Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 4 problem

[JFJ]

I just bought a used Minolta Dynax 4 and just tested it. And it is not working when in auto focus, but in manual focus it seemed to work just fine.
What could be the fault?

 

[Paul Howell]

The lens might not be working, what lens is it? The XI lens tend to be prone to failure. I would start with cleaning the pins and contacts on the lens and body. Other possibility is a faulty AF switch. If your handy with tools you can take the camera apart to see if the wiring from the switch to the electronics in the body has somehow been disconnected.

 

[armadsen]

What does "not working" mean exactly? Does it not focus? Does it not fire the shutter? Something else?

 

[JFJ]

The lens might not be working, what lens is it? The XI lens tend to be prone to failure. I would start with cleaning the pins and contacts on the lens and body. Other possibility is a faulty AF switch. If your handy with tools you can take the camera apart to see if the wiring from the switch to the electronics in the body has somehow been disconnected.

The lens works, I tested it on another Minolta without any problem:\

 

[JFJ]

What does "not working" mean exactly? Does it not focus? Does it not fire the shutter? Something else?

It seems like it can’t auto focus and therefore won’t shoot but in manual focus mode it is no problem.

 

[neilt3]

Have you cleaned the contacts on both the camera and lens ?
Does the aperture of the lens show up on the cameras LCD ?
Exactly which lens is it your using ?

 

[Paul Howell]

I assume that tired the lens that came with the Minolta 4 on another body and it worked.

 

[BobD]

Did you press the reset button?

 

[xkaes]

Did the seller tell you it worked?
Do you have a manual?
Do you only have one lens? Have you tried another lens on the camera?
As BobD suggests, there might be a setting in the camera that is over-riding the auto-focusing.
You're not giving us much info to work with.

 

[BobD]

The later Maxxum/Dynax models have "Custom Functions" some of which will disable the shutter in certain circumstances. That is why I suggested the reset. Even with a reset, you may still need to go through all the Custom Settings to make sure that one is not preventing the shutter from firing because a reset doesn't necessarily reset all the Custom settings.

 

[Paul Howell]

The 4 also marketed as a 3 was the bottom of the Minolta lineup, I don't think there there are any custom features. I would check the focuses confirmation in the viewfinder, in manual mode it should work, if it doesn't makes me think that the AF is not working. Also the 4/3 has 3 fouses points, center and one on each side, see if you toggle between the 3 and get any response from the lens. On the dial there is an automatic focus mode setting, set it then return to manual selection. In case you don't have it, here is a link to the manual.

https://www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_pdf/minolta_maxxum_4.pdf

 

[BobD]

The 4 also marketed as a 3 was the bottom of the Minolta lineup, I don't think there there are any custom features.

The Dynax 4 is the same as the Maxxum 4.
See:

Minolta Maxxum 4 - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

camera-wiki.org

The Dynax/Maxxum 4 has 12 custom features described in the manual you linked to in your post.

The "4" wasn't the bottom model. There was a lower spec model known as the 3 in some countries or the "GT"

To add to the confusion, the "3" model designation was also used to market both the "4" and the lower spec model in different markets.

 

[Paul Howell]

I guess I got confused, thought it was the same as the 3. Missed the custom features, will take a look at the manual again.

 

[xkaes]

Some early MAXXUM models used the card system for special settings. They finally gave that up when they built those into the camera "BIOS" -- of course the lower level cameras had fewer custom features than the more expensive models.

That's why I assked if JFJ has a manual??????????

 

[Paul Howell]

The 4 did not use the cards, I looked at the manual, I do not see functions that look like what I call custom. On my 9 there are 9 custom functions, don't see any of these functions on the 4. I do see the list of scene modes, like landscape or sports.

 

[neilt3]

The 4 did not use the cards, I looked at the manual, I do not see functions that look like what I call custom. On my 9 there are 9 custom functions, don't see any of these functions on the 4. I do see the list of scene modes, like landscape or sports.

Try page 103 onwards of the user manual .
The Dynax/Maxxum 4 has 12 custom functions .

https://www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_pdf/minolta_maxxum_4.pdf

 

[xkaes]

Yes. This is much like the MAXXUM 5, just fewer CUSTOM settings on the 4.

Perhaps one of those is messing things up.

 

[neilt3]

Yes. This is much like the MAXXUM 5, just fewer CUSTOM settings on the 4.

Perhaps one of those is messing things up.

It's most likely the AF/MF switch on the front of the camera needs cleaning .
@ the O.P , when you move this switch , does the LCD show MF and AF ?

 

[xkaes]

And, in MF, does the green focus-confirmation LED light up?

 

[Paul Howell]

You are right, even more functions that the 9. I guess I did not read far enough. Looks to be similar to the Minolta 5, I have a 5 but have never set the custom functions. Rather impressive at the price point.

 

[xkaes]

The MAXXUM 5 is the smallest, lightest full-featured camera ever made. I can't figure out why you can buy them in new condition for $10 -- no kidding.

 

[BobD]

The Maxxum 50 & 70 are later and similar to the 4 & 5 and only slightly larger. I think they have even more features as well but I haven't done a detailed comparison. The 50/70 models were only in production for about 2 years before Minolta stopped making film cameras so there aren't many out there. I know the 70 was given a "Camera of the Year" award when released.

 

[neilt3]

The Maxxum 50 & 70 are later and similar to the 4 & 5 and only slightly larger. I think they have even more features as well but I haven't done a detailed comparison. The 50/70 models were only in production for about 2 years before Minolta stopped making film cameras so there aren't many out there. I know the 70 was given a "Camera of the Year" award when released.

They were sold as the Dynax 40 and 60 in Europe.
A downside to the D60/M70 is that it doesn't take an AA battery grip like the 5 ( or 4 ) which is better for grip with larger lenses and you can use rechargeable batteries.
The camera does have a larger grip than the 5 , so it's not too bad .
However it does gain DMF from the Dynax 7 .
Direct Manual Focus is where after AF has lock on something the clutch disengaged allowing to you manually focus without having to move a switch or go onto a menu .
Handy for times such as photographing a bird in a tree where the AF keeps locking on to a branch or a leaf .
Macro/close-ups as well , where AF never locks on where you want .
There's other improvements as well , but I forget what .

It was never a "7" series camera though , the EU market was right calling a "6" series ( Dynax 60 ) as it was an upgrade on a 5 .
I think they were trying to kid the American market calling it a "70" .

I have all the Minolta AF SLRs ( apart from some entry level stuff ) and both the 5 and 60/70 are worth having .

The 5 is fractionally more compact and can be used with an AA battery grip .

Without a grip the 60/70 has better ergonomics having a larger grip , and gains DMF .

Both handle very well with a small prime lens attached and weigh practically nothing .

 

[xkaes]

Great description, but you left out "price". The 5 goes for much less than the 7, 40, 50, 60, 70, etc. Don't ask me why -- but that's why I ended up with so many of them.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have 5, it is my backup when traveling to the 800SI or Minolta 9 or 7. Too bad Minolta never made a 40 to 45mm pancake lens in A mount.