Bronica GS1 + Failure rate

Hassasin · Dec 12, 2023

I've liked this concept for a long while, but also have noticed that the electromagnetic shutter has seen a relative high failure rate, with no fix to it. Once dead, it appears, no luck fixing it.

I'm not getting into old-electronics-no-more-service debate here. It was a short lived production to boot. Just makes me wonder how bad this problem is, how many have died own death without actual damage by user. How much heavy usage played into shutter trigger gong kaput?

If anyone knows of actual fix to the dreaded dead shutter release, please share too.

OAPOli · Dec 12, 2023

There's a video showing a repair for the electromagnetic shutter on a SQ lens. It's likely the same on the GS? I have no idea about the failure rate.

abruzzi · Dec 12, 2023

Almost all of the GS lenses are cheap (the 500 and the 80 are the exceptions), so if one fails on me, I'll just get another if I can't find a repairer--though they've all been working just fine so far.

Hassasin · Dec 12, 2023

Maybe I was imprecise. I was referring to GS body, they die off and from what I have read it is not related to lens at all. Surely a lens can have an electronic failure but when camera does not respond to any function, shutter, read out display etc. then it’s just a display piece.

So for the dead body, has anyone succeeded reviving one?

halfaman · Dec 12, 2023

A plain GS-1 body is also cheap, in the range $300.

abruzzi · Dec 12, 2023

I think the one Achilles heel of the Bronica cameras (all of them, not just the GS) is the dearth of repair people knowledgeable on them. OTOH, I have a ETRSi, SQ-A, and GS-1 and the only issue I've had on any of them (or their parts) was a light leak on a SQ back. So I don't have a plan for repair other than possible replacement. Fortunately, I have 2 GS bodies, and 3 ETR bodies (one ETRSi, two ETRS), but only one SQ. Literally, one of the GS bodies I bought for the focusing screen, but it also works fine, so its my backup.

itsdoable · Dec 12, 2023

I've not heard about a shutter button issue on the GS1, the only aging issue I know about is the mirror sticking due to old oil and gummy foam. Maybe this is what you are thinking of, as when the mirror sticks, the shutter button doesn't do anything?

Technically the "electromagnetic shutter" is in the lens, and has been quite reliable, much longer between service intervals than the mechanical Hasselblad Compurs or Prontors

Hassasin · Dec 12, 2023

itsdoable said:
I've not heard about a shutter button issue on the GS1, the only aging issue I know about is the mirror sticking due to old oil and gummy foam. Maybe this is what you are thinking of, as when the mirror sticks, the shutter button doesn't do anything?

Technically the "electromagnetic shutter" is in the lens, and has been quite reliable, much longer between service intervals than the mechanical Hasselblad Compurs or Prontors

Shutter button is not mechanical it is in itself electromagnetic. Look around and see how many dead bodies pop up. Maybe not a concern but they are there, hence my asking.

itsdoable · Dec 13, 2023

Hassasin said:
Shutter button is not mechanical it is in itself electromagnetic. Look around and see how many dead bodies pop up. Maybe not a concern but they are there, hence my asking.

The shutter button on the GS1 is an electrical switch, 2 gold plated copper contacts coming together. No magnet, that is in the lens to convert electrical energy to mechanical motion to prevent the shutter from closing.

There may be an electromagnet to trip the mirror, but the shutter is tripped mechanically. The mirror can also be tripped mechanically, as the system has a mechanical backup shutter.

Hassasin · Dec 14, 2023

itsdoable said:
The shutter button on the GS1 is an electrical switch, 2 gold plated copper contacts coming together. No magnet, that is in the lens to convert electrical energy to mechanical motion to prevent the shutter from closing.

There may be an electromagnet to trip the mirror, but the shutter is tripped mechanically. The mirror can also be tripped mechanically, as the system has a mechanical backup shutter.

I'm not going to argue with Bronica, when they say it's electromagnetic shutter release button, then it is.

Mirror up may be going up mechanically, film gets advanced by gear, but nothing else happens without battery. BTW, I don't have one of these, am thinking about it for several reasons, but once I've noticed "dead bodies" on sale and seemingly nobody having been able to rescue one, I asked for user feedback.

itsdoable · Dec 14, 2023

Hassasin said:
I'm not going to argue with Bronica, when they say it's electromagnetic shutter release button, then it is.

Mirror up may be going up mechanically, film gets advanced by gear, but nothing else happens without battery. BTW, I don't have one of these, am thinking about it for several reasons, but once I've noticed "dead bodies" on sale and seemingly nobody having been able to rescue one, I asked for user feedback.

Be careful with miss-quotes - are you quoting this from the manual:

Shutter release: Electro-magnetic shutter release system; also has electro-magnetic cable release system.

The shutter is triggered with an electromagnet - the shutter release button is a switch.

Keep in mind that a "dead body" Hasselblad is still worth more than a working GS1 body - and repairing either is a similar effort/cost. The economics does not make repairing GS1 bodies viable. And the GS1 can shoot one speed without a battery.

As for feedback, my GS1 has only had the sticky mirror after sitting for a long time, un-sticking it and cycling it made it work fine. replacing the gooey foam helped. No issues with the electronics (...yet... knock on wood!)

Bronica GS1 + Failure rate

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