Bronica SQ-A shutter problem: The SQA will only shutter at 1/500 speed 60%

[EOS1VLover]

Hello.
First of all, I am Japanese, so I leave all English to machine translation. Please understand that there may be little communication problems.

Well, I wanted to take pictures in square format and bought a Bronica SQ-A.

However, the shutter speed is constant and no matter what speed I set it to, it is 1/500.
Even If I set shutter speed on 8s, the shutter doesn't work as 8s, just work like set as 1/500 speed.
And sometimes it works properly.

I know this is a problem that has been mentioned often in this forum and I have seen it posted many times.

I have tried every method mentioned in the post.
Specifically, I have changed batteries (I already use Panasonic “silver oxide” 4SR44 batteries, made in Japan, which cost over $10 each), cleaned the contacts　both of lens and body, removed and install the film back or AE finder or both, and turned every switch on the viewfinder on and switch on and off. These are actions such as.

However, none of this solved the problem.

The only post on this forum that might help me solve the problem is this one.

Bronica SQ-A Shutter Issue

Hi all, I'm hoping those of you with a bit more experience with Bronica equipment might be able to give me some thoughts on this. SQ-A, shutter will only fire at the "default" no battery speed. Battery tests at 6.2v and the electrical system has power (Red test light will light and AE finder...

www.photrio.com

I thought the contact point in the second image in post #4 might be the cause.
I was able to disassemble it and touch this contact directly, but could not figure out how cleaning or adjusting this contact would solve the problem.

Could you please help me with this problem? Or is there a cause that I may have missed altogether.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[wiltw]

The SQ-A shutter is electronically timed by the body...if there is no electrical contact with the lens, the Seiko shutter defaults to 1/500.

If you cannot get any speed except for 1/500, the problem could be

1. defective shutter in lens (try a different lens to see if its shutter works at other speeds)
2. defective electrical connection between the body and the lens
3. defective shutter speed electronics in the body
4. dirty battery connections in the body
5. no battery or dead battery in the body

 

[koraks]

1. dirty battery connections in the body
2. no battery or dead battery in the body

Nope; the SQA(i) doesn't fire without batteries fitted. So that's not the problem.

Given that the shutter apparently works some of the time, the most likely culprit is a contact issue either between the lens and the camera, or within the lens itself.
The first thing to do is try to test this camera with a different lens, and/or this lens on a different camera.

The only post on this forum that might help me solve the problem is this one.

Actually, this thread is likely more relevant as it appears to be the same issue: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/zenzanon-s-80-mm-lens-shutter-irregular.204562/
I did inspect that particular lens, but we didn't get to solve the problem at that point. It would have required further disassembly and we didn't undertake it. The lens' owner @Cor ended up finding another lens at a reasonable price and has been using that instead.

Welcome to Photrio @EOS1VLover !

 

[reddesert]

Nope; the SQA(i) doesn't fire without batteries fitted. So that's not the problem.

Actually, I am pretty sure there is a difference (I checked the manuals, but not a physical SQ-A). The SQ-Ai will not fire at all with no batteries; but the SQ-A and earlier SQ will fire at the mechanical 1/500 speed with no battery.

It is still quite possible that the lens or contact is a problem, and another lens or body should be tried if possible, which often helps narrow problems down.

Attached screenshot is from the SQ-A manual:

 

[koraks]

Actually, I am pretty sure there is a difference (I checked the manuals, but not a physical SQ-A). The SQ-Ai will not fire at all with no batteries; but the SQ-A and earlier SQ will fire at the mechanical 1/500 speed with no battery.

Ah, I didn't realize this was one of the differences between the A and the Ai!

 

[Klaus_H]

SQ, SQ-A, SQ-B : The release button and cable release work fully mechanically.

SQ-Ai: The release button works electrically and the cable release works fully mechanically.

 

[Rick A]

https://www.cameramanuals.org/bronica/bronica_sq-a.pdf

 

[pdccamerqs]

Hello EOS1V,

I had a similar problem with my SQ-A. On my camera, the batteries I used which were generic LR44/A76 alkaline batteries (Amazon Basic), where just slightly thicker than "name brand" examples and stopped the batteries from making proper contact in the battery compartment of the camera. I could tell because the shutter worked fine if I held the battery compartment door shut. I switched to Energizer LR44/A76 alkaline batteries - making sure to replace all 4. The batteries fit better and allowed the battery door to close completely. Proper electrical contact was restored and now the shutter works fine.

Perhaps this is something you might try, if you haven't already. I hope this helps.

Best,

Paul

 

[EOS1VLover]

I want to thank all the people who helped me.

Your replies were very helpful.

First of all, you all advised me to recheck the electrical contacts and the battery, so I did the same as you and checked it several times, but it seemed to be OK.

So I was looking for other causes and I realised something serious.

In fact, the problem with the camera wasn't that the shutter speed was 1/500, it was that it wouldn't shut off!" !

Look at these two pictures.

The first one shows where the shutter is thought to have worked correctly, the second one shows where the shutter did not work correctly.

In the second photo, you can see that the part of the lens that engages with the pin to activate it has not moved all the way to the end.

This means that the lens pin also stops in the middle, i.e. the shutter does not release.

However, I still don't know how to solve this. If you all don't mind helping me with this, please help me.

 

[wiltw]

Decades ago, I had purchased new a Bronica ETRS. I also purchased a used film back, in addition to the new film back I had purchased (intending on rapid film changes during wedding coverage). In shooting casual stuff during photo outting (not on the job) I noticed that sometimes my shutter would seem to release, but I would get blank frames from time to time and causing the red shutter-fire light to stay dark, but always when using the used film back.
I consulted with and sent the camera and back to GMI Photographic, the distributor in US at the time. They fixed the issue and explained to me...

1. the film-advanced interlock pin in the film back protruded just a tiny amount too far into the body...
2. that sometimes interfered with the operating mechanism in the body that usually detected full-upswing of the reflex mirror...
3. that prevented the swing arm in the body from triggering the lens shutter swing arm the full amount...
4. which caused the shutter to sometimes NOT OPEN

They shortened the pin in the film back, and returned everything to me. So shutter firiing issues can be purely mechanical in nature in the Bronica design. I would

• try to find another Bronica SQ-A body, and try your lens on that body
• try to find another Bronica SQ-A lens, and try that lens on your body

...that will help in diagnosing the location of the issue, determining if it is A) the body, or B) the lens, or C) the interaction between the two.
You did not mention if your problem could be seen with loaded film back mounted, or if you had put the camera into multi-exposure mode, or both. So that is another variable to consider in testing combinations...the film back.

The photo you posted seems indicative of a mechanical issue within the body, but it might be caused by the interaction with film back or some other internal adjustment/need for lubrication.