Minolta x700 + autowinder problem (?)

[Gareth Jelley]

Hi,

I'm occasionally, when using the above set-up, getting black blocks on
the right hand side of my negatives. Either a half, a third, or a
quarter of the print \ negative is just black, and the other,
remaining section is perfectly exposed. Sort of like if you take a
photo with a flash at the wrong shutter speed. These are photos taken
out side in good daylight.

The edge of the black, where it meets the exposed film, is slightly
blurred.

If you think you can help, e-mail me on- or off-list and I'll try and
send you some examples by e-mail.

Is the autowinder pulling the negative on too early?

Is the shutter-aperture (not sure if that's what it's called) closing
to soon?

Please help, I'm a bit worried \ annoyed.

Can't afford a new camera,

Best,

G.

[Abusaleh Jabir]

Gareth Jelley wrote:

Hi Gareth:

> I'm occasionally, when using the above set-up, getting black blocks on
> the right hand side of my negatives. Either a half, a third, or a
> quarter of the print \ negative is just black, and the other,
> remaining section is perfectly exposed. Sort of like if you take a
> photo with a flash at the wrong shutter speed. These are photos taken
> out side in good daylight.
>
> The edge of the black, where it meets the exposed film, is slightly
> blurred.

If I have understood your problem, it appears to be a shutter problem to
me. Perhaps the shutter is not opening completely at times?

Having said that, what does the blur look like? Blur as in something in
motion or blur as in out-of-focus?

In any case, I think you should have it checked by a camera repair
person.

Hope this helps.

Abusaleh

[Gareth Jelley]

"Abusaleh Jabir" <a_j...@my-deja.com>

> Gareth Jelley wrote:
>
> Hi Gareth:
>
> > I'm occasionally, when using the above set-up, getting black
blocks on
> > the right hand side of my negatives. Either a half, a third, or a
> > quarter of the print \ negative is just black, and the other,
> > remaining section is perfectly exposed. Sort of like if you take a
> > photo with a flash at the wrong shutter speed. These are photos
taken
> > out side in good daylight.
> >
> > The edge of the black, where it meets the exposed film, is
slightly
> > blurred.
>
> If I have understood your problem, it appears to be a shutter
problem to
> me. Perhaps the shutter is not opening completely at times?

Mmmm, or closing too soon?

> Having said that, what does the blur look like? Blur as in something
in
> motion or blur as in out-of-focus?

The blur, from exposed picture to 'blackness' isn't a motion blur, but
a sort of 'fade-out' blur. A very quick reduction in 'brightness' from
left to right, over a space of a centimetre on a 6x4 print. Behind
this 'brightness fade' the picture remains sharp...

It's just struck me that it's bound to be the shutter, not the
autowind, because if it was to do with the autowind, the negative
would be in motion, causing motion blur. Yes?

G.

[Abusaleh Jabir]

Gareth Jelley wrote:

> It's just struck me that it's bound to be the shutter, not the
> autowind, because if it was to do with the autowind, the negative
> would be in motion, causing motion blur. Yes?

Yes, thats why I was wondering about the nature of the blur :)

[Bob Hickey]

I would open the back and fire it at different speeds and make
sure both curtains are opening/closing completely. They will only be
completely open at 1/60 or slower. Sounds like the leading curtain is
getting stuck at some point. Try it without the winder too, but I doubt
it. Some of these things jam up if they're not used much.
Bob Hickey

[ryujin]

My x700 started showing a same sympton a few years ago.
At first one or nothing in a roll such problem happened. But later, a few or
more in a roll. I stopped using the camera.
Then, I was tempted to buy classic SLRs (same Minolta mount) made in 1960'.
I use and love them now.

And I've heard X-xxx bodies shutter could show such sympton when they have
not used for some time at all and you suddernly start using them again. In
this case, after releasing a shutter many times(some excersizes), it fixes
its problem itself.
If broken, it would have broken itself soon after all.

Ryujin

[Gareth Jelley]

> Ryujin

> My x700 started showing a same sympton a few years ago.
> At first one or nothing in a roll such problem happened. But later,
a few or
> more in a roll. I stopped using the camera.
> Then, I was tempted to buy classic SLRs (same Minolta mount) made in
1960'.
> I use and love them now.
>
> And I've heard X-xxx bodies shutter could show such sympton when
they have
> not used for some time at all and you suddernly start using them
again. In
> this case, after releasing a shutter many times(some excersizes), it
fixes
> its problem itself.
> If broken, it would have broken itself soon after all.

Mmm. I've been using for quite a while. I'm not sure how long you mean
when you say 'not used for some time'... but my problem did start
slowly and then get worse.

Thanks

G.

[Edwin]

This is certainly a shutter problem, and should be fixed by a good clean and
lubrication. My 1982 X-700 showed similar symptoms, and after service was as
good as new. It has withstood all sorts of abuse, such as over 100,000 miles
of motorcycle trips, with no problems at all.
Edwin
"Gareth Jelley" <gareth...@trinity.oxford.ac.uk> wrote in message
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