Use the following process to test the functionality of Automatic Mode on a Zenza Bronica ETR System metered finder—without needing to expose any film:
- Make sure the metered finder and a lens are attached to the camera body. Either remove the film back or attach an unloaded film back to the body.
- Flip down the multiple exposure switch on the right side of the body (this will expose a red dot when in the correct position). With multiple exposure mode enabled, you will be able to release the shutter multiple times without needing any film loaded.
- Set the camera’s Shutter Speed Dial to “1” (1 second) and set the AE dial on the viewfinder to off (the red dot) or “M” (manual).
- Rotate the film winding crank to cock the shutter, then press the shutter release button. You will hear three sounds – firstly, the mirror flipping up (a loud thud), secondly the shutter stopping down (a soft click, simultaneous with the sound of the mirror, which may make it imperceptible). Finally–one second later–you will hear another soft click, which is the shutter closing. This is a baseline test, which has validated that the body and lens are correctly applying the selected shutter speed. Repeat the test, gradually increasing the shutter speed and noticing that the gap between the first thud and final click will reduce correspondingly. If this does not occur, there is a fault with either the body or lens, and you will not be able to validate the viewfinder functionality using these components.
- Now switch the AE dial on the viewfinder to “A” (automatic) and set the Shutter Speed Dial to “500” (1/500 second).
- Point the camera towards a light source that causes the viewfinder to meter to a slower speed – for example, 1 second (note that you may need to set the lens to a smaller aperture to achieve this if the ambient light is bright). Rotate the film winding crank to cock the shutter if necessary, and then press the shutter release button. You should be able to hear the click of the shutter closing at the correct time (for example 1 second) after the mirror flips up, even though the Shutter Speed Dial is set to 1/500 second. Repeat this test, gradually opening the aperture ring on the lens, or increasing the ambient light in the room, to cause the viewfinder to meter at increasingly faster exposures. As during the baseline test above, the gap between the first thud and final click should be reduced correspondingly.