Had my new R3M <24 hrs., shutter already got stuck

KeithCostin

KeithCostin

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Hi Everybody! Nice to meet you all. I only wish it could have been under better circumstances...
I think I might be screwed. Half-way through the first test-roll of my brand-spankin'-new Bessa R3M (with sexy 50mm f/2 Heliar), I felt the winding mechanism jam up between shots. I rewound the film, popped open the back, and noticed that the shutter was stuck open approx. 3~5 millimeters! I can see all the way through to the pressure plate on the back on the film-door!
UUUUUUUUUUUGGGGggggg...:bang::bang::bang:
I guess this is a known issue with the electronic-shuttered R#A esries, but for some reason I had not read about it in any of my pre-purchase research. Anybody here had a similar experience with the R#M series? Quick fixes? Please god, say there's a quick fix out there.
 
Keith,
check your manual, might be some trouble shooting info, also I would call up one of the authorized dealers, or whoever you purchased from. there maybe a quick fix you are looking for.
 
I don't think there is a quick fix. I had a shutter on another type of camera do this once, it was a bad electronic part that needed replacing. If you actually bought it new and not used, it is under warranty. You can get it fixed free, but if you just bought it the dealer may just exchange for a new one so you don't have to wait for the repair.
 
Keith,
If I remember correctly, and its been some time since I've had a Bessa body, but I think you can jam the shutter like this if you try to cock the shutter while its still making a long-ish exposure. I did it once when I used a shutter speed setting something like 1/15 sec. I tried to quickly re-cock the shutter to take another shot without realizing that the 1/15 sec had not fully elapsed. I was able to un-jam the shutter by playing around with something (can't remember, sorry)... like moving the shutter speed dial to another setting, or maybe pushing in the film rewind release button on the button (which may release tension on the shutter?). Good luck with this problem.
 
Yeah, the quick-fix is to box it right back up and return it for a good one. That's why you bought a new one from a reputable dealer, no? Even if you got it unjammed by moving the film sprocket back and forth, I wouldn't trust it until a real tech dismantled it and checked it out thoroughly.
 
The stuck shutter problem was on the early Bessa's - Bessa-L in particular, where it was pretty much a normal problem. I don't think you should be seeing it on an R3M. Send it back for a replacement.
 
i've had this happen on both the r3a and the r2a before. jamie is correct, it's from starting to wind on again right after a longish exposure. you can use your fingers to free it (CAREFULLY) and it should work fine moving forward.
 
Thanks for the replies, all. I ended up shipping the camera back for a replacement. I bought through PhotoVillage.com and they were pretty quick about getting me a new one. Now, after 5 or 6 rolls, this body failed too! This time the shutter is stuck uncocked. The quest continues!
 
Dear Keith,

That's astonishingly bad luck. I must have had at least half a dozen Bessas (for review as well as retained) and the worst problem I ever had was an LED that stayed half-lit on a meter.

Cheers,

R.
 
Maybe you could try an R3A rather than R3M, if there is a flaw with the current batch of R3Ms, then it may not affect the R3A. I'm not saying there is a flaw, you may just be really unlucky.
 
I had similar QC issue when I was buying a netbook for work. One of the 4 feet wasn't touching the ground and the computer was wobbling when I type. Reseller exchanged it but the second unit had same problem. I went online but I didn't find any other report of this problem on that specific model.

I returned both and got one from other reseller a while later, no problem at all.

I guess you can hit a bad batch time to time, and maybe the only solution is to get from other source or wait for a while...
 
I just put the first film through an R3A I bought from a member here. I had used T-Max 3200 as I was going to an event in a dim workshop. Next morning there were only 4 frames left, so I thought Id fire them off just to get the roll out. So the shutter speed was up at 2000, 2nd shot the shutter stuck...
The rear (black) one was closed, but the front (grey) on was open about 3/4 full.
I tried changing the batteries, rewound the film, noticed that the rewind button had stuck in. As I was at home I decided to try closing the shutter by hand, using a cotton bud.. A soon as I touched it it snapped shut and worked fine ever since.
So It doesnt seem to be low exposures that cause it, or maybe a different issue.

Gary H

enochRoot said:
i've had this happen on both the r3a and the r2a before. jamie is correct, it's from starting to wind on again right after a longish exposure. you can use your fingers to free it (CAREFULLY) and it should work fine moving forward.
Click to expand...
 
kossi008 said:
Are you saying you fired blank shots to rewind the film? What would you do that for?
Click to expand...

I'd like to know that. You can rewind any time, no need to reach the end of the roll first, not like its rewinding automatically or something, right?

Sorry for your troubled start with the Bessas, Keith. Good luck on getting things cracking the way you wanted it!
 
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