Bronica SQ CLA

[tlsturm31]

My wife bought me a Bronica SQ yesterday so that I could get back into film photography, but it seems to be non functioning, and we are unable to get ahold of the seller.

• The shutter will only fire at one speed, I assume 1/500th, but I'm not sure.
• I have tried changing batteries. The battery light lights up.
• I've tried firing with and without a back.
• I can see the leaf shutter activating.

I'm hoping this is something that would be corrected with a CLA.

Is there anyone who has a good reputation for this? I've seen Koh's but the website say's he is no longer in the business.

 

[glbeas]

Try cleaning the electrical contacts on the lens and camera, looks like the timing signals are not getting to the shutter or it may just be a bad shutter. If you can get your hands on another lens to try it would be a good way to narrow down the problem.

 

[tlsturm31]

I just tried deoxit on the 6 contacts on the lens and 6 corresponding contacts on the body. That did not seem to help.
I will keep an eye out for another lens.
Thank You

 

[abruzzi]

I'd be curious to know too. I love my little ETRSi and it has been working 99% perfectly, but I'd love to know if anyone can maintain them, as its a little over my head.

 

[GRHazelton]

As the owner of both the ERTSi and the S2a - yes, I'm a masochist! - I'd like to know of a shop which can work on either of these wonderful old cameras.

 

[Jeff L]

Like the OP said, the KOH site says they no longer repair, but will answer repair questions if possible. Maybe they can recommend someone to repair and service Bronica

 

[tezzasmall]

• The shutter will only fire at one speed, I assume 1/500th, but I'm not sure.
• I have tried changing batteries. The battery light lights up.

I have an SQB and if I remember correctly, the manual only shutter speed ie not using a battery or when the battery is dead, is 1/500th.

My thinking therefore is that it's most probably a battery problem or at least connected with it. What confuses me is that it doesn't work properly with a new battery???

Terry S

 

[DWThomas]

The shutter and some electro-mechanical magic is in the lens, so as mentioned upthread, trying another lens would be a quick way to possibly isolate the problem. Maybe some camera store (or camera club) could point you to someone/some place you could try another lens. The lenses have some wiring in them and the original S series for the SQ could have been banged around since the early 80s, perhaps a solder joint broke.

You didn't say what viewfinder you have; I believe some versions of metered finder override the dial setting on the camera body. (But I don't own a metered finder.)

I have about 2.5 kits worth of SQ-A gear. Working they are great cameras, but there is an alarming amount of complexity tucked away in them!

Edit: There is a PDF file on line about Zenzanon S internals that might provide some ideas why you would or would not want to exercise a screwdriver.

 

[hsandler]

My wife bought me a Bronica SQ yesterday so that I could get back into film photography, but it seems to be non functioning, and we are unable to get ahold of the seller.

• The shutter will only fire at one speed, I assume 1/500th, but I'm not sure.
• I have tried changing batteries. The battery light lights up.
• I've tried firing with and without a back.
• I can see the leaf shutter activating.

I'm hoping this is something that would be corrected with a CLA.

Is there anyone who has a good reputation for this? I've seen Koh's but the website say's he is no longer in

I recall some discussion about the electromagnetic shutter requiring a high current which lithium batteries have difficulty supplying. I believe silver oxide is best, followed by alkaline. Long shot, but perhaps a silver oxide battery would help.

 

[DWThomas]

I recall some discussion about the electromagnetic shutter requiring a high current which lithium batteries have difficulty supplying. I believe silver oxide is best, followed by alkaline. Long shot, but perhaps a silver oxide battery would help.

Yes, interesting point -- years ago I downloaded info from a Tamron "Bronica Learning Center" and they said:

SILVER OXIDE

It is the recommended battery for all Bronica;
ETR-Si, SQ-A, SQ-Ai, SQ-B, and GS-1

The silver oxide battery. It has excellent voltage stability, the
best longevity, wide temperature latitude, good shelf life, and a
predictable (and comfortable for the power requirements of a camera)
discharge character.

ALKALINE MANGANESE DIOXIDE

Next is the alkaline manganese dioxide battery, known simply as the
alkaline. It has good voltage stability, reasonable longevity, wide
temperature latitude, good shelf life, and a predictable discharge
character. It is also the least expensive cell, and works well in all
Bronicas.

LITHIUM

The performance of lithiums vary greatly, as there are several types.
They can be engineered for high amp draw, and lower shelf life; or low
amp draw, but longer shelf life. They have the potential for the highest
energy density per volume of any low cost cell, but the trade off has
been made, in "consumer" applications, for long shelf life. This allows
these cells to be terrific for hearing aids, and pacemakers....but poor
for an intermittent high amp draw requirement like a
Bronica.
​

Another table showed "Forget it" in reference to lithiums in the SQ** series.
(Of course the OP didn't actually say what he's using.) I have been using the alkaline PX28s in my SQ-A and they seem to last forever.

 

[tlsturm31]

I've been using alkaline. I'll try to find a silver oxide.

 

[tlsturm31]

When fired without the lens attached, should the mirror stay up the duration of the shutter speed? It seems to fire at that same speed regardless of what is set.

Also, as I've been playing around with it more today, the leaf shutter doesn't always fire, leaving the mirror stuck up.

 

[DWThomas]

The mirror should rise at the start of the exposure (actually a few milliseconds ahead) and stay up -- period -- until you wind to the next frame. They are not auto return like a typical 35mm SLR. If the multi-exposure lever is engaged, the mirror will not return even when operating the winder, it just (re)cocks the shutter.

 

[tlsturm31]

That makes sense. Of course.

The mirror is staying up.

The leaf shutter is closing immediately, even at longer shutter speeds.

 

[jvo]

been thinking of trying a bronica sq to move to 6x6 from mamiya 645, (which is a great camera) - thinking i liked the little 6x6 i used. Can't afford a hasselblad, so a bronica was where i was thinking. now I understand why they are significantly less expense!

 

[DWThomas]

been thinking of trying a bronica sq to move to 6x6 from mamiya 645, (which is a great camera) - thinking i liked the little 6x6 i used. Can't afford a hasselblad, so a bronica was where i was thinking. now I understand why they are significantly less expense!

Well I think the most common flaw is light seals in the backs, which is fairly easily repaired. Probably the main question mark is the beasties are old and many were heavily used by wedding photographers as a less expensive alternative to the Swedish icon. I believe when the SQ-* series was in production they were at about 2/3 the price of the Hasselblads. A current problem seems to be one of the few legendary service people has retired and they are also no longer supported by Tamron, the Bronica successor. I like my SQ-A for more technical work, but admit I tend to go with my Yashica 124G TLR or one of my folders when I'm in casual travel mode. Once I sorted through a couple of dubious components my current working set of Bronica gear has been pretty dependable, just not real lightweight or compact.

I have noticed less Bronica gear showing up on ePrey, which could mean a lot of what is still in circulation on the market could be the dregs too.

 

[abruzzi]

I don’t think they’re necessarily less reliable, my ETRSi (6x4.5) has been great. There may be an issue finding service places, but any brand will potentially have that issue compared to Hasselblad. There are a lot of Hasselblad obsessive types and it’s considered much more “collectible” or “desirable”, which means there is more of a market for service. On the other hand I bought my ETRSi, four backs, 5 lenses, 2 finders, and an extra body for about what a 500c goes for with 1 back, wlf, and 80mm lens.

 

[mshchem]

I've got 3 SQ-Ai bodies all work great. I've had ETRSi over the years, great cameras . I shoot Hasselblad as well. The SqA is getting old. The timing unit for all later Bronicas is in the body, try different lenses, and definitely try different battery and clean contacts.
SQ-AI was way ahead of Hasselblad in ttl flash, camera automation.
Still Hasselblad is so elegant. Pure mechanical beauty .

 

[klownshed]

Have you cleaned the top contacts by the focussing screen? They transmit shutter speed info to the body so could be playing a part in the mystery. Also have you tested he lens in T mode? Does the shuttle stay open when T is engaged (it should do as T mode doesn’t draw current from the battery).

In my experience the cameras themselves are reliable but I’ve had lots of issues with the backs.

One of them won’t load properly and spools the entire roll through instead of stopping at frame 1. Another works fine for the first half of the roll and then stops winding on properly resulting in the rest of the roll having overlapping frames.

The backs are getting harder to find and pricier, even for clearly well used ones.

 

[moto-uno]

Hope some of these above suggestions work for you , because to be painfully honest , replacement is usually far cheaper than repair . Peter

 

[Firestarter]

Have you checked and cleaned the battery terminals ? I had a similar problem before with my SQAi, battery check light would illuminate but camera wouldn't fire.

Cleaned the terminals and that is all it was.