Support for Konica Hexar AF

[ampguy]

I have an old black, non date-back, hexar AF, and it needs some attention. The select and MF buttons are sticking, needing multiple presses, and probably a good looking over would help.

I've heard that Sony has taken over support for Konica/Minolta film cameras, would this be the case for Hexar's as well?

Any suggestions on who to go for having my AF looked at? Thanks!

 

[firecracker]

I have an old black, non date-back, hexar AF, and it needs some attention. The select and MF buttons are sticking, needing multiple presses, and probably a good looking over would help.

I've heard that Sony has taken over support for Konica/Minolta film cameras, would this be the case for Hexar's as well?

Any suggestions on who to go for having my AF looked at? Thanks!

Contact Konica-Minolta tech support in your country/region first and find out what they can or cannot do for you. If they still run the service for older film cameras, they will take a look at yours without any doubt. If not, ask them who to contact. That could be another Konica-Minolta somewhere else.

Recently I contacted Konica-Minolta in Japan regarding a very old discontinued Minolta enlarger that I was thinking of buying, and I was able to get hold of someone who was an expert on it.

So, ask them the right kind of questions. I don't know anything about what Sony is doing and/or intending to do other than taking over the DSLR camera department from Konica-Minolta.

I think old Konica brand will probably be dealt as Konica for the most part.

 

[ampguy]

thanks, KM in USA no help

I called Konica/Minolta film support for the US, and they don't support the hexar anymore, and the rep did not think Sony did, or other countries divisions of Konica/Minolta.

Any suggestions for just good N. Calif. repair folks with Hexar experience? Thanks!

Contact Konica-Minolta tech support in your country/region first and find out what they can or cannot do for you. If they still run the service for older film cameras, they will take a look at yours without any doubt. If not, ask them who to contact. That could be another Konica-Minolta somewhere else.

Recently I contacted Konica-Minolta in Japan regarding a very old discontinued Minolta enlarger that I was thinking of buying, and I was able to get hold of someone who was an expert on it.

So, ask them the right kind of questions. I don't know anything about what Sony is doing and/or intending to do other than taking over the DSLR camera department from Konica-Minolta.

I think old Konica brand will probably be dealt as Konica for the most part.

 

[reellis67]

You might ask around on the www.rangefinderforum.com site as well if you can't get what you need here - I know that many people there use this camera.

- Randy

 

[ampguy]

thanks, I did find someone with Hexar expertise, but they don't have spare parts right now, but hope to soon:

http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=webercamera

I haven't used him, but it was mentioned on the rangefinderforum, thanks.

 

[craigclu]

I'm not certain about the AF Hexar but a great place to check for assistance is with Greg Weber. He's at:

Mr. Konica

 

[firecracker]

I called Konica/Minolta film support for the US, and they don't support the hexar anymore, and the rep did not think Sony did, or other countries divisions of Konica/Minolta.

Any suggestions for just good N. Calif. repair folks with Hexar experience? Thanks!

Konica Monilta in Japan still does the service for your camera, Hexar AF according to the rep on the phone. I just called them.

Since their 10-year service period for this particular model has already ended last year, you cannot fully expect the repair, but at least you can try. From North California, it's only a big ocean away and not that far.

They probably still have some spare parts left because they usually have more in stock than other Konica-Minolta divisions do even after the 10 year-period, according the rep.

Anyway the mailing address for the repair is:

Konica-Minolta
Tokyo Technical Center
ATTN:Camera Service Window

1-6-1 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku,
Tokyo 113-0034

Write a simple letter in English to explain the problem(s) of your camera. That should be no problem. However, in general there's no service in English language there (no phone or fax# or not even email address).

For further information, check:

http://konicaminolta.jp/

0120-162-414 is the phone# I called.

Let me know if you need any help.

 

[Ryuji]

The select and MF buttons are sticking, needing multiple presses, and probably a good looking over would help.

This information is for those who are skilled in the art of repairing cameras. Use it at your own risk.

This is another common problem. I haven't found replacement parts for them, but I can tell you one thing... the parts used for MF and Select buttons are the same as the one used for rewind (R) and self buttons. So you can replace the worn out ones with two from R and self, which you probably won't use anyway.

For the general procedure to take the top cover off, and also the pictures of how those parts look like, consult the following link:

Dead Link Removed

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Ryuiji

Great photos and information.

I have talked with several US repair folks, and some had service manuals that showed the MF/Select/Rewind/Self are Honeywell?? Though they may have been reading a Hexar RF service manual.

In any case, I am not interested in opening mine up, but do plan to take it to Konica/Minolta in Japan the next time I am there, or a reputable service person there. Maybe I will have an RF at that time as well!!

This information is for those who are skilled in the art of repairing cameras. Use it at your own risk.

This is another common problem. I haven't found replacement parts for them, but I can tell you one thing... the parts used for MF and Select buttons are the same as the one used for rewind (R) and self buttons. So you can replace the worn out ones with two from R and self, which you probably won't use anyway.

For the general procedure to take the top cover off, and also the pictures of how those parts look like, consult the following link:

Dead Link Removed

 

[Ryuji]

I have talked with several US repair folks, and some had service manuals that showed the MF/Select/Rewind/Self are Honeywell??

I'm not sure if Konica used Honeywell parts. I've looked inside of MANY Konica cameras from 50s to early 90s, with the Hexar one of the newest, but all parts that I could identify or estimate the country of origin were made in Japan. There may be some exception in electric parts, though, and it is also possible that someone found another part that can replace the old one in Hexar.

I'm not as concerned about the Select/MF/Self/R/Up/Down switches. If I have to find replacements for them, those are far easier to find than the shutter release switch.

In any case, I am not interested in opening mine up, but do plan to take it to Konica/Minolta in Japan the next time I am there, or a reputable service person there. Maybe I will have an RF at that time as well!!

Good luck on this one. They transferred the service division to Sony... and I hear mixed experiences after this change.