500si problem...

[Gunjack]

I bought a 500si cheaply some time ago 2nd hand. It had been working fine untill today, when it refuses to open the aperture of any of the lens I attach to it. The lens is effectively stuck at max aperture and the camera tries to focus this way in the very dim situation. Is it worth repairing(abt how much) or do I just have to let it go?

 

[Snowcrash]

Have you try taking out the batteries?

Maybe it will help.

 

[Gunjack]

The battery indicator shows me a full bar... I dun think it is battery problem. The stuck max aperture happened right after I took a shot.

 

[frisky]

Check if you can unmount the lens, and maybe you can find something there.
Or you might want to bring it down to the minolta service for them to take a look. Might just be something stuck which might be easily fixed.

Unless the repair price is very low, personally I don't think a 500si is worth repairing considering the 2nd hand price for cameras like 9xi, 600si, 700si, 800si, 5. Might be a good chance to upgrade.

 

[UY79]

It happened to my 300si before. But it was under warranty back then. The cause was that the mechanical arm that controls the aperture in the mount was broken. Therefore it cannot open up the aperture fully.

 

[andylee]

It happened to my 300si before. But it was under warranty back then. The cause was that the mechanical arm that controls the aperture in the mount was broken. Therefore it cannot open up the aperture fully.

Partly correct.

The actual problem is...

The aperture control unit is broken,so you get the stop-down symtom. some people may get "help" when they release the shutter...so get your camera some help??

 

[Gunjack]

Spot on, Andylee! That is the problem. Guess I have to let it go. Just curious, how much would it cost to repair it? And any one have any comments on the 8000i?

 

[andylee]

The aperture control unit "replacement" is S$124.80 include GST. go get the si series camera.

 

[Gunjack]

$124.80?! Wah, cannot tahan. I bought the camera for less than that... Guess I have to let it rest in piece. At least I still have its 35-70mm kit lens, which i feel is way better than my 28-80mm kit lens. It is surprisingly good, actually.

 

[andylee]

Yah, that lens is not bad,think it's f3.5-4.5. :bsmilie:

 

[frisky]

Or izzit the straight f4 version? That one is quite good......