Bronica SQ A Shutter Problems

So I just purchased a Bronica SQ A with a zenzanon s 80mm f/2.8 The guy said that it had been untouched for a few years. I put in a new battery and decided to test the shutter speeds.

My problem is that when I fire the shutter around 60% of the time, the shutter fires at 1/500th of a second, rather than my desired shutter speed.

Most places online suggest this to be a contact issue, so I cleaned the contacts and opened the lens and checked the solder joints. I don’t have another lens to test whether or not this is a body or lens problem.

Another thing that I noticed is that if I leave the camera alone for a few minutes and take a picture, it fires at the correct speed. If I do this continuously however, the shutter speed soon defaults back to 1/500th.

Would appreciate any and all help on this issue. Thanks!

Have you tried a different battery? The default shutter speed with dead or improperly installed battery is 1/500. Possibly a bad battery connection?

Rick A said:

Have you tried a different battery? The default shutter speed with dead or improperly installed battery is 1/500.

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I bought a 2 6 packs of batteries and tried 5 of them. It doesn’t seem to be a battery issue. But i may have a bad batch of batteries

Hydroflask said:

I bought a 2 6 packs of batteries and tried 5 of them. It doesn’t seem to be a battery issue. But i may have a bad batch of batteries

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What kind of battery? If I recall correctly, the manual states you should use silver oxide-based batteries ideally. If you can't use silver oxide, I think alkaline is next best. I think lithium ones are to be avoided.

skysh4rk said:

What kind of battery? If I recall correctly, the manual states you should use silver oxide-based batteries ideally. If you can't use silver oxide, I think alkaline is next best. I think lithium ones are to be avoided.

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Alkaline are the ones I got.

Hydroflask said:

Alkaline are the ones I got.

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I would think that would work.

In the SQ-Ai, I also had an issue with a particular brand of battery that was a very slightly different size than most others brands. I don't think I ever had this issue with the SQ-A though, which takes another kind of battery.

I did end up once having to get my 80mm PS lens serviced for the issue you cited above where it would only fire on the default 1/500 speed.

skysh4rk said:

I would think that would work.

In the SQ-Ai, I also had an issue with a particular brand of battery that was a very slightly different size than most others brands. I don't think I ever had this issue with the SQ-A though, which takes another kind of battery.

I did end up once having to get my 80mm PS lens serviced for the issue you cited above where it would only fire on the default 1/500 speed.

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Ah so this is a lens problem? It works around 20% of the time so I didn’t think it was a lens problem. I opened it and all the contacts and solder joints looked good.

skysh4rk said:

I would think that would work.

In the SQ-Ai, I also had an issue with a particular brand of battery that was a very slightly different size than most others brands. I don't think I ever had this issue with the SQ-A though, which takes another kind of battery.

I did end up once having to get my 80mm PS lens serviced for the issue you cited above where it would only fire on the default 1/500 speed.

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Do you know of any places that still service this camera In the United States?

Hydroflask said:

Ah so this is a lens problem? It works around 20% of the time so I didn’t think it was a lens problem. I opened it and all the contacts and solder joints looked good.

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Maybe, I wouldn’t know for certain, but the shutter is in the lens.

Hydroflask said:

Do you know of any places that still service this camera In the United States?

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I can provide recommendations for UK-based repair/service, but I’m unable to offer any advice for the USA, I’m afraid.