R2A battery problem

[virgilking]

Hi all,

My new R2A arrived today and I can't get it to power on. I've tried two sets of LR44s in the compartment in both orientations but the advance lever remains stuck and I don't see any LEDs in the VF.

The contacts that are supposed to meet the battery cover look a bit bent and maybe further back in the body than they should be -- I wonder if that's the problem? Has anyone else had a similar issue?

Thanks,
Virgil

 

[kully]

Send it back for a replacement. If the shutter is not advancing it means it has been cocked but not fired (which you would need the batteries for).

 

[Gong]

Check the shutter is not suck, push it very gently back into place with your finger and it should be fixed. this happened the first roll with my r2a and I freaked, pushed the shutter all is well. The shutter jams really easily on the bessas low battery cold weather and for me most commonly pushing the shutter at the exact time you finish cocking the shutter real PITA, something my M4 is much less prone to I believe is due to the smooth cocking action and hinged ergonomic advance lever although the bessa really is a fine camera.

 

[rbiemer]

Foolish question: is the camera turned on? I still occasionally try to trip the shutter with out making sure the switch is on first. It is just below the shutter, if it is over hanging the front of the camera, it's off and nothing will happen when you press the shutter and if the shutter is already cocked, you won''t be able to advance.
Good luck!
Rob

 

[virgilking]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, the power switch is on. The shutter looks fully closed so I don't think it's stuck, and the release button does move freely. I'm going to try a different package of batteries and if that doesn't help I guess send it back for replacement.

kully, I don't understand what you said. I did advance the lever once and the shutter never fired, but I assumed that would be fine once the camera was powered on.

 

[rbiemer]

Virgil,
if you have something else that uses the LR44s, try them in that as well just to make sure the batteries are OK.
I just shot a digi crap photo of mine(yours should look similar):

Hope you can get yours sorted!
Rob

 

[virgilking]

Thanks for the pic. The contact piece in the battery compartment on my sample may be a bit crushed down in the middle compared to yours but it's hard to tell.

Anyway I'm fortunate enough to live near a Leica repairman so I brought it to him for advice. He suspected that it was an electrical problem and recommended sending it back since it's in the return period instead of having him fix it, so that's what I'll do.

Thanks again everyone!