Bessa R2A issues

[celluloidprop]

My used R2A arrived this morning, but I seem to have run into a problem. I can't get the shutter to fire or the film advance to move in order to wind on film, and with two different sets of batteries I can't get any of the viewfinder LEDs to come on. I'm afraid the electronics are DOA, but want to see if anyone's encountered this or has an inkling what's going on before I ship it back.

The only thing out of the ordinary that I find is that the rewind button seems to be depressed (does that interrupt the viewfinder circuitry?), but I can't seem to find a way to un-depress it, and opening/closing the back seems to do no good.

 

[celluloidprop]

As an addendum, the shutter release pushes down all the way (it's not locked) but doesn't engage anything, either the shutter or the electronics.

 

[celluloidprop]

They are - though just in case I tried both ways with both sets.

 

[f/stopblues]

Sorry to ask the obvious, but have you located the power switch? It's at the base of the shutter release. 🙂

 

[celluloidprop]

Yeah, that keeps the shutter button from depressing when 'off.' Thanks, though.

 

[aizan]

somebody sold you a busted camera!

 

[celluloidprop]

As I don't want to take any chances on damaging it myself and being on the hook, I've just e-mailed Badger for a return number. Thanks to everyone for their help, but it appears this one just wasn't meant to be.

 

[f/stopblues]

That's too bad.. don't give up on the camera though! It's a nice one. I've been seeing them pop up once in a while so keep an eye peeled. Good luck!

 

[Frank Granovski]

I think I placed a bid or 2 on that one early in the auction. There's an R3A on the pig right now but it's for the USA only. He must be another one who hates Canadians. 🙂

 

[celluloidprop]

No auction here, I got it from ye mailorder shoppe.

 

[celluloidprop]

I didn't get to (obviously) fire the shutter or judge the feel there, but I'm highly impressed by the exterior fit and finish as well as the viewfinder. The little raised portion on the back makes it much easier to grasp than the flat back on my M.

The V-C grip looks a little small to be useful from pictures on the web, though - it needs a big, honkin' grip like Tom Abrahamsson's Rapidgrip for Leicas.

 

[Frank Granovski]

Once a month there seems to be one or two being auctioned at the pig. They usually end up being sold for $499 for some reason. For a few bucks more, you can buy a new one. 🙄

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I like the rapid wind grip. As well as the obvious rapid wind option I ike the two extra lugs which are just right for a short strap from one to the other which you can slip your hand through. Shop ones are expensive: I made my own.

The rapid wind is easy to use but the instructions are unclear and it takes some working out to figure how to deploy and operate it.

 

[paxship]

Is this the $295 R2A from Badger?

 

[celluloidprop]

It is, though I don't want to make this look like they tried to pass off damaged goods. When I opened the back, there was still a piece of paper from the factory sitting over the film spool and the batteries were attached to the factory cardboard.

I think maybe it was a demo piece or something, but it didn't appear to ever have been opened, much less used.

 

[paxship]

Are you going to return it or have it fixed?