Good morning;
This is the report of the Saga of the Minolta Maxxum 9/Dynax 9 IC-1 Chip
Upgrade for one of my cameras. It was quite a project getting this upgrade
done. I just wanted to share my experiences in doing this project with you.
This is also an opportunity to test the limits of the length of messages we
can post, and to see if Robert is still more loquacious that I am.
The Minolta Maxxum 9 is back from Runtime in Bremen, Germany.
It does have the IC-1 Chip Upgrade installed; Custom Function 20 now
has four (4) choices. It does still work with the AF 24 mm f/2.8,
AF 50mm f/1.4, AF 85 mm f/1.4, and the other lenses here. Now I
need to go see one of my camera pushers . . . uh, camera vendors to
see how the Sony SAL lenses work on it.
This project began just after the posting on the Dyxum Forum,
www.dyxum.com, that the "Dynax 9 SSM upgrade available again!!"
announcement came out at the end of April, 2009. It took almost a
month to arrange for the transfer of the Maxxum 9 to Germany for
the upgrade at Runtime. Once it was at Runtime in Bremen, it took
only about a week for the work to be performed. Then there was the
return trip back to the United States. In all, this took almost two
months to accomplish.
My total expenditure for the upgrade came to about $ 640 (USD),
or about 460 Euros. In my case, about one half of that is for the
shipping. The Runtime charge was 200 Euros plus 19% tax for a total
there of 238 Euros. My shipping charges were fairly high as I used
an Expess Shipping Option with Tracking. I could have cut that part
by two-thirds by using a regular shipping method without tracking.
Using the Pay-Pal system would have simplified this part of the
task.
The parts removed by the technician at Runtime were included
in the box. In looking at the flexible printed circuit board and
the parts on it, I can say that the 200 Euros charge is reasonable
for the work and the parts. That flex PC board is a multi-layer
board, not just two-sided, and it is a nice engineering feat. I am
impressed with the parts. The Maxxum 9 also received a CLA and
other functional checks before being returned to me.
I am happy with the job done, but I do admit that using the
path I did to get my camera to Runtime for this work, it took
dedication, perseverance, and patience. We still need to work with
Sony to establish a recognized path to transfer a camera from the
Sony Cervice Center in our country to the Sony Service Center at
Runtime in Bremen for this work.
If you also have a Minolta Maxxum 9 or Dynax 9 and would like
to have your camera updated to the latest specification to work
with the latest ADI/SSM lenses available from Sony, including the
new Carl Zeiss lenses, please take a look at the Dyxum Forum,
www.dyxum.com, and read "Dynax 9 SSM upgrade available again!!"
Enjoy;
Ralph Javins
Latte Land, Washington
This is the report of the Saga of the Minolta Maxxum 9/Dynax 9 IC-1 Chip
Upgrade for one of my cameras. It was quite a project getting this upgrade
done. I just wanted to share my experiences in doing this project with you.
This is also an opportunity to test the limits of the length of messages we
can post, and to see if Robert is still more loquacious that I am.
The Minolta Maxxum 9 is back from Runtime in Bremen, Germany.
It does have the IC-1 Chip Upgrade installed; Custom Function 20 now
has four (4) choices. It does still work with the AF 24 mm f/2.8,
AF 50mm f/1.4, AF 85 mm f/1.4, and the other lenses here. Now I
need to go see one of my camera pushers . . . uh, camera vendors to
see how the Sony SAL lenses work on it.
This project began just after the posting on the Dyxum Forum,
www.dyxum.com, that the "Dynax 9 SSM upgrade available again!!"
announcement came out at the end of April, 2009. It took almost a
month to arrange for the transfer of the Maxxum 9 to Germany for
the upgrade at Runtime. Once it was at Runtime in Bremen, it took
only about a week for the work to be performed. Then there was the
return trip back to the United States. In all, this took almost two
months to accomplish.
My total expenditure for the upgrade came to about $ 640 (USD),
or about 460 Euros. In my case, about one half of that is for the
shipping. The Runtime charge was 200 Euros plus 19% tax for a total
there of 238 Euros. My shipping charges were fairly high as I used
an Expess Shipping Option with Tracking. I could have cut that part
by two-thirds by using a regular shipping method without tracking.
Using the Pay-Pal system would have simplified this part of the
task.
The parts removed by the technician at Runtime were included
in the box. In looking at the flexible printed circuit board and
the parts on it, I can say that the 200 Euros charge is reasonable
for the work and the parts. That flex PC board is a multi-layer
board, not just two-sided, and it is a nice engineering feat. I am
impressed with the parts. The Maxxum 9 also received a CLA and
other functional checks before being returned to me.
I am happy with the job done, but I do admit that using the
path I did to get my camera to Runtime for this work, it took
dedication, perseverance, and patience. We still need to work with
Sony to establish a recognized path to transfer a camera from the
Sony Cervice Center in our country to the Sony Service Center at
Runtime in Bremen for this work.
If you also have a Minolta Maxxum 9 or Dynax 9 and would like
to have your camera updated to the latest specification to work
with the latest ADI/SSM lenses available from Sony, including the
new Carl Zeiss lenses, please take a look at the Dyxum Forum,
www.dyxum.com, and read "Dynax 9 SSM upgrade available again!!"
Enjoy;
Ralph Javins
Latte Land, Washington
