Minolta A5 rangefinding is kaput

[paulfish4570]

It will not align up close or at infinity. It gives the appearance of aligning in the middle.
The camera was not dropped. The rangefinder was fine the last time I shot with it about a month ago - except for its always very hard to see patch.
I pulled it out of the drawer just to give the shutter some exercise with no film when I noticed the issue at infinity, then at closer range.
Something small rattles tinnily when I shake the cam. Rats. It only cost $28. There is no way it is worth fixing, is there?

 

[xwhatsit]

There is no way it is worth fixing, is there?

Not if you're going to do something silly like send it in to sit on some repairman's shelf for 6 months then pay him hundreds of dollars.

Pull it apart, sounds like the half-silvered mirror or something has come loose. Japanese cameras of this era are very simple and easy to work on -- just a few components in the rangefinder assy. Maybe I'm strange but I find this sort of work quite enjoyable and relaxing.

What ever you do don't just chuck it in the bin. That would be sad.

 

[paulfish4570]

I might give it a try, whatsit; appreciate the encouragement.

 

[Paul_C]

Indeed. The worst that happens is you learn something and have to chuck it anyway.

 

[paulfish4570]

Maybe I will order a sheet beamsplitter from Edmund and try to fix the focus patch, too ...