Minolta X700 acting wonky, but not for me

Christopher Walrath · Jan 22, 2015

So, here's the scoop. I had this X700. Worked like a champ. Dusted it off last week and ran a roll through it. Perfecto. So, gave it to my friend who it getting into film photography. So, I am trying to show him how the thing works and we are onto the light meter. I explain that you just lay your finger on the shutter button to close the circuit and activate the light meter and look for the LED that indicates shutter speed. So, he lays his finger on the button. Nothing. I tell him to try again, nothing. I take it back. Works perfectly. He takes it back, nothing. Middle finger, nothing. Little finger, nothing. Other hand, nothing. Working perfectly for me all the while.

He is not dead, so what the what might be causing this? I cleaned the button off suspecting grease or grime on the surface. Same old after the cleaning. I am just a tad on the perplexed side on this one.

shutterfinger · Jan 22, 2015

He wasn't pushing it down far enough. Tell him to push it down gently until the light comes on then stop.

Les Sarile · Jan 22, 2015

I didn't know this before but after reading the manual for the X700, it does state that it is a touch sensitive switch to turn on the metering. However, further in the manual it further states that "If proper contact is not possible (e.g., in cold weather, when fingers are excessively dry or when wearing gloves), press the button slightly.

Christopher Walrath · Jan 22, 2015

shutterfinger said:
He wasn't pushing it down far enough. Tell him to push it down gently until the light comes on then stop.

I asked him to do that as well. No change. All I have to do is lay my finger across the button's surface to make contact and close the circuit.

Christopher Walrath · Jan 22, 2015

Les Sarile said:
I didn't know this before but after reading the manual for the X700, it does state that it is a touch sensitive switch to turn on the metering. However, further in the manual it further states that "If proper contact is not possible (e.g., in cold weather, when fingers are excessively dry or when wearing gloves), press the button slightly.

I told him to go home and try putting lotion on his hands and, particularly fingers, and see if that made a difference. I'll bet that that just might do the trick.

Any other ideas?

Les Sarile · Jan 22, 2015

Christopher Walrath said:
I told him to go home and try putting lotion on his hands and, particularly fingers, and see if that made a difference. I'll bet that that just might do the trick.

Any other ideas?

I just tested mine by putting a paperclip across these two conductors and the meter does turn on. I then put some moisture on my finger and confirm that the meter does turn on.

Learned something new so thanks for pointing that out.

Truzi · Jan 22, 2015

Yes, very dry hands can affect that kind of circuit.

Ok, really stupid comment here, plus I'm not familiar with that camera...
You say he is just getting into film - does he know what to look for? Did you watch the meter as your friend did this, or vice versa? Just a thought.

Perhaps the camera just wants to stay with you

Christopher Walrath · Jan 22, 2015

Truzi said:
Yes, very dry hands can affect that kind of circuit.

Ok, really stupid comment here, plus I'm not familiar with that camera...
You say he is just getting into film - does he know what to look for? Did you watch the meter as your friend did this, or vice versa? Just a thought.

Perhaps the camera just wants to stay with you

Yes, I had him do it while I was looking though his viewfinder. Yup, I'm an extrovert. And he could not close that circuit to save his life. I will find out tomorrow if it was dry hands or if he really IS dead.

Oh, and I'm OK with the give away. I had given him an older XG-1 years ago and was just hooking him up. Besides, the XG-1 is silver not black and has that uber-awesome JDIC sticker on it still.

elcabezagrande · Jan 23, 2015

First thing to check should be if you can see your friend's reflection in a mirror.

shutterfinger · Jan 23, 2015

How callused is his index finger?

E. von Hoegh · Jan 24, 2015

He needs to soak his fingertip in silver nitrate and expose it to the sun.

benjiboy · Jan 24, 2015

You really need to find friends Chris that aren't from the undead

E. von Hoegh · Jan 24, 2015

benjiboy said:
You really need to find friends Chris that aren't from the undead

The finger just needs to be conductive, not necessarily alive. Or even attached to a hand...

Alan Gales · Jan 24, 2015

E. von Hoegh said:
The finger just needs to be conductive, not necessarily alive. Or even attached to a hand...

E., have you done extensive testing to prove this?

E. von Hoegh · Jan 24, 2015

Alan Gales said:
E., have you done extensive testing to prove this?

Well, I wouldn't say extensive...

Alan Gales · Jan 24, 2015

shutterfinger said:
How callused is his index finger?

This would be my guess.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 24, 2015

Alan Gales said:
This would be my guess.

He could be an alien, the high resistance sort.

If Chris was a standup guy he'd lend his pal a hand... or a digit.

Christopher Walrath · Jan 24, 2015

elcabezagrande said:
First thing to check should be if you can see your friend's reflection in a mirror.

Wow. I am gonna use that one. Awesome.

Christopher Walrath · Jan 24, 2015

E. von Hoegh said:
The finger just needs to be conductive, not necessarily alive. Or even attached to a hand...

Oh, wow. Fodder for Monday. Wow.

Christopher Walrath · Jan 24, 2015

E. von Hoegh said:
He could be an alien, the high resistance sort.

If Chris was a standup guy he'd lend his pal a hand... or a digit.

Only after I have passed. The finger on to him in my will, that is.

I love the great threads like this where serious advice is followed by the advice of ways I can abuse my friend. You guys are awesome.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 24, 2015

Christopher Walrath said:
Only after I have passed. The finger on to him in my will, that is.

I love the great threads like this where serious advice is followed by the advice of ways I can abuse my friend. You guys are awesome.

You may have trouble attaining a successful execution (yes, that's the correct term... strange, eh?) of that will...
But, you can almost certainly get a perfectly good, fresh, finger from China - major and minor organs as well.

I suppose you could go to any bar near closing time with pruning shears and get one for free...

Christopher Walrath · Jan 24, 2015

And with judicious selection a really nice ring as well.

elcabezagrande · Jan 25, 2015

E. von Hoegh said:
...But, you can almost certainly get a perfectly good, fresh, finger from China - major and minor organs as well.

I suppose you could go to any bar near closing time with pruning shears and get one for free...

With Touch ID finally reaching the mainstream, I wonder how long until "thumbjacking" or "thumbnapping" becomes a thing ... little black market black boxes with a miniature circulatory system to keep the snipped digits alive and well until bank accounts are emptied, or ransoms are paid... Yeah, it will happen.

Sirius Glass · Jan 25, 2015

Hands are too dry.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 27, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Hands are too dry.

See post #11.

Minolta X700 acting wonky, but not for me

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