sick 50 1.7 - help please

[bonneville]

I know I am going to sound like a complete do-do but I have had a Minolta 50 1.7 (serial # 1112000) which came with all sorts of odds and ends when I bought a 7D in a bag on ebay ayear or so ago.

Never really got round to trying the 50 1.7 (the 7D has long since been moved on to a friend new to the sport, when I got my 700).

Read the link on this forum concerning this lens and it was hailed mightily by all. Got it out and gave it a go but far from impressed with the results. Closer look and it seems to be stuck at maximum appature. The cap opens it up but it doesn't return when the cap is removed. Lever moves easily back and forward with a pen, but there is no return springiness.

Is this now a paperweight or is it worth repairing? Not a mark on it cosmetically or on the glass from what I can see.

Open to suggestions, particularly as it seems to be excellent otherwise.

Thanks, in anticipation.

[Dr. Harout]

You are right, it's probably the spring which either broke or got out from its anchorage. I think it's quite easy to fix it in no time. The problem is to find the right place to do that.
Good luck.

[ianmiddy]

Hopefully he won't mind my providing a link to his work - take a look at Pete Ganzels "Dissasembly and Repair of Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f/1.7" page...may be an option if you can't find an economical repair !

Cheers

IDM

[Javelin]

it could also be a oily aperture. the spring is supposed to return the aperture to the smallest diameter. if oil got on the blades of the aperture then when the camera "stops down" (closes) the aperture, the aperture blades gets stuck on the oil and it won't move. This happens to old lenses and they really just need to be cleaned but those lenses are fairly common and you might be able to find a copy without problems cheaper than you can get that one fixed. on the other hand, if a technician does the maintenance on it, you can be sure of it's reliability after that and the peace of mind may be worth it to you.

[bonneville]

... take a look at ... Pete Ganzels "Dissasembly and Repair of Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f/1.7" ... may be an option if you can't find an economical repair !

Wow, thanks Ian. I might post a photo of what my lens looks like when I have taken it to bits (especially with my two Bengal cats helping me).

Seriously, it might be worth a try, certainly clear photos and I have little to loose.

[bonneville]

[quote="Javelin"]it could also be a oily aperture [quote]

Yes Javelin, that seems to be exactly what it is. When I move the blades in and out with a pen controlling the lever I can see the blades are smeared with grease or oil. There is a Minolta repair business near my work at Milton Keynes which regularly advertises in the magazines. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what they suggest.

If it isn't cost effective I might use it as a paperweight and look at the small Sony prime. (Do I really need it??) Ho hum, back to DK's excellent lens reviews.

[marktuma]

Before you pay someone think about having a go at it yourself - I did mine and it really wasn't too difficult. The only thing you really need which you might not have is an ultrasonic cleaner. It took me about an hour to do mine I think.

[bonneville]

Well yesterday I took a short run to Milton Keynes from my office in Bedfordshire and popped in to SLR Camera Repairs, who advertise widely in magazines as being Minolta specialists. Dave was happy to repair and service my lens for £30 which I think should be well worth it and he reckons it will take about a week.

His business is only a little three room upstairs unit in a small comercial park, that resembles a typical US motel! There are boxes of bits of cameras everywhere and he told me that the older models are getting harder to find, which he uses for cannabilisation. In his tiny office he has a glass cabinet where he is trying to build up a collection of all the KM models, but he has a very long way to go

I haven't got my lens back yet (obviously) but I would certainly recommend this business from the reception I got, and the tiny workshop where he and his colleague do their magic is an unbelievable sight.

As for the lens..... watch this space.

[David Kilpatrick]

I must remember to send him a box of defunct 7000/9000 kit and a stack of membership forms for the magazine. He does not pay for his advertising space in Photoworld, and it is important that if you subscribe to the magazine, you say so and ask for the 10% discount on servicing which he offers (it is this discount to our subscribers which secures his permanent place in the mag). Dave also continued the 'Minolta Club Camera Check' which was a unique thing original offered by Minolta UK. For a fixed feed including return shipping, they will clean and check one camera with lens, and test all the functions that can be tested without dismantling the camera in any way. A certificate is completed showing all of them ticked as OK, and returned with the camera. It is a very useful way to get the gear checked up before travelling, or to have a certificate confirming that the camera is to spec before selling a used kit. If any adjustments are needed which can be made without dismantling, they are made. If the camera is out of spec and needs a paid repair, the owner is informed and given that option, and the cost of the check is deducted from the repair.

I would also advise our insurance service, advertised again without payment from the company. In return we get a commission; in the past this paid for lecturers, it still does to some extent, but it's more vital just towards overall costs. I see they have not paid this in 2008 (it normally arrives in March) so I must call them. Mick Glover, who set it up, has retired now. The unique thing about this policy is new for old and 100% Minolta/Alpha. In the event of a dispute, they are supposed to contact me, and we work out what current (new) model is most equivalent to an older one lost or damaged/stolen. The only proviso is that you must set a realistic replacement cost; if you own an SRT-303b and put £250 as its value (the original price) the most you would get new is an A200; if you owned a Dynax 9 and insured it for its original cost, you would definitely get an A700. Some insurance companies will use Monark price guide, find the buying-in price for a used Dynax 9, and offer only that - which would mean you might not even get an A200.

In many years of dealing with this service, we have never had any disputes or problems. See: http://www.gloverhowe.co.uk and if enquiring be sure to say this for the Minolta Club scheme.

David

[ianmiddy]

...unique thing about this policy is new for old and 100% Minolta/Alpha. In the event of a dispute, they are supposed to contact me, and we work out what current (new) model is most equivalent to an older one lost or damaged/stolen. The only proviso is that you must set a realistic replacement cost...

David - I really should cover my 300/2.8HS under more than the default household policy - would a replacement cost equal to, say, a Sig or Tamron 300/2.8 be regarded as realistic ? - which is about what the s/h price of a replacement seems to be [incl shipping from Japan or US]

Cheers

IDM

[David Kilpatrick]

...unique thing about this policy is new for old and 100% Minolta/Alpha. In the event of a dispute, they are supposed to contact me, and we work out what current (new) model is most equivalent to an older one lost or damaged/stolen. The only proviso is that you must set a realistic replacement cost...

David - I really should cover my 300/2.8HS under more than the default household policy - would a replacement cost equal to, say, a Sig or Tamron 300/2.8 be regarded as realistic ? - which is about what the s/h price of a replacement seems to be [incl shipping from Japan or US]

Cheers

IDM

The choice is yours. If you own a 300mm 2.8 HS you can list it and state its insured value as equal to a new 300 2.8 G - but you will pay a corresponding premium. If you decide to insure it for s/h value only, the cost of a Sigma replacement is around the same as an earlier 300mm HS model, so that is also fair - you pay less premium, you get the cover you decide you need for the lens. The thing with the Glover & Howe policy is that they let you determine the figure, not Jessops secondhand list or the Monark guide. We had one case where a member had insured with another company, and lost an MD outfit to burglars. Because Minolta no longer made manual focus equipment, this company consulted Jessop, who advised that mint s/h Pentax (then available in comparable manual form to the lost outfit) or secondhand Olympus should be provided, as they did not the correct items in Minolta. He was not offered a cash alternative worth having, as this insurance firm did their own buying for all replacement items and had a deal with Jessop.

That's the sort of outcome we worked with Glover and Howe to avoid. They also, by the way, do the bespoke policies for the Canon EOS Magazine and the Pentax Club - it was Robert Scott, of the former Club Canon, who initially got them involved - at that time we had an informal association for the camera brand user club organisers and met four times a year for a lunch to swap ideas and do co-operative ventures.

David

[ianmiddy]

The choice is yours. If you own a 300mm 2.8 HS you can list it and state its insured value as equal to a new 300 2.8 G - but you will pay a corresponding premium. If you decide to insure it for s/h value only, the cost of a Sigma replacement is around the same as an earlier 300mm HS model, so that is also fair - you pay less premium, you get the cover you decide you need for the lens.

Thanks for that - will maybe get in touch for a quote on the 300 & a few others...

Cheers

IDM