Minolta X700 acting wonky, but not for me

[Christopher Walrath]

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]

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

 

[Les Sarile]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[shutterfinger]

How callused is his index finger?

 

[E. von Hoegh]

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

 

[benjiboy]

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

 

[E. von Hoegh]

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]

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]

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

Well, I wouldn't say extensive...

 

[Alan Gales]

How callused is his index finger?

This would be my guess.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

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]

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]

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

Oh, wow. Fodder for Monday. Wow.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

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]

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]

And with judicious selection a really nice ring as well.

 

[elcabezagrande]

...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]

Hands are too dry.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Hands are too dry.

See post #11.