Winding oddity

[JapanExposures]

Hi, anyone ever experienced or heard of this (I am new to Hexar RF and this was one of the first 10 rolls): I put in the film as normal, shoot three frames. Then, without touching anything, I hear the winder and suddenly counter is back at frame 1. So wonder whether I am really at one or at 4. I keep shooting and the roll rewinds at 34/35 i.e. I must have done my 38 exposures after all. Nonetheless it was a little confusing esp. since I did not know what happened to the first three shots (and all subsequent ones for that matter) i.e. am I really taking photos on film or is something wrong?
😕

 

[Issy]

Yes. One of mine did this as well. You may find that you also aggravate it by shaking the camera, or by pressing on the back of the camera while it is closed

I eventually had to send it to Konica-Minolta (this was just before the sale to Sony).

My belief is that it was either an issue with a film tension setting, or with the small push button switch you can see on the bottom camera-back light baffle slot.

Basically, my belief is that the camera thinks you have opened and closed the back, and started a new roll.

Of course, upon return there was no indication of what the root cause really was.

 

[JapanExposures]

Thank you for the reply. I hope it does not reoccur... the camera just had a shutter repair. Electronic features mean trouble sooner or later. I will keep an eye on it. Thanks.

 

[Issy]

I took a look at the camera schematic and the switch is wired directly to the camera microprocessor -- no adjustment.

If it comes back for either of us, I might try a little electronics contact cleaner before sending it in, the assumption that it is dirty contacts making the camera believe the back has been opened. The switch is not inside the film chamber, so the fluid risk is minimal.

 

[JapanExposures]

Good idea. Where are these contacts exactly?

 

[Issy]

With the back open, feel along the bottom lip of the camera back.. you'll see a small, protruding metal tab extension, 2 or 3mm wide.

That tab engages a hole in the camera body light block slot -- in the hole is a small pushbutton switch.

 

[furcafe]

I have not experienced your problem, but have encountered a loading problem w/both the Hexar RF & its close cousin (@ least in the film loading area), the Kyocera Contax G2, where the camera will jam up about 1/3rd to 1/2-way through a roll. Sometimes I can force a rewind & then re-load, but on other occasions rewinding doesn't work & I've had to open the back (in a changing bag or darkroom) & pull the film out manually. So far I've only experienced this 5 or 6 times (between the Hexar & G2), & it seems to only happen when the roll was frozen or refrigerated for a long time (& hence may have developed kinks/bends) or w/small manufacturer films like Maco, Efke, Fomapan, etc., some of which are thicker than Kodak, Fuji, & Ilford films.

Hi, anyone ever experienced or heard of this (I am new to Hexar RF and this was one of the first 10 rolls): I put in the film as normal, shoot three frames. Then, without touching anything, I hear the winder and suddenly counter is back at frame 1. So wonder whether I am really at one or at 4. I keep shooting and the roll rewinds at 34/35 i.e. I must have done my 38 exposures after all. Nonetheless it was a little confusing esp. since I did not know what happened to the first three shots (and all subsequent ones for that matter) i.e. am I really taking photos on film or is something wrong?
😕

 

[sepiareverb]

I've a Hexar here:

http://www.precisioncamera.com/professional-camera-repair.html

You might contact them and see what they say.

 

[Doug]

I sent a Hexar RF to Precision Camera Repair in CT for RF alignment, and that was fixed fine, but it returned with a film handling problem somewhat like described above. In my case I was shooting here and there not paying attention to the frame counter when at one point probably a dozen shots into the roll I notice the frame counter said 1. Odd. Kept shooting and it again landed at 0. I did shoot another couple of shots with proper counting but finally it ended with 0 blinking and it wouldn't respond to the shutter button. So I used the manual rewind button and sent the roll in for process. Won't be back for a few days yet, so I don't know what it'll look like. I'm pondering running another roll through fast just to see if it behaves the same, paying closer attention to the counter this time... Any ideas about this odd behavior? Disappointing too, just having returned from servicing...

 

[Issy]

the frame counter said 1. Odd. Kept shooting and it again landed at 0.

Did you notice it advance three frames as well, as if you had put a new roll in?

When I was diagnosing this, I used a dummy (exposed) roll of film and kept loading, shooting, and unloading (helps to have a leader extracter handy if you miss the Hexar pause before pulling the leader into the cannister . 🙂

As I remember, power cycles (turning the camera off and on), and pressure on the camera back near the switch would trigger it.

...but as I mentioned, not only would the counter reset, but the camera would advance three frames.

Bill

 

[Doug]

Thanks for the helpful response, Bill. I didn't notice any 3-frame advancing but it happens quickly, my hearing isn't good, and I might have missed it. I will see, though, on the processed film when it comes in. While shooting this roll, I did indeed power the camera on and off throughout. Don't think I applied any pressure to the lower back area.

 

[Doug]

Previous msg sat unsent for a while... In the meantime I ran a quick roll of 24 exp through it. Camera behaved itself as I watched the frame counter closely, turning camera on and off between photo-ops. I was starting to think the rig was back to normal, but... Noticed that after the counter reached 18, it had gone back to 0. Pressing the shutter release resulted in a short buzz sound and the 0 began flashing. It stayed flashing even with the power off. I then activated the manual rewind and put the roll in for overnite processing, so I shall soon see what the negs look like. Does this camera behavior seem familiar?

 

[Issy]

hmmm.... sounds a bit different. Flashing "0", and if hadn't re-wound itself already?

 

[Issy]

I took a look at the camera schematic and the switch is wired directly to the camera microprocessor -- no adjustment.

If it comes back for either of us, I might try a little electronics contact cleaner before sending it in, the assumption that it is dirty contacts making the camera believe the back has been opened. The switch is not inside the film chamber, so the fluid risk is minimal.

For reference and update, I did eventually put a drop of DeOxit (100%) in the switch, and the issue went away.

Bill

 

[gogoterence]

thanks,Bill
it's helpful! the problem of my hexar went away, too.

 

[Issy]

Did you apply a cleaner in the switch? I would love to hear from someone else that this worked for.

 

[toanna]

Sorry I rise this old thread but I'm still struggling with this counter reset problem. Did this Deoxit helped in long term? I had my camera repaired last winter and it worked ok untila last week it reseted counter again. Now I have put a few drops of Deoxit to swich but feeling quite untrusting it may reset counter again in the middle of shooting session.

 

[Issy]

S Did this Deoxit helped in long term?

Still working, no ill effects. It's actually solved a few problems with my ham radio equipment, as well.

Bill

 

[toanna]

Still working, no ill effects. It's actually solved a few problems with my ham radio equipment, as well.

Bill

That's nice. I just asked from JapanExposures and they say it can be fixed in Japan by KonicaMinolta, but it will cost about ¥20000 + shipping.

Now I have some dummy test roll and it works by your cure of Deoxit.