Minolta A5 Service / Repair

[topnotch]

Hi - I'm new here and just getting into photography. I picked up a Minolta A5 camera a few months ago which i;ve been enjoying using.

Its developed an issue with the mechanism where i wind the film on after each shot with it getting notch or jamming completely.

Can anyone recommend a shop / service that could fix this and also give it a good service (the vertical focus alignment is out very slightly aswell)
Cheers, Mike

 

[Box Brownie]

Hi and welcome to TP

As you may have spotted there is an active 'Film & Conventional' sub fora, so maybe your enquiry might gain more helpful attention in that section

Having said that I looked the A5 up and wonder if the cost of any repair will be greater than its value???

Oh, though TP is UK centric we have some non UK members, so can I suggest that add whether you are UK and which general locality as that may inform any suggestions as to who to approach about a repairs service?

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Having said that I looked the A5 up and wonder if the cost of any repair will be greater than its value???

I think that is the case.

You can pick them up for between £30 and £60 (I've seen them going for £15 on occasion) and I can't imagine you'd pay as little as that for a service and adjustment these days.

 

[topnotch]

thanks - i'm dorset, uk - i realise that they are pretty cheap to pick up, but i don't really like to throw away things needlessly if possible. I would also have a freshly serviced camera rather than another unknown off ebay which more than likely would have its own issues

 

[Box Brownie]

thanks - i'm dorset, uk - i realise that they are pretty cheap to pick up, but i don't really like to throw away things needlessly if possible. I would also have a freshly serviced camera rather than another unknown off ebay which more than likely would have its own issues

A worthy 'green' attitude but sadly all gear reaches the of its economic working life.

Should you be pointed to anyone capable/does service & repairs for a living, it is likely if your issue is due to mechanical breakdown that parts would come from salvaged cameras and no doubt the repairer would be very selective as to each recovered parts longevity.

FWIW I have a Rollei T that I have not used for many years and if I wanted it serviced I too would need to seek out someone to do it. I have no idea how much a Rollei T can bought for these days but Rollei in general used to be sought after. But for keeping history alive I might pay the price of service.

 

[Nod]

There is (or was a couple of years ago!) a camera section in the "antique" shop on Lyme Regis seafront. They MIGHT know of someone local who can do servicing on older film kit.

 

[Plain Nev]

thanks - i'm dorset, uk - i realise that they are pretty cheap to pick up, but i don't really like to throw away things needlessly if possible. I would also have a freshly serviced camera rather than another unknown off ebay which more than likely would have its own issues

Try Dave Cole in Weston Super Mare.

 

[topnotch]

Thanks - i wanted to save the film that was jammed inside but resorted to opening the back up and losing it - it looks like the film might have come unclipped and then wound itslef around the other winding reel next to the main one. it had also folded itself up. So user error i guess - although its only happened with the last two films i've used Kodak 400s, so wonder if the end of the film is cut slightly different - but most liekly just me!

i did notice that the internal light baffle (thanks AI!) - the square black bit inside is loose and clanking around aswell so i'm going to use this as an exercise to see if i can disassemble it a bit to fix that back in place properly. Might also give it a gentle clean dust blow out whiule i'm there.

Nothing to lose i guess now!

Will look those places up aswell - thanks!