sooner
Well-known
Hi Friends,
I am the ecstatic owner of a new/used Bronica RF645, which came with the 65mm and 100mm lenses, and the flash. However, when I loaded my first roll of film last night, the film kept advancing past "1" and never stopped. The "x" in the viewfinder indicating a problem with the film advance never went off, and I couldn't take a picture. With the film out and wasted, I dry fired the shutter (using the ME button), and it worked. Now I'm shy about loading another roll of film, scared the same thing will happen, and wondering why it didn't stop at 1 and let me take my first picture. Any ideas or suggestions?
By the way, I plan to sell the 100mm lens. Any ideas on current valuation, in good condition with both caps? Thanks much. --John
I am the ecstatic owner of a new/used Bronica RF645, which came with the 65mm and 100mm lenses, and the flash. However, when I loaded my first roll of film last night, the film kept advancing past "1" and never stopped. The "x" in the viewfinder indicating a problem with the film advance never went off, and I couldn't take a picture. With the film out and wasted, I dry fired the shutter (using the ME button), and it worked. Now I'm shy about loading another roll of film, scared the same thing will happen, and wondering why it didn't stop at 1 and let me take my first picture. Any ideas or suggestions?
By the way, I plan to sell the 100mm lens. Any ideas on current valuation, in good condition with both caps? Thanks much. --John
Rey
Well-known
I have never had that problem. If you still have the used up film, respool and reload it and see if the problem happens again. If it does, the winding mechanism is probably broken. Also check the pressure plate and see if it's set to the fim type you are using (120/220).You can get good money for the 100mm, but it's an excellent lens and if you let it go, you will likely not see another one.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
Don't waste another new roll just re-roll the first roll you used and try it again...
Try looking for a free copy of the manual on-line and see if you're doing anything wrong...
I've never used a Bronica so I don't have any tips on what to look for or do different...but I'm sure someone here will know exactly what to do...
Try looking for a free copy of the manual on-line and see if you're doing anything wrong...
I've never used a Bronica so I don't have any tips on what to look for or do different...but I'm sure someone here will know exactly what to do...
Cron
Well-known
I do not know about this special problem, but film transport of the RF645 is a common problem and repair is needed. Normally you cannot fire the shutter without a film loaded.
A dealer in GB - Mifsuds - sold a 4,5/100 some months ago for about 700 USD. This was a nice price but I was too late :-(( .
If you decide to sell please send pn with suggested price.
A dealer in GB - Mifsuds - sold a 4,5/100 some months ago for about 700 USD. This was a nice price but I was too late :-(( .
If you decide to sell please send pn with suggested price.
sooner
Well-known
Thanks for the suggestions. Gosh, I hope it's not broken. I forgot to ask, is there a way to adjust the rangefinder? It's off just slightly vertically.
kuzano
Veteran
This may seem like an odd or accusatory ???, but
This may seem like an odd or accusatory ???, but
When you opened the camera, was the film wound onto the take-up roll, and off the supply roll?
One of the problems with medium format camera's is a loose load on the take-up. It is imperative on all medium format that you keep tension on the supply roll and lever the take-up roll against that tension until the second the door closes. Then advance the lever until it locks into the first frame.
Not keeping that tension on the roll can result in two problems. The take-up roll slips and loses the leader on the film, but in that case the film would not come off the supply roll. The other problem is that the loose film across the film frame will pile up on the take-up spool and cause a binding about halfway through the roll.
The Bronica 645RF is subject to this problem, which is easily countered by care in loading.
Fuji 645 rangefinders are particularly susceptible. Again, proper loading technique (pressure on the supply spool) easily solves the problem. Fuji manuals speak to this issue. It's not a camera problem. It's a user care problem.
This may seem like an odd or accusatory ???, but
When you opened the camera, was the film wound onto the take-up roll, and off the supply roll?
One of the problems with medium format camera's is a loose load on the take-up. It is imperative on all medium format that you keep tension on the supply roll and lever the take-up roll against that tension until the second the door closes. Then advance the lever until it locks into the first frame.
Not keeping that tension on the roll can result in two problems. The take-up roll slips and loses the leader on the film, but in that case the film would not come off the supply roll. The other problem is that the loose film across the film frame will pile up on the take-up spool and cause a binding about halfway through the roll.
The Bronica 645RF is subject to this problem, which is easily countered by care in loading.
Fuji 645 rangefinders are particularly susceptible. Again, proper loading technique (pressure on the supply spool) easily solves the problem. Fuji manuals speak to this issue. It's not a camera problem. It's a user care problem.
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srtiwari
Daktari
I own a RF645.
AFAIK you CANNOT adjust the Rangefinder yourself.
I have a PDF version of the manual which I can email to you.
Did you move the film to the Red marks before closing the back and winding it ?
Subhash
AFAIK you CANNOT adjust the Rangefinder yourself.
I have a PDF version of the manual which I can email to you.
Did you move the film to the Red marks before closing the back and winding it ?
Subhash
sooner
Well-known
Thanks for the help. Yes, I did keep the film tight across the film plane when loading, and the take-up spools were nicely tight when finished. I shot two rolls tonight by advancing to the next frame and then using the ME button to override the x condition and take a shot. The camera never clicks and stops the advance, so if I hadn't just shot the picture it would have continued advancing and wasting the entire roll of film. One roll was b&w so I will develop that tonight and see if the camera is working otherwise. Sorry to hear I can't fix the rangefinder alignment myself. Looks like I'll have to decide whether to return the entire outfit or have it fixed. The reason not to return it is that I got the entire kit including the 100mm lens for a good price. Decisions, decisions!
sooner
Well-known
Well, I developed that roll of b&w. The spacing was way off, so I got huge spaces between frames, but the properly exposed shots looked great. How could the spacing get so far off, if one normal stroke should be enough to advance the film by one frame and you get 16 shots on a roll? I got like 8, maybe. Very unfortunate. Guess this one's going in for a CLA.
jbf
||||||
I suggest just sent the camera to get CLA'd. I mean if you got a good deal on it, you might as well do it. I dont see them very often. If i had the spare cash I'd own one too. Oh well.
Pablito
coco frío
sounds like it needs more than a cla, sounds like it needs a repair to the film transport system (& RF alignment) .....
Turtle
Veteran
sounds like some indexing gear thingy has failed. might not be too much, but bear in mind those 100mm lenses sometimes go for $1k. If renegotiating, I would renegotiate on the value of the body and try to keep the complete kit out of it. The owner must have known it was broken...not the kinda thing you just 'dont notice'......
sooner
Well-known
Hey Turtle, you hit on my dilemma exactly. I bought this entire kit for what the 100mm lens alone has sold for in the past, so I thought this was a case of my superior knowledge resulting in a deal of the century. I've had my eye on this camera for a long time, but can't afford a mortgage payment for one--unless part of the kit pays for itself. I'll look into repair.
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
One stroke is not necessarily one frame.
It can take less or more than one stroke to advance one frame depending how much film you've used.
It sounds like your Bronica needs repair.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema
It can take less or more than one stroke to advance one frame depending how much film you've used.
It sounds like your Bronica needs repair.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema