Hello ! New member here .

[caseman]

I am new to photography as a whole and even newer to 35mm film photography. My brother bought me a Minolta Maxxum 7000 35mm camera when I mentioned that I was thinking about getting something more than my phone camera . It seems like it works OK but the display in the viewfinder is dark . I don't know if changing the internal battery would help or not. I found a video that shows how to change that battery . I am located in north central Ohio . I hope to learn how to take better pictures and learn all I can .

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to Photrio.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to Photrio!

 

[mshchem]

Welcome to the forum. I would definitely start with a fresh battery.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I am new to photography as a whole and even newer to 35mm film photography. My brother bought me a Minolta Maxxum 7000 35mm camera when I mentioned that I was thinking about getting something more than my phone camera . It seems like it works OK but the display in the viewfinder is dark . I don't know if changing the internal battery would help or not. I found a video that shows how to change that battery . I am located in north central Ohio . I hope to learn how to take better pictures and learn all I can .

Welcome.

That particular camera is a 35mm SLR (Single Lens Reflex).

There is no digital display - the viewfinder image is simply light from the lens reflected through mirrors and stuff onto a screen then to your eye.

So in dim light the image will be dark.

If it is still dim in bright sunlight there could be an issue with the camera optics themselves.

Changing the battery will not make any difference to the viewfinder.

 

[MattKing]

I had assumed that the OP was referring to the visibility of the exposure information in the camera viewfinder, not the actual viewing image. Perhaps @caseman can clarify?

 

[F4U]

It is possible the instant return mirror is no longer coming all the way down. that would account for the darkness complaint.
{Moderator deletion of off topic material}

 

[caseman]

Welcome to the forum. I would definitely start with a fresh battery.

I will do that. I saw a video on how to change the internal battery and it doesn't look that difficult .

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Welcome to Photrio!
Probably time to change the battery. Hopefully it's not an aperture issue... Did you get any other lenses with it?