Minolta X-300?

<p>I've just had a super-tidy Minolta X-300 body turn up along with a few other Minolta bits and pieces. I was really after the lenses that were with it, but it would be nice to have a working X-300, though they're not the most desirable camera in the Minolta range. Unfortunately, there's a problem with the electrics.</p>

<p>I fitted fresh batteries, turned the camera on, and the display appears to light up correctly, along with the metering, when the shutter release is touched. However, when the shutter release is depressed the camera in effect closes down; no shutter reaction and the display disappears. It can only be brought to life by operating the on/off switch again. Is this a known problem, or any advice or comment out there?</p>

<p>This is a common problem with X series Minolta cameras. Send the camera to Garry's in IL. It will be repaired for a reasonable price and should work for a long time. The capacitor for the shutter can reach the end of its normal lifespan while the rest of the camera is in good condition. The X-300 is the non-US version of the X-370. It doesn't have the depth fo field preview button that the X-700 has. When I had an X-370 I found MC Rokkor lenses with the little tab so I could have depth of field preview capability. I have had a lot of fun using Minolta X series cameras with a variety of Minolta and Minolta mount lenses. </p>

<p>There's one bad capacitor in there, and unfortunately Minolta didn't realize it was going to be a problem for several years so anything between an X-700 and an X9 can have this problem. There are instructions out there on replacing it, but if you're not comfortable with doing some surgery on the camera and a bit of surface soldering to a PCB, send it to Garry's Camera Repair as Jeff said. I had them service an XD11 and they did a good job for not a lot money.</p>

<p>Funny, I just got an X-370 (which I think is the same thing as an X-300?) myself, not so much because I wanted it, but because it was offered on eBay paired with an XD-11, which I did want. Good to know about this capacitor problem, though mine appears to work well enough (haven't actually put film in it, though). Thanks, Jeff and Andy, for the info.</p>

<p>Rick, it is really a simple repair. It requires removing the bottom plate, unsoldering the old capacitor and soldering in the new one. If I remember correctly I got the capacitor from Jon Goodman who is a member on PN and also the seller of the foam seal kits on ebay under the name of interslice. If he doesn't have one he can probably tell you where to find it. I think I paid him $1.50 for it? It is a .220 microfarad capacitor but it has a very small diameter so that it will fit in the space provided. The whole repair took about 10 minutes. I will vouch for Garry's camera repair but, I doubt it would be worth the cost of shipping to and from New Zealand.</p>

<p>Thank to you all for your replies; I'd heard of the capacitor problem but wasn't sure how it manifested itself. Garry's could be a little far from little ol' New Zealand, considering I paid $15.00 for the camera, a tele-extender and a pristine MD 35-70 f/3.5 macro zoom, (which is what I really wanted), all in a nice little bag! However, I'll make a few enquiries down here regarding repairs; the camera looks new, so it would be a good one to repair. What a great forum!</p>

<p>Thanks, <strong>Tom</strong>, we must have cross-posted. I'll have a look at it and see if it's within my small realm of expertise!</p>

<p>Hello Rick,<br>

here you might find what you are looking for:<br>

http://www.twid.de/x700/</p>

<p>Brilliant, <strong>Stefan</strong>, what a handy site! Many thanks.</p>

<p>I have new information on this capacitor phenomenom. I had an X-700 and X-370n both that didn't work properly. In fact, the X-370n did exactly as Rick's is doing. I tossed them over to the side believing it to be the capacitors. Months passed, bits of lunch fell on them, a good layer of dust formed. Then I decided to check them out before putting them in the yard sale. Big surprise is they both worked perfectly. How? I checked the batteries (they were new). Both 1.5v batteries measured at 1.62v. I'm guessing the extra voltage does something to make it all work. So get some over-voltaged batteries (mine are Sunbeam in an 8 pack from the Dollar Store) and recheck your X cameras.</p>

<p>Now <em>that's</em> interesting, <strong>Tom</strong>. We don't have a huge choice in batteries but I'll have a scratch around to see if I can find something with a slightly higher voltage.</p>

<p>I have an X-700 that goes periodically dead and then comes to life for anything from a shot or two to a week or so, and which also came to life for a period after I tested a flash on it. I'm pretty sure it's the capacitor, but the extra voltage kick might be just enough to wake it up again. It also seems to work for a shot or two if I leave it on for an hour or so.</p>

<p>If you can find the Sunbeam silver oxides at a dollar store or a Big Lots, etc., they seem to hold up well and have a pretty good kick.</p>

<p>The x-700 is slated for a new base capacitor, but one of the screws is seized in, and my little phillips screwdriver broke off clean in the slot, so I think I'm going to have to grind it out with a dremel tool and a diamond bit. In the meantime, the trusty little X-370 stands in.</p>

<p>Ahahaha. I just checked the "dead" XG-M with over-voltaged batteries and it works. Incredible. Bought that in a box of junkers and someone etched/scratched the battery cover down to the brass. Super clean battery compartment. Mint looking XG-M. The batteries measured 1.66 and 1.67 this time. Same cheap Sunbeam 8 pack for a $1. This is like discovering penicillin or something.</p>

<p>The x-300 and x-500 have a feature not available in any of the other XG or X- series cameras – you get a readout of both the meter's recommended shutter speed and the shutter speed selected, in manual. And with auto exposure lock, it's almost the perfect camera. I don't miss the depth of field preview – if you need to stop down, you can always untwist the lens part way.<br>

I have 2 – one black and one silver finish shown here:<br>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronaldthain/3981097124/</p>

<p>I'd agree, <strong>Ronald</strong>, they're great cameras. I picked up another X-300 in full working trim, and I've really enjoyed using it. That's a very tidy example in your pic.</p>

<p>About 10 years ago all my Minolta MF camera meters and shutters were failing and thought it might be the right time to get into the Nikon system in preparation for their digital cameras which were beginning to look promising, so I passed on the chance to buy a friend's old x-300, sold a lot of my kit and bought a Nikon F80 and a couple of zooms. What a mistake: as the novelty of the new camera and autofocus wore off, it gradually dawned on me that I didn't like the camera with it's tiny viewfinder and fiddly controls or the so-so lenses, so I sold them and went on ebay to replace all my old Minolta MF kit. It took a few years before I decided to get the x-300 as I was more into the XE-1 and SRT series, but as soon as I tried it I realised my mistake all those years ago!</p>