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Jaime
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 04:00 pm: | 
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Hello,
I recently drug my Minolta SRT200 out of the attic. I need a battery for it. I went to a camera store and was told to contact Minolta for a new battery type that is recomended.
Upon contacting Minolta I got a message back saying, in a round-a-bout way, that they don't deal with that model anymore. Something like "All manuals, parts, and accessories for this model are no longer available".
I was wondering if anyone could suggest a battery type for this model. Thanks a bunch. |
rick
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 04:35 pm: |
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I assume it's the same as the SRT-101, which originally used the 625 mercury cell, now discontinued. The easiest/cheapest substitute for it (with good meter accuracy) is a #675 Zinc/Air hearing aid battery, available at pharmacies. There is also an Alkaline version of the 625 (called 625A) which is readily available; however, the voltage of the alkaline is incorrect when fresh and unstable over time, so it is not ideal for accurate metering. It can be used in a pinch though, if you have print film with a broad exposure latitude.
I have some stuff on the subject here: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html |
WernerJB
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 06:40 am: |
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Since a similar incident years ago I have over and again experienced the same: Minolta and, AFAIK all of the other "great" manufacturers of what in the days of old was what we considered state-of-the-art cameras, solid state high tech photo equipment that cost more than almost every one of us could afford, did not and do not give a shxt about the produce that once made them famous. To them, customers are interesting only as long as they serve as milk cows, the latter being sent to the slaughterhouse after use. From a manufacturer's viewpoint, customers who stubbornly stick to yesteryear's technology and are unwilling to "willingly cooperate", that is buy new stuff with built-in planned obsolescence, can go the same way. This is why in reverse I swear I will never ever buy or use any of those companies' modern style gadgets, I have got oldies enough for a lifetime. Concerning new equipment my motto is "cheapest is best", this is to say the shittier a no-name short-lived el-cheapo pixelcam is, the better it suits both the high-class demands and the pace of modern times, as it won't last anyway, no matter how careful one is when using it. Durability is a "quality" nodody cares about any longer, or if someone says it wasn't so, people think of something else nowadays.
Minolta? Never heard of, completely unknown, sorry, access denied, wrong input. |
Henry
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 01:16 pm: |
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It seems to me that rather than the manufacturers it is us that are "going against nature". Things are born, they prosper a while then die. It is us that are fiddling with Methusaleh's Minolta. It is us that won't let these old cameras "rest in pieces". :-)
I'm delighted to see new models come out. It means old models just got economically in my price range. In the sixties, as I was growing up, I couldn't possibly have afforded a Spotmatic. I now have several...and a whole box of lenses! The cameras are still the same. I am still the same. Ok, we are both older but you know what I mean...
Let's not begrudge the manufacturers for their newest whizbang--do everythang--plastic wonders. Let's thank them for making it possible for us to get cheap toys to take apart.
Henry |
Glenn Middleton
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 05:22 pm: |
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Obsolescence can be traced back through history,it is a fact of life. How we individuals deal or overcome the problem is the important thing.
Taking the vintage aircraft and car scene as examples: All over the World small specialised companies are manufacturing parts to keep the obsolete machines functional.Here in the UK it is possible to assemble a brand new Spitfire airframe and I believe in the US you can buy enough components to assemble some early Fords cars.
Some enterprising Asian companies make replacement camera parts - if there is a viable commercial outcome, parts will be made. However it all revolves around cost and profit; so if you are a user of 1970/80s high tech cameras, you tend to collect parts/breakers.No major manufacturer is going to remanufacture major parts from this era or keep the huge inventory of spares for ever.
A major problem is that staff in customer service departments only know what's on their computer screens. Very few have knowledge of earlier products, but occasionally you speak to a person who really knows the products and yes he is retirement age! I would have expected a 'proper' camera shop to have been able to answer Jaime's query about the battery, no matter how old the camera was.
Still as Henry says it does mean we can get our hands on some cheap toys to use/play with. |
M Currie
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 05:46 pm: |
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I think there's a difference between obsolescence and absolute lack of support. Nobody expects Minolta to keep carrying parts for old cameras, but I cannot believe, for example, that a company as big as Minolta or Nikon could not afford the web space to mount all its old manuals back to the first one as a service to owners and collectors. Nor is it beyond possibility that a large company like that could hire one person for a short time to figure out what batteries to use for an old SRT, and even, perhaps, what adjustments to make internally.
I have seen the same problem with cars. Go to a Jeep dealer for a part for your '87 Cherokee, and you'll be told they don't have it. Even if in fact it's the same, unchanged part listed for a later year that's still supported, they've thrown out the books, apparently. Not supported. Throw it away. And yet they expect you to buy a new one from them!
Of course they figure it isn't worth their time to do this, but I think they're underestimating the good will and customer loyalty they could generate, at least in a few of us, by convincing us that not only the products but the company itself will last after the shine wears off.
Some of those old meters will work well on newer batteries if you just offset the ASA dial to compensate. It might be worth trying an alkaline just to see if you can get it into the right range that way. Despite the bad reputation for voltage change, the alkaline will work for quite a while closely enough. Remember that this camera uses stepped shutter speeds and probably full or at most half stop aperture settings. You'll rarely get better than +/- one-stop accuracy anyway. If an alkaline cell works well, replace it the next time with the same size silver-oxide cell. SO cells hold their voltage well, and last much longer than Alkalines. |
WernerJB
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 08:55 am: |
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All I am asking for as a customer who once (erraneously!) bought a camera with a big name on it is to be given some sort of service (as indicated by M Currie, no more and no less than that in the first place). Instead, on asking for support, I am turned into someone who just deserves to be callously disregarded. Nobody expects the endless availability of spare parts, of course not. On the other hand, not so very long ago, it was possible to obtain at least good advice, original manuals (!) from Plaubel, Siemens, etc. even for products that had left the factories five to seven decades ago. But nowadays all this is reminiscent memories. And that is why I think it is my turn now to tell the big names to fxck off. I usally do not mix business with pleasure, so why should I favour or opt for Minolta/Konica, Ricoh or Canon products when I am asked? On adopting their role model it is payback time, I think. |
Jon Goodman
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 04:52 pm: |
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Rick explained the battery situation perfectly. You can also hollow out a 625 alkaline battery and use the shell for a little adapter using hearing aid batteries.
As for ongoing parts support/tech support, I think partly this is a matter of corporate culture and partly a matter of a throw-away mindset in society. There are companies who stand behind what they've built admirably, and by contrast there are companies who make it very difficult to get parts, information, etc. to service even their most recent products. It is a shame, but it is also a fact. My suggestion: When you find a company who makes a good product and spends the money to stand behind it, support them with your purchases. One good example: Eljer. Just this week, they mailed me a new handle for a faucet that I bought over 20 years ago. The faucet was guaranteed "for life" when it was sold, and Eljer has happily honored that obligation. The interesting part--they didn't make the faucet, so they never got a dime of the money I paid for it. A company they (or their parent) bought out of bankruptcy made it, yet every time I've had to ask for a replacement part, I have spoken with a friendly person on the phone who first apologizes that I have had a problem and second assures me they're going to take care of it.
Jon |
rick oleson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 06:24 pm: |
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One other neat example is Sears/Craftsman tools:
I have an engine lathe that my dad bought from sears in 1953, the year I was born. Several years ago on a whim I contacted Sears Parts & Service - the folks who repair refrigerators and stuff - and discovered that repair parts are STILL available for my 52 year old lathe! I bought a new set of headstock bearings and a new screw and nut for the compound slide......
Still, in today's world, even remembering you made something 30 years back is uncommon. Many companies don't keep most records more than a few years........ |
Lee Crump
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 11:02 pm: |
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Jamie:
I regularly see these batteries show up on ebay. I have also purchased batteries from a store by the name of Photosource here in Houston. Good luck, don't give up, but most of all have fun.
Every one else:
If camera manufactures provided complete support and there was no interest in repairing/restoring/enjoying these antiquated pieces of technology this forum, and countless others like it, would not exist.
This forum does in fact exist. You are in fact reading these postings. … Manufacturers of vintage cameras are not going to provide you much help in your attempts to repair your classic camera.
Sharing what we know is our best hope.
Let’s help Jamie find a battery. |
Rob
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 10:33 am: |
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"Every one else: If camera manufactures provided complete support and there was no interest in repairing/restoring/enjoying these antiquated pieces of technology this forum, and countless others like it, would not exist."
I think you're deliberately distorting the intent of the responses so far, to the point of imbecility. No one expects 'complete support', whatever that is. But it would be reasonable to think that if Minolta cared as much about its history and reputation as its owners do, to the point of at least giving out private repair shop recommendations, spec sheets and recommended battery substitions. Many manufacturers do that much. Apparently Minolta doesn't. |
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