Well, I think KEH has somehow managed to sell me my 3rd straight defective SQ-Ai body...but before coming to that (unpleasant) conclusion I thought I'd try this forum.
Right now it does not appear that the shutter on my SQ-Ai is cocking correctly. That is a truly miserable state of affairs because the film back cannot be removed nor can a lens on an SQ-Ai body without the shutter being cocked
I'm hoping that, somehow, I've managed to forget a step and that there is *something* I can do to free up this system. Here is a description of the state of the system:
- The body is a Bronica SQ-Ai
- The film back is a 120I w/ 120 film insert and the film back is attached to the body. No film is in the back. The dark slide has been removed but the Film Back cannot be removed. I have tried to use the Film Back release button w/ no success. I can open the film back using the back cover release buttons and remove the insert, but the film back, itself, cannot be removed from the body.
- I have a PS 80mm lens attached to the camera. The letter "A" is visible; therefore the shutter is *not* in (T) exposure mode (i.e. the exposure) should be governed by the selected shutter speed. The lens cannot be removed; depressing the Lens Release Button and attempting to turn the lens counter-clockwise does not enable me to remove the lens.
- The Mirror Lock-up Switch Lever is set to "N" (normal), therefore indicating that the mirror is NOT locked up
- The Multi-Exposure lever is set to the vertical position (this means multi-exposure mode is *not* in use and cocking the shutter should advance the film)
An inability to remove the lens and film back is indicative of the shutter not cocking. Even after inserting the dark slide, I cannot remove the Film Back by depressing the film back release button.
Now for the state of the shutter...here's where it gets complicated
1) Before turning the Film Winding Crank the diaphragm and shutter appear to be closed and the view through the finder is dark
2) When I begin to turn the Film Winding Lever, the crank will turn about 180 degrees before a "click" occurs. The Manual Film Winder rotates as the crank is being turned. Upon reaching that "click" the diaphragm and shutter are still closed and the viewfinder remains dark.
3) Contiinung to turn the Film Winding Lever (yes, it is possible to continue turning it), the iris blades of the leaf shutter begin to open and the finder becomes increasingly bright. After about 10-15 degrees the iris blades are fully open. The Manual Film Winder again rotates while the Film Winding Lever is turned.
4) Continuing to turn the Film Winding Lever another 15-20 degrees (during which the Manual Film Winder continues to rotate) will result in a loud clicking/snapping that I would normally associate with the shutter releasing.
At any point throughout this process, depressing the shutter release is possible, but nothing happens apart from the lighting of an LED in the view finder indicating an exposure cannot be made.
What happens after #4 is where it gets REAL complicated...because it varies, allbeit consistently.
5) After the first cycle of 1-4 above, the diaphragm will close completely after 4.
6) After the second cycle of 1-4 above, the diaphragm does not completely close after 4. In fact, the diaphragm appears to stay in its stopped down position (i.e. the diaphragm opening seem s to reflect whatever the aperture setting is no the lens). After several seconds, there is a soft click and the diaphragm closes completely
The pattern observed in 5 and 6 repeat indefinitely
By the way: I *did* attempt to test the camer with a roll of film loaded. After loading the film, turning the Film Winding Crank appeared to advance the film but the Exposure Counter did not advance from "S" to "1". The camera body is newly-received from KEH. The initial test with a roll of film was the first time I attempted to use that body. Although I am relatively new to the Bronica SQ-Ai, I did receive two earlier bodies from KEH. I was able to successfully run rolls of film through both the bodies (they were returned for other reasons) - so I am somewhat familiar with the SQ-Ai.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Right now it does not appear that the shutter on my SQ-Ai is cocking correctly. That is a truly miserable state of affairs because the film back cannot be removed nor can a lens on an SQ-Ai body without the shutter being cocked
I'm hoping that, somehow, I've managed to forget a step and that there is *something* I can do to free up this system. Here is a description of the state of the system:
- The body is a Bronica SQ-Ai
- The film back is a 120I w/ 120 film insert and the film back is attached to the body. No film is in the back. The dark slide has been removed but the Film Back cannot be removed. I have tried to use the Film Back release button w/ no success. I can open the film back using the back cover release buttons and remove the insert, but the film back, itself, cannot be removed from the body.
- I have a PS 80mm lens attached to the camera. The letter "A" is visible; therefore the shutter is *not* in (T) exposure mode (i.e. the exposure) should be governed by the selected shutter speed. The lens cannot be removed; depressing the Lens Release Button and attempting to turn the lens counter-clockwise does not enable me to remove the lens.
- The Mirror Lock-up Switch Lever is set to "N" (normal), therefore indicating that the mirror is NOT locked up
- The Multi-Exposure lever is set to the vertical position (this means multi-exposure mode is *not* in use and cocking the shutter should advance the film)
An inability to remove the lens and film back is indicative of the shutter not cocking. Even after inserting the dark slide, I cannot remove the Film Back by depressing the film back release button.
Now for the state of the shutter...here's where it gets complicated
1) Before turning the Film Winding Crank the diaphragm and shutter appear to be closed and the view through the finder is dark
2) When I begin to turn the Film Winding Lever, the crank will turn about 180 degrees before a "click" occurs. The Manual Film Winder rotates as the crank is being turned. Upon reaching that "click" the diaphragm and shutter are still closed and the viewfinder remains dark.
3) Contiinung to turn the Film Winding Lever (yes, it is possible to continue turning it), the iris blades of the leaf shutter begin to open and the finder becomes increasingly bright. After about 10-15 degrees the iris blades are fully open. The Manual Film Winder again rotates while the Film Winding Lever is turned.
4) Continuing to turn the Film Winding Lever another 15-20 degrees (during which the Manual Film Winder continues to rotate) will result in a loud clicking/snapping that I would normally associate with the shutter releasing.
At any point throughout this process, depressing the shutter release is possible, but nothing happens apart from the lighting of an LED in the view finder indicating an exposure cannot be made.
What happens after #4 is where it gets REAL complicated...because it varies, allbeit consistently.
5) After the first cycle of 1-4 above, the diaphragm will close completely after 4.
6) After the second cycle of 1-4 above, the diaphragm does not completely close after 4. In fact, the diaphragm appears to stay in its stopped down position (i.e. the diaphragm opening seem s to reflect whatever the aperture setting is no the lens). After several seconds, there is a soft click and the diaphragm closes completely
The pattern observed in 5 and 6 repeat indefinitely
By the way: I *did* attempt to test the camer with a roll of film loaded. After loading the film, turning the Film Winding Crank appeared to advance the film but the Exposure Counter did not advance from "S" to "1". The camera body is newly-received from KEH. The initial test with a roll of film was the first time I attempted to use that body. Although I am relatively new to the Bronica SQ-Ai, I did receive two earlier bodies from KEH. I was able to successfully run rolls of film through both the bodies (they were returned for other reasons) - so I am somewhat familiar with the SQ-Ai.
Any suggestions?
Thanks