Minolta XG-M Problem: Last weekend I found a Minolta XG-M with four lenses. I got home and found the film advance lever not working on the camera body. I put new batteries in the...

Bill 45

Last weekend I found a Minolta XG-M with four lenses. I got home and found the film advance lever not working on the camera body. I put new batteries in the camera body. The batteries check light came on, but still the film advance lever not working. I not going to pay to ship the camera out to be repair. I did that once on another camera, that was a mistake. Any ideas.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

You have three options:
1. Fix it yourself, if you have the skill and appropriate set of tools.
2. Find someone locally who can fix it and will do so at a reasonable price.
3. Leave it remaining broken.

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

50 years ago I had the same issue with an SRT-101 and took it to a Minolta Repair Shop. The Tech held down the shutter release button (the one you press to take a picture) and moved the film advance lever. It worked like a champ after that.

It was a five hour drive round trip and my total time in the shop was about 5 minutes! BUT I was very happy.

User ID

LarryFB wrote:

50 years ago I had the same issue with an SRT-101 and took it to a Minolta Repair Shop. The Tech held down the shutter release button (the one you press to take a picture) and moved the film advance lever. It worked like a champ after that.

It was a five hour drive round trip and my total time in the shop was about 5 minutes! BUT I was very happy.

Repair isn’t worth an hour of your time, and an hour of shop time is too much $$.

If you have, or intend to have, a FF EVF camera, the adapter is $25 so keep the lenses. If you wish to shoot film, get an SRT body. The XG series are disposables, and are over 40 yrs old.

The lenses do not adapt very well onto any other common brands of SLR. A really nice SRT averages ~$100 but prices vary verrrrry greatly.

Lastly, the XG cameras are real bottom feeders, usually accompanied by the cheapest of no-name lenses not worth using. Google the lenses to see if you have been exceptionally lucky.

I have a few very fine Minolta lenses for use with various EVF bodies, but I can assure you they were never on an XG body. Example pix attached.
.

85/1.7 (~$300)
85/1.7 (~$300)...

(Download)

250/5.6 (~$1200)
250/5.6 (~$1200)...

(Download)

90/4.0 (~$350) For EVF only - nonSLR

(Download)

Bill 45

rook2c4 wrote:

You have three options:
1. Fix it yourself, if you have the skill and appropriate set of tools.
2. Find someone locally who can fix it and will do so at a reasonable price.
3. Leave it remaining broken.

I have the four option: Into the trash can.

BebuLamar

Is the mirror down or up? If the mirror is up, push it up further it may drop down. And when it drops down you should be able to advance the film.

Bill 45

BebuLamar wrote:

Is the mirror down or up? If the mirror is up, push it up further it may drop down. And when it drops down you should be able to advance the film.

Mirror is down.

Bill 45

User ID wrote:

Repair isn’t worth an hour of your time, and an ho... (show quote)

I having a hard time understanding what you are writing about. Here is a list of the lenses that came with the camera: Minolta Rokkor-X 1.56 300mm // JC Penny 1:3.9 f= 80-200mm // Aetina Rokunar 1.2.8 f=28mm // Minolta Rokkor-X 1:1.7 50mm // J.C. 2X Converter

BebuLamar

Bill 45 wrote:

Mirror is down.

Possible bad capacitor. Search the internet on how to replace it. It's a common problem with the Minolta X series. For such a camera you should try to fix it even if it ends up in the garbage after all. May be your time is expensive like user ID said but I am willing to spend hours trying to fix the thing. If I were to throw it away it won't go to the garbage can in one piece.

Godzilla

My XGM is one of my favorite cameras. I have a couple good lenses with it and have it loaded right now with slide film. If you can’t get it going let me know and I’ll pay for shipping if you wanna give it away and I’ll take it apart and see what’s going on with it.

Bill 45

Godzilla wrote:

My XGM is one of my favorite cameras. I have a couple good lenses with it and have it loaded right now with slide film. If you can’t get it going let me know and I’ll pay for shipping if you wanna give it away and I’ll take it apart and see what’s going on with it.

You get a deal. PM me with your full mailing address, also I will give my full address. I can't remember the shipping cost, I known it a flat rate, Get back to you later today with cost. Remember you are only getting the camera body. I not set up for Pay Pal, so it USPS's money order payment.

Godzilla

Bill 45 wrote:

You get a deal. PM me with your full mailing address, also I will give my full address. I can't remember the shipping cost, I known it a flat rate, Get back to you later today with cost. Remember you are only getting the camera body. I not set up for Pay Pal, so it USPS's money order payment.

Ok My address is 177 Valley Brook Dr. , Dawsonville, GA 30534.
Shoot me a picture of the body first please, especially base plate and front.
If I can get it working would you like it back, or are you going to move on?
Wayne

Godzilla

What about Zelle? Are you set up to receive money that way.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Bill 45 wrote:

Last weekend I found a Minolta XG-M with four lenses. I got home and found the film advance lever not working on the camera body. I put new batteries in the camera body. The batteries check light came on, but still the film advance lever not working. I not going to pay to ship the camera out to be repair. I did that once on another camera, that was a mistake. Any ideas.

A jammed film advance/shutter is a common problem with all mechanical vintage examples. Don’t know why your previous repair experience was a mistake, but I’ve had a couple dozen film cameras of various vintage, several were high-end Minoltas, repaired by Zacks Camera Repair in Providence, RI with excellent results. Shipping by USPS Priority Mail for your XG-M would probably be less than $15. Michael will advise you by email of the cost to repair to get your go-ahead before proceeding. Expect repair costs and return shipping to be North of $100.

User ID

Bill 45 wrote:

I having a hard time understanding what you are writing about. Here is a list of the lenses that came with the camera: Minolta Rokkor-X 1.56 300mm // JC Penny 1:3.9 f= 80-200mm // Aetina Rokunar 1.2.8 f=28mm // Minolta Rokkor-X 1:1.7 50mm // J.C. 2X Converter

The 50 and 300 Rokkors are worth using, despite their pedestrian spec’s and low $$ value (about $110). Most no-name 28s of that era are useable and thus worth more than zero. The JC Penny stuff is just junk.

If you wanna do film, get an SRT and enjoy the 28, 50, and 300. You probably want something between the 50 and the 300mm. A 100mm macro would be a versatile choice. Or, a decent 135/2.8 won’t cost much. 28/50/135 used to be the common three-lens outfit.

The best body ever made for that lens mount is the Leica Minolta XE7 and XE5. Don’t take my word for it. Check it out.