the back does it mean something is broken? I will back in acoule of days...crossing finger, eyes and toes. Although I am a Mamiya guy at heart, I really like the Bronny as I read it is refered as. BTW, I did not open the back midway and it was 120mm, I finished the roll.

 

[blaze-on]

Here's another source for Bronica stuff if you need.
http://www.gassers.com/

 

[Soeren]

Thanks...but I was able to remove the film back and the film was completely rolled in the cannister. Soeren you stated "The only use you have for the darkslide is when removing the back from the camera. that cannot be done without it in place" I was able to open the back does it mean something is broken? I will back in acoule of days...crossing finger, eyes and toes. Although I am a Mamiya guy at heart, I really like the Bronny as I read it is refered as. BTW, I did not open the back midway and it was 120mm, I finished the roll.

If you can remowe the intire filmback from the camera something is not right.
You can however open the filmback at all times.
From memory: On the left side on the back there is a slit for the darkslide: behind it there is a small hole in which a pin in the slide fits. You will also see two markings, on mine its a white circle (up) and dot and a white square (down). The same markings is on the darkslide. The darkslide is because you may want to change films midroll: insert darkslide, remove back, install another back containing a different film, pull darkslide and.......
Your film should be ok.
Cheers Søren

 

[jazzmechanic]

Yep, I can remove the complete film back. The film counter and shutter appears to be working as well. I shot some b&w and will develop it this weekend. Hoping for the best!

 

[Soeren]

Well I'm not that good at memorising.
The pin on the darkslide fits in a slit allmost at the bottom of the filmback. It pushes a lever aside which in turn activates a lever in the camerabody. Maybe one or both of the levers are stuck. In that case perhaps you can exercise it with a needle or something similar (someone, correct me if I'm wrong). You can see it if you remove the filmback.
Cheers Søren

 

[jazzmechanic]

Thanks Soeren,

I I talked with Tamron Germany's Bronica Rep and he bascially said I don't need the DS unless I want to change backs in mid roll. I am still a lil confused but tommorow I develop the film and then we will see. Stayed tuned!

 

[Bob F.]

Ensure you are not confusing the film back with the film holder. The film holder assembly fits inside the film back. You open the film back to get access to the film holder - you do not need to remove the back to do this - only open it. The entire film back should not be removable without the darkslide inserted, however you can still open the back and remove the film holder assembly to load and unload film (assuming it works the same way as my SQ-A).

The darkslide is used to seal the entire back from light so you can remove it from the camera and fit a different one in the middle of a roll - one might be loaded with B&W and the other with colour for example, or one could be a Polaroid back.

As Søren said above, as long as you did not open the back in mid-roll you are fine. If you only have one back, you do not need the darkslide but get one anyway because you will want more backs eventually ... If you did not get a manual, there is probably one online.

Cheers, Bob.

 

[jazzmechanic]

Thanks Bob,

I am able to remove the whole back. I ordered a darkslide and it should be in today!

Did not get to around to developing the film...beer drinkintg took priority.

Spencer

 

[Bob F.]

OK - it seems you definitely do have an interlock problem: probably not worth the vast number of beer tokens it would cost to have fixed... Good luck with the camera anyway...

Cheers, Bob.

P.S> if you do need a manual, one is here (http://www.tamron.com/about/manuals.asp) where I got one for my SQ-A...

 

[jazzmechanic]

Bob, does it mean the camera may be defective? Shutter seems to work fine.

 

[Bob F.]

No, it will be fine: it's just a mechanical link where a pin on the darkslide pushes on a slide to allow the back to be released - it does not impact on any other part of the camera: it's just a simple mechanical interlock. You'll see when you get the slide. My guess is that the bit that the pin pushes out the way is either broken or stuck in the "in" position.

One of my SQ-A backs has the same problem, but the other two are fine so it may be a basic design fault.


Bob.

 

[jazzmechanic]

Thanks again .....I feel much better now!