Motorized Bronica noise levels: SQ-am vs. SQ-ai?

[crowdspotting]

Hello all,

 

I own several Bronica SQ bodies, including an SQ-ai and an SQ-am, the

latter of course having an integral motor drive.

 

I bought the SQ-am as a way to shoot in certain situations where I'd

prefer not to remove my eye from the finder between shots. This works

well. (I also have a speed grip, but for the purpose of this

discussion, let's ignore that).

 

However, the NOISE from this monster is unbelievable. It's a slow

winding, grinding that takes a half to a full second to complete.

It's useless in situations where you'd like to avoid attracting

attention.

 

My question is: I assume that the SQ-ai detachable motor drive is

noisy too. Any experience/opinion?

 

I realize that "unbelievable noise" is completely subjective; I'm

just hoping to learn if others have found that the noise from using a

motor on an SQ-am camera is as obtrusive as I have found it to be,

and if the SQ-ai motor is any better.

 

Thanks.

 

Jeff

[andre_noble4]

Jeff, funny you should ask. The SQ-Ai motor is noisy too. It seems there was no consideration in noise dampening in its design. I think it's louder than the Hasselblad motor drives, based on hearing a Hassy motor in action in a Japanese foreign film I saw last night (long story)

 

The SQ-Ai motor has a few good points to it. It's very well built, and vastly improves ergo-dynamics of shooting handheld. It provides substantially longer battery to the camera's shutter via its 6 AA batterires - useful because the tiny LR44's conk out relatively quickly with a metered finder.

 

Furthermore, it has a hot shoe, it can be triggered remotely with a radio slave, and even allows you to power up the camera via a DC adapter connection if necessary (ie, in the studio).

 

But in situations where you wish to be very discreet - forget it - but then again, the loud mirror flap alone with give you away anyway.

[dave_schneider]

You're right, it is subjective. My idea of quiet would be that you couldn't have any medium format SLR. The mirror slap alone is a significant noise, the motors only add to the duration. I have the SQ-Ai motor, it is loud.

[marios pittas]

Jeff

 

A number of years ago I used to own a SQ-AM.. I traded it for an SQ-A for exactly the reason you stated! It is unbelievable, even my wife still remembers it! It needs to be experienced though to be believed, but remember the SQ-AM is a very old camera and thus not just the technology is old, but the mechanisms is also old. I did query about servicing it in the hope that oiling etc. would help reduce the noise, but the shop politely declined stating lack of parts etc etc.

 

I never owned the SQ-Ai motor drive, but did owned the speed grip :) If only other manufacturers would copy its design :)

 

Sorry..

 

-- Marios