Bronica SQ-Ai issue

Jordan Marchbanks · Dec 30, 2016

I just pulled out my wife's sq-ai, it's been in storage for a few years but worked great when she stopped using it, but as I was playing with it, the film advance lever just winds continually, it never stops so I can shoot off the shutter. The mirror lever is on "n" and multiple exposed is turned off. I haven't put any film in it yet, for fear of wasting a roll by just winding it from one spool to the other. Anyone have some advice on what is going on and how to fix it?

BMbikerider · Dec 30, 2016

It is more than likrly to be something linked to lack of use. Lubricants dry out and can stick so stopping normal working. A good service (CLA in the states) won't cost a fortune and bring the old beast back to life.

klownshed · Dec 30, 2016

Try running a roll of backing paper through the back.

Or take off the back and shoot it in multiple exposure mode (it should work without a back in multiple exp. mode).

The SQ's have many little interlocks that can cause issues. If so, it could be the back. The backs seem to be the weakest link for SQs.

Jim Taylor · Dec 30, 2016

Hi Jordan,

I used my SQ-Ai yesterday and it was fine - currently it's sat next to me (no film in back) and it does exactly as you have described.
This is normal operation for the SQ-Ai with no film in the camera. If you turn multiple exposure on, you'll be able to cock and fire the shutter (as long as the dark slide or film back are removed).

R.Gould · Dec 30, 2016

To test the shutter with the bronica, (Any Bronica) set the multiple exposure lever to on and wind and fire, you need the dark slide out but film back on is fine, what you are seeing is perfectly normal, also, make sure the battery is OK, if the battery is flat then the camera will only fire on the 500 setting

wiltw · Dec 30, 2016

Jordan Marchbanks said:
I just pulled out my wife's sq-ai, it's been in storage for a few years but worked great when she stopped using it, but as I was playing with it, the film advance lever just winds continually, it never stops so I can shoot off the shutter. The mirror lever is on "n" and multiple exposed is turned off. I haven't put any film in it yet, for fear of wasting a roll by just winding it from one spool to the other. Anyone have some advice on what is going on and how to fix it?

Your camera is operating the way it was designed to work!

There is an interlock pin from the magazine to the back, and it indicates to the body that the film is 'advanced' to the next frame. No interlock pin into the body, the body just winds and winds the magazine! If the multiexposure lever is On, the body ignores the status of the interlock pin and just cocks the shutter and lets you fire.

No film in the magazine, it never activates the interlock pin because the film is not 'advanced'.

Bronica SQ-Ai issue

Jordan Marchbanks

BMbikerider

klownshed

Jim Taylor

R.Gould

wiltw

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