Bronica SQ-AM not firing

MFstooges said:

It seems the shutter release warning lights up so have you checked #1 - 3 & 5 ?

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mshchem said:

Will it wind with the back removed. I can't remember exactly. You might try taking the back off and winding a frame of film with the back crank. Some how the camera isn't recognizing the back.
I had Bronicas for many years love them.

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mshchem said:

Will it wind with the back removed. I can't remember exactly. You might try taking the back off and winding a frame of film with the back crank. Some how the camera isn't recognizing the back.
I had Bronicas for many years love them.

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Amylphoto said:

I love the bronicas too, had an etrs once but wanted to go for 6 x 6 this time for my next project.

The winder will load the film.from s to 1 but the counter won't move onwards from there, but the film is advancing when I press the motor to move forward, but nothing in terms of the shutter firing.

Could it be the back?

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reddesert said:

I don't have experience with the SQ-Am but with the SQ. I think that they are similar apart from the motorized drive. The camera will not fire if it thinks the back is not wound, with the exception of multiple exposures. So you can use the multi exposure lever to test the shutter. I assume that you have a battery in the body as well as the drive, and the darkslide is removed.

Try this: remove the back. Set the multiple exposure lever to multi (there are two levers, multi exposure and mirror lock up, so be sure to get the right one). The camera should be able to wind and fire the shutter, and you should see the lens opening and closing.

If you need to test the operation with the back, you can do that without wasting film by loading a roll of just backing paper.

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Amylphoto said:

Hi, I recently purchased a bronica sq am off Ebay from a seller that deals with cameras.

I come to shoot for the first time yesterday and the film was all loaded, motor set it to 1, and the shutter wouldn't do anything, just the red light in the view finder, I've checked batteries, pressed in switches, lens mounted properly...I'm puzzled.

I noticed when I pressed the motor winder button the film back counter stays at 1 but does advance the roll.

I also tried in mirror lock up mode and it will not fire from the button, but will make a shutter sound when the motor wind on button is pressed.

Attached a video

I'm at a loss

Thank you

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Amylphoto said:

Ok. I followed what you said, nothing happens, still red light on press, no shutter is released either when using the motorwinder to advance.

It does however on turning it to mirror lock up C and either single or multiple lever in any position, and pressing the shutter buttons does nothing but a red light, but pressing the motor button is does open and shut and advance the film, (counter on back doesn't move though) this is the case if back is on or removed.

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mshchem said:

Is there a chance that the film is somehow jammed in the back? You might try removing the film ,in darkness, and seeing if it will go.

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mshchem said:

At one time I had 3 or 4 SQAi bodies. IIRC I had a problem with a used back not engaging. I started in serious medium format with a Bronica ETRSi, what a gem.

I switched to Hasselblad, easier to find help. Someone else here has an answer

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Amylphoto said:

Thank you, is their any tests I can do to be sure it's no the camera and is the back? I'm not sure if all backs work with the am, this back was from a sq ai.

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Amylphoto said:

This is the film.back, should this needle move about?
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Amylphoto said:

Just to update, I had zinc batteries in, they were fresh batteries. I used duracell and everything began working!

Thanks everyone

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Amylphoto said:

I had zinc batteries in, they were fresh batteries.

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