Minolta Photography - Page 5 - Recent Questions, Troubleshooting & Support

Any of the problems listed below with give off a "Help" message on the external display-you can get this from a bad film transport system, failed aperture base plate mechanism, dropped focus screen, bent mirror, and a whole slew of electronic problems from blown boards to bad wiring connections. Apparently there is no Minolta Service Centre to buy spare parts.

Check for battery leakage in the battery compartment. Check the battery contacts. Make sure they are orientated correctly

It sounds like the film sensor has gone bad. You can check and see if any local repair shops still service these, as most don't due to lack of parts.

Communication contacts needs to be checked.

Bad gears

Open door in the dark room. See if it's already rewinded, but could be a stuck counter

Remove screws from around the top cover and front cover.

Bad Zoom Motor or gear(s)

Common issue. Camera needs new Aperture Base.

although 35mm film is rarer these days, most camera shops should sell it, or try amazon

There is a spring in the bottom of the rewind knob that holds the crank, and it sounds like it has dislodged or the plastic rewind knob is cracked (try small amount of super glue for this). You can rewind the knob off the shaft (open the film door and put something in the rewind fork to keep the shaft from moving) and then turn the rewind knob opposite the direction of the arrow (if the arrow says turn clockwise, then turn counter clockwise). This will allow you to remove the rewind knob assembly and check it for damage, etc. Also, there is a small shaft at the end of the crank. Make sure it is not bent.

The Maxum 300si uses one six-volt 2CR5 battery, which should be available at just about any electronics store. Try a Radio Shack, if they exist in your corner of the world.You may download a copy of the manual from here.

Yes, the lens will automatically open to it widest point.

Try fresh batteries. Check for corrosion from leaking batteries on contacts and where battery compartment snaps onto battery door. Clean corrosion if there. If you do not measure over 6 volts at the two metal contacts on the door, then this is probably the problem (very common). Otherwise, failure of motor, loose screw in transport gearing unit on top

Any camera store will carry 35mm film, color or black&white, transparency or negative. A narrower selection will also be available at many department or drug store, as well as some supermarkets.

No. The film must be processed chemically in order to make the pictures visible. Once processed, the film can be scanned and the digital images can be treated the same as any digital photo.

No. The film must be processed chemically in order to make the pictures visible. Once processed, the film can be scanned and the digital images can be treated the same as any digital photo.

Do you have a film in the camera? If so is it all exposed? Best thing to do is press the film rewind button and try the lever at the same time - this will eliminate stuck film issues as it removes film tension from the system. If this does not solve the issue then you need someone to have a closer look.

i just found it after looking at the manual again. it didn't work for me but maybe it will work for you.
go to http://ca.konicaminolta.com/support/manuals/film-cameras/film_af_slr/dynax_5/dynax_5_inst_e.pdf
and page 61 (actually page 121 of the manual but page 61 if you type in the page at the bottom of acrobat reader).
when i tried this it made the noise that it wanted to unlock but it didn't.
good luck!
~gobygirl