Minolta Dynax 7 Rear Display Repair

Some time ago I bought a Dynax 7 from eBay in Exp+5 conditions. The camera had a almost illegible rear display (among other issues) so I tried to fix it. Here I'm posting some information, in case someone needs to do the same repair.

First of all, the display originally looked as follows:


Reading a bit about LCD displays, reveals that most likely a birefringend compensation layeres is present between the liquid crystals and the polarization filters. The compensation layer had most likely gone bad. I tried to remove the front polarization layer and scratch off the compensation layer. The display changed color and got darker, but it became well legible even without compensation layer:

Using acetone and cotton swabs I completely removed the full compentsation layer:

After mounting a new polarization layer:


Comparing to a pristine Dynax 7:



Overall, the display changed color and is not as bright as it was but it is now again very well legible. In case you plan to perform the same repair a few notes: The display is sensitive to pressure, I damages mine a bit, also acetone should be kept away from the contacts as it might damage them, so use almost dry cotton swabs and avoid touching the contact area.

Interesting to see this is fixable .
I've a couple of Dynax 7's I bought cheap because the LCDs were faulty.
I bought some other Dynax 7's who had different faults , also very cheaply , and swapped the backs over .
Can you provide a link to the replacement part you used ?
I do have another with the same fault , and it would save waiting for another camera to come up with a doner back .

The filter I bought is not available anymore, unfortunately, but any adhesive linear polarizing foil should do the job. E.g. I think this one could work: https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006338238711.html

When mounting the new foil you have to play a bit with the rotation.

If you are reselling the camera, please make the buyer aware of the altered LCD.

Cair said:

The filter I bought is not available anymore, unfortunately, but any adhesive linear polarizing foil should do the job. E.g. I think this one could work: https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006338238711.html

When mounting the new foil you have to play a bit with the rotation.

If you are reselling the camera, please make the buyer aware of the altered LCD.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that , I shall look into it .
I won't be selling any though , I bought my first one about twenty years ago and it's my favourite camera.
The second one I got for a different emulsion when I'm out , two faulty ones were on eBay that I made one good one of for a out £30 total.
The next was a spare .
What I've got to repair now just came up very cheap, so couldn't resist!
Handy to have a few spares .

I've probably got the two old backs around somewhere to try first .