Minolta 7000, viewfinder not displaying info, mirrors came unstuck

Greetings, i recently bought my first 35mm SLR, an early, crossed XXs, minolta maxxum 7000, probably an 1985/86 model, it works... fine, but the viewfinder didn't display anything, no lcd panel and no arrows, upon dissassembly the two tiny mirrors fell out, what i need to know is how do they go back together on the camera, i can see the tiny screen working, and the tiny arrows, i need to know how should i align it inside the camera

May be just buy another?

yes, but why? my goal is to learn, not buying cameras, and what do i do with this one, trash it? really i want real helpful answers

and i actually have another alpha 7000 coming too, these cameras are getting really old, "buy another one" will not be an option in another 8-10 years, they are complex, and full of wiring, i want to know them at a deeper level and i'm asking for help, these machines are degrading slowly year by year and they do need service too

mp7000 said:

yes, but why? my goal is to learn,

Click to expand...

To learn camera repair, I'd try to get all the PDF and Youtube information on that camera. This may involve buying manuals and books, in addition to scouring internet repositories.

Post pictures of what you are doing, so we can help you figure out the issues at hand.

Welcome to Photrio @mp7000 !
To learn camera repair, om not sure if this particular kind of complex camera is such a great place to start. But it's what you have, so I understand you want to give it a try.

You'll find a repair manual here: https://learncamerarepair.com/productlist.php?category=2&secondary=7
I'd recommend buying it and see how far that gets you.

well, i do have the service manual pdf now, i managed to get it, what i also found, aside from the mirrors, there was a loose wire (blue, right side of viewfinder LCD holder, behind white and purple) that i managed to reweld, and she started doing maxxum things again, i just have to align the viewfinder now, but it's all working now, now what i do not enjoy is asking for help hoping for some valuable insight and being told to "buy another one", y'know, that's why we have huge piles of trash laying around worldwide, these cameras are getting to their 40s, and they were really packed tight with electronics, they will, as all things, need service, imagine losing valuable time that i could spend learning/fixing to read "just buy another one", but well, i do appreciate any more insight, things to look for as i go, and things to learn, if you have knowledge and are willing to share it with me, please DM me, i would aprecciate it very much

ic-racer said:

To learn camera repair, I'd try to get all the PDF and Youtube information on that camera. This may involve buying manuals and books, in addition to scouring internet repositories.

Post pictures of what you are doing, so we can help you figure out the issues at hand.

Click to expand...

koraks said:

Welcome to Photrio @mp7000 !
To learn camera repair, om not sure if this particular kind of complex camera is such a great place to start. But it's what you have, so I understand you want to give it a try.

You'll find a repair manual here: https://learncamerarepair.com/productlist.php?category=2&secondary=7
I'd recommend buying it and see how far that gets you.

Click to expand...

thank you, i managed to get a service manual for it in these past hours, as for the complexity, i do things calmly, the 7000 does not scare me very much, i really want to get into "the minds of minolta" as i go, as i do cherish it and it's history of a revolutionary camera (i was not around in 1985, nor at the time of 35mm film)

Always worth doing a search on this forum before starting a new thread as it's often been discussed before .

See here ; https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...it-replaced-aperture-solenoid-cleaned.211422/

Well done, the 7000 with it's flexible circuit board is not for the faint of heart.