Minolta aperture display issue

Kyle M. · Nov 23, 2021

Hello all. I just picked up a very clean fully functional Minolta X-570 with a MD Rokkor-X 50mm F=1.7 lens. However I've noticed something odd. When looking through the viewfinder the window at the bottom that is supposed to show the lens aperture is only showing the bottom half of the aperture markings on the lens.

I was wondering if Minolta changed the size or location of the aperture markings on their lenses at some point as I recall the XG-M I owned previously showing the entire aperture number inside the window. It's almost like the aperture ring markings are too far forward and not directly under the window. I've read elsewhere of the mirror in that window shifting or falling out completely but I don't think thats the issue here as I can clearly see the lower half of the aperture numbers through the window.

Nothing appears to be loose, bent, or broken but even looking at the lens from the side it seem like the aperture markings on the aperture ring are too far forward of the window opening to be able to see them entirely. That's what was making me wonder if these only read right with a certain series of lens?

It's not a huge problem I'm simply trying to figure out what is going on. Thanks in advance for any help.

AgX · Nov 23, 2021

Another thought would be that a prism or so inside the body has twisted.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 23, 2021

I don’t have access to my Rokkors right now but I don’t believe X version would cause this problem but you can search for pics of later MD line and compare visually if aperture ring is somehow in a different plane on your X version.

Is this view a sharp cut off or fading away? Any dirt/haze on that little viewing window above aperture ring?

Kyle M. · Nov 23, 2021

VTLD said:
I don’t have access to my Rokkors right now but I don’t believe X version would cause this problem but you can search for pics of later MD line and compare visually if aperture ring is somehow in a different plane on your X version.

Is this view a sharp cut off or fading away? Any dirt/haze on that little viewing window above aperture ring?

It's a sharp cut off at the top of the window. I've cleaned it as best I can, it's not hazy at all.

Duceman · Nov 23, 2021

I just tried several lenses on my X-570... including a variety of MC and MD lenses; aperture setting can be clearly seen with each lens.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 23, 2021

Just checked some Minolta lenses and all aperture rings are mounted in same plane from back of mounting ring, so no way your problem would have been caused by the lens design. With sharp cut off I would have to guess something is obstructing that little peeking window from inside.

Kino · Nov 23, 2021

AgX said:
Another thought would be that a prism or so inside the body has twisted.

I tend to agree with this; the relay mirror or prism that diverts the image of the f-stop ring has probably been displaced/shifted OR a mask in the viewfinder has moved to partially obscure the information.

Not that it is the same, but the Minolta SRT series has a similar issue in the less expensive variants such as the SRT-MC-II or SC models. The same viewfinder mask as the more expensive SRT models is used in these less equipped models, so they had to block out the notch that displayed the shutter speed selections across the bottom that are not offered in the lower priced units. They did this by simply gluing a strip of shim stock over that notch. This shim tends to eventually separate when the glue deteriorates and the strip will suddenly appear as a large black bar floating around on the ground glass.

You simply have to remove the prism and re-glue the strip into place.

Which, in a round-about-fashion, leads me back to suggesting that something has "come-undone" in the viewfinder and simply needs to be re-positioned/glued to restore function to normal.

Kyle M. · Nov 23, 2021

Ok, I have it fixed for the time being. I took the two screws out of the front of the prism and the cover came off. There is a mask in there that slides left to right to center the aperture numbers in the window. I was able to lightly bend the whole assembly so that the aperture number is centered vertically. I'm guessing this thing got dropped at some point and that knocked it out of calibration.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 23, 2021

Kyle M. said:
Ok, I have it fixed for the time being. I took the two screws out of the front of the prism and the cover came off. There is a mask in there that slides left to right to center the aperture numbers in the window. I was able to lightly bend the whole assembly so that the aperture number is centered vertically. I'm guessing this thing got dropped at some point and that knocked it out of calibration.

The thing is X-570 was arguably best of all Xs. I never cared for program mode on 700 (even if I always admired the camera, partly because it was my first brand new one ever purchased), but always hated its inability to show metering in manual mode. 570 got it fixed and program gone was no big deal.

Kyle M. · Nov 23, 2021

VTLD said:
The thing is X-570 was arguably best of all Xs. I never cared for program mode on 700 (even if I always admired the camera, partly because it was my first brand new one ever purchased), but always hated its inability to show metering in manual mode. 570 got it fixed and program gone was no big deal.

That's why I went with the X-570, I only ever use Aperture Priority and Manual. I really liked my XG-M but it only showed the suggested shutter speed in the viewfinder in manual mode, not what was actually set.

CMoore · Nov 24, 2021

Kyle M. said:
That's why I went with the X-570, I only ever use Aperture Priority and Manual. I really liked my XG-M but it only showed the suggested shutter speed in the viewfinder in manual mode, not what was actually set.

I own an X-570.
Not sure why i chose it as my Color Neg and Color Slide camera.
Perhaps because it is my newest (i think) body.?
But anyway, i like it as much as my Canon F1-New or Nikon F2S.
The meter read out is very nice.
I also had an XG-M. Very nice. But i could never use all the 35mm SLR that i had, so i donated it and a AE-1P and A-1 to my local college.

Kyle M. · Nov 24, 2021

CMoore said:
I own an X-570.
Not sure why i chose it as my Color Neg and Color Slide camera.
Perhaps because it is my newest (i think) body.?
But anyway, i like it as much as my Canon F1-New or Nikon F2S.
The meter read out is very nice.
I also had an XG-M. Very nice. But i could never use all the 35mm SLR that i had, so i donated it and a AE-1P and A-1 to my local college.

Yeah that's me as well I've been through every common and some uncommon 35mm, MF, and 4x5 cameras in the past 9 years. I was down to just a Leica IIIf and an Elmar when I bought the X-570 the other day. Sometimes I prefer an RF and sometimes I prefer an SLR.

dynachrome · Nov 24, 2021

I have had several late model SRTs repaired with the relay mirror out back in the right place. I like the X-570 and the X-700. Finding different focusing screen for the X-700 is not easy and changing them is not so easy either. I keep a plain matte screen in one, a grid screen in another and the original screen in the rest of them. If I know I will want to change screens, I will use a Canon F-1.

Minolta aperture display issue

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