Bronica SQ quirk, or...?

[Horatio]

Newbie here, just getting back into film and MF. Hopefully someone here with Bronica experience can help.

I recently bought a well-used SQ system off the 'Bay. When the camera is empty, the shutter will not cock and fire unless the ME lever is thrown. I ran my first roll of film through it a few days ago. I thought the ME lever was in the correct position, but inadvertently shot several images on the first frame. I flipped the switch up and the film then advanced and the shutter cocked for every frame. Once the film was unloaded it reverted to the behavior described above, i.e. only cocking and firing the shutter with the ME lever engaged.

The online manuals I have seen are no help. Is this typical, do I have a bad camera, or am I doing something wrong when the camera is empty?

Thanks in advance.

 

[wiltw]

Normal to be unable to cock shutter unless film is advanced...an interlock requires that a pin in the film back protrude into the body once the film is advanced to next frame.

If the Multiexpose lever is flipped, the interlock for 'film is advanced' is bypassed, so the shutter can be cocked.

 

[Horatio]

Normal to be unable to cock shutter unless film is advanced...an interlock requires that a pin in the film back protrude into the body once the film is advanced to next frame.

If the Multiexpose lever is flipped, the interlock for 'film is advanced' is bypassed, so the shutter can be cocked.

Thanks for the quick reply. I was wondering if it might be an interlock, similar to the one activated when the dark slide is inserted.

 

[jimjm]

This is mentioned on page 23 of the user manual. If you don't have a copy, download one from Butkus (and make a donation if you can).
The Bronicas have a few quirks, but mine hasn't given me any problems in almost 20 years.

And Welcome to Photrio!

 

[Horatio]

This is mentioned on page 23 of the user manual. If you don't have a copy, download one from Butkus (and make a donation if you can).
The Bronicas have a few quirks, but mine hasn't given me any problems in almost 20 years.

And Welcome to Photrio!

My copy of Butkus ends at page 19!

 

[jimjm]

My bad... the scan PDF Butkus has on his site is different from mine, but this should be under section #27. The one on his site now is over 40 pages long.

 

[Horatio]

Thanks. I'll check again.

 

[jgboothe]

Yes that sounds like totally normal behaviour. I haven't used an SQ, but have used the GS-1 and ETRSi, and that is exactly how they behave - if you want to fire the shutter without film loaded, turn multi-exposure on. Turn off for normal shooting. Many roll film cameras work in the same way - eg. the Mamiya 645.

 

[M-88]

You have already been answered, but still - Bronica is incredibly foolproof. Shutter won't cock unless film is present in magazine, shutter won't fire with dark slide inside the camera, magazine is not removable unless dark slide is inserted and so on. Such interlocks saved my pictures rather often.

 

[choiliefan]

^^^ But if the shutter in the lens isn't working, you're out of luck.