Should I get these?

Chan Tran

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This is a pair of pretty nice looking XE-7. The guy said they don't work but I don't know. He would go for $50 for both of them. What do you think? I would meet him in person and can test the cameras but since he stated that they don't work and it's not nice to tell him I would only if they work.
What do you think?

One Lot of (2) Minolta XE-7 35mm Film Camera Bodies - photo/video - by owner - electronics sale - craigslist

One lot of (2) Minolta XE-7 35mm film camera bodies. Includes owner's manual and hang tag. Cameras are untested and are being sold "As Is" for parts, repair or display. Pick up in Dallas (QT gas...
dallas.craigslist.org
 

MFstooges

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What does "don't work" mean?
Did you actually contact the person to confirm the details? I only see "untested" from his ad.
 

loccdor

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I would ask if you can test them as part of the sale. I did that with an enlarger that I got for $50. The seller didn't know anything about it but was happy to see if it turned on for me.
 

aw614

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Wow they look clean. Bring battery see if it works on the spot then buy?

I took a gamble on a 5 Dollar om2n this past weekend at an antique store, outside of the self-timer being broken and the battery cover a pain to remove, it fired right up with no issues and just needed a good exterior cleaning
 

xkaes

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It sounds like stolen property to me. Otherwise, he would know if they work.
 
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Chan Tran

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xkaes said:
It sounds like stolen property to me. Otherwise, he would know if they work.
Click to expand...

Last week I met a guy he wanted to sell me his XE-7 and it didn't work. I didn't read the manual before hand and found that the mirror was in the up position and I couldn't bring it down. But now I know because he had no batteries in it.
 

ant!

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xkaes said:
It sounds like stolen property to me. Otherwise, he would know if they work.
Click to expand...

Could be a heritage as well, or someone who hasn't used them in 40 years and forgot how cameras outside of a phone work. Also, maybe no battery at hand and doesn't bother. I got well working Minoltas for the same.

As mentioned: Bring a battery and check. My XE7 has a problem that sometimes after shooting the film advance lever would not work all the way and no other shooting works for a while, until it finally works. Read about this problem elsewhere, this seems to be something gummed up and might be a not too complicated repair. Still have to try it on mine, but have still a bunch of other cameras (Minolta and others), so this wasn't urgent.
 

MattKing

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One observation, informed by reading many threads here.
Photrio may not be the best choice if you want there to be a reasonable chance you will get the answer "no you should not get those".
 

Marcelo Paniagua

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Don't know, Thats how I started to hoard Rolleiflex 35 SLE from ebay hoping one of them would work/be repairable
 

aw614

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On my XD11 and XE-7 and a Ricoh XR10, the ones I've bought appeared to have sat a long time, and just needed batteries in the camber for a while, and soon after started working.
 

fstop

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Buy them.
 

RalphLambrecht

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with$50 for both, there is little that you can do wrong. You can find a working one in good shape and use these for spare parts.
 

Les Sarile

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Chan Tran said:
Last week I met a guy he wanted to sell me his XE-7 and it didn't work. I didn't read the manual before hand and found that the mirror was in the up position and I couldn't bring it down. But now I know because he had no batteries in it.
Click to expand...

And of course X and B position will fire the shutter without batteries.

Those look super clean which usually makes me think they probably do work . . .
 

4season

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If that model has some special significance to you, and are are okay buying fixer-uppers, go for it.

I found a video showing the XE with top cover removed: Looks pretty tidy for an older electronic camera, though CLA-ing it likely means unsoldering a bunch of wires, and removing the circuit boards in order to access the mechanical parts. Would expect it to be a middling PITA to service as a result.

 

SMD

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Who would gain if you ask for testing. You not, the seller not. He obviously dont want the bother, therefore the sold as is for a low price.
Asking could make him to simply tell you "already sold". Even if you do test and find out the cameras are working it would only make him angry knowing he could get more.
Simply buy the cameras, nobody died from a $50 loss.

In the past my thinking and fears were just like yours, but that more often than not lead to the gear (cameras and other) to be sold to somebody else. You must take into consideration that bargains attract other buyers too.
 

SMD

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Response from the site: "Your request has been blocked. If you have questions, please contact us."
/rant on/ Thank you UE for your wise and good meaning legislation. /rant off/
 
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Chan Tran

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Don_ih said:
If you already have a Minolta slr, don't bother.
Click to expand...

Why? I have the SrT-101 and XD-11. Had the XK but sold it. Never had an XE-7. I have/had quite a number of Minolta AF SLR but I don't like them.
 

ant!

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Chan Tran said:
Why? I have the SrT-101 and XD-11. Had the XK but sold it. Never had an XE-7. I have/had quite a number of Minolta AF SLR but I don't like them.
Click to expand...

Same for me. I have an SRT201, XE7, XD11, X570. Some find the XE7 the best, I think I like the XD better, but live the others as well. Lately using the X570 the most though...
 

Molli

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MattKing said:
One observation, informed by reading many threads here.
Photrio may not be the best choice if you want there to be a reasonable chance you will get the answer "no you should not get those".
Click to expand...

I hadn't even read anything more than the thread's title when all of the voices in my head said "yes."
You're absolutely correct; Photrio is the place to come if you want confirmation of or absolution for any and every bit of camera gear you buy.
 

xkaes

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Les Sarile said:
To me, $50 for 2 non-working bodies without lenses - or even any accessories, doesn't fit that profile . . .
Click to expand...

The ad does not say they are "not working". It says they are "un-tested". To me that says the seller doesn't know anything about them. Anyone who had or knew anything about TWO XE-7 cameras in GREAT cosmetic shape would know how easy it is to test them.

Hence, without a mention of "got them from my dead grandad" -- the possibility of stolen goods increased dramatically.

That means they are probably in GREAT shape -- just stolen.

"Stolen" and "IN GREAT SHAPE" are two separate things -- and not mutually exclusive.
 
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Chan Tran

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Don_ih said:
Because they're all the same, more or less.
Click to expand...

I got the cameras. They have problem with power. I will have to see what's the problem. But they are not the same. The XE-7 is much more elegant than the SrT's and it's better built than the XD-11. It would not be the same.
 

fstop

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Chan Tran said:
I got the cameras. They have problem with power. I will have to see what's the problem. But they are not the same. The XE-7 is much more elegant than the SrT's and it's better built than the XD-11. It would not be the same.
Click to expand...

Based on my experience with XE bodies, ( I have a few er several) Exercise the controls,on/off switch and clean battery contacts before getting technical.
just in case

 
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