
- #Minolta autocord cds iii battery how to#
- #Minolta autocord cds iii battery series#
Without the lacquer the pin will fall out. The camera shutter had been CLA’d, but the camera tech forgot to put lacquer on the shutter cocking lever pin. …I have included a CD of Autocord information in the box with your camera.
installed battery and battery adapter in battery housing. replaced waist level finder lift button. installed missing grub screw on meter on/off switch. installed missing grub screw on focus lever. lubricated film rollers and film advance drive gear. replaced aperture/shutter viewing window. straightened waist level finder so magnifier pops up properly. cleaned mirror/ground glass/Fresnel lens. checked shutter, made/installed cocking lever pin. I recvd your camera today and have performed the following services on it: In the interest of sharing, here is the itemized list of inspections/adjustments/repairs performed, as communicated to me by Karl: So off it went and now I’m happy to report that my camera is back. Bryan, and he responded immediately after several email exchanges he confirmed that it needed to be sent in. This despite the fact that it had been advertised as “fully repaired and fully functioning” by the seller in Japan (for the record, I’ve dealt with many Japanese dealers over the years, and have always found them to be reliable and honest, so this experience was an exception).Īfter getting over the initial disappointment, I started searching on the ‘net for someone who could fix it.įortunately, it didn’t take long to find the name of a highly recommended serviceman: Karl Bryan. Unfortunately, I quickly realized (well, not so quickly… I ruined two rolls of film in realizing) that the shutter was not releasing. becoming a lost art.As many of you know, I recently purchased a Minolta Autocord. The photos were taken on the 7th Anniversary Toronto Photo Walk mostly in Toronto's east end. I might improvise a Gordy's Wrist Strap until I can find the OEM neck strap. Unfortunately, I don't have a camera strap for it, again in Minolta's infinite wisdom went with a proprietary lug system which is a pain in the ass. Turns out there was foam between the waist level finder and the dead meter, I replaced that and cleaned the mirror and carefully dusted out all the debris. Now I did have to clean the focusing screen, which requires patience and steady hands. I was brave and decided to use a roll of Kodak Portra 400 as my test roll, my Autocord's speeds are bang on. How does it handle? Different, the ergonomics take some getting used to if you are used to the world of Rollei. If I find that link I'm posting it for sure as a public service. #Minolta autocord cds iii battery how to#
Now I remember one photographer/tinkerer posted on his website how to make a replacement lever in brass, a much sturdier metal. There are a lot of Autocords out there with broken levers. The engineers at Minolta made the fatal mistake of using "Pot Metal" alloy which is pretty weak. The dreaded lever, if you're to stumble across an Autocord chances are that lever is seized up, don't force it. You load the film up top instead of the bottom and you don't have a focus knob on the side but a lever on the bottom. Well, I found one at Burlington Camera, everything worked except the meter which is no surprise.Īutocords are a different beast than Rollei and Mamiya TLRs. Now I was always curious about Minolta Autocords because of their reputation for amazing lenses.
#Minolta autocord cds iii battery series#
I like my Twin Lens Reflex cameras, owning a pair of Rolleicords, a Series E 3.5 Planar Rolleiflex and a Mamiya C220f is testament to that. There is no cure, only temporary remission. Photographers suffer from a disease called Gear Acquisition Syndrome or GAS for short.