Minolta x300/370 rewound backwards

<p>Hello everyone,<br /><br />I'm new to this forum and I'm looking for help.</p>

<p>I recently started in photography and chose the Minolta x300 (x370) as my first ever camera.</p>

<p>I used it successfully for 2 film rolls, but on my third roll I messed up. When the roll was finished and it was time for it to be rewound, i turned the rewind lever backwards. There was an unprecedented amount of pressure, but for some reason I didn't pay much attention to it.<br /> When I noticed what I was doing I started to rewind it properly, but noticed that it wasn't working. After that I opened the back of the camera to check what is happening and in the process lost around 8 photos.</p>

<p>At the time I though I just ruined one of the rolls, and put in a new one to continue shooting. When I advanced the film I noticed that the lever was too loose, I though I put it the film badly and opened the back to check. Upon opening the back I noticed that the film wasn't advanced. After trying again (closing the back and advancing the film) the same happened again. So I opened the back and advanced the film with the back open, I noticed that it only advanced when I held down the film, but after the film was properly advanced it continued fine without my interference.</p>

<p>After taking a few photos and advancing the film there was a noticeable creak to the lever and even a resistance to it that wasn't there before. And before all this when advancing the film the rewind lever moved in correlation to the advance lever, but after my messing up it just stays in place.</p>

<p>After this I haven't removed the film to check if everything is working properly as there are still a few shot left on it and I don't want to waste another piece of film (they are quite expensive in my country). When the film is done I will update on what happened.</p>

<p>I hope that someone can inform me if I've broken my camera, or if there is something I can do to fix it.</p>

<p>p.s.: Sorry for my English... And Thank You<br>

<br /> Update 1: I forgot to mention this, there was nothing broken in the camera that I could see.</p>

<p>If you did not push the rewind button then you may have damaged gears. If this is the case take it to a repair shop or buy another body.<br>

Otherwise, looking at page 4 of the instruction manual http://www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_pdf/minolta_x-300.pdf open the camera back, remove any film in the camera.<br>

If you open the camera back in total darkness be it a darkroom or changing bag the film will not be exposed to light and therefore not ruined if rewound back into the cassette before moving the cassette into light..<br>

The base of the rewind shaft has a squared upside down U that meshes with the film cartridge spool. Turn the shaft so that the open slot is facing outward. Unfold the rewind lever on the top of the camera. Place the end of a cabinet screwdriver or larger into the slot then turn the rewind lever on top of the camera in the direction of the rewind arrow until it will no longer turn then snug it firmly. The rewind lever screws onto the rewind shaft. Some photographers have fully unscrewed the lever from the shaft making it very difficult to open the back.</p>

<p>Once you are certain the rewind lever is secure on the rewind shaft load a roll of film for test by this procedure: Hold the leader of the film cassette and turn the center spool of the cassette counterclockwise until the film is tight in the cassette. Insert the cassette into the camera and load as normal. Once frame 1 is reached turn the rewind lever in the direction of the arrow until just firm/snug. Expose the film or trip the shutter and advance until the end of the roll is reached then rewind. If the film will not advance properly then the camera needs repair/replacement.</p>

<p>I have done a few weird things with cameras but never managed to damage the advance gears. In most cases, if you hear strange sounds when advancing, this is due to film damage, the sprocket holes are destroyed by the sprocket wheels since there is too much tension on the film. I think this will be case here too. <br>

Depending on the advance mechanism, it is normal that the film is advanced only when held down to the sprocket wheels.<br>

The problem is that usually there is not too much tension on the film causing it to crack. Maybe the rewind crank has too much friction. It should turn quite loosely without a film. If you need some force to turn it, you may lubricate it with a very tiny droplet of thin oil on the shaft of the rewind crank. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thank you for your answers, I will check as soon as possible for ruined gears. On the matter of the rewind button, I did press it before I rewound the film backwards. </p>

<p>OK, so if you re-wound backwards, why didn't the rewind crank unscrew? (Or is the x300 different?)</p>

<p>Could be the blue wind gear & the intermediate gear which is on a plate are out of sync.. The IG sometimes loosens up & causes this type of problem. U can check by removing the base plate. If the IG is moved away from the blue gear slightly, it can cause a hard wind stroke. Not a hard fix but best left to a camera tech. </p>