F. A. Kümmel
Newbie
Hi guys,
I bought an old Minolta af-s on the internet. Unfortunately it doesn't work properly - it only triggers very rarely. It's not really a valuable camera, but since I like to fix things, I'd be glad if you guys could help me.
So: after I put new batteries in, there are signs of life. When I press the shutter button halfway there is a noise when there is too little light. And a red light is on. When I adjust the ISO wheel or go to a brighter place, the green lamp lights up. So the brightness metering works.
If I press the shutter button all the way down, mostly nothing happens. There is a very soft noise - like from a motor that gets power briefly but can't move. But only very quietly and briefly.
When I opened the housing of the camera, I tried to operate the contacts of the shutter (three on top of each other) manually or to bridge them. As a result, it triggered (worked) for the first time. After that it triggered a few more times. Then it stopped again.
Then I noticed that it triggered after I opened and closed the film box (back of the cam). The camera rewound to the position: new film. And after that it worked once. Then it didn't work again. If I repeated this step it worked for one shoot. Every time. Until it stopped worked with this combination.
When I reassembled it, it worked again after a few tries. It released 36 times in a row. Then it didn't work again.
I know, it is difficult to judge from a distance. But maybe someone can give me a hint. Something I could still try.
I rather guess a mechanical problem, or some dirty contact. Maybe I could check components with the voltmeter.
If you want me to upload pictures, I'll be happy to do so.
I am grateful for any tip.
Oh and sorry for the bad English, I used deepl to translate from German.
Best regard,
Clemens
I bought an old Minolta af-s on the internet. Unfortunately it doesn't work properly - it only triggers very rarely. It's not really a valuable camera, but since I like to fix things, I'd be glad if you guys could help me.
So: after I put new batteries in, there are signs of life. When I press the shutter button halfway there is a noise when there is too little light. And a red light is on. When I adjust the ISO wheel or go to a brighter place, the green lamp lights up. So the brightness metering works.
If I press the shutter button all the way down, mostly nothing happens. There is a very soft noise - like from a motor that gets power briefly but can't move. But only very quietly and briefly.
When I opened the housing of the camera, I tried to operate the contacts of the shutter (three on top of each other) manually or to bridge them. As a result, it triggered (worked) for the first time. After that it triggered a few more times. Then it stopped again.
Then I noticed that it triggered after I opened and closed the film box (back of the cam). The camera rewound to the position: new film. And after that it worked once. Then it didn't work again. If I repeated this step it worked for one shoot. Every time. Until it stopped worked with this combination.
When I reassembled it, it worked again after a few tries. It released 36 times in a row. Then it didn't work again.
I know, it is difficult to judge from a distance. But maybe someone can give me a hint. Something I could still try.
I rather guess a mechanical problem, or some dirty contact. Maybe I could check components with the voltmeter.
If you want me to upload pictures, I'll be happy to do so.
I am grateful for any tip.
Oh and sorry for the bad English, I used deepl to translate from German.
Best regard,
Clemens
peppard
Established
Good Morgen, Clemens.
I had the same, kind of, issue with a Ricoh FF3AF. What I realized was that the film cartridge was not not making full contact with the the DX electric pins inside the body.
I used a small piece of cardboard taken from a book of matches, and put it between the cartridge and the back door, creating a shim, so that when the back door is closed it pushes hard against the film cartridge, making a full contact with the DX code pins. My small fix made the camera work, and it is still working to this day. Try it, it might work.
Best regards,
Giorgio
I had the same, kind of, issue with a Ricoh FF3AF. What I realized was that the film cartridge was not not making full contact with the the DX electric pins inside the body.
I used a small piece of cardboard taken from a book of matches, and put it between the cartridge and the back door, creating a shim, so that when the back door is closed it pushes hard against the film cartridge, making a full contact with the DX code pins. My small fix made the camera work, and it is still working to this day. Try it, it might work.
Best regards,
Giorgio
F. A. Kümmel
Newbie
Hi Giorgio,
thanks for replying.
Unfortunately the camera doesn't support dx-film detection. You have to set the ISO manually.
Best regards
thanks for replying.
Unfortunately the camera doesn't support dx-film detection. You have to set the ISO manually.
Best regards
maigo
Well-known
Minolta AF-S shutter problem
Giorgio might be correct about bad contact - maybe the battery contact is weak. Check the metal tabs for battery and ensure they are bent outward correctly and not flat.
Use only new, fresh and good name-quality battery. Not poundland/dollar/euro store no-name battery.
Giorgio might be correct about bad contact - maybe the battery contact is weak. Check the metal tabs for battery and ensure they are bent outward correctly and not flat.
Use only new, fresh and good name-quality battery. Not poundland/dollar/euro store no-name battery.
Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
If it's like the AF-C, push up on the battery door with your thumb while shooting.
I drove myself bat crazy trying to clean contacts in the camera before I figured out that the steel plate that stiffens the battery door/contact had warped and was losing battery contact. You can warp it back.
Dante
I drove myself bat crazy trying to clean contacts in the camera before I figured out that the steel plate that stiffens the battery door/contact had warped and was losing battery contact. You can warp it back.
Dante
F. A. Kümmel
Newbie
Hi guys, i am very grateful that you help me.
Dante: I wish it would have helped - would be the easiest way to fix.
Perhaps, I used very cheap batteries, should try better ones.
Sometime in the past, the batteries leaked. I cleaned the contacts with white vinegar.
Here are some pictures, can you see if there is something wrong?
Best regards
https://ibb.co/gZNtZ0N
https://ibb.co/WkFsYT7
https://ibb.co/TvCx1ZG
https://ibb.co/3CQfMhX
https://ibb.co/Y3Z3f29
https://ibb.co/GFY7CDB
https://ibb.co/M8n6Xsd
Dante: I wish it would have helped - would be the easiest way to fix.
Perhaps, I used very cheap batteries, should try better ones.
Sometime in the past, the batteries leaked. I cleaned the contacts with white vinegar.
Here are some pictures, can you see if there is something wrong?
Best regards
https://ibb.co/gZNtZ0N
https://ibb.co/WkFsYT7
https://ibb.co/TvCx1ZG
https://ibb.co/3CQfMhX
https://ibb.co/Y3Z3f29
https://ibb.co/GFY7CDB
https://ibb.co/M8n6Xsd
peppard
Established
Clemens,
It looks to me that the battery door has suffered some damage/oxidized, image 1154. Try to use some fine grit emery paper/vinegar to remove all the green/yellow stuff and get down to the bare metal. Also, if that is not going to help, use a small strip of tin foil over the battery contacts. New good quality batteries, like maigo said, will definably help.
If the above doesn't work, you need to make sure that the battery contacts are not shorted, that is you have both a voltage reading and continuity.
Good luck, my friend.
Giorgio
It looks to me that the battery door has suffered some damage/oxidized, image 1154. Try to use some fine grit emery paper/vinegar to remove all the green/yellow stuff and get down to the bare metal. Also, if that is not going to help, use a small strip of tin foil over the battery contacts. New good quality batteries, like maigo said, will definably help.
If the above doesn't work, you need to make sure that the battery contacts are not shorted, that is you have both a voltage reading and continuity.
Good luck, my friend.
Giorgio