Topic: Troubleshooting a Bronica SQ-A Problem

[Ed Wenn]

I?ve recently been having a lot of fun using Polaroid 125i pack film with my Bronica SQ-A. The SQ-A Polaroid back was one of the best things I?ve ever bought for my cameras. Anyway, before I left to go on my recent holiday to Cornwall I took the Pola back off the SQ-A and re-mounted the regular 120 film back that I?ve used frequently in the past. However, when I went to try and use the camera in this configuration I found that all was not well.

With the MLU selector set to ?N? and the multiple exposure lever pointing directly upwards in the standard position I find I am unable to trip the shutter. Instead the camera allows me to wind through the whole film, but pressing the shutter release produces no results at all. I can get the shutter to trip if I set the MLU to ?S? and then focus/compose before the mirror actually locks up, but that?s hardly a way forward. It does prove however that the shutter actually works. I?ve tried 2 different lenses and had the same results.

Leon and I have discussed this behavior and we think it may be the result of a defective film back, but before I went and splashed GBP50 on a new one over at evilBay I thought I?d run it past the clever people here and see if anyone had any thoughts on the matter?

[LT]

ed - have you looked into the viewfinder to see if the shutter light is flashing as you wind on the film - I know mine will sometimes fire the shutter just by winding on the film advance when in multiple exposure mode.  I wonder if something has messed up the two functions.  I've just looked through the whole manual and couldnt find anything about the problem you're experiencing but you can look too here: http://www.tamron.com/assets/pdfs/SQ-A.pdf

[Ed Wenn]

OK, I'm guessing then that no-one has anything else to add to this, so I'll get bizzy looking for a replacement film back.

[Francois]

I looked at the Manual Focus forums and came up with this
Jammed back

While not the same thing, might be of some interest...