| Author |
Message |
    
Itsmejuliette
Tinkerer
Username: Itsmejuliette
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 04:32 pm: | 
|
Hi,
My Dad handed me his old Minolta x-300 which hasn't been used for years, and it doesn't work. The symptoms are:
Shutter button won't trigger anything
Shutter cock won't move past 30 degrees
The batteries are brand new, the metering lights show up, everything is fine except it won't take a picture.
Anyway, after much researching on this forum I've decided that the capacitor needs replacing. I opened the base of the camera and the old capacitor has one slightly yellow-y leg.
My question is this: where do I buy the right capacitor?
I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron but I really have no clue about capacitors/electronics, so I would appreciate if you could present me with an exact link rather than a list of the correct specifications.
I was also confused as I've seen people seem to buy capacitors with a higher voltage - is that right? Should it be replaced with one that is exactly the same or a "better" one?
Thank you, it really would be wonderful to have this camera working again! |
Finnegan
Tinkerer
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 133
Registered: 09-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 06:02 pm: |
|
http://www.micro-tools.de/ |
Finnegan
Tinkerer
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 134
Registered: 09-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 07:00 pm: |
|
http://www.micro-tools.de/en/Electronic-Parts/Capacitors/ (more specifically).
Basically, look at the value written on the capacitor and go to any electronics part shop.
If you use a battery with a higher voltage than it is supposed to have (use a battery tester) it will revive the camera. For example, the battery tests at 1.6 volts instead of the rated 1.5 volts. Usually cheap brand x batteries are prone to be higher voltage. It may be your camera works if you let the camera sit for a few minutes off then on to let the capacitor time to reform after installing a fresh battery which is, in my opinion, often the problem. |
Itsmejuliette
Tinkerer
Username: Itsmejuliette
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 08:06 pm: |
|
I've tried leaving it on for fifteen minutes and still have the same problems.
Thank you for the link - I've already been to that website and it's good, I just don't know exactly which one to buy. Does anyone know the actual exact capacitor that will be compatible with my camera?
Here is a thread from a while ago that talks about using a different voltage capacitor to the original: https://kyp.hauslendale.com/classics/forum/messages/2/17582.html?1263511239
Thank you! |
Br1078lum
Tinkerer
Username: Br1078lum
Post Number: 266
Registered: 11-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 08:40 pm: |
|
The part number for a pack of 5 (you will need to replace the C9 and C10 caps) is 9531-1575-61. They are bigger than the blue tantalums on the camera, as they are the cannister type. I saw a site once before where the owner put the capacitors in a place they would be out of the way, then ran wire extensions to where they were supposed to connect to the flex board.
PF |
Msiegel
Tinkerer
Username: Msiegel
Post Number: 280
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 05:28 am: |
|
The X-300/370 is said to have one capacitor only. Problem with shows usually the following way: LEDs in the finder turn on but as soon as you try to trip the shutter they turn off and will only turn on again when you turn the camera off and on.
Here is an article with photos and possible sources.
http://www.twid.de/x700/#x300
My Seagull made X-300 clone had the problem described above and I had the capacitor replaced with a 220µF 10V capacitor as described in the article I linked to (the one from Conrad). The 220mF value seems to be more important than the voltage. My camera works fine for several years now.
If the problem manifests differently you might try to reset it before you address the capacitor.
Have a look here:
https://kyp.hauslendale.com/classics/resetcamera.html
My original Minolta X-300 did not shoot when I got it. Reason was that the lever the red arrow points to (the lower one) did not return fully to it's postion. It must be absolute parallel with the camera body as shown in the pic. I loosened the screw left to the arrow a tiny bit and the camera is working since then.
Hope it helps - those are fine users. |
Itsmejuliette
Tinkerer
Username: Itsmejuliette
Post Number: 3
Registered: 03-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 02:29 pm: |
|
Hello again!
Thanks for all your advice, this is what I think I'm going to buy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-Pcs-6x7mm-220uF-10V-Aluminum-Electrolytic-Capacitor s-/180827669504?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item2a1a2b4400# ht_1376wt_732
These are the only capacitors that will fit in the slot, which is about 9mm x 7mm. The old capacitor measures about 7mm x 7mm.
Please advise as to whether this is the right choice, and then I'll buy them and fit them and let you know what happens!
Thanks |
Michael_linn
Tinkerer
Username: Michael_linn
Post Number: 59
Registered: 04-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 03:11 pm: |
|
Those caps should work well. Just remember that caps have polarity and it is easy to check your polarity by simply touching the cap leads to the solder points on the flex and see if that permits shutter release. I've never found it necessary to even remove the old cap to perform the test. If that works, heat up the soldering iron.
Good Luck! |
Msiegel
Tinkerer
Username: Msiegel
Post Number: 281
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 06:00 am: |
|
The one I'm using looks exactly the same. Short leg is the minus pole. It's also marked with a thick white line on the outside of the black cover.
Good luck. |
Itsmejuliette
Tinkerer
Username: Itsmejuliette
Post Number: 4
Registered: 03-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 06:03 am: |
|
Worked! The capacitor was a little larger than the space for it, but by bending the legs backwards I was able to connect them, and I covered it in electrical tape to stop it from touching the camera base (apparently that can short circuit the camera).
Thank you so much, I hope that other owners of old Minolta's can fix theirs now - it was much easier than I thought it would be. |
Itsmejuliette
Tinkerer
Username: Itsmejuliette
Post Number: 5
Registered: 03-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 06:07 am: |
|
Here is a photo -  |
Msiegel
Tinkerer
Username: Msiegel
Post Number: 282
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 11:39 am: |
|
Great to see it worked for you. I regard the X-300 to be a real fine user. |
