Minolta x300 - Film Advance Lever Problem

kd218 · Jan 8, 2025

Hi! This is my first post so I thought I might give it a try since reddit and youtube did not help at all.

I have a Minolta x300 loaded with a film. However, the film advance lever stops working mid-film so that I cannot do anything at all. Batteries are changed and also checked for any battery corrosion (seems fine). Any guesses what else I can check for?

Thanks!

Andreas Thaler · Jan 8, 2025

Welcome!

I would first secure the film and remove it from the camera.

Release the rewind lock and rewind the film, but do not pull it all the way into the cartridge, then you can continue to use it.

Then the 300 can be examined further.

Andreas Thaler · Jan 8, 2025

The camera is obviously blocked because one of the steps in the sequence of actions from winding to release has not been completed.

I could imagine the following:

The shutter is not completely closed, this happens with X cameras. This can be fixed by gently and carefully pulling on the shutter curtain.
The electrolytic capacitor in the bottom of the camera is defective, also a common fault. This is often recognizable by the LEDs in the viewfinder going out after pressing the shutter button.
The film is blocking the transport because it is not wound correctly onto the take-up spool. This should be fixed by rewinding the film.
Part of the mechanism is defective. Rather unlikely.

kd218 · Jan 8, 2025

Andreas Thaler said:
Welcome!

I would first secure the film and remove it from the camera.

Release the rewind lock and rewind the film, but do not pull it all the way into the cartridge, then you can continue to use it.

Then the 300 can be examined further.

Thanks! Will give it a try, although the film counter is broken on this on.

kd218 · Jan 8, 2025

Andreas Thaler said:
The camera is obviously blocked because one of the steps in the sequence of actions from winding to release has not been completed.

I could imagine the following:

The shutter is not completely closed, this happens with X cameras. This can be fixed by gently and carefully pulling on the shutter curtain.

The electrolytic capacitor in the bottom of the camera is defective, also a common fault. This is often recognizable by the LEDs in the viewfinder going out after pressing the shutter button.

The film is blocking the transport because it is not wound correctly onto the take-up spool. This should be fixed by rewinding the film.

Part of the mechanism is defective. Rather unlikely.

wow, thanks a lot! That's the second this has happened so will try the steps again and hope for the best as repair costs are too high

xkaes · Jan 8, 2025

As Andreas has pointed out, given the age of the camera there is a good chance the capricious capacitor caved.

You can test this as Andreas mentioned -- once you get the film out. Make sure the camera is OFF, with a good battery installed. Set the camera shutter dial to "A". Turn the camera on. While looking through the viewfinder, press the shutter release slightly to see if any LED lights up. Press it all the way, and see if it goes out. If it does, the capacitor is the problem. If the shutter fires, no problem.

Capacitors are cheap and you can replace it yourself if you have the tools, materials, the time, and some soldering experience. A repair shop can do it, but it will probably cost more than a working body. FYI, the X-300 was also sold under several other names. See --

http://www.subclub.org/minman/x370.htm

Andreas Thaler · Jan 8, 2025

Maybe these posts will help, I was, among other things, concerned with a shutter issue and replacing the electrolytic capacitor:

Minolta X-300 put back into service

An X-300 with some signs of wear and a dent on the side of the top cover, a bit dirty - a basement find, as the previous owner told me. The shutter is cocked, the LEDs in the viewfinder remain dark when the trigger is tapped, pressing the trigger does not release the shutter. Ok, let's see...

www.photrio.com

Electrolytic capacitor replacement on a Minolta X-300s

Of the 13 Minolta X cameras that are waiting to be checked here, see https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/interested-in-minolta-x-camera-repair-reports.202857/#post-2739628 I was able to get candidate 1/13, a Minolta X-300s back to work 🙂 Issues: - Camera cannot be wound up. - LEDs in the...

www.photrio.com

Minolta X-700/500/300 (700/570/370): Recommendations and notes

Timeless, robust and reliable classics: the three Minolta X SLRs from the 80s Based on my previous (repair) experiences with the Minolta X-700/500/300 (X-700/570/370) cameras with regard to preservation/problems/repair options, I would like to give a summary of the following...

www.photrio.com

MattKing · Jan 8, 2025

Welcome to Photrio.
Is there any chance that you have reached the end of the film?

randyB · Jan 14, 2025

Before rewinding be sure to note the number of exposures that were taken and then write that number on the emulsion side of the film once you remove it from the camera. The emulsion side is lighter so you can see the #, use a Sharpie pen. That is what I do.

kd218 · May 30, 2025

Thanks so much! Apparently, the described stop of the advance lever was Minolta's indicator for reaching the end of the film. As this has never happened before, I was kind of confused by it. But its working perfectly fine now - so many thanks again!

Andreas Thaler · May 31, 2025

kd218 said:
Thanks so much! Apparently, the described stop of the advance lever was Minolta's indicator for reaching the end of the film. As this has never happened before, I was kind of confused by it. But its working perfectly fine now - so many thanks again!

Great!

Yashica · Jun 2, 2025

kd218 said:
Hi! This is my first post so I thought I might give it a try since reddit and youtube did not help at all.

I have a Minolta x300 loaded with a film. However, the film advance lever stops working mid-film so that I cannot do anything at all. Batteries are changed and also checked for any battery corrosion (seems fine). Any guesses what else I can check for?

Thanks!

I#ve had this before, one time, via X700. Did the battery died mid-way? Usually, it should work after battery exchange.
Is the shutter still being cocked, without released via shutter botton? Have seen X300 that way via fleamarket, which isn't good
for the internal mechanism, mechanics to stay for months, ages without being released. This could be harmful. Sometimes even
the dreaded tantal condensator turns south, and needs a replacement. I've done this before. The X700 does have at least two inside.

xkaes · Jun 2, 2025

This is too funny. I just nabbed a $150 camera for $40 because the owner thought it was broken. The only problem was that it was at the end of the roll of film.

Yashica · Jun 2, 2025

xkaes said:
This is too funny. I just nabbed a $150 camera for $40 because the owner thought it was broken. The only problem was that it was at the end of the roll of film.

Acceptable price. Enjoy your X300.

neilt3 · Jun 3, 2025

xkaes said:
This is too funny. I just nabbed a $150 camera for $40 because the owner thought it was broken. The only problem was that it was at the end of the roll of film.

I've paid even less for cameras supposedly tested that still had their old , clearly never removed batteries in still.
Removed , cleaned up and replaced , the cameras have worked great .

I think the OP said the film counter was faulty , so an easy enough mistake for them to make .
A bit annoying to use a camera where you don't know how many shots you have left though .

Yashica · Jun 3, 2025

I snagged last sunday a "new" copy of my Yashica 230 AF. 10 bucks. Looks 95% new. Works like out of the box.
My old 230 AF - 1987-2023, and i felt the need to get it again.

xkaes · Jun 3, 2025

Yashica said:
Acceptable price. Enjoy your X300.

It wasn't an X-300. Nice camera, but I'd never pay that much for one -- unless it came with a great lens.

Minolta x300 - Film Advance Lever Problem

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency