question for Bronica RF645 owners

FrankS

FrankS

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I have noticed that towards the end of a roll of 120 film, I sometimes need to use the film advance lever 2 times in order to cock the shutter to take the next shot. Is this normal?
 
Hi Frank,

Strange that you should ask as Dave Keenan (AUSDLK) asked me the same question - I sold him my RF 645. My response was no, never happened to me, but I can't be certain. The reason is that I would sometimes use a couple of short throws to wind on and wouldn't necessarily notice as the time between shots tends to be longer than with other cameras and if the X showed in the VF then I'd just automatically wind on without thinking about whether or not I'd already wound on. Regardless, I never had any problems when the film was developed.
 
FrankS said:
I have noticed that towards the end of a roll of 120 film, I sometimes need to use the film advance lever 2 times in order to cock the shutter to take the next shot. Is this normal?
Click to expand...

never had to do that myself. Not normal, but probably not lethal either. Mine can't handle 220 film. Whatever.
 
I just finished developing the film and there are no frame spacing issues. Whew! I used this camera and my Hasselblad for family portrait pictures this morning. At least appearing incompetent while operating this camera kept the atmosphere loose. At the beginning of the roll, one advance of the lever does the trick, but towards the end of the roll (120) 3 or 4 frames required 2 activations of the advance lever. Weird. Could this be the beginning of wear, like the film advance clutch on DS Leica 3's?
 
FrankS said:
Upon closer examination of the negs, there is an issue. Two frames are completely over-lapped. Damn! They were good shots.
Click to expand...

that sounds creepy. Never have I had any issues like that with mine. But...if i use 220 film in it, it leaks horribly.

Your film was wound tightly, yes? I use Fuji almost exclusively because I like to KNOW the film is wound tightly on the spool.

Send it to the Bronica people in NY (write Robert White, they know the shop I am writing about). I dealt with Bronica in NY (I think it's White Plains) when my rangefinder was making little squeaking sounds (friction), and they fixed it pronto - and free of charge. Now, yours is not new, so you may end up paying out for the fix, but I don't doubt that they'll be very effective.
 
Frank, neither of mine have done this... But it sounds like an issue with the takeup spool dragging somewhat. Keeping the diameter of the film wrap to a minimum might help, and that can be accomplished by the loading trick you might already know and use. But just in case... Get the film started on the takeup spool as tightly as possible, and in aid of that I apply some drag with my thumb on the feed spool while winding the film to the start arrows.

If the film got a loose start, it would gain more diameter toward the end, where it could become a problem by dragging in the spool well. I have a sort-of similar type problem with a Pentax ME Super whose takeup spool clutch slips too easily, not drawing the film around the spool as tightly as it should, and it starts binding before the end of a 36-exp roll (while a 24 roll goes thru fine).

Just a thought... And good luck sorting it out. 🙂
 
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Doug said:
Frank, neither of mine have done this... But it sounds like an issue with the takeup spool dragging somewhat. Keeping the diameter of the film wrap to a minimum might help, and that can be accomplished by the loading trick you might already know and use. But just in case... Get the film started on the takeup spool as tightly as possible, and in aid of that I apply some drag with my thumb on the feed spool while winding the film to the start arrows.

If the film got a loose start, it would gain more diameter toward the end, where it could become a problem by dragging in the spool well. I have a sort-of similar type problem with a Pentax ME Super whose takeup spool clutch slips too easily, not drawing the film around the spool as tightly as it should, and it starts binding before the end of a 36-exp roll (while a 24 roll goes thru fine).
Just a thought... And good luck sorting it out. 🙂
Click to expand...

This sounds like a very plausible explanation!
 
Frank, as you near the end of the roll, does it feel less than smooth as you wind? It should feel the same throughout the roll. If it begins to grind/stick/or feel like it's tearing the film, you may need to wind the film more securely on the roll.
 
Mine does the same exact thing it strokes fine intially the as you get toward the end of the film it gets harder to wind...


what did you fond out...
 
The best explanation is loose film on the take up spool, I think.
try being very careful to keep the film tight during the first few rotations while loading. Mine never got harder to wind, it sometimes needed 2 strokes to prepare for the next frame.
 
well, I just checked my negatives and for a 120 roll I never get 16 pic more like 13, and I tried with the film keeping it tight but the same thing happens.

I contacted Tamron and am looking for some place reputable to send it in to. KEH is reputable but want 135.00 which might not be bad the images are incredible from this little thing.

The guy I bought it from only used 220 and I am using 120 don't know how that would impact it.

for some of the stroke motion it is perfect but whenever I utilize smaller wratcheted movements it never cocks right.

I like this camera heck I just bought another one..

something else weird about the negatives is when you look at them strait on some of them are not all there and one side is a liitle diagonal..

has anybody you know of used a repair service that was really good and fairly fast at least faster than 4 to 6 weeks??

I hope it is something minor..that's ole ebay for you...


:bang: 😱
 
viablex1 said:
well, I just checked my negatives and for a 120 roll I never get 16 pic more like 13, and I tried with the film keeping it tight but the same thing happens.

I contacted Tamron and am looking for some place reputable to send it in to. KEH is reputable but want 135.00 which might not be bad the images are incredible from this little thing.

The guy I bought it from only used 220 and I am using 120 don't know how that would impact it.

for some of the stroke motion it is perfect but whenever I utilize smaller wratcheted movements it never cocks right.

I like this camera heck I just bought another one..

something else weird about the negatives is when you look at them strait on some of them are not all there and one side is a liitle diagonal..

has anybody you know of used a repair service that was really good and fairly fast at least faster than 4 to 6 weeks??

I hope it is something minor..that's ole ebay for you...

:bang: 😱
Click to expand...

Did you switch the 120/220 film type switch inside the camera back?

For service, send it straight to Tamron USA.
 
FrankS said:
Did you switch the 120/220 film type switch inside the camera back?

For service, send it straight to Tamron USA.
Click to expand...

yes I double checked the switch on the inside.

what is funny when I first got it , it woked great.

i think I'll take your advice and send it i to tamron.

I'm glad they fix these things still.

I looked on photo.net and found that some other people have the same problem...

I do a lot of abandonments and these things are light easy to focus and give great shots..
 
My RF645 was doing this, too, and soon the advance lever started to jam mid-throw. I sent it to Tamron USA and they fixed it for about $250, as I recall. Since they do still have factory service for these, I don't see why you'd want to send it anywhere else. Tamron were prompt and did a great job (the advance is sooo smooth now). I do think the film advance might be a weak point with these cameras, based on my experience and some other comments I've read on the 'net.

I shot a roll of Pan-F with my 100mm lens on Friday and was noticing how "3-d" the shots look, especially those of some bare trees. Does anyone else find this with the RF645 lenses? I don't think it's just the 100mm, as I also have photos taken with the 65mm that have this great 3-d effect. I think these lenses are maybe the best I've used and make me wonder if I should try Tamron lenses for my Nikons?
 
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