Minolta SRT101

[mangorockfish]

Dug my old SRT101 out the other day, bought it new back in '72. Cocked the shutter and tried to fire it. No dice. Can't get the button to push down. Pushed the button on the bottom that opens the back when the film rewind knob is pulled up. Now the bottom button won't pop back out. Does this sound like a big repair bill and is the old camera worth fixing? Thanks

 

[StanMac]

Could probably get a working one from an online seller for less than a repair. I had a few 70s era SLRS repaired about ten years ago and they were costing between $120 to $200 back then.

Stan

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Dug my old SRT101 out the other day, bought it new back in '72. Cocked the shutter and tried to fire it. No dice. Can't get the button to push down. Pushed the button on the bottom that opens the back when the film rewind knob is pulled up. Now the bottom button won't pop back out. Does this sound like a big repair bill and is the old camera worth fixing? Thanks

maybe a good opportunity to learn camera repair.

 

[blee1996]

Probably time to try clean and nudge it back to life. I recently got an old Canon FTB as part of larger kit, and the camera will not fire and mirror stuck. After opening the bottom plate and study how things might work, eventually I got it working by clearing old gunk and adding tiny bit of machine oil. Minolta SRT's are famous for their reliability, so you might be able to get it back to life by yourself. Start with some good YouTube repair videos about your model.

 

[mshchem]

Yes I agree good time to try a DIY repair. Sometimes a tiny bit, like 1 or 2 drops of lighter fluid on mechanism will free up stuck gears.
I bet it's just old dried up grease and lack of lubrication.

 

[Don_ih]

Pushed the button on the bottom that opens the back when the film rewind knob is pulled up. Now the bottom button won't pop back out.

That button is the film rewind release. It'll stay depressed until the film is advanced again.

You can probably heartily swab the gears and levers under the bottom plate with lighter fluid to clean them out enough to get the camera to work. A working camera would be under $100. A repair would likely be more than $100 - plus shipping if you can't find someone close by.

 

[Alan Townsend]

Dug my old SRT101 out the other day, bought it new back in '72. Cocked the shutter and tried to fire it. No dice. Can't get the button to push down. Pushed the button on the bottom that opens the back when the film rewind knob is pulled up. Now the bottom button won't pop back out. Does this sound like a big repair bill and is the old camera worth fixing? Thanks

Likely some simple thing, like not having a lens on the body, having the preview stopped down, or the self timer activated, all things that can preven the shutter from releasing. Put on your thinking cap, do a little research onine about what prevents the shutter from releasing. DO NOT OIL ANYTHING.

You pull up on the rewind lever like on most cameras to open the back. Is there film in the camera? The film release button allows you to rewind the film, but does nothing to open the back. Download a manual for the camera online and find the conditions that prevent the shutter from firing, and go from there. No knee jerk frustrating reactions or stupid moves like lubricating anything.

Most likely is the self timer was activated and failed to complete a timing cycle, so the shutter is locked up awaiting that cycle to finish. If the self timer arm is not strait up and down, this is the problem. You can fix this by fully cocking the self timer, then releasing it by pushing that seperate little button, and then as the arm winds all the way up it may slow down and then stop, so gently push the arm the rest of the way while hearing the gears hum until the cycle finishes. Never use the self timer on these old cameras since this is a common problem due to the complicated timing mechanism locking up near the end of the cycle likely due to oil too stiff to work properly.

These are great cameras, you just forgot how to operate yours. Relax and take it easy before discarding, or throw it over to me if you like. This sounds like a zero repair bill until you learn how to use that camera again. Manual is too big for me to post here.

 

[xkaes]

These can usually be resolved by moving the stuck gear on the bottom of the camera. The problem is figuring out which gear is stuck. I'd suggest moving this thread over to the REPAIR Sub-FORUM. When you figure out what gear is stuck just use some Ronsonol.

 

[dynachrome]

I have a fleet of Minolta SRT cameras. Most recently I had one of them, an SRT 200, overhauled by John Titterington. He did a beautiful job, as usual. I hope to put some film into it later today. With what film costs now, it's nice to know you have a properly working camera.

 

[DF]

When was the last time your SRT was used? How long has it had any air?
Gears-levers-knobs dry out, get stale over time if left to sit.
You need an overhaul that'll run you around atleast $150, and make sure you get a 6 month guarantee.
I still have yet to take my SRT 101 in and the guy will do it for me for $165.
Also, I bought a Minolta X-700 from the above John Titterington some years back so he's good, reliable

 

[Alan Townsend]

When was the last time your SRT was used?

Yesterday

How long has it had any air?

Mine sit out in the air all the time.

Gears-levers-knobs dry out, get stale over time if left to sit.

Well, get them out and use them.

You need an overhaul that'll run you around atleast $150, and make sure you get a 6 month guarantee.

You can do that if you like, but often not needed at all.

I still have yet to take my SRT 101 in and the guy will do it for me for $165.

You can do it yourself for less.

Also, I bought a Minolta X-700 from the above John Titterington some years back so he's good, reliable

I still have my old X700 I bought new and it works as well as ever, however, it sit on the shelf and doesn't get used as much as my SRT101's. It's impossible to use in metered manual mode, has plastic viewfinder screen that's hard to see, no mirror lock up which I need, poor position of shutter release cable requires a short cable release left in place, and many other gripes. I bought it after my SRT101 got stolen, and with no ebay, hard to replace. Also had two X370's that both had shutter failures within a few years of purchase. Not a fan of x series Minoltas.

 

[Don_ih]

I think he may have been responding to the first post, asking @mangorockfish those questions.

 

[xkaes]

The cable release on the LATER Minolta X cameras (not the XE, XK, XM) are a nuisance, for sure. And they lack the mirror lock up, except for the XK, XM. And the dead capacitor problem on the models make in China (the LATE models off the assembly line) is a big nuisance -- although they can be fixed for under $10 if you have a soldering iron.

I think the biggest problem is that they are battery dependent. At least Minolta had the sense to add a spare battery holder to each camera strap.

The good news is that there are several POST-Minolta models that were made in China that have shutters that are mechanical -- and some have speeds up to 1/2,000s.

http://www.subclub.org/minchin

 

[DF]

The cable release on the LATER Minolta X cameras (not the XE, XK, XM) are a nuisance, for sure. And they lack the mirror lock up, except for the XK, XM. And the dead capacitor problem on the models make in China (the LATE models off the assembly line) is a big nuisance -- although they can be fixed for under $10 if you have a soldering iron.

I think the biggest problem is that they are battery dependent. At least Minolta had the sense to add a spare battery holder to each camera strap.

The good news is that there are several POST-Minolta models that were made in China that have shutters that are mechanical -- and some have speeds up to 1/2,000s.

http://www.subclub.org/minchin

X-700's - with a MECHANICAL shutter? I must be missing something here...??
Please elaborate....

 

[xkaes]

The details are in the link. While there is not a exact Chinese copy of an X-700 with a mechanical shutter, there are copies of the Minolta X-370 with mechanical shutters, and a couple have 1/2,000 of a second. Some of those with mechanical shutters have TTL metering, but they do NOT have auto-exposure.

All totaled, the Chinese camera manufacturers made more SLR models -- with a Minolta lens mount -- than Minolta did. Minolta made many more SLR cameras, but the Chinese made more different models. Some are pretty rare:

 

[fstop]

Throw it out and buy another one, they are about 7 bucks these days.

 

[Alan Townsend]

Throw it out and buy another one, they are about 7 bucks these days.

False information helps no one regardless of having a prepared mind or not. I recently bought a nice SRT101 for $35 but I looked for quite a while for a really good deal on eBay and have the knowledge that helps recognize a good one. On average, excellent working SRT101's are $70 and over. Your order of magnitude exaggeration is not chance, it was on purpose. Defamation favors no one.

 

[Don_ih]

I looked for quite a while for a really good deal on eBay

The problem with STRs is no one wants them so you gain nothing selling them on eBay. After that place takes its cut, with the low price those cameras get, you end up with so little it's not worth your while.

I have a couple of SRTs. Those and the Pentax MEs (plus any Canon or Nikon AF slrs) will sit around until I give them away. No one will pay enough to make them worth selling. (I already gave away all the Nikon af slrs.)

$7 may be an exaggeration. But not much of one.

 

[xkaes]

Some people like the SRT cameras, some don't, but there will always be some interest in them. I'm still surprised at what the Pentax K1000 sells for. It has fewer features than most of the Minolta SRT models, but usually gets much higher prices due to its cult status.

But it is true that for most older cameras -- whether mechanical or electronic or in-between -- that's it's much cheaper to replace it than have it repaired. Of course, it's important to have a 100% return policy so that you can fully check it out.

I just received a nice looking Seagull DF-1000 with a 50mm lens for a decent price, but both the camera and lens are worthless. It's getting shipped back tomorrow for a full refund. I don't think the seller was dishonest -- just ignorant.

 

[dynachrome]

I have mentioned this before but I think it bears repeating. It makes more sense to have a film camera like a Minolta SRT model overhauled properly if it will receive any serious use. The fact that other cameras are available at low prices does not mean they work properly. The first issue is that film is expensive and not worth wasting on cameras which don't work properly. The second issue is that a person who can't afford to get a Minolta SRT camera overhauled probably can't afford film and processing either.

 

[Alan Townsend]

The problem with STRs is no one wants them

Absolute a false statement. Yes, the supply is greater than the demand, making them a great deal for people who are photographers and who photograph rather than collectors who do nothing besides stroking their egos or whatever it is they stroke.

so you gain nothing selling them on eBay. After that place takes its cut, with the low price those cameras get, you end up with so little it's not worth your while.

Boo hoo hoo. I am crying so hard for you. Great to buy for doers and makers, not so much for the stagnant seekers of memories lost.

$7 may be an exaggeration. But not much of one.

It is an order of magnitude off. What's bad for sellers is good for buyers. I have my two SRT101's to use for taking photographs. Not selling either one.

 

[Alan Townsend]

I have mentioned this before but I think it bears repeating. It makes more sense to have a film camera like a Minolta SRT model overhauled properly if it will receive any serious use.

This is the Ignorant and lazy approach. Have somebody else do the work. Maybe somebody else can take my photographs, too. I guess I must not be serious how I use my cameras. Too busy smiling, I guess.

The fact that other cameras are available at low prices does not mean they work properly.

Gee whiz. No kidding? Oh, I forgot that I took the time to learn how to repair and troubleshoot this camera myself, as well as knowing how to spot good ones and bad ones. This is the knowledgeable and energetic approach to DIY for the joy of it.

The first issue is that film is expensive and not worth wasting on cameras which don't work properly.

It takes about half a roll of film to determine working or not and what to fix or not.

The second issue is that a person who can't afford to get a Minolta SRT camera overhauled probably can't afford film and processing either.

A false generalization based on some business knowledge. To many, film photography is an ART not a business. All about the JOY of what you do, not the selfish money grubberisms.

 

[dynachrome]

I have nothing against DIY thinking. If someone can learn how to service a camera and get it to work properly, that's great. I would rather pay a competent repair person to do the work and that is my choice. I also experience the joy of photography and maybe the "selfish money grubberisms" involve people who are too cheap to get cameras serviced properly. There is more than one way to enjoy photography and if, for some, that involves learning camera repair then that's fine too.

 

[Don_ih]

Boo hoo hoo.

and

a great deal for people who are photographers and who photograph rather than collectors who do nothing besides stroking their egos or whatever it is they stroke.

Grow up. Be less of a (use your imagination).

I have no interest in using any Minolta srt. But it's a waste of energy to try to sell them. Keep in mind, selling cameras in Canada is a lot harder than in the States - and they don't get the same prices when they finally do sell.

 

[xkaes]

It takes about half a roll of film to determine working or not and what to fix or not.

Actually, it takes a lot less than that, and much of the testing can be done without any film at all.