Minolta Maxxum 9 focusing issues?

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kriskirk

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I recently purchased a Minolta Maxxum 9 and ran a roll of film through it. The images are far from what i was expecting from such an exceptional camera! a lot seemed out of focus and very soft. the flash photos were fairly sharp too! Should i possibly get this looked at by a repair shop?

raond4.jpg
 
The focus accuracy of an autofocus system can go out of adjustment. Every AF camera I have ever had has become unusable for that reason. My Canon 5DmkII is just 3 yrs old and it front focuses quite a bit. It was perfect when I bought it new. I manually focus, and that is accurate. I need to send it to Canon for adjustment, but its about $200!
 
What settings?
I assume it is a screwdrive lens, if you were using a SAM or SSM lens the 9 is unable to focus. The AF sensor can of course be out of whack. Also, make sure you clean the contacts on both the lens and the body, just to make sure lens and body communicate correctly.
 
Its a maxxum lens. I will try cleaning the contacts and run another roll through it! I called some local places and they don't service this camera anymore. debating if I should return it to the seller
 
Show us some more examples first, please.

The picture you show in the OP is actually quite sharp, but looks like strongly over exposed C-41, with some leveling done in post (by the scanner software ?), which is where the noise in the sky comes from.

Maybe you don't have a focus, but an exposure issue (which would explain that flash exposures are OK) ... Which exposure mode did you use ? Does the camera exposure match a light meter or sunny 16 ?

I recommend to do some controlled exposure and focus tests, and go from there.

You can test the focus system by using a tape measure and reading the lens distance scale. When you do this, use one AF sensor only. Not perfectly accurate but good enough for a first analysis.

Roland.
 
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Here's a couple more examples. they are all on P Mode, Autofocus, segment pattern metering. All very standard set up for a test
 
They look reasonably sharp, but it would be difficult to tell if there are focus issues with those pictures because:

1. You're probably shooting with a small aperture, leaving a deep depth of field.
2. We don't know what the camera is trying to lock on to really. Spot focusing with a clear subject would help (closeup of a person's face, with spot focus on closest eyeball for example).
 
yea, im gonna give it another roll this weekend and write down the settings for each shot. i actually just got my nikon f2 and metered a spot on my wall with a shutter speed of 1/60 an aperture of 2 then set the maxxum to 1/60 and an aperture of 2 and the meter read that it was off. I had to change the shutter speed to 1/20 to get the meter to match up on a correct exposure
 
Just send it back. Those look terrible. Are you trying to shoot wide open in daylight, or are those stopped down? If those are on Program, just get rid of it. Do you know the lens is working correctly?
 
It was all in program. Figured that would be the best bet, to shoot a roll on program since thats a general setting. Thats the thing, it could be the lens also. haha
 
kriskirk said:
yea, im gonna give it another roll this weekend and write down the settings for each shot. i actually just got my nikon f2 and metered a spot on my wall with a shutter speed of 1/60 an aperture of 2 then set the maxxum to 1/60 and an aperture of 2 and the meter read that it was off. I had to change the shutter speed to 1/20 to get the meter to match up on a correct exposure
Click to expand...

Sounds like the meter is 2-3 stops off. Check the control settings. There is one with which the camera remembers previous ASA changes. Like the camera thinks you shoot at 100 Asa but your film is 400.

There is a list of control settings and a manual online somewhere, I forgot where but you can google. If the control settings are all set to default and the camera recognized the film speed correctly, the Meter is kaput and you should send the camera back.

Roland.
 
Hi Kris, if EV compensation is 0, the control functions are set to default, the camera recognizes the film speed correctly (it should show when you put new film in), there is one more possibility: the lens / camera aperture coupling.

1) in M mode, play with the aperture setting, and look if the aperture stays wide open, and closes correctly, depending on the setting.
2) do a meter test using sunny 16 (measure the sky around noon)

I also assume your batteries are fresh ...

Roland.
 
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