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Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 needs lens/mirror cleaning

yossi

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 24, 2022
Messages
70
Location
Singapore
Format
35mm RF
Hello everyone (this is my first post btw),

I have been using Minolta scanner KM5400 for years with great results. Recently, the scanned images appear fuzzy with weird artifacts which I suspect is caused by either fungus on lens or very dusty mirror. At times, the AF failed to work also. As there is no one in my country (Singapore) who is able to service this scanner, I am trying to figure out how to clean the optics DIY way.

I appreciate if anyone has information related to this issues or suggestions as to how this cleaning could be done. TIA.
(I managed to clean my Coolscan 9000's mirror successfully after watching an youtube video but no luck looking for a similar video for the KM5400).

yossi

​

 
It's very easy. Open the scanner, lens is behind a large rectangular plastic cover that you peel off. Very easy to get out. Mark the position and orientation of the lens so that you don't put it back in wrong orientation. At the same time you can clean the sensor's protective glass and mirror. Both easily accessible.
 
Thanks very much brbo. Your message gives me hope

The most detailed info. I found so far is this diagram. It looks very complicated to me.
Would you tell me which part is the large rectangular plastic cover that you are referring to?

 
It's on the other side

edit: Here is a great step-by-step guide on how to remove the lens. Looking at the guide now, I think I misspoke about CCD sensor being accessible after removing the cover of the light tunnel. You might also need to remove the CCD assembly to properly clean it. But it's not a problem if you then take your time to center it properly on reassembly (with some try and repeat you can probably do a better job than what it is now).

P.S. As always, care should be taken when cleaning the mirror (only clean it if necessary).
 
Ya, silly me. It IS on the other side of the scanner, not shown in the diagram from the manual.
The mirror is indeed dirty and I am going to open up that plastic and see if the lens also needs cleaning. I will exercise great care while cleaning them as advised.
Thanks so much for your great help. Much appreciated.

 
Last edited:
Glad to report that after carefully cleaning the dirty mirror and fugus-infected lens, my Elite Scan 5400 scanner is working great again! I am so happy now.

Thanks brbo for the great tips.
 
Hey guys. My 5400 is leaving rainbow colored lines (pixels) on my scans. (you can see them in attached photo) I took out the lens and mirror. Lens looked fine so I cleaned the mirror and put it back together. Didn't fix the problem. Any ideas?? Thanks.
 

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Does it do it with all films or just Kodachrome? You could try disabling ICE for Kodachrome (and always disable it for B&W, of course)?
 
I don't believe these slides are Kodachrome. They have no labels.
 
yossi said:
Glad to report that after carefully cleaning the dirty mirror and fugus-infected lens, my Elite Scan 5400 scanner is working great again! I am so happy now.

Thanks brbo for the great tips.
Click to expand...

Hey, yossi!

There’s no service center in my country either. I’m curious, could you tell me more about how you cleaned the mirror and, especially, the lens from fungus without damaging them?
 
Hi. My Minolta scan elite 5400 shows a lot of stripes on the scan. I suppose a dirty sensor as the lens and the mirror are all clean. I tried inserting a vacuum cleaner near the sensor but without succes. Does anyone have more suggestions.
Is there a professional cleaning service anywhere?
 
A new (to you) scanner or suddenly started showing lines? What changed?

If you are using Vuescan, do you regularly do the calibration (Scanner - Calibrate), OEM Scan software does it automatically for you on startup.

"A lot of stripes" can also mean a problem with a cable, but without seeing what your the problem looks like...
 
I suppose the problem is caused by years of neglect. It used to be my brothers but now I' d like to use it. In my perhaps simplistic mind the problem is caused by dust on the sensor. A different cable does not solve the problem. It is difficult to reach and I dare not disassemble the whole thing to get to it let alone clean it with the risk of damaging it.
 
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