Bronica SQ-AI question

bnjlosh · May 23, 2006

this may be a stupid question...but 'stupid is if stupid does' or something like that

I purchased a used sqai from KEH and ran my first roll of film through it and got my negatives back and all but one caught an image...the camera sounded like it was working while I was taking the pics...but I was mistakened...anybody ever experience this and what might be the culprit...I did mess with the camera before I took real pictures and it looked like shutter was working...

any tips???

thanks

Peter Black · May 23, 2006

Not very sure what this could have been, but there is a webpage on SQ tips at the site below, and it includes the best way to fire the camera without a film in it

http://www.camerahobby.com/Photo-Bronica_Tips.htm

digiconvert · May 23, 2006

bnjlosh said:
...ran my first roll of film through it and got my negatives back and all but one caught an image...

Sorry I am a bit slow at times- You mean you had 11 images and one blank ?

bnjlosh said:
the camera sounded like it was working while I was taking the pics...but I was mistakened...anybody ever experience this and what might be the culprit...I did mess with the camera before I took real pictures and it looked like shutter was working...

Did you have the camera on multi exposure (small lever on RHS)?

any tips???

thanks[/QUOTE]

bnjlosh · May 23, 2006

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/hspr-H102; Blazer/4.0) 16;320x320)

no...I had 1 image...and it was number 9

bnjlosh · May 24, 2006

thanks for this site...very informative...I messed with the camera for a bit and it appears to be working...will run another roll through it this evening...

Peter Black said:
Not very sure what this could have been, but there is a webpage on SQ tips at the site below, and it includes the best way to fire the camera without a film in it

http://www.camerahobby.com/Photo-Bronica_Tips.htm

bnjlosh · May 24, 2006

and I didn't have the multi-exposure switch on...once the mirror goes up, the shutter opens...is there anything else that moves???

bnjlosh said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/hspr-H102; Blazer/4.0) 16;320x320)

no...I had 1 image...and it was number 9

dschneller · May 24, 2006

bnjlosh said:
this may be a stupid question...but 'stupid is if stupid does' or something like that
...anybody ever experience this and what might be the culprit...I did mess with the camera before I took real pictures and it looked like shutter was working...
thanks

This may be a stupid answer...are you using fresh batteries and are the contacts free from corrosion?

bnjlosh · May 24, 2006

this is a great answer...I actually did think of that this morning so I will try fresh batteries before I torture myself again...

thanks for the technical insight and I will post if it was successful

dschneller said:
This may be a stupid answer...are you using fresh batteries and are the contacts free from corrosion?

Nick Zentena · May 24, 2006

Going with the battery issue. Are the images totally blank? Or are they just underexposed? Dead battery and the shutter should release at the dead battery speed. I don't know what that is for the Sq line.

How did you meter?

bnjlosh · May 24, 2006

images are totally blank...and what you said makes sense b/c it wouldn't have captured anything at 1/500 (default for dead batteries)...I was shooting 1/125 @ f4 under lighting using ilford hp5...the one image that did show looks exposed good...

I am definitly getting more batteries...

guess I shoulda paid more attention to the battery light while I was shooting...maybe just plan on swapping out after every other shoot

Nick Zentena said:
Going with the battery issue. Are the images totally blank? Or are they just underexposed? Dead battery and the shutter should release at the dead battery speed. I don't know what that is for the Sq line.

How did you meter?

Nick Zentena · May 24, 2006

bnjlosh said:
images are totally blank...and what you said makes sense b/c it wouldn't have captured anything at 1/500 (default for dead batteries)...I was shooting 1/125 @ f4 under lighting using ilford hp5...the one image that did show looks exposed good...

I am definitly getting more batteries...

guess I shoulda paid more attention to the battery light while I was shooting...maybe just plan on swapping out after every other shoot

That's only 2 stops. You should see something.

Unless you're shooting ALOT of film batteries should last awhile.

dschneller · May 24, 2006

Correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe the electronically controlled shutter will fire at all if the batteries are missing or near-dead. Try the battery check indicator, if the LED lights up the batteries are o.k. Also, are you using a motor drive? If so, apparently the motor drive will supply power to the camera if attached, more batteries to check.

bnjlosh · May 24, 2006

battery does light up...but...while I was home over lunch...I was running test with the multi-exposure switch on...and it didn't come on everytime...and when it wouldn't come on, it would be really fast...my super-duper timing sensors felt like it was at 1/500...so...since the battery light doesn't come on everytime...I am guessing I need new batteries...

dschneller said:
Correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe the electronically controlled shutter will fire at all if the batteries are missing or near-dead. Try the battery check indicator, if the LED lights up the batteries are o.k. Also, are you using a motor drive? If so, apparently the motor drive will supply power to the camera if attached, more batteries to check.

bobfowler · May 24, 2006

Unlike the SQ, SQ-A, and SQ-B, the SQ-Ai will NOT fire without battery power. These cameras can be a bit picky about which batteries they will "play nice" with, mine likes Alkalines, hate silver, and (according to Tamron/Bronica) Lithium is a no-no. Until I bought the motor drive, I would buy an alkaline 28 cell and disect it for the 4 - A76 cells inside - MUCH cheaper than buying 4 76 cells.

I should also mention... Just because the battery check lighht comes on doesn't mean the shutter will play nice 100% of the time with an SQ-Ai, they are VERY sensitive to voltage levels, much more so than the check light is...

Bronica SQ-AI question

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