Blank Frame

[catamaran]

I've had my BessaIII for several months and a couple of hundred rolls of various brands B&W have been through it. I love it, but have noticed a recurring problem. I use the 6x7 setting, and alternate between full manual and aperture priority. Kodak, Fuji and Foma films. Moderate and temperate shooting environment.

About every 15 to 20 rolls, I will get a single random blank frame, somewhere within the roll, but typically around the 2nd or 3rd frame, never the first or last. The rest of shots on the roll, both before and after the blank frame will be perfect. It's like the shutter relay is working but the shutter itself is very occasionally not firing. The shutter always 'sounds' normal. The film always advances normally. But every so often, at random, that blank frame will show up. Otherwise it's perfect.

Didn't see anything about this while searching.

It's random enough, and this is a hobby for me; so life does not turn on a missed frame; but I am curious about it, and rather it's happened to anyone else.

Dan

 

[mugent]

I have GF670, it's never happened, but then, I've not had it that long, so not that many films through it.

MT

 

[Roger Hicks]

Just a thought:

Maybe it's firing when closed (sloppy linkage/interrupter). I don't know if this is possible with the camera in question but if there's some sort of mechanical cam in the film counter it strikes me as worth considering.

Cheers,

R.

 

[catamaran]

Thanks for the replies. I normally will only close the camera for a film change and then leave it open for the entire roll, but that's a good thought about something in the linkage. If it were one of my other rangefinders, I'd have chalked it up to leaving the lens cap on, but the BessaIII does not have one so ruled that out. this satisfies my curiosity that if anyone else is experiencing this, it's very rare; which is good news. I can send it for repair if it worsens.

 

[tonyc]

Hello

I just read your posts about the missing frame.

Strangely recently my Fuji GS645 has suddenly started do this.

I know it is a different camera, but the shutter and lens
assembly are very similar.

I've had a 3rd frame blank, and 2 or 3 in a row towards
the end of a film.

I thought it was cold weather, as it first started when taking
pictures in the snow.
But it has also happened in normal weather.

Hope you can sort out the problem

-tc

 

[John NYC]

I've not had this problem myself and have been using my Bessa III for about a year and a half.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

It's like the shutter relay is working but the shutter itself is very occasionally not firing. The shutter always 'sounds' normal. The film always advances normally. But every so often, at random, that blank frame will show up.
Dan

If the shutter (which is amazingly quiet) always "sounds" normal then what does the relay sound like if the shutter doesn't fire? How do you tell which sound is which? It might be something to do with the double exposure interlock which would have both mechanical and electronic components, but rather than have everyone here trying to guess I'd suggest phoning or emailing Stephen Gandy (I assume you're in America) and ask him if his service person has ever encountered a similar problem. It might even be a dry solder joint on the PCB that only occasionally breaks contact. But then, I'd expect the shutter NOT to fire at all if that happened!
I had an intermittent fault in the flash circuitry on my R4A which required a new PCB to be fitted, hence my suggestion.

 

[catamaran]

Thats good advice about calling Stephen, Leigh. It's such a rare and minor problem I debate about doing anything, but I should probably consider calling since it might move from minor problem to regular problem.

Thanks

 

[JohnL]

Just one question ... do you know if the blank frame is a missed shot or an extra shot that occurred (perhaps) when the camera was closed? Is there any sort of shutter lock or switch on this model of camera?

 

[catamaran]

JohnL - the way I use this camera is to initially load film with the camera closed. I then open, and shoot the entire roll. So far, I've never closed the camera on a partially completed roll. When the roll is complete, I close the camera to unload/load another roll - and shoot the next roll, again without closing until the roll is complete.

 

[Jamie123]

When I had a Bessa III I had some problem with blank frames which was related to a battery problem. Basically when I pressed the shutter too softly the electronic shutter wouldn't fire but mechanical release would still 'click' so I had to wind on to the next frame. There was still a clicking sound but it was much more quiet than when the shutter fired properly.

 

[catamaran]

That could very well be it! I have not changed the battery is some time. I need to watch that more closely, and see if that's the problem.

Thanks

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I agree with Jamie. It's a while since I had a Bessa III to use, but his post jogged my memory and I recall now I had a similar problem a couple of times when I had started to depress the shutter but then decided against taking the shot and released the pressure on the button. When I tried to expose the shot again the shutter was locked and I had to wind on to the next frame. Probably a very small adjustment - but ask Stephen!