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Bignewf
Tinkerer
Username: Bignewf
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 08:20 am: | 
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I recently bought a REALLY cheap Fujica AX 3. The shutter won't fire, and the film lever will not advance. I know this camera has an electronic shutter, and I wonder if it needs the correct 6 volt battery to cock and fire. Does anyone have any ideas |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 316
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 10:45 am: |
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Step one in every "new" camera is to clean the battery compartment and install a new battery (unless, of course, it is a camera that doesn't use a battery).  |
Donnie_strickland
Tinkerer
Username: Donnie_strickland
Post Number: 90
Registered: 09-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 01:49 pm: |
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Yes, the AX3 will not fire without a working battery. |
Ethostech
Tinkerer
Username: Ethostech
Post Number: 153
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 10:13 am: |
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The film advance is on "wind-lock" because the shutter is already cocked. If after cleaning the battery contacts and installing a fresh new battery the shutter still refuses to release, then the most likely issue (very common with AX-1 and AX-3 models) is a dried out elctrolytic capacitor as mounted under the front edge of the double-sided pcb under the baseplate. It is a blue polarised cylindrical 6.3 volt electrolytic of 4 7 microfarads. Electrolytics should never have been used because of their l known propensiity to dry out - and indeed later models of the AX-3 used a Tantalum. Because the legs of the capacitor solder through the pcb and make circuit to both the upper and lower tracks, you have to be adept with a fine-point soldering iron.
Remove the two obvious screws which secure the pcb and allow it to hinge upwards by the half dozen fine wires at its rear.
You will then be able to access the capacitor culprit.
Remember that the capacitor (and its replacement Tantalum) are polarised. Ensure that the negative leg goes to the forward edge of the pcb.
Voltage rating of the Tantalum can be 9 volts if you cannot obtain a 6.3 v item. Since Tanalums are significantly smaller than electrolytics, the 9v version will still fit comforatably. |
Bignewf
Tinkerer
Username: Bignewf
Post Number: 2
Registered: 05-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 09:21 pm: |
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Thanks for the info. I popped for a new battery, cleaned the contacts, pushed the shutter release, and nothing happens. The suggested repair is WAY past my abilities, so I guess this one goes on the shelf. Maybe it will heal itself. |
Ethostech
Tinkerer
Username: Ethostech
Post Number: 155
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 09:37 pm: |
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Replacing the little electrolytic with a same value tantalum is not big deal and will likely restore your AX-3 to functionality. I would happily do it for you in about ten minutes - but I am in Australia, May I suggest you continue this thread by posting your location. There will surely be some competent member fairly close to you - who'd be happy to do it for you.. |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 202
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 06:36 am: |
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You may find that depending on where you live a tantalum capacitor could cost almost as much as you paid for the camera! In that case just replace with an electrolytic of the right size, it will last a few years. |
Bignewf
Tinkerer
Username: Bignewf
Post Number: 3
Registered: 05-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2010 - 09:00 am: |
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Re: the AX-3: I paid $1.00 for the camera, a nice bag and a Fuji 300 flash, so I guess I could afford a little work on it. I really am not confident of my ability to even open the camera without doing major damage, but I would certainly not turn down any help. I live south of Albany, New York. |
Beardofzeus
Tinkerer
Username: Beardofzeus
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2013
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2013 - 02:01 am: |
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Hello, I attempted to replace a capacitor in an AX-3 and managed to do so but a couple of colored wires on the circuit board broke off at the solder point when I was bending the PCB back.
I can't remember how they were oriented on the board, so I was wondering if anyone who has this camera would be kind enough to quickly unscrew the bottom the bottom panel of their AX-3 and snap a quick picture of the PCB, so i can see how the wires are oriented. |
