Minolta SRT201

[JJimenez]

I just picked up an old Minolta SRT201. I generally just shoot digital. Not sure if I'm doing something wrong, just clueless, or if something is wrong with it. Everything seems to work just fine, except when I advance the film lever, the mirror goes up and stays there which makes it incredibly difficult to compose the shot afterwards. I've checked and there's no mirror lock up switch on this model.

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[donkee]

Are you sure it is lifting the mirror during the wind or is it sticking after the shutter has been released?

I have a few SRTs and find that when the bumper foam gets bad the mirror will stick to it in the up position.

Pn all the SRTs I have had and fiddled with I have not see a mirror flip up when winding.

 

[JJimenez]

Nope, it flips up after I wind it and stays there until I press the shutter button.

 

[donkee]

Hmmm, very funky. I would suggest sending it in to a repair service like Garry's Camera Repair (cheap and good). Sounds like a botched self repair by the previous owner or something got knocked around.

The SRT series is a well built camera and lenses are pretty inexpensive for them too. It is worth putting a few bux into it now as it will last for years to come.

I say that being a Minolta junkie. My first SLR was a Minolta and it never let me down so I stuck with them.

 

[JJimenez]

Yeah, I've heard good things about Garry's Camera Shop. I'll check them out.

 

[bambolero]

I can also vouch for Gary. He overhauled all my SRTs a few years back. He has very reasonable prices and a fast turnaround.

 

[Terry Christian]

Definitely check out the mirror bumper foam for deterioration or stickiness. It's easy to replace yourself, with the felt from an empty film cartridge and a dab of rubber cement.

 

[JJimenez]

I don't think it's the mirror bumper foam since the mirror does flip down after I press the shutter release. For some reason it just flips up when I advance the film.

 

[Bill Burk]

This is normal. The earliest SLR's would snap the mirror up when you took the picture. Then people complained they wanted to see after they took the picture. So the next round of cameras worked like yours. After a while someone got the idea to make a mirror that would go up AND come down. Shortly after that SLR's grew immensely in popularity.

 

[Bill Burk]

Just kidding, it's something like the mirror lifting catch worn.

Had this happen on a Pentax and because the gear makes half-revolution per wind, the mirror would go up on winding every other shot. I was able to sharpen the mirror lifting catch and solve the problem... But a reputable repair is a better idea.

 

[JJimenez]

Yep, that seems like the best suggestion so far. There's definitely a hook in there that, if I hold it while advancing the film lever, will allow the mirror to stay down.... until I move my finger. Then up it goes! I think I'm going to wait until I get paid next week and send it off to Gary; I'm sure if that's screwy something else probably needs adjustment too.

 

[Chan Tran]

Can you just buy another one? Most of these can be had for like $50 and if I were Gary I would not fix a camera for $50.

 

[Pioneer]

Just Fix It

And then you chance buying someone else's problem.

Naah, these film cameras are so inexpensive nowdays that it is well worth an extra $75 to $150 for a complete CLA by a top camera repair person. I actually factor the price in. I am not buying these to speculate and turn them over, I am buying them because I want to experience the thrill of using these wonderful instruments the way they were used when they were new. It is well worth the money and the time. Besides, if I do resell it later I feel much better about myself.

Of course I have had return calls from a few repair shops telling me the cost where I decided that it was better to write it off. But it is hard to make that decision until it has been checked by someone you trust.

 

[JJimenez]

I should have been more specific in my original post when I said, "I picked one up." I actually got it from my grandmother. It originally belonged to my now deceased uncle. So, fixing it is definitely the way to go. Plus I hear Gary does a bang-up job for $45 +shipping.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Can you just buy another one? Most of these can be had for like $50 and if I were Gary I would not fix a camera for $50.

Sure. Just go buy another 35-40 year old camera. It won't need a CLA either.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Sure. Just go buy another 35-40 year old camera. It won't need a CLA either.

Exactly. Most are cheap because they need a good CLA. Not spending money to get a good mechanical camera in perfect working order because another one can be had cheaply is a false economy. Then you have two subpar cameras and can enjoy wondering why your negs are off in focus or exposure or why the shutter lags as you waste more money on film and valuable shooting time for nothing.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Exactly. Most are cheap because they need a good CLA. Not spending money to get a good mechanical camera in perfect working order because another one can be had cheaply is a false economy. Then you have two subpar cameras and can enjoy wondering why your negs are off in focus or exposure or why the shutter lags as you waste more money on film and valuable shooting time for nothing.

Yes, a proper CLA is normal and required maintenance. All my gear has had one, and it's as reliable and accurate as new - including the 100+ year old shutters on some of the LF lenses.

Buying an older - and this means 20 years and up - camera or lens in shutter and not expecting to do a CLA just isn't realistic.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I agree get a proper CLA and check out http://www.butkus.org/chinon/minolta/minolta_sr-t_200-201-202/minolta_sr-t_200.htm for the manual. Please mail him a check for $3 if you find the download useful.

Enjoy it. It is a great camera, I had SR-7, SRT 101, SRT 201, and X-700 Minolta cameras. Great glass.

Steve

 

[JJimenez]

Okay, so now I feel like an idiot. I sent my camera out to Gary's Camera Repair, who I now highly recommend. I just got it back today, and everything was working great. Then, I was playing around with it and decided to press the shutter release button while holding in the stop-down button. Apparently that was a really bad idea because now everything is locked up. Help!!!

 

[lxdude]

I've not heard of that being something you can't do. Contact Gary's.

 

[JJimenez]

I did; I'm awaiting his response.

 

[oneANT]

JJ, just for an interval in your troubles ... I don't know minolta at all but had to google the srt201 last night after seeing some magic photographs with a 50/1.7 http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/658112/276. Lovely camera ..well worth a bit of trouble.