Minolta XE-5 issue

[Setarip]

Hello!
So I recently acquired a near mint XE-5, with a mint 50mm 1.7, a very nice 28mm 2.8, and a rather cruddy 135mm 3.5 for about $50. Everything about this camera I like! The meter seems to operate well, and then I noticed something strange. The shot counter is reading awfully funny. Basically when I wind to the next shot, rather than showing only something like (5,6,7...) it goes like this (5...10...15...) so I basically have no way to know how many shots I have taken (and it does not do it at 5 increments, that was just an example) Is there an easy fix? Is this camera still useable? Or Does this ruin the whole thing? ANy input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Addy101]

What do you mean by "it doesn't do it at 5 increments"? A what increments does it do it then?

I don't have a XE series camera, but my XD's does 2.4.6.8.10....
Based on your information I don't expect there is something wrong. But even if there is something wrong, it doesn't have any influence on the quality of the pictures you get.

 

[Setarip]

It's kind of hard to describe...basically, lets say I start out a fresh roll of film at shot 1, I then advance to the next shot. The frame counter will read something like 3 even though I have only taken one shot. Is this normal?

 

[steveclem]

Not to sound facetious but is your eyesight up to scratch? It might be that there are incremental dots instead of numbers in sequential places.

 

[Setarip]

I see what you're saying, and yes I believe I can see it 😛 the counter looks like this: (1....5....10....15) so there are dots in between the 5 number increments. My issues I am seeing is that counter skips two or three dots from frame to frame.

 

[steveclem]

If it's any comfort to you, I never bother setting the frame counter on my M2, if it's important I just bung another roll in my pocket.
I'll know soon enough when I've run out.

 

[FrankS]

Try this: open camera back, without film, to reset counter. Does it go to a couple of notches before 0? Advance a few times to reach 0. Then advance and fire the shutter 10 times. What number is visible in the frame counter window?

In any event, this has no consequence on the pictures you can take with this camera.

 

[colyn]

This is a fairly common issue with the XE-series cameras. Some deteriated back door foam will migrate into the mechanism causing it to count ahead like you describe. In all probability the camera needs service and can be fixed during the CLA..

 

[Setarip]

Try this: open camera back, without film, to reset counter. Does it go to a couple of notches before 0? Advance a few times to reach 0. Then advance and fire the shutter 10 times. What number is visible in the frame counter window?

In any event, this has no consequence on the pictures you can take with this camera.

Sorry for the delay! I just did this and it reads 17. It sounds like some old foam seal went in the mechanism. How difficult of a fix would this be?