Sticky Minolta AF Cameras

Roseha · Apr 10, 2016

I was checking out my Minolta 600si today, and I realized that the body has gotten very sticky. I understand that this can happen with Minoltas, but it's frustrating because I have some nice lenses for it and I wonder if I should just sell them now. I also have a Minolta 7 which is somewhat less sticky but I can feel it also on that one. Any thoughts? Thanks

dabsond · Apr 11, 2016

The sticky Minolta problem has been perplexing users for a long time. I also have a Maxxum 7 with the same problem. I used lighter fluid on the back to remove most of it. This will also remove the rubber top coating as well. I decided I would be OK with just the plastic finish instead of a sticky rubber finish. There are several threads over on the Dynax forum about this, along with quite a few unconventional suggestions.

ron917 · Apr 11, 2016

Some Nikons also develop sticky bodies. I removed the sticky coating from the back of my Nikon N70 with denatured alcohol and paper towels. It took about 20 minutes to get it all down to bare plastic. The bare plastic is fine, it's not too slippery to hold on to. If you are dealing with a camera back, remove it from the body if possible - less chance of damaging another part of the body.

Paul Howell · Apr 11, 2016

I had a N90 that was given to me after it developed the sticky body, I just covered it in duct tape. I passed it on a friend who is a Nikon user and he still shoots with it.

Roseha · Apr 11, 2016

Thanks everyone.

GarageBoy · Apr 11, 2016

certain rubbers just really didn't age well
Nikon F100s, lots of Minoltas etc

Really annoying, but nothing you can really do to "cure" it

John_Nikon_F · Apr 12, 2016

Pretty much most cameras with a rubberized coating seem to do this.

If the camera has sentimental value, get some leather pieces and glue them on in place of the rubber coating. Otherwise, clean the rubber coating off and just use the camera bare. Even the newer off-topic Nikon bodies do it. They use the same textured rubber that the F100, the F5, and the F6 use.

-J

blockend · Apr 12, 2016

It was a "soft touch" issue. I have three Sigma lenses that have turned to goo. Experimental finishes foisted on the consumer. It was a dark period for SLRs generally.

David Brown · Apr 12, 2016

Roseha said:
I was checking out my Minolta 600si today, and I realized that the body has gotten very sticky. I understand that this can happen with Minoltas, but it's frustrating because I have some nice lenses for it and I wonder if I should just sell them now. I also have a Minolta 7 which is somewhat less sticky but I can feel it also on that one. Any thoughts? Thanks

You could probably buy another 600si for $25. I wouldn't sell the lenses.

I have a 650si (same camera with the date back) and a Maxxum 7. Mine aren't sticky. I guess I've been lucky.

Roseha · Apr 13, 2016

David Brown said:
You could probably buy another 600si for $25. I wouldn't sell the lenses.

I have a 650si (same camera with the date back) and a Maxxum 7. Mine aren't sticky. I guess I've been lucky.

Thanks, I guess I will think about it. I do have a lot of other cameras and have been leaning towards the manual ones more lately so I was going to sell but will consider what you say...I'm just surprised because I'm sure I would have noticed this when I first bought the camera. Maybe the excessive heat in my New York apartment building hasn't done it any favors over the winter?
Are there any Minolta AF bodies that don't have this issue?

Paul Howell · Apr 13, 2016

Roseha said:
Thanks, I guess I will think about it. I do have a lot of other cameras and have been leaning towards the manual ones more lately so I was going to sell but will consider what you say...I'm just surprised because I'm sure I would have noticed this when I first bought the camera. Maybe the excessive heat in my New York apartment building hasn't done it any favors over the winter?
Are there any Minolta AF bodies that don't have this issue?

Maxx 7000 and 9000 I have do not seem to have the issue, but then I also have a 7, 7si and 9 that are also clear. I my case the only camera I had with the problem was the Nikon N90.

Roseha · Apr 13, 2016

Thanks again all, I've decided to get a never-used Maxxum 5 from the Bay and see how it goes. I was going to keep a couple of the lenses anyway since I have a Sony digital I might (rarely) use. I will see how this goes.

GarageBoy · Apr 18, 2016

The 5 doesn't have much rubber to melt, you'll be fine

Roseha · Apr 18, 2016

GarageBoy said:
The 5 doesn't have much rubber to melt, you'll be fine

Thanks, apparently the seller got it as an insurance replacement and never used it, so it should be in good shape I hope.

Sticky Minolta AF Cameras

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