UK Repairer Needed for Minolta Flashmeter IV

[Neil Miller]

Hi,

I am a UK LF photographer. I have a Minolta Flashmeter IV that has developed a fault: the slider bar that alters the f-stop/ISO/time values up and down has got a bit finicky. It moves the values down OK, but only moves them up intermittently.

I wondered (1) if anyone else has had a similar problem with this meter, and (2) if any other UK photographers could recommend a good, value-for-money repairer?

Kind regards,
Neil.

[robc]

I'd go to minolta for repair or to order a new part and fit it yourself.

http://www.konicaminolta.co.uk/contact/photo/index.html

[Neil Miller]

Thanks Rob - tried Minolta, but haven't had any response to my query and I'm not clever enough to work out which part is kaput to fix it myself!

Regards,
Neil.

[Neil Miller]

I chased-up Minolta after your reply, Rob, and finally got a price from them - £101 for the standard service charge. I thought that I could buy a good second-hand meter for that, so I reckoned I couldn't lose anything by taking the meter apart.

It looked as baffling as I had imagined - printed circuit board, etc. The slider switch, however, is purely mechanical: it sits between four springy metal prongs - two on one side, two on the other, and they are pressed together to complete a circuit when you move the switch up or down.

All that was wrong was that one prong had moved too far away from it's neighbour for the circuit to be completed in one direction - a slight persuasion with some needle-nosed pliers got it back into line and now it works perfectly once more.

I wouldn't even have thought of taking the meter apart if I hadn't read your posting, Rob, so cheers!

Regards,
Neil.

[robc]

glad to be of help. Sometimes it pays to get adveturous about fixing your own kit. I even dismantled a copal shutter which got badly splashed with salt water and sand. It needed washing out fast before corrosion set in. No prior knowledge but it still works fine except the cocking lever return spring has snapped.