I had similar "electrical" problems with my Maxxum 5. I owned the camera less than you, about 6 months, before it started acting up. Infact, it was under almost the exact same conditions as yours. I was "playing around" with it in my living room, trying out different features as I read through the manual. I had shut it off and put it aside as I read. When I picked it up about 15 minutes later, it was dead. It would not turn on and did not resopond to any kind of input. I replaced the batteries as I thought they had died. These were the same batteries that I had from the start and had not yet learned how far the bar on the LCD would go down before they died. This did nothing. So I contacte Minolta since it was still under warranty and they said to send it in. I got the same camera back a few weeks later after being repaired.
I had to send it BACK to them once more 3 months later after a different problem. This time it was a problem with the back locking when film was loaded. Even after my complaints that they replace, rather than repair, I still received my repaired camera back. I've had no problems since and it's been about 5 months. So, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. The original warranty just ran out, so you know what that means. :)
Maxxum 5 electonics problems
in Sony/Minolta
Posted
I had similar "electrical" problems with my Maxxum 5. I owned the camera less than you, about 6 months, before it started acting up. Infact, it was under almost the exact same conditions as yours. I was "playing around" with it in my living room, trying out different features as I read through the manual. I had shut it off and put it aside as I read. When I picked it up about 15 minutes later, it was dead. It would not turn on and did not resopond to any kind of input. I replaced the batteries as I thought they had died. These were the same batteries that I had from the start and had not yet learned how far the bar on the LCD would go down before they died. This did nothing. So I contacte Minolta since it was still under warranty and they said to send it in. I got the same camera back a few weeks later after being repaired.
I had to send it BACK to them once more 3 months later after a different problem. This time it was a problem with the back locking when film was loaded. Even after my complaints that they replace, rather than repair, I still received my repaired camera back. I've had no problems since and it's been about 5 months. So, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. The original warranty just ran out, so you know what that means. :)
Andy