Bronice PE 75mm Lens Firing at 500 Speed Only

RedSun · Dec 25, 2014

This is a Bronica PE 75mm lens. When I was testing the lens, I just found that the lens is firing at 1/500 speed only. I inter-exchanged a few parts with my other Bronica gears.

1. The camera ETR-Si works properly;
2. The AE III finder works properly;
3. Battery is good.

I set the AE III at A, off and M modes, the lens fires again all at the 1/500 speed. This means the lens is not getting power and the electrical shutter is not energized. What else can I check before I can declare that this lens is electronically defective? Mechanically this lens looks just fine.

RedSun · Dec 25, 2014

Well, an update. I tried this lens with another camera and the lens fires normally. But I still can't get this lens to go with this camera body. Somehow those two can't connect. I do not know why....

Kirks518 · Dec 25, 2014

Well, if it's working properly on one camera, but not the other, I would say it's the camera. I'm not familiar with the system, but I would first check the battery. If that's good, then I would say it's an issue with the contacts on the camera and/or lens. Clean the contacts on both, and, if the contacts on either the camera or lens are spring-loaded/pressure type, make sure they are extending fully.

After that, your guess is as good as my wife's.

DWThomas · Dec 25, 2014

I believe many Bronicas default to 1/500 when the battery is dead. That could be either a dead battery, or bad connection between the battery and shutter circuit.

AllanD · Dec 26, 2014

I had a similar problem with a well worn E lens. In this case, the lens was worn enough that it would not properly maintain electrical contact even though it would click into place as normal. In my case, the lens would work, but only if I pointed it upwards (yes, it was that bad!). My suggestion would be to check the lens bayonet to see if there is anything in the way of it making proper contact. If all seems well, based on your previous tests, it would be fair to say that the lens is broken. If there are no warranty implications, perhaps it would be worth taking the back plate off (easy on these lenses, but be careful!) to make a quick check of the flex circuit inside. A dry solder joint there would be easy to fix.

RedSun · Dec 30, 2014

I tried 3 good batteries and same situation. So not battery related.

I tried other lenses on the camera. All lens shutters fire normally, except the the problem lens.

But the problem lens works fine on other camera bodies.

Do not know what to do now. I'll have to just separate those two incompatible items.

But I just wonder how this can happen. I've had more than 100 Bronica bodies through my hands and this is the first time it happens like this.

Truzi · Dec 30, 2014

I'm probably totally way off base here, as I know nothing of these things, but how do the contact pins look?

The only reason I ask is I purchased a GS-1 that was in great shape. At first I had problems until I discovered one of the spring-loaded contact pins was sticking a bit. It was only half-way out compared to the others. I gently exercised it (poked it a lot) until it moved freely.

Is it possible a similar issue is manifest on that lens-body combination? Perhaps each contributing a little?

RedSun · Dec 30, 2014

This is something I've been thinking. I checked the contacts and they appear in normal condition.

The pins on the lens are fixed. See below.

The pins on the body are flexible, with springs in the back:

Both body and lens look in great shape, not messed with. This has to be something with the electronics or the contacts.

Bronice PE 75mm Lens Firing at 500 Speed Only

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