Problem Description
The shutter curtain has closed properly, but the mirror remains stuck in the upper position. The winding knob is jammed, making it impossible to fire the camera again.
The Cause of the Problem: A Foam Issue
On both of my Bronica EC cameras (TL and TLII) that experienced this issue, the cause was the same: the mirror could not complete its movement because the foam intended to cushion the upper mirror was either too thick or badly positioned.
I therefore removed this strip of foam (you should obviously remove the lens first) by manually lowering the mirror and holding it in the down position. Naturally, the foam should later be properly replaced to avoid damaging the mirror.
Foam that is too thick or poorly positioned can prevent the mirror from completing its movement and cause it to jam.
If possible, try to do something cleaner than I did.
The issue may also occur occasionally without any specific reason. These are old cameras that have seen decades of use, so occasional malfunctions are not surprising.
How to Restore the Normal Cycle
Set the selector to “A”. The winding lever should move again. Then switch back to “D” and move the winding lever until it locks. Release the shutter. The mirror should return to its normal position and everything should work again.
If this does not work, gently pushing the upper mirror upward to help it complete its movement may help reset the mechanism.
You can also remove the film back and try to re-cock the camera while pressing one of the rods located at the rear of the body, next to the shutter curtain.
Leave a Reply