R3A - please help.

[zanef2.8]

Hi guys

I have received the R3A from the ebay seller for a few days and have put through about 3 rolls of films.

It doesn't come with a manual and I have never used R3A before. I found something strange:

1. When I half press and meter for a scene, a number at the bottom of the viewfinder lits up eg 125. That shows the shutter speed, but at the same time 1 and 2000 are also flashing. Is this normal?

2. Somestimes I want to press the shutter, the camera has no reaction. I have unlocked the shutter and have cocked the shutter as well. It just has no reaction, but when I have pressed it for a few more times, the shutter suddenly fires. It only happens sometimes, the camera is otherwise very snappy, very nice

Can you guys please advise?

Regards

Zane

 

[Keith]

By the sound of it new batteries should fix the problem! 🙂

 

[ctarda]

Exactly, when the "1" and "2000" flash, the batteries are almost drained. And, the camera needs them to shoot, so... change them and the camera should work smoothly

 

[zanef2.8]

Thanks a lot guys. That make me feel much better. I will get a set of new batteries tomorrow.

 

[zanef2.8]

Also, does that mean in the future, if both 1 and 2000 are flashing, then it means the battery is low?

 

[Keith]

Also, does that mean in the future, if both 1 and 2000 are flashing, then it means the battery is low?

You've got it! 🙂

Enjoy the Bessa ... they're a great little camera!

 

[Phantomas]

By the way, for the R3A owners - how much does a set of batteries last you? I ran out on mine after about ~5 rolls. But then the camera's newish so I was doing a lot of exposure checking unnecessarily playing around with it.

 

[tritiated]

lots more than 5!
about 30!

 

[Phantomas]

Heh, I don't panic easily, or get paranoid 🙂
30 rolls you say? I'll be happy with 20. Let's see how it does. Like I said, those 5 rolls were my first, with lots of unnecessary halfpresses checking exposure and whatnot. Lets assign the quick death to that and see how I'll do now.
Apart from that, doesn't quality or type of batteries play a role? I didn't check properly what was in it before, now I've got proper LR44.


(In general though, I'm not thinking of it yet, but I might consider trading R3A for R3M down the line).


PS: ah, one more question - what would you say drains battery the most metering or shutter; or what ratio of battery usage would you assign to those?