Minolta 7000 AF advice

[Mr Bump]

Hi Folks I have come into an old Minolta 7000 AF with 35-70 lens, and some extras. I have popped batteries in it and run it up and all seems to be working apart from the AF is really off. Anyone any advise on this. Its one of the first AF SLRS's and according to internet it is centre spot focus, when i use it the lens cycles up and down its length and just does not grab. I suspect the AF is creamed. Its a lovely piece of kit mind.

Also to add if I switch it to manual focus the focus indicator does not go green indicating good focus just runs about a bit and settles generally on both indicators flashing which in user guide states not enough light to focus? bad AF system?

 

[medwaygreen]

First I would give all the body and lens contacts a clean and retry. If no difference then we go to plan B.

 

[Mr Bump]

First I would give all the body and lens contacts a clean and retry. If no difference then we go to plan B.

yeah i did have a quick clean but i will give them some more with contact cleaner, to be honest I don't think its a lens issue.

Its also in mint condition inside, i think the lens is the kit lens and might have never been off the body.

whats Plan B ?

 

[medwaygreen]

yeah i did have a quick clean but i will give them some more with contact cleaner, to be honest I don't think its a lens issue.

Its also in mint condition inside, i think the lens is the kit lens and might have never been off the body.

whats Plan B ?

What contact cleaner, I would not advise anything liquid at the moment, my future son in law a computer specialist suggested to me on a ram problem I had that the best is a very, very hard rubber that is in pencil format, nice sharp point and no rubber residue or dust.

Plan B is to try a Lens that you know is OK or body and see by process of elimination, I am sure a Minolta owner on site will help.

 

[Mr Bump]

I would have used some contact cleaner that I have for cleaning hifi leads/connectors can't remember what its called, I think its a camera electronics issue as the lens does hunt up and down and the view through the viewfinder is realy clear and bright. The lens's are worth a few quid on there own so if no joy I might break it up. I also got a super mint genuine Minolta camera case with it and a 49mm skyline filter.

 

[Asha]

I think its a camera electronics issue as the lens does hunt up and down and the view through the viewfinder is realy clear and bright. The lens's are worth a few quid on there own so if no joy I might break it up..

Personally I'd hold onto it, possibly keep an eye out for another fully operational body ( assuming that's where the problem lies) and in the meantime manually focus.

You'll be doing that with your recently acquired FG anyway so more practice makes for quicker focusing! lol

Tbh I usually end up turning the AF on my cameras as I've become so accustomed to shooting kit that doesn't have it available.

 

[Mr Bump]

Personally I'd hold onto it, possibly keep an eye out for another fully operational body ( assuming that's where the problem lies) and in the meantime manually focus.

You'll be doing that with your recently acquired FG anyway so more practice makes for quicker focusing! lol

Tbh I usually end up turning the AF on my cameras as I've become so accustomed to shooting kit that doesn't have it available.

True but I was more interested in it because of the early AF just as an old working model from the world of night rider

Thing is without a split sreen type viewfinder there is no way to confirm focus its just by the lights which are also not working as should so it real is a bit guess work and my FG is superb at that as you know

 

[Asha]

True but I was more interested in it because of the early AF just as an old working model from the world of night rider

Thing is without a split sreen type viewfinder there is no way to confirm focus its just by the lights which are also not working as should so it real is a bit guess work and my FG is superb at that as you know

Ah yes nightrider....his car lights/leds tended to be a bit erratic too! lol

Guess work focusing ( and composing) is something i do all the time!...you haven't seen some of my gear! lol

It's where hyperfocal focusing comes in handy....a brief explanation here

 

[Mr Bump]

I got it on an impulse but with hindsight I should have passed.
I'm enjoying the Nikon FG though.

I will have a think, thing is with finding someone with Minolta its getting there or postage on this level of value for the camera its kind of prohibitive.

 

[srichards]

I have that exact camera. What sort of light levels are you trying to AF in? It's poor in low light and you have to make sure you find a good bit of an edge to focus on or it doesn't. Even in ok light it seems slightly soft in the focussing department. It's also quite slow so you have to wait while it finds focus. Often a few seconds is needed.

I think you can also get it to beep so it should beep when focussed.

It doesn't AF in macro mode either with that lens so make sure it isn't on that

 

[Mr Bump]

I have that exact camera. What sort of light levels are you trying to AF in? It's poor in low light and you have to make sure you find a good bit of an edge to focus on or it doesn't. Even in ok light it seems slightly soft in the focussing department. It's also quite slow so you have to wait while it finds focus. Often a few seconds is needed.

I think you can also get it to beep so it should beep when focussed.

It doesn't AF in macro mode either with that lens so make sure it isn't on that

Hi there I will try it when I get home later with full sunshine.
It just seems like it will not lock on to anything and the green light never even shows.

Would I still get a green light in manual focus?

basically as I start to press down on the shutter it starts hunting on the lens and most of the time settles way off focus and the shutter will not fire.

 

[srichards]

No idea about manual focus and the green light. I've used mine once to run a roll of film through it months ago so I can't remember!

I think this is the copy of the user manual I got: http://www.photo-manuals.com/manual/minolta/film-slr-camera/maxxum-7000/

It might have some suggestions in finding out what is up with it.

If the battery compartment is corroded then it may have issues as that was why mine was a bit flaky to begin with.