Minolta Maxxum 400si 35mm SLR Camera - Page 6 - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

This is light seal material that keeps the film chamber light tight to prevent contamination of the film. If this is bad, chances are the camera itself will need some servicing. The light meter and shutter speeds need to be calibrated as well as the lubricants changed in the cameras various mechanisms. This can be repaired fairly inexpensively. However, it's not a user serviceable problem and will need to be repaired by a qualified service technician.

My name is Rick and I'm a professional repair technician with over 20 years in the business and have repaired many of these. I'm semi retired and work from home with little overhead so I can keep repair costs low. If you decide to have the camera repaired, please click HERE for a directory listing that suits your needs.

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It takes 35mm film, with DX coding (look for the DX logo on the box, but it's difficult to find non-DX coded film these days). It can handle 100, 200 and 400 ISO film speeds.

http://butkus.org/chinon/minolta/minolta_srt-101/minolta_srt_101.htm

Hello,

This is a bit late but it might help!
The manual says this:
If the film is loaded incorrectly, 0 will blink in the frame counter and the shutter will remain locked.
Open the back cover and repeat the film loading steps.

Good luck.

This manual is for Minolta Xe-1 but it's the same with Xe-7.

Part ONE
Part TWO

Unused cameras tend to seize up: unless they're used regularly the internal lubricant films dry out and gum up and the fault you describe is typical of this.

As a professional repair, it's totally uneconomical and due to the scarcity of spare parts it's highly unlikely that you'll find any professional who will touch your camera as things may break during disassembly.

All you can do is to try and strip and repair this yourself. A full stripdown will be unrealistic, but with a bit of care and caution it's often possible to free up enough of the camera to get things moving again. I don't know of any free repair manuals, but you won't go far wrong by carefully removing the baseplate (watch out for the soldered wires to any electrical contacts) and trying a bit of manipulation. Use something clean and lint free to clean off gummed up grease (not cotton buds), and replace with a smear of light grease. Don't go anywhere near a WD40 can and don't mistake vaseline (petroleum jelly) for grease!

Removing the camera top plate is real "here be dragons" territory. To do so needs far more care and often special tools and the electronics underneath the top plate have to be carefully moved to access the mechanical parts. Doing so often irreparably damages them.

Often the shutter won't fire if the battery is dead.
Also check if the dial at the top of the camera is on the off poistion (keeps camera from running down the battery or firing accidentally)

You can download the manual for that camera in pdf format from this link:
http://www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_pdf/minolta_x-300.pdf

if you could reply with the exact model of the camera I may be able to find a user manual online
heres a link to the minolta manuals http://ca.konicaminolta.com/support/manuals/index.html
Once you have the film loaded - you then need to set the correct aperture and speed for the light available to correctly expose the film - There will be a number of options and methods to do that depending on the model .
You may also need to get a battery for the camera -

You can purchase the manual here:

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/manuals/riva-100-af-instruction-manual-p7265.html

get it serviced,CLA by a camera tec,since both cameras require mantainec.

on this camera can you lock shutter button down?
may have moved it changing battery.
take out battery may release it
is battery up the right way?

Well, here's the most likely things going on:

1. dead battery. Your X-300 has an electronic shutter that needs battery power to work. Try fresh batteries and check the battery contact wires for corrosion.

2. End of roll. If you have film in it, try the silver button on the bottom. rewind film and try another roll of film. Before you put in the new film, try the advance, click, advance, click thing.

3. Not all rolls of film are perfect. Some are shorter than they should be, some hang up in the canister.

4. The Minolta X-series were well known to have a problem. Two cheap capacitors on the later models would die, locking up the camera. One is under the top plate and the other under the bottom plate. These caps need to be replaced. I suggest you send it to a repair shop for that. Check prices. Garry's camera repair in Niles, IL does a very economical repair on these. It runs about $50 and $8 for return ship. He will also Clean, Lubricate and adjust it.

You could also buy another 300/370 on Ebay, as they're inexpensive these days.

Best of luck. Hope its just the film or batteries. You might also consider joining the Yahoo Minolta groups.

Hello

Thank you for using FixYa for your problem

This is a winding motor problem, remove & reinstall the batteries according to the user manual

Always check the batteries first, try a fresh set too but if is it still giving the same fault, your camera is faulty.
It should be taken to an authorized repair centre for a repair estimate.

Please rate our solutions and if you still have problems please call back for more ideas to help you

Thanks
Richard Scott
Technical Support
New Zealand

Hello

Thank you for using FixYa for your problem

eye = red eye reduction mode - helps to stop the redeyes in people when been photographed

Please rate our solutions and if you still have problems please call back for more ideas to help you

Thanks
Richard Scott
Technical Support
New Zealand

That's an entry level model, with no bells or whistles. Don't get your hopes up. It would likely go for under $20 on Ebay, if you can even get anyone to buy it. You can use the lenses designed for Maxxum on the Minolta 5D and 7D, and all the Sony Alpha bodies. Be aware that there's a multiplication factor, as they do not use a full size sensor. Its about 1.6x the focal length. You cannot use these lenses on another brand. The same holds true for Nikon and Canon. Their lenses made for film cameras have that factor as well. That said, all 3 companies make cameras with full size sensors, but they are very expensive.

I don't have a 7000, but the batt in my other databacks is a flat one. On the back itself. The battery is about the size of a quarter. You may need a quarter to turn the batt holder so it comes off.

The Minolta X-series (X-300/370, X-570, X-700) were known for this issue. Two capacitors under the top and bottom covers go bad over time. They prevent the shutter from releasing, so you cannot wind to re-**** the shutter. If you're handy at these things, you can buy the caps, remove the covers, solder in the new caps, and be fine. This issue is well known and you can find instructions on the web. Or you can send it in for repair. Garry's Camera repair in Niles,ILL will do it cheaply at $58 incl return postage. Look him up on the web.

normally theres a little slider on the side or a lever you have to pull up from the top of the camera (the film winder). do it in a pitch black room though if you can because there could be an old film in there and it'd be a shame to ruin it if it is really old. hope that helped!

first clean the battery cap and contacts with a pencil eraser including cap threads.
the aperture mirror is located on front of the prism. remove the two screws on the front prism cover, remove the cover. you will see the holders for 2 tiny mirrors one of the mirrors fell off and must be found before it gets jambed in the mechanism.if it's not around the prism anywhere take off the bottom cover and check there. gently shake and tap the camera . the mirror has glue on the base side and may be stuck. when found re-glue to the holder.