Minolta SRT101 aperture needle help needed.

KerrKid · Feb 5, 2022

I have two Minolta SRT101's with similar problems. On both, the "lollipop" aperture needle has a very short range of movement. The needle on one of the cameras has a range between 10 o'clock and 12 o'clock when looking through the viewfinder. The range on the other camera is between 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock. I used one of these cameras extensively back in the mid to late 1970's and never had this problem. This problem seems independent of the lenses. With the lenses off the cameras, I cannot manually move past this range the small post on the camera body that engages with the lens' aperture ring.

Can anyone tell me what the problem is and how to fix it? Thanks!

Kino · Feb 5, 2022

Here is the repair manual:
https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=42&category=2&secondary=7

The SRT 101 uses a nylon coupling line that can (very rarely) become problematic.

KerrKid · Feb 5, 2022

Thank you, Kino. I looked at the manual and, while thorough, it illustrates how complicated this camera is. The repair is well above my skill level so the cameras will have to go to someone who is good at these things. I've been working with Halcyon Camera and Vadim has resealed both cameras and fixed a number of other issues. The cameras may very well go back to him if he's up to the challenge. Unfortunately, I'm coming to the point of a $50 saddle on a $5 horse with what's been spent on these cameras already. I guess adding a bit more insult to the injury is worth it to get them working properly. Thank you again for your reply.

Chan Tran · Feb 5, 2022

Perhaps just use the camera as is. I shot the SRt-101 for a good number of years without using the meter at all.

KerrKid · Feb 5, 2022

I may have to do that Chan Tran. I hope not, though. I'd like the cameras to function as designed if at all possible. It's a nostalgia thing more than anything else since the SRT101 was my first camera. Thanks for your reply!

Sirius Glass · Feb 5, 2022

I had the Minolta SRT 101 for years. It is a great camera. See if you can find someone to do a CLA on it.

KerrKid · Feb 5, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I had the Minolta SRT 101 for years. It is a great camera. See if you can find someone to do a CLA on it.

Yes, I agree that the SRT101 is a great camera. Lots of memories with my original one.

Both cameras have been CLA'd and resealed in addition to repairs to solder the battery housing wires back on to the battery housings and to replace the rewinder shaft on one of them.

Thank you for your suggestion.

Helge · Feb 5, 2022

I'm going to say something that might be insultingly obvious: Have you tried using the aperture and the speed control at the same time? Even massaging them back and forth at the same time a dozen times?
A lollipop that won't move, is probably the very intended mechanical restriction that build in for the bounds of exposure, that has got a bit stuck.

KerrKid · Feb 5, 2022

Helge said:
I'm going to say something that might be insultingly obvious: Have you tried using the aperture and the speed control at the same time? Even massaging them back and forth at the same time a dozen times?
A lollipop that won't move, is probably the very intended mechanical restriction that build in for the bounds of exposure, that has got a bit stuck.

Just tried that and it made no difference. But...I'm not opposed to trying anything even if someone considers it obvious. It may not be obvious to me.

Chan Tran · Feb 5, 2022

KerrKid said:
Yes, I agree that the SRT101 is a great camera. Lots of memories with my original one.

Both cameras have been CLA'd and resealed in addition to repairs to solder the battery housing wires back on to the battery housings and to replace the rewinder shaft on one of them.

Thank you for your suggestion.

My SRT never been CLA. They are fine.

KerrKid · Feb 7, 2022

I'm not getting any closer to resolving the aperture needle problem. Looks like the tops will need to come off the cameras. Does anyone know a Minolta SRT101 expert who could repair these cameras? Thanks!

The Camera 1 photo is the highest the aperture ring will go up in one camera. The Camera 2 photo is the lowest the aperture ring will go down in the other camera.

Kino · Feb 7, 2022

Just for grins, what's the ISO/ASA number that each camera is set at?

KerrKid · Feb 7, 2022

Kino said:
Just for grins, what's the ISO/ASA number that each camera is set at?

Both were set at ASA 400 and I changed that to ASA 200 and other ASA's to see if that would make a difference. It doesn't. It just seems that there is a mechanical problem between the aperture setting and the aperture needle in the viewfinder. Like a gear is not connecting correctly. For instance, on the camera where the aperture needle is at the top of the range in the viewfinder and a lens is present, I can turn the lens aperture ring 6 stops from wide open before there is any movement downward from the aperture needle in the viewfinder. The position of the aperture needle in the Camera 2 photo shows the needle's position at the lowest point in the range at f/16.

Thanks for your help!

Helge · Feb 7, 2022

KerrKid said:
I'm not getting any closer to resolving the aperture needle problem. Looks like the tops will need to come off the cameras. Does anyone know a Minolta SRT101 expert who could repair these cameras? Thanks!

The Camera 1 photo is the highest the aperture ring will go up in one camera. The Camera 2 photo is the lowest the aperture ring will go down in the other camera.

Depends on where you live.
John Titterington is probably the premier Minolta expert in the world. Or at least the most well know one.
But think hard about whether you shouldn’t just get another. You can feed pigs with SR-t’s. They are woefully under appreciated.

Kino · Feb 7, 2022

If I remember correctly (been a while since I took the top off a 101), the string that controls the "lollipop" has a spring on each end. It sounds like the spring is disengaged or the string has broken or is obstructed in some fashion.
Not a huge thing to repair, if this is the case. It shouldn't cost a fortune to fix...

In any event, it's pretty rare for that to happen and for it to happen to two cameras in one person's possession is just bad luck!

Chan Tran · Feb 7, 2022

Kino said:
Just for grins, what's the ISO/ASA number that each camera is set at?

The OP camera has problem with the lolipop moved with the shutter speed and aperture. The needle which moves with ASA and light intensity I don't think the OP has problem with.

Kino · Feb 7, 2022

Chan Tran said:
The OP camera has problem with the lolipop moved with the shutter speed and aperture. The needle which moves with ASA and light intensity I don't think the OP has problem with.

The ASA/ISO (in addition to the shutter speed and aperture ring) moves the Lolipop when you adjust it; the needle is not influenced by the ASA/ISO dial.

KerrKid · Feb 7, 2022

Kino said:
If I remember correctly (been a while since I took the top off a 101), the string that controls the "lollipop" has a spring on each end. It sounds like the spring is disengaged or the string has broken or is obstructed in some fashion.
Not a huge thing to repair, if this is the case. It shouldn't cost a fortune to fix...

In any event, it's pretty rare for that to happen and for it to happen to two cameras in one person's possession is just bad luck!

Hmmm. You may be on to something. I'm thinking that something could have happened in shipping since these cameras have been back and forth several times. I think I'll get courage and take the top off just to see what's going on. Even if I can't fix it myself it may be instructive to see how things work.

Yes, an odd coincidence that both cameras have the same problem if it's a rare problem to have.

Kino · Feb 7, 2022

If you just take the top off, it's not real hard to do. Go slow, take photos and don't force anything.

Here's a good tutorial:

Like you say, if nothing else, it's instructive to see how it operates and you can blow a bit of dirt out of the mechanism while you are in there, just be careful around the prism. The old foam can infiltrate the focus screen if you shoot a lot of air down around the prism.

KerrKid · Feb 7, 2022

Kino said:
If you just take the top off, it's not real hard to do. Go slow, take photos and don't force anything.

Here's a good tutorial:

Like you say, if nothing else, it's instructive to see how it operates and you can blow a bit of dirt out of the mechanism while you are in there, just be careful around the prism. The old foam can infiltrate the focus screen if you shoot a lot of air down around the prism.

Thanks! I will give it a shot!

Old foam in the focus screen is what I have in my Pentax KM. A couple of taps got most of it to drop out. At least now I know how it got there.

KerrKid · Feb 7, 2022

Helge said:
Depends on where you live.
John Titterington is probably the premier Minolta expert in the world. Or at least the most well know one.
But think hard about whether you shouldn’t just get another. You can feed pigs with SR-t’s. They are woefully under appreciated.

Thank you for the name, Helge. I'll reach out to John if the fix is over my head.

I have two SRT101's now, but I would not hesitate in getting another one or one its successors (from someone I trust). I have enough lenses for that to make sense. I guess if the SRT's are woefully underappreciated it helps to keep prices down and that's a good thing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the SRT's are appealing in the same way the square-body chevy trucks are appealing.

Chan Tran · Feb 7, 2022

Kino said:
The ASA/ISO (in addition to the shutter speed and aperture ring) moves the Lolipop when you adjust it; the needle is not influenced by the ASA/ISO dial.

My bad. I still have 2 SRT101 but I haven't used them in a long time.

Sirius Glass · Feb 7, 2022

I had the Minolta cameras the f/2.8 Rokkor [Minolta] 21mm lens, 28mm Rokkor lens, f/1.4 50mm Rokkor lens and a Vivitar 70mm to 207mm zoom lens.

Kino · Feb 7, 2022

Chan Tran said:
My bad. I still have 2 SRT101 but I haven't used them in a long time.

No big deal: I had to think a bit about it to be sure I was right!

KerrKid · Feb 7, 2022

Chan Tran said:
My bad. I still have 2 SRT101 but I haven't used them in a long time.

I know someone who would give them a good home .

Minolta SRT101 aperture needle help needed.

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