How to repair a Minolta X 370?

Terry Again · 10-07-2008, 02:09 PM

Hi All,
My Friend has a Minolta X 370 and she loaned to her then 13 year old son for a trip to camp. Now she knows that was a big mistake because the boy was showing off and instead of a 1/4 turn to take off he forced/ripped it off and now the camera doesn't take good photos with most if not all photos are way over exposed!! My friend thinks or knows the problem is a bad lens gasket as she calls it?? I have to call her to see IF she can e mail me photos of the lens on the camera where the lens meets the body and with the lens off the body showing detail in all the photos!!?
But If any one can tell me if this wear done to a minolta what might happen and how to repair. And any good camera repair shops in the Virginia Beach area?
Thanks for looking and any info on this matter,

Terry

Ralph Javins · 10-07-2008, 03:25 PM

Good morning, Terry;

Nice to hear from you again.

This is not going to be an easy one. How attached to this particular Minolta X-370 is your friend? If the problem is just with the lens mounting flange on the camera body, it might be repaired fairly quickly and not too expensively. There is also the question of the bayonet on the back of the lens; is it bent also and needs to be replaced? This will be an additional expense to consider no matter what happens to the camera body.

Perhaps depending on the strength of the 13 year old, has he also deformed the front panel of the X-370 camera body? If that is the case, then the clear choice is to find a replacement camera body. Trying to realign the lens to the film plane will probably exceed the cost of a replacement camera.

The cost of a replacement X-370 through KEH or even e-Bay is not too great. That might be the better way to go if the repairs will be extensive and also expensive. Please include the cost of a repair to the bayonet on the back of the lens if required. That part might not be too bad. Or just another lens through KEH or equivalent. The last time I checked, a 50 mm f 1.8 Rokkor was less than $ 40.00.

The final decision will be made by your friend, perhaps in consultation with her local friendly camera repair technician. If she does not yet have one, Garry's in Indiana is one place recommended for Minolta work.

Then there is the point about what she will do with her camera after it is either back or replaced. Should she let her 13 year old son use it again unsupervised at camp? That is a family discussion to be handled by others; not me. I have my own thoughts, but they might not be persuasive, let along appropriate.

Nice to know that you are still here, Terry.

Terry Again · 10-08-2008, 06:01 AM

Hi Ralph,
Thanks for the info!! I will pass it on. Her son is now 20 and not much smarter now! :-) I will have to ask her about being attached to the camera? I thought it might end up being a parts camera? I was browsing on Flea Bay and saw an action(?) for a X370n that's a fix or parts camera. And then she or I would end up with 2 parts cameras or a camera that's too expensive to fix for it's worth? I wonder IF when this rocket scientist didn't turn the lens as he was pull straight up on it? Still damaging the camera or the lens? One of those things you have to see to know. She gave him a X 700 that I want!! :-)
Have a good one!!

Terry

Ralph Javins · 10-09-2008, 02:14 PM

Good morning, Terry;

One thing I did forget to do is to provide you with the URL for Garry. He is also known as Garry's Camera Repair, and his URL or web address is www.garryscamera.com. The reports about his work on other sites are very encouraging. If your friend does not have a local friendly camera technician, Garry may be able to provide that service for her. Garry can also provide an estimate for repair.

I admit that you did get my attention with the "rocket scientist" thing. I did that back in the 1960's. Well, not really the vehicles themselves, but I did build payloads to put on top of them.

Regarding your comment about the Minolta X-700: Yes, it is still my favorite also. I now have almost all of the pieces I want to form a representative "X-700 System." I really like that camera. I do not care what others say about the indicated shutter speed not changing inside the viewfinder if you change the dial outside. I know how much I have moved the dial, and why I moved it. With the MD-1 Motor Drive on the X-700, it just seems to "fit my hand." Yes, the old "hand in glove" analogy. And, all of my old Minolta manual focus glass fits right onto it.

Terry Again · 10-10-2008, 06:39 AM

Thanks Ralph for the link I will pass that on for my Friend to use IF she wants to fix the camera. Like you didn't know that was a sarcastic remark about her son! I have to use him myself maybe I'm getting a SRT 100 that'll need a modification to use the silver oxide batteries after that Christian holiday that I don't celebrate now for the last oh, 10 years.

Terry