Minolta sr1 question - instant-return mirror, or not?

[Minolta film]

Total beginner in film cameras. Could someone help me with a question. I recently got a minolta sr1 which seems in good condition apart from the self timer being a bit inconsistent. When I fire the shutter the viewfinder goes black but returns to normal after winding on. Is this normal or have I bought a dud.

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to Photrio.
That is probably normal for a camera of its vintage. That was right at the beginning of a period of rapid SLR development, and an instant return mirror was one of the advances that started showing up more frequently around then.
I'll let the Minolta specialists share their more specific knowledge, but I've taken the liberty of tweaking your thread title, in hopes that it will draw attention.

 

[Kino]

Total beginner in film cameras. Could someone help me with a question. I recently got a minolta sr1 which seems in good condition apart from the self timer being a bit inconsistent. When I fire the shutter the viewfinder goes black but returns to normal after winding on. Is this normal or have I bought a dud.

No, the mirror should return, but even so, it probably won't affect the operation of the camera; just be inconvenient.

I just pulled-down my SR-1 and confirmed the mirror returns upon shutter closing...

 

[Minolta film]

Welcome to Photrio.
That is probably normal for a camera of its vintage. That was right at the beginning of a period of rapid SLR development, and an instant return mirror was one of the advances that started showing up more frequently around then.
I'll let the Minolta specialists share their more specific knowledge, but I've taken the liberty of tweaking your thread title, in hopes that it will draw attention.

Many thanks. I know it’s certainly an old camera. I did wonder if it might be normal given that the viewfinder returns to normal after winding the frame on.
Many thanks again

 

[MattKing]

No, the mirror should return, but even so, it probably won't affect the operation of the camera; just be inconvenient.

I just pulled-down my SR-1 and confirmed the mirror returns upon shutter closing...

Thanks Kino.
I note from some brief research that there were several versions of the SR-1, over 8 years. Is there any chance the instant return mirror arrived in the midst of that?

 

[Minolta film]

No, the mirror should return, but even so, it probably won't affect the operation of the camera; just be inconvenient.

I just pulled-down my SR-1 and confirmed the mirror returns upon shutter closing...

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate everyone knowledge on here as I am a beginner in photography and film cameras.
What puzzles me is that it returns to normal after winding on the lever.
Thanks again.

 

[Kino]

Thanks Kino.
I note from some brief research that there were several versions of the SR-1, over 8 years. Is there any chance the instant return mirror arrived in the midst of that?

Understood. The Rokkor Files are the go-to resource on most things Minolta: http://rokkorfiles.com/SR Series.htm

According to this site; there were about 6 variations, but all appear to have the instant return mirror.

The one caution about using it without instant return; check to see that the mirror DOES return to the proper place and your focus appears right.

If you just bought it, you might want to just return it and try again...

 

[Minolta film]

Thanks Kino.
I note from some brief research that there were several versions of the SR-1, over 8 years. Is there any chance the instant return mirror arrived in the midst of that?

Thanks for your post.
What puzzles me is that it returns to normal after winding on the lever. But if like you say some of the early versions were like this it would explain everything. Camera is otherwise in good condition.

 

[Kino]

PS: The self timer issue is probably related to the non-return of the mirror, as they share linkages and there could be some gummy lube in the path.

The cost of a CLA is probably too much to justify when you can find good examples pretty cheap on auction sites.

 

[Kino]

The SRT mechanism evolved from the SR series and is pretty much exactly the same.

Here is a video that shows a possible self-repair on a SRT:

It's not hard and worth a try if you have a screw driver and a tiny dab of camera oil...

 

[Minolta film]

PS: The self timer issue is probably related to the non-return of the mirror, as they share linkages and there could be some gummy lube in the path.

The cost of a CLA is probably too much to justify when you can find good examples pretty cheap on auction sites.

Thanks for your comments. They have been very useful. I think it has been a £40 expensive lesson on not buying blindly on eBay. The cost of postage paid and returning the camera makes me want to suck it up and learn a valuable lesson. I have a Pentax me super which I have taken photos and have been pleased with them. I think I just wanted to get a fully mechanical camera without need of batteries. Will definitely not go in blindly again.
Any ideas on any other cameras which are reliable ? I like my Pentax but not sure about the auto and manual viewfinder although it has worked for me. I just wanted to learn more about photography from manual camera.
Sorry to ramble just wanted to say where I’m coming from.
Thanks again.

 

[MattKing]

If you can't return it, see if it will give you good results anyways.

 

[Kino]

That SR-1 just needs a bit of attention; it is a very, very good camera and the Minolta lenses are great, inexpensive performers.

Face it, any purely mechanical camera in your budget range stands to have some issues if it wasn't serviced and/or used for a long time.

That doesn't make them a bad camera; just a neglected camera.

If you are not going to return it, try exercising it repeatedly while viewing a favorite TV show. Sometimes, the mechanism will free up with repeated use.

 

[Minolta film]

If you can't return it, see if it will give you good results anyways.

Yes I will thanks. I will try it out.

 

[Minolta film]

That SR-1 just needs a bit of attention; it is a very, very good camera and the Minolta lenses are great, inexpensive performers.

Face it, any purely mechanical camera in your budget range stands to have some issues if it wasn't serviced and/or used for a long time.

That doesn't make them a bad camera; just a neglected camera.

If you are not going to return it, try exercising it repeatedly while viewing a favorite TV show. Sometimes, the mechanism will free up with repeated use.

Thanks again for the good advice. Thanks for the video link.

 

[xkaes]

There were several versions of the SR-1, but they all had instant return mirrors. You need to start by knowing which model you are talking about:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/sr1.htm

 

[Minolta film]

There were several versions of the SR-1, but they all had instant return mirrors. You need to start by knowing which model you are talking about:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/sr1.htm

Thanks for the link. I would like to know which model/year I have but they look so similar to me.

 

[xkaes]

Yes, they pretty much all look the same -- they are all SR-1 cameras, after all. That link tells you what the differences are.

 

[Minolta film]

Yes, they pretty much all look the same -- they are all SR-1 cameras, after all. That link tells you what the differences are.

I see now thanks. I didn’t read it properly. I’ve found the year model from the link.

 

[fstop]

Check the mirror bumper foam, if its sticky it will hold the mirror up.

 

[neilt3]

Thanks for your comments. They have been very useful. I think it has been a £40 expensive lesson on not buying blindly on eBay. The cost of postage paid and returning the camera makes me want to suck it up and learn a valuable lesson.

What cost of postage and return ?
If the camera was sold as "used" and didn't declare any faults , than apart from and cosmetic ware then it was sold on the basis of being in 100% working order .
If it isn't then it can be returned as "faulty/ not as described" .
Even if the seller lists all their sales as "no returns" .

1 , the mirror doesn't drop down . This is a fault needing repair . ( A service ) .
2 , the self timer is defective.
This is also a fault effecting the functionality of the camera .

Send it back , raise it as a claim first ( assuming these faults weren't declared and it was sold as "used" ) eBay has the seller issue you with a return postage label, and when returned you get a full refund on every penny you paid .

Don't take any B/S that it's a vintage item either . It was either sold as working if listed as "used" or was sold as "spares/repair" .
Items listed as untested, mean the seller knows their faulty , and probably haven't sold them as functioning in the condition listing , in which case it's your own fault .

Just as a word of warning .
When using old mechanical timers , the best way to jam them up is by trying the self timer .
After not being used ever in some cases , when used they might have 60 years of muck bunging them up and jam the camera up .

With electronic camera , this is different.
So with mechanical timers use a screw in cable release to fire the shutter on a tripod unless you've had the camera properly serviced .

EDIT ; if your not sure if you have a case for return , post a link to the eBay add and let us have a look at it .
You have good buyer protection on eBay about the many shifty sellers with miss sell things .
You just need to know your rights .

 

[dynachrome]

I had a version of the SR-1 years ago and traded it for something else. I have a fleet of various Minolta SRT cameras. My recommendation is that you get one of these and send it directly to a competent repair person for an ovethaul. You will then have a quality camera which you can rely on. SRTs were made in great numbers so spare parts are not a problem. My favorite is probably the 102 with mirror lock-up. In Japan this model was sold as the SRT Super and in other markets I think it was called the 303 or 303b. In any case, the last SRTs were made in 1981 so they probably all need some attention. It was a different time and the SRT series was made for fifteen years. I don't think any modern series will be made for that long. One of my SRTs, a 102, has a roll of Fuji 100 speed color print film in it now. It's overcast here today so I may put a roll of 400 speed film in another SRT. Happy picture taking.

 

[xkaes]

I too am a big fan of the Minolta SRT102, and if you can't fix your SR-1, you can probably find an SRT102 in great shape for much less than a repair job. Be aware that there are TWO versions of the SRT102 -- and there are lots of other SRT models to choose from. You can check them all out at:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/minslr.htm