Minolta 3xi won't focus -- how much am I going to have to pay for repair?

I have a 7 year old 3xi that was working fine until it just stopped

focusing. The view is very grainy and dark and the camera will not

focus or take a picture. Same response indoors and out. Manual

override produces no better response.

 

Now for the confession: It was dropped recently, from about 2-3feet,

but it had worked fine for a week or so. I know it must be broke,

but does anyone know how much the repair is going to cost me?

Most likely more than a used 3xi or a wide range of more recent bodies would cost on eBay. Unless you are sentimentally attached to the 3xi, I think you will be better off buying another second hand camera in good condition than getting this one fixed. 3xi and 500si for example, tend to sell for well under $100 - with a bit of luck and patience under $50.

Just a thought - are you sure it's not the lens which is the problem rather than the camera? It sounds as if the lens is stuck in the stopped down position, hence the dark view.

I agree with John - it does not sound like the camera at all but a stuck aperture. Try another lens. I had a situation with a 50/1.7 that did the opposite - stuck wide open - horrendous overexposure and I wasn't aware of the problem until the film was processed, but the viewfinder image was fine of course.