Minolta Alpha 9 repairs (LA region)

Hi folks!
I have a Minolta Alpha 9 that has a couple of problems. The front "roller" for selecting shutter speeds etc. is quite hard to turn (will oil help?), and some of the indicator lights in the viewfinder are out (I can only see the indicator on the right showing under/over exposure). Anyone know the best place to send it for repairs? If it's near LA that's a bonus. I talked to one guy in Thousand Oaks who did not know this model well enough to dare. Is the best bet to look for a used one in better shape? It still takes great photos though.

trondsi said:

Hi folks!
I have a Minolta Alpha 9 that has a couple of problems. The front "roller" for selecting shutter speeds etc. is quite hard to turn (will oil help?), and some of the indicator lights in the viewfinder are out (I can only see the indicator on the right showing under/over exposure). Anyone know the best place to send it for repairs? If it's near LA that's a bonus. I talked to one guy in Thousand Oaks who did not know this model well enough to dare. Is the best bet to look for a used one in better shape? It still takes great photos though.

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Dean's Camera Repair
1055 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502

He's quirky and seems to take every other month off. He wants to retire, but can't sit around so he goes back to work. He's CLA'd my 500 C/M, 2 hassey film backs, 3 hassey lens, Canonet GLiii tear down, nikon f2 tear down and I have some other gear in his shop now. I have to call him to check on the status, which is annoying. He does really good work and my gear is 100% reliable after he touches it. He's just a bit of a procrastinator. He's Nikon trained.

roblopes said:

Dean's Camera Repair
1055 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502

He's quirky and seems to take every other month off. He wants to retire, but can't sit around so he goes back to work. He's CLA'd my 500 C/M, 2 hassey film backs, 3 hassey lens, Canonet GLiii tear down, nikon f2 tear down and I have some other gear in his shop now. I have to call him to check on the status, which is annoying. He does really good work and my gear is 100% reliable after he touches it. He's just a bit of a procrastinator. He's Nikon trained.

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Thanks for the tip! I find it weird how many of them are like that

As your in America , if your contacting people , you might want to tell them you've got a Minolta Maxxum 9 .
They'll probably be more familiar with that .
Alpha was the Asian branding on it , and Dynax it what it was sold as here in Europe .
Regards servicing , your not likely to find anyone with the parts to replace the LCD in the viewfinder , so you would need a doner camera to salvage for parts .
And someone that is willing to use used parts on a repair job .
Regards the stiff dial , with the battery out , you can try cleaning it out .
Use some electrical contact cleaner squirted in via a squashed drinking straw while rotating it .
Above and below , maybe a couple if times .
That should clear out the muck that's bunging it up .
Leave it ten minutes to dry out before putting the batteries back in .

Anyone know the best place to send it for repairs? If it's near LA that's a bonus.[/QUOTE]

I had some work done by Camera Max in Montrose and was happy with the work. Don't know if he's open right now or not. You can find him on Yelp.

Aaron

trondsi said:

Hi folks!
I have a Minolta Alpha 9 that has a couple of problems.

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You could try ProCamFix, Glendale. They did good work on a Nikon for me, and turn around time was about a week, including ordering a part that was out-of-stock. I agree with @neilt3, tell them you have a Minolta Maxxum 9.

roblopes said:

Dean's Camera Repair
1055 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502

He's quirky and seems to take every other month off. He wants to retire, but can't sit around so he goes back to work. He's CLA'd my 500 C/M, 2 hassey film backs, 3 hassey lens, Canonet GLiii tear down, nikon f2 tear down and I have some other gear in his shop now. I have to call him to check on the status, which is annoying. He does really good work and my gear is 100% reliable after he touches it. He's just a bit of a procrastinator. He's Nikon trained.

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Thank you!

I've used Dean and Walter Camera Repair in DTLA.
I'd call both.

I've also used Steve's Camera Repair in Culver City, but they can be really expensive.

If the repair is on the pricey side, rather than another 9, get a 800si, a couple of generation older, the 9si was next followed by the 9, I have all three, more often than not I take the 800si. The 9 is rock solid in terms of stainless steel body, higher top shutter speed, 1/12000 of a second, but I like the viewfinder better, AF is very good as is the meter. I use mine with a battery grip, 4 AA batteries. I live the low desert, this time of the year I have troulbe seeing the LED readout in the viewfinder with the 9, no issues with the 800.

Wasn't the Maxxum 9 Minolta's top of the line AF offering at the time?

It was the last top of the line AF film camera, the last camera was the 7, it is well made, weather sealed, the Minolta pro line started with the 9000, then the 800si followed by the (si then 9. Unlike the 800 and 9si the 9 came in had either a stainless steel body or the very rare titanium body. If I'm going to shoot in bad weather or need to shoot at the faster FPS rate I take the 9, otherwise I've 800si or the 9000 with motor drive. The 9000 was the only pro level body that had detachable motor drive or winder.

The first A9 I bought had the same LED problems, so I contacted Garry's Camera Repair, who had worked on several of my cameras about it. Their answer is it's not repairable. Went and bought a second 9, since I really like the camera, and have no problems with it.....Yet.