Bessa R3A problem

[jairy hunter]

Hi all, wondering if anyone knows a simple fix or should I send this in...

The spool release button on the baseplate seems to be stuck in a depressed position--doesn't allow the advance of a new spool of film, depression of the shutter, light meter activation, etc. Changed the battery, thinking somehow (?).

Any ideas? Where should I send for repair?

Thanks

 

[mfogiel]

Try to advance the lever. If it does not work, check the batteries, and that the camera is switched on, and try to release the shutter and/or advance the wind lever again. It should eventually work.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I've had this happen once but can't remember if it was because I hadn't fully stroked the advance lever or I'd somehow managed to jam the rewind button by having it depressed when I did move the lever.
Anyway, I'd suggest removing the film if you haven't done that already, check that the shutter has fired, that the advance lever has been fully stroked and then if any jiggling of the sprockets for the film perforations releases it.
Failing that, any competent camera techie should have no trouble fixing it. It's no different to any film SLR he's likely to have worked on. There's just six little screws in the baseplate to give access to the internals. You could probably try it yourself but as there are likely to be tiny springs and other assorted bits in there, personally I'd leave it to someone who knows what they're doing!

 

[Gazzah]

Happened once to me - I think when I chnaged the film without completing the wind on stroke that had stopped 1/2 way at the end of the previous film.
Opening the back and completing the stroke seemed to cure it.
The cameras seem to suffer from intermittant niggles that happen once then never appear again.

Good luck.

Gary H

 

[jairy hunter]

Thanks guys for quick and thorough responses. I did all of the above as you all suggested and even went back to it again a couple of times in case I just didn't try hard enough the first time. Unfortunately I think I'm gonna have to take it in. No sure if we have any reliable techs in our area may have to mail it somewhere.

Thanks again!