Minolta 570 Question

[Chaplain Jeff]

Hello,

I have just received a "new" (like new, actually - still have the plastic on the bottom) Minolta 570, MD-1 and 70-210mm, f/4 zoom and have a question.

The top arrow of the shutter speed / meter inside the viewfinder (NOT the "A", mind you) is flashing and I am not getting a meter reading in A - and not getting a recommended meter reading in M.

Does this mean the batteries are low? It has been 19 years since I lost my x700 - and from reaing both manuals, I don't think they respond the same way anyway, so what little I remember about the 700 wouldn't help me here.

The manual states that when the batteries are low the "A" or "M" will blink - but maybe that shifted at some point in production? I know that Minolta manuals are famous for bad / rough translations - perhaps this is one of those instaces?

Anyway, by the time someone responds, I will have bought some new batteries - my real question is that if it's NOT the batteries, what else might it be?

Thanks and let me know.

Jeff

 

[eggyj]

Jeff
Generally that indicates shutter speed out of range. If you have set the ISO to 3200 (top of x-570 range) the top arrow will flash even under indoor light (cameras trying to set speed > 1/1000 second).
The arrows might flash if the capacitor is going out - but I am not trained in camera servicing. I recall an XG-M did that to me and needed to be serviced.

Ed Gill

P.S. Welcome back

 

[Focus No. 9]

Just joined. And I have the same problem,,,but I've pretty well determined that its the batteries. I can see the blinking, i can release the shutter,,,this last about 3-4 minutes then the cam dies. On my way to Radio Shack.
I know this post is from 2009 so no need to bother with me, however if Chaplain Jeff is still with us... Thank You for Your Service!!!

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, Focus No. 9;

Welcome to the Minolta Manual Focus Group also.

Your description does sound like tired batteries. The classic sign of a dead shutter capacitor (the one in the bottom) is the viewfinder display looks fine, but it will not fire the shutter and the display goes out also.

And, I also hope that Chaplain Jeff Matsler is still with us, although I have not heard all that much from him in recent months. Perhaps this will prompt a response from him.

And, there is also a Minolta X-570 here living in among the X-700's. With all of the great press the X-570 gets for its display of the selected shutter speed rather than the recommended shutter speed, I wanted to see if there really is that much of a difference. For me, there never has been a real problem with the X-700 display. All I need to do is remember what shutter speed I set on the dial. That is no different from back in the days of the old Minolta SR-1b.

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington