My slr's mirror wont come down, the film wont advance, can't take a picture

KocioHarizmata · Sep 24, 2020

I am using a minolta x-300. I tried by changing the batteries with new one and it didn't work. I also looked the manual and still nothing. So if someone has an idea.

AgX · Sep 24, 2020

Welcome to Apug (Photrio) !

We all have come across such camera or even experienced such. But to be of any help (if at all), we need to know the model of camera you got.

KocioHarizmata · Sep 24, 2020

AgX said:
Welcome to Apug (Photrio) !

We all have come across such camera or even even experienced such. But to be of any help (if at all), we need to know the model of camera you got.

Minolta x-300

neilt3 · Sep 24, 2020

I presume the X300 can suffer from the same ( common ) problem that the X500 and X700 can suffer .
The shutter assembly is powered via a capacitor and over time , especially with lack of use , the capacitor can die and needs replacing .
The X700 needs two , one below the bottom cover and one below the top cover .
The X500 only uses one which is below the bottom cover .
An easy fix if you can use a soldering iron .
I presume the X300 used one , the same as the X500 .

Do a search on the forum with the key words "X500 capacitor replacement " or X700 capacitor replacement " .
A member on here has done a tutorial on doing this repair .

neilt3 · Sep 24, 2020

Read this thread first ;
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...n-a-minolta-x-300-370-500-570-600-700.149035/

And yes , the X300 works the same way as the X500 .

Sirius Glass · Sep 24, 2020

Sounds like it is time for a Clean, Lubricate and Adjust [CLA] which will take care of problems that you do not know about at this time.

guangong · Sep 24, 2020

This is a reason to use all mechanical cameras. An infallible rule, battery and/or electronics only fail at inconvenient times.

AgX · Sep 25, 2020

May I conclude from this that all-mechanical cameras fail at convenient times?

neilt3 · Sep 25, 2020

AgX said:
May I conclude from this that all-mechanical cameras fail at convenient times?

I've a few mechanical cameras that have failed on me at very inconvenient times .
A 35mm SLR who decided to cease winding on the film , and ( unusually ) I didn't have a back up camera with me .
And I found on a cold day one of my Mamiya TLR lenses either won't fire or is painfully slow .
Numerous other mechanical cameras have also died that I've bought from lack of use . These obviously need a good clean to put them back in action .

On the other hand , all my battery dependant cameras have never let me down in the field .

My Minolta X700's capacitor died when I was about to load it with film at home , so didn't cause me a problem .

Batteries aren't really an issue .
How much space do a couple of little batteries take up in your camera bag ?

Non of my modern SLRs ( post 1985 ) have ever let me down .

Commerre · Sep 25, 2020

Hey, We all have come across such camera or even experienced.

wiltw · Sep 25, 2020

guangong said:
This is a reason to use all mechanical cameras. An infallible rule, battery and/or electronics only fail at inconvenient times.

Unfortunately they largely STOPPED MAKING all mechanical cameras when they went to electronically timed shutters and cameras which display ISO, shutter speed, EC and FEC settings, etc. in viewfinders.

Sirius Glass · Sep 25, 2020

AgX said:
May I conclude from this that all-mechanical cameras fail at convenient times?

All mechanical cameras have never failed because of batteries, burnt out components, cracked wires or cables, cracked circuit boards, ...

Chan Tran · Sep 25, 2020

AgX said:
May I conclude from this that all-mechanical cameras fail at convenient times?

Well of course when one said ALL that is bound to be incorrect but I do think mechanical cameras while not more reliable they fail at more convenient time.

_T_ · Sep 26, 2020

I recently had this exact problem with a Nikon FE, another electronic camera. The first thing I did was change the battery, when that didn't fix it immediately I cycled every control: rewind film, open back, close back, remove lens, put lens back on, press all the buttons and turn all the knobs. Eventually something triggered the shutter to drop back down. I don't remember what it was. Now it works fine.

I have also had a Nikon FM2n fail at a very inconvenient time. A Nikon FM2n is a fully mechanical camera. I was shooting and the shutter jumped out of its track. Impossible to remediate in the field. Lost a whole day of shooting. In 16 years of shooting old film cameras that's the only one that has ever failed on me.

My slr's mirror wont come down, the film wont advance, can't take a picture

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