Minolta X-7A (USA X-370) Circuitry Problem

[TheSohnly]

I recently had the misfortune of trading for a Minolta X-7A (I'm told the X-7A is the International name for the X-370) that I believe has a broken circuit.

The problem: When the shutter button is pressed, the camera stops all functions and all LED's in the viewfinder go out. It *appears* to just "shut off" on it's own. You have to turn the camera off and then back on again for it show any lit LED's in the viewfinder.
Camera will not fire at all.

Solutions I've tried: New batteries and Google (to no avail).

I have several other film camera bodies that work (but none that meter to iso 3200) and I'm wondering if this camera is worth fixing at all.

Any thoughts/solutions/comments?

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning;

This is always a difficult question to answer. The real problem is not having the same standards and emotional attachment to the camera that the owner has.

The next question that comes up is; "Which Toledo?" The one in Ohio of Corporal Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) fame, or the one in Spain/Espana?

If you are in Ohio, then you might consider asking Garry at Garry's Camera, in Des Plaines, Illinois (www.garryscamera.com), if he can look at it for you. His prices in the United States are quite reasonable. The only problem might be parts. He will know.

Another thing to consider is what a replacement camera will cost. If you take a look at KEH (www.keh.com) you can get an idea of about what it would take to just buy another X-370.

With this kind of information, then you can make a decision about whether or not to have it repaired, or just keep it for use as a future parts donor and get another camera.

Now, if you are in Spain, then I am not sure what to recommend for similar European service providers and camera sources.

One of the beauties of APUG is that it is a truly international group. You will find that there will be someone near you who will have information for Minolta services and cameras not too far away from you, no matter where you are.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BBBold: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Good morning. It sounds like you have a short in the shutter circuit. Aside from disassembly and repair, there's not much to be done. So unless this camera has EXTREME sentimental value, you might consider the option of replacing it. Call Garry's to be sure, but a new camera would be far less. The repair bill will be based on time and a miniscule amount for parts.

 

[TheSohnly]

Ralph - Good Morning.
Yes, I live in Jamie Farr's Toledo, Ohio (also: I feel like I'm the only 21 year old who likes M*A*S*H).
I also know a man in Michigan named Larry Alder. He has previously fixed my Canonet QL17 for a good price. I'll call him too.

Christopher - good morning.
The camera does meter when you put your finger onto the shutter button without firing, so I think you are right on the money on it being a shutter short-circuit - And I also feel that a more updated camera or a lens for one of my other cameras would help my photography immensely. I learned on a Minolta X-700, so I just wanted something kinda familiar to it. (manual focus, not alot of buttons/knobs/etc)

More notes for everyone:
I think Christopher has the right idea here - I have about 6 cameras, 8 lenses, and a bunch of manuals and accessories that I would like to trade off or sell for either a lens (for my dslr) or another camera body (I'm looking into a Nikon F100).

I would appreciate any more opinions - should I get this fixed and sell it or should I just try and sell it for parts?

 

[John Koehrer]

The Minolta X cameras have a capacitor that fails frequently, it's very common.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Yeah, my XG-1's have four. And I got two of them with stuck shutters going without a lengthy CLA or send off. But this is definitely electrical beyond our collective pay grades. Unless you have a big and clean work space, lots of time, a repair manual, the capacitors and a soldering gun. You could concievably do this yourself. Manuals should be available. Actually I just checked. I have a .pdf copy of the service manual. PM me with an email address and I'll send you 110 pages if you like.

 

[mr rusty]

Google X300 (X370) capacitor problem and all will be revealed. Some info here http://www.twid.de/x700/#x300 and here http://forums.photographyreview.com/archive/index.php/t-6320.html

I had exactly the same symptoms you describe on my x300 (UK X370) - LED's go out when you press the shutter, shutter doesn't fire and needs an on/off to get the LED's back.

This is usually caused apparently by the failure of the shutter capacitor.

The capacitor is a bit special - 220uF 4V very small (short) size.

One source is here

http://www.micro-tools.de/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Eng&Category_Code=PAR

I replaced mine and my camera works just fine again.

If you take off the base plate you will see the cap - its soldered to a flexible circuit board. It takes a steady hand and a small soldering iron to desolder and resolder a new one - get someone to do it if you haven't got an iron.

If you want to PM me an address, I have 9 of these caps left and I'll stick a couple in the post to you ( we do have a post strike here at the moment though, so post is a bit erratic)

 

[mr rusty]

PM received, caps sent. Let us know how you get on.

 

[TheSohnly]

I love APUG
thanks so much everyone