Bronica SQ-AM not firing

[Amylphoto]

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

 

[MFstooges]

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

 

[Amylphoto]

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

View attachment 380228

I have checked the lens, the slide and any pressed buttons. Batteries are brand new Panasonic 1.5 v batteries and brand new lr battery.

 

[mshchem]

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.

 

[mshchem]

Other thing is buy some absolutely fresh batteries.

 

[MFstooges]

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.

From #6 on the manual, doesn't look like it can be fired without the back

 

[Amylphoto]

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.

Yeah it winds but the counter doesn't move.

These are fresh batteries, maybe I'll try a different brand.

 

[Amylphoto]

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?

 

[mshchem]

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?

It definitely could be the back.

 

[reddesert]

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.

 

[Amylphoto]

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.

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.

 

[Sirius Glass]

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

Welcome to Photrio!

 

[mshchem]

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.

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.

 

[Amylphoto]

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.

I'm using a dummy roll, it's doing the same it was doing with the unexposed roll In it.

It's confusing, if I push the pin in under the cog on the film back the number counter does move, I tried waiting for the click and put it on the camera again, but still nothing.

 

[mshchem]

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

 

[Amylphoto]

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

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.

 

[Amylphoto]

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

 

[mshchem]

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.

All the SQ backs should work with your camera.

 

[Amylphoto]

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

Thanks everyone

 

[wiltw]

This is the film.back, should this needle move about?
View attachment 380257

That is likely the film-advanced interlock pin, and it protrudes from within its protective metal sleeve to activate the mechanism within the body whenever the film has been advanced to the new frame.
There is a similar pin elsewhere on the Ai back for the darkslide interlock, which prevents shutter release when the darkslide is left covering the film.

 

[mshchem]

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

Thanks everyone

No kidding, that's awesome! Good shooting!

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I had zinc batteries in, they were fresh batteries.

These were the double AA batteries in the motor drive?

 

[mshchem]

I use Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries in my motorized cameras, they work great. Hold charge better than Li ion packs. Relatively cheap.

 

[Amylphoto]

I have another problem now, took 12 photos today, about 6 times the shutter seemed to stick open with a red light

 

[mshchem]

I suspect you have old hardened grease that needs a CLA.