Minolta XG1 Video Manual, Video 2 of 2
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2014
- Minolta's XG1 (later the XG-1) was an introductory-grade model with many well thought out features and design elements. Not a common camera and often overlooked, the XG1 is a very user friendly body capable of growing photographically with a user from beginner to advanced.
This video presents details about the XG1's operations and features as well as tips and directions on how to use the camera. The first video provides a general camera overview.
Video Index:
Skip the Intro: 0:07
Loading Film: 0:34
What Happens Inside Your Camera When you Take a Photo: 2:06
Unloading Film: 2:48
Mounting and Unmounting a Lens: 3:29
How to take a Photo with your XG1: 3:54
Exposure Compensation in Aperture Priority Mode: 4:33
Using the Self-timer: 6:46
Changing the Battery: 7:16
Using a Flash: 8:45
Cable Release Socket: 10:34
Adjusting the ISO: 11:10
How the Light Meter Works: 11:58
Pleading for Affection: 13:10
Outtake: 13:45
Link to Video 1:
• Minolta XG1 Video Manu...
References:
www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_...
camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Min...
www.rokkorfiles.com/XG%20Serie...
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David , this second video is so excellent, I emphasise SO!, is just what I needed,as a beginner, is so well detailed and descriptive. Thanks so much for this, without it I am lost, this is the best one I have come across.
After watching this SECOND video I now know that the Exposure Compensation switch does work , I mean the little white nob on it in the centre, as a dial move up or down, as I thought it moved , thanks goodness for this video!!!!!, as I thought it didnt work, and I was about to tell the seller , my recent purchase that he lied ,about 'everything works''. Phew!!! .Thank you , Thank you for showing this.
Clara D You're welcome! I'm glad it all works well. You'll really enjoy your XG1. They're nice cameras. Take great photos!
This was awesome! Just inherited this camera into my film family and REALLY appreciate the video tutorial! Awesome stuff!
+Katherine DeLorme You're very welcome!
I inherited this camera a couple of years ago and have recently thought about trying it out again. I struggled to use it as a kid but this was a great refresher and cleared up a lot of the confusion I had in the past.
Nice! It's great to be able to use cameras that family members used to use. It helps maintain a connection.
This is great! Thank you so much for this video! I found my father's Minolta camera and have no idea how to use. This greatly helped me get started!
You're very welcome. Take great photos!
Just got an XG-1 and I have no Idea about photography, thanks for the videos they have helped alot!
You're very welcome. Let me know if you have questions and I'll point you in the right direction.
actually I as the last person said just inherited one of these and the video tuned me in, THANK YOU
+Ron Lacey Thank you!
Thank you SO MUCH for these two videos, it really helped me to know all about this camera that someone gave me for free with three lenses, it's going to be my first film camera and I like about it how simple and well thought it it, and it will allow me in a simple way to start exposing with exposure compensation and use my M42 lens Helios 44m-2. In my digital Nikon I can't focus with our further away than 3m 🤗🙏🏽 Thank you so much. Love (I will just check the video you have about push/pull process while I finish making plum jam 😀
Thank you! This is a great first camera and you should be able to learn a lot about film and photography from it. This is a whole different experience than modern photography.
Thanks for the video! My dad just gave me this camera and I was hitting up TH-cam to learn how to use it so perfect timing!
You're welcome and I'm glad the timing worked perfectly! Enjoy your XG1; it's a great camera.
this really helped me. thanks for taking the time David :)
+PJ Pantelis You're very welcome!
I just got this camera from a 2nd hand shop and this was very helpful, thanks! Ps. I'm in love with the sound it makes :)
Nice! Great value, too.
Thanks buddy much appreciated even after 9nyears after release ❤🎉
Thank you!
Thx, David, for the video. My cousin scored this camera at a thrift store, for a few bucks. It didn't come w/a lens or a lens body cover, and the film advance lever is a bit loose, but everything seems functional (w/a fresh pair of batteries and a lens from my other Minolta).
Nice! These are good camera to use and they have great meters and shutters. If the film advance is loose, it might just need to have the little round bit on top of the advance lever tightened a bit.
Jesus Christ. I've had this camera for over fifteen years. I had no idea it had Aperture priority mode. It didn't come with a manual and by the time I moved onto digital, I was just shooting in manual and knew what settings I needed for the lighting conditions. Thank you.
+meow meow meow The upside to that is that you probably know a good deal more about how to achieve good photographic results than users who only ever shoot in one of the semi- or fully-automatic modes. :D
Thanks for another fine video it was very helpful. I picked up a XG-1 at the Thrift Store today for $8 cdn with 50mm lens. They thought it was broke but all it needed was batteries. I noticed there are a couple small differences to the XG1. The battery check light is rectangle instead of round and there is a film memo holder on the back cover. Otherwise they seem to be the same camera. Dave
David Buckle That's a fantastic find and for a great price! It's not unexpected that there would be small changes. If yours is an XG-1 (with a hyphen) then it's a modestly different model from the one in this video, but it functions in the same manner. Take great photos!
My first analogue camera right here :) still love it :) very simple camera, I really like automatic mode on this one, good camera for quick candid (not super duper silent though) shots
It was a lot of fun for the short time I had it. I think it's one of the most well thought-out entry-to-mid-level cameras I've seen.
Took me a while to find part 2 ......but very informative thanks
Thank you! These old videos sometimes have weird search results in the current set of YT algorithms.
Great 2 tutorial on the Minolta xg 1. Just got one and it's my first real camera so this was very helpful!
You're very welcome. This is a pretty great starting camera, so take great photos!
Thank you so much, learned a lot. I have a xg2 :)
+SnufOnTour Thank you!
Thank you for the tutorial!
Thank you!
Very helpful. Thank you.
Thank you!
Thank you for your video!
I was actually looking for how to make a double exposure with the XG-1, is it possible, and do you have any video for that or could you make one? Nova
nova g You're very welcome. For double exposures, you'd need to first under-expose the first image (otherwise between the two images there will be too much light.) Tighten the film using the film rewind knob (don't worry, you won't rewind the film by doing that.) Then take the first photo. Hold the film rewind lever in place, push the film rewind release button, and then advance the film. This prevents the film from moving before the second image is taken. Take the second image (again, underexposing one stop.) Then advance your film. After that, put your lens cap on and take a dead frame. The film won't immediately start moving when you advance it after the double exposure, so you need to take a dead frame to prevent image overlap from your double exposure onto the next frame.
Hello David, great series of videos, im just wondering about metering in manual mode, whenever manual mode is activated none of the led lights turn on, if im trying to meter and shoot in manual am i supposed to meter while in aperture priority and then based on the reading switch to the correct shutter speed?
Hmm. No. The meter should be active when the camera is in manual mode. A few quick things to troubleshoot:
1- Are the batteries new and inserted correctly?
2- If yes, check that the battery cap and contact in the compartment are clean. If they have exploded battery goo on them, remove it with distilled white vinegar on a cotton swab. If not, try cleaning the surfaces with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. Maybe the contacts are dirty.
Let me know if the problem persists after that.
Thank you, I have a 28-70mm f3.5-4.8 and I cannot change the aperture. The aperture changes as I zoom in or out… do I need to force the ring or what?
That's very curious. I'm not sure what's up with that lens. I might drop by a local camera store and see if they can diagnose it, but they will probably also try to sell you a new lens.
This is a great video, thanks for sharing! My camera is having an issue, and I hope you can help. The auto wind coupler on the bottom of the camera and the advance lever don’t talk to each other, so I’m not able to properly advance the film. I’ve looked through forums, watched videos and read the manual and can’t find a solution other than taking it to a technician.
Is that only an issue when the auto winder is installed? Or does the camera never advance film?
Thank you so much for this video! I have the xg 7 and I had no clue how to work it but now I know. Also, what camera and lens did you use to film this video?
+Trinity B I used a Pentax K-3 and 31mm FA Limited
The quick and dirty (and not very serious) guide to Minolta manual-focus lenses:
MC Rokkor - the guy who drops the cool beats in the Tokyo club scene.
MD Rokkor - his brother who stayed in school and graduated as a brain surgeon.
Beyond that I have absolutely no idea, but this is a neat little camera and would have given the Pentax ME Super and the P series a run for their money. For those who prefer dials and knobs to buttons and aren't yet invested in a system, I reckon it might have cost Pentax a few customers. The one thing the ME Super and P series have over this is all the shutter speed info laid out in the viewfinder, but this one has exposure comp and appears to have manual ASA setting also, two things the P3/30 series lacked.
LOL. I like the MC and MD bit a lot.
There's a long, convoluted line of Minolta lenses. As a rule, the Rokkor-X lenses were the best of their respective generation. The last lenses, the MD bodies with the X-600 guide pin, were generally the best optically (so it's said.) I like the older Rokkor lenses, though. The 58mm f/1.4 is a particular favorite of mine, though the 50mm 1.7 and 1.4 are empirically better.
Hi David
Fantastic video. Just resurrected my mums old Minolta. Batt check light is working but when I but the film in I cant seem to advance the reel. Any suggestions?
Just to verify, the film advance won't go until the shutter has been fired. Does the shutter fire or not? If it did and the film won't advance, that could be an issue with the shutter curtain. If it did not, then that could be a capacitor. There's a Minolta forum called Dyxum where there are a lot of people who know more about these cameras and how to diagnose issues than I do.
Hi David! This is a probably a very dumb question, but I can't figure out how to get my shutter to work, even though it's on and I press the shutter button. The battery light goes on when I check the battery and I've heard the shutter work before, so I know it's possible, it just seems "locked." Also the lever that makes the film advance doesn't seem to be linked to the film advance, or it is just not working for some reason. Any ideas?
Hi, Gian-Paul, not a dumb question at all. There are a few things that could be and I'm not 100% sure which it is.
First, check that there's not film. If there's film and it's been advanced to the end, that could cause the issue. If you're not certain, try rewinding the film all the way and see if there's a roll there.
If you know there isn't a roll in the camera, try new batteries if you haven't.
If those two things fail to fix it, then the issue could be more serious. Two possibilities are a problem with the shutter release button and a problem with the shutter actuator (the capacitor could have failed.) To diagnose that, try using a cable release in the secondary cable release port next to the camera mount. If that works and the advance can work, that would indicate a problem with the shutter button. If that fails to work, it would be worth checking with a Minolta repair person to see what's going on.
I hope that helps!
H! This video was SO helpful! Thank you for your time and efforts to educate. In this video you mentioned another video that in which you explain how to "push and pull" the image using the ISO speed. What is the name of that video? Thank you!
Thank you! As for pushing and pulling, that idea ended up being taken into the All About Film series where I talk about pushing and pulling individual films.
Is this considered a MD mount? I bought some MC Rokker manual lens that's MD mount. Thanks
This will take MD lenses but does not have program mode, so the benefit of the MD switch that locks the aperture ring in place isn't usable on this model.
Hi!! yours videos really helped me!! thanks so much :)
I have a doubt... how do i do to make double expossure with this camera?
For that you would need to cut the exposure in half and then overlap the frames. I think the easiest way for me to guide you on that is to suggest looking at the second video of my most recent camera manual series, the Mamiya ZM. The procedures discussed in that video are exactly the same as for this camera, only with soem buttons in a different location.
Hi David, i,ve got two 76px batteries is that the as px76 because the battery indicator lights up but the film advance lever wont advance and cant focus because its to dark to see through the lens.
+Ken Phelan Is the mirror locked up? Alternately, is the lens stopped down and the mirror down?
Hi David, problem solved, i brought the the camera back and got my money back, thanks anyway :)
Hi David! I'm trying to rewind the film... I clicked the bottom button but it doesn't work... any ideas why this could be?
Try holding the button down as you rewind. Sometimes the cameras need that; sometimes they don't. I forget with this model which it is.
If you open the back with film in it, will it ruin the entire roll or just the frames that are exposed?
Only the film that has been advanced out of the cassette will be ruined. If you're well into the roll, say 15 images, and only open it for a second or two, some of the early frames that were wound onto the film take-up spool might be salvageable.
Hey David I just picked up one of these . The trigger wouldn’t pull and I noticed that it didn’t have any batteries . It’s very well taken care of and in great shape I’m hoping the trigger isn’t broke wondering what it could be
Try installing batteries as a first step. That's the likely culprit. If it still doesn't work, let me know.
I just got my minolta film camera and I've got the film and new batteries. I've put in the batteries and as i put the film in, I hit the shutter button but it doesn't make a sound. So I advanced and it doesn't do anything. But the advancer moves like above, it just won't move to "1." Is there something I'm doing wrong?
Claire P Does the advance lever move without the shutter button being pressed? That is, can you move it over and over again?
will this model handle the motor 1 wider? I heard it's too much power for some of the entry level cameras. I have a XG-M that the motor 1 came on, should I use it on that one?
To the best of my knowledge, this camera only works with auto winder G.
hi! I was wondering how to clean the exterior of the camera? I have inherited one and it’s a bit dusty is all
Just use some cotton swabs and some 91% rubbing alcohol. Then just wipe the dirt off and go to town cleaning the nooks and crannies. Do not for any reason let running alcohol touch the focusing screen as it will melt the ridges on it that the image focuses on. The focusing screen is inside the shutter box above the mirror.
I have a Minolta XG-A. Referencing that meter inside the view finder, the dot moves up or down as you turn the F stop behind the lens. Roughly what is the best number to use, is it 150 60 keeping in mind I'm using 400 ASA and I'm in automatic mode. I am going to buy a external light meter soon, but in the mean time I'd like to be taking pictures with this. This camera was my Dad's camera, it was in storage for about 30 years I believe it was new around 1980 as he had it when I was young and i'm not 64 years old. Other than that the camera works great. No one has addressed in detail what the internal meter on the right inside the view finder does as to what is good and what is not good. You hit on it briefly better than anyone, most don't mention it at all they get stuck on the mechanical aspects of the camera and go into depth about ISO and being a world renowned photographer and the novice like me is left in the dust. Thanks for your 2 videos, I watched them both even though my camera is just a bit different but not by much. Biggest difference is the right hand dial, mine does not have all those numbers from 1 to 1600 like your camera does, mine just has -1 -2 B, etc..
Hmm. Good questions. The XG-A is slightly different than the XG1. I have an XG-A here and had to check out the meter display to see how it works. So the A is a fully automatic camera, unlike the 1, which has a manual mode. With the A, the +2 to -2 numbers over or underexpose the film by up to two stops. So let's say you have 400 ISO in and set it to +2. That means you'll be giving the film two stops more light than it needs, which is the same net effect as changing the ISO to 100 (400 --> 200 is one stop, 200 --> 100 is two, each time the shutter speed or ISO doubles, then it's one stop, with apertures a doubling means two stops) for one shot. With -2, it goes the other way.
The light meter readout should be LED lights next to the shutter speed indicators in the viewfinder. Those lights will tell you the shutter speed. Now because the camera is automatic, all the meter readout shows you is what shutter speed it will use. A hand-held meter won't do you too much good unless you need an idea of the shutter exposure. Your bigger concern should be that the meter display. If it isn't lighting up, we can troubleshoot that. (My first question when troubleshooting these things is always if the camera has fresh batteries that are properly inserted; if your case, nothing on the camera will work without good batteries.) So if the LEDs aren't lighting up but everything else seems to work, you can use a smart phone light meter app to get an idea of what the exposure will be. There are some free ones that work just fine. I use Bee Cam, but there are lots to choose from.
Let me know if that answers everything or if it raises more questions.
wow, thank for your in-depth reply. The Led meter inside the view finder does work. I found the manual for my XG-A on line and it said to turn the f-stop until the meter showed 60.A lower number leave more light in and the higher number leave less light in. I have been taking 3 pictures of the same item, one where the camera says to set the F stop and then I move it ahead one f stop and take a picture, and behind one f stop and take a picture until I see what difference if any that makes. Using film, it takes longer to know what settings are perfect, but I will learn. To put it in plain words, you are telling me that the +1 and +2 or, -1 and -2 actually changes the ASA at that setting?
The + and - numbers have the same EFFECT as adjusting the ISO. The mechanism inside the camera is probably the same (which is why the ISO dial will rotate in the same direction to adjust the numbers as the + and -.)
And keep it up. These are fun cameras and can take nice photos. If you keep an exposure setting log in a small notebook when you shoot, you might learn more about photography even quicker, too. I did that for a few years and it was great.
Thanks very much David.. Using the memo book is a great Idea and I will adopt that. I am enjoying this old camera because it takes some decision processes to adjust it. I have gotten some really clear and beautiful prints from m camera, and I've even taken really clear Macro close up shots of bugs, and precious stones, etc.. Thanks again for all your reply's, they have helped me very much.. I am not clear on the - and + dial which I steered clear of before. Thanks again.. !!!
What is the size of the battery on the Minolta xg-1. Thank you for the information.
A76
Thank you so much for this video! Just bought this exact model and can’t wait to start using it 😊 I have a question. Am I correct in concluding that if I wanted to underexpose my shot by one stop (for a double exposure for example), I can do that in auto mode simply by setting the A to -1 on the turn dial? It’s not necessary to adjust it in manual mode? Thanks again!
Thank you and you definitely can. Just remember to switch it back after your double exposure. :D
@@DavidHancock Thanks so much, I appreciate it!
About to buy one off ebay! One question, are the batteries hard to find? I am not very familiar with this kind of battery , thanks! Great vid
Thank you. These batteries are very easy to find. Pop into your local Walgreens or CVS and grab two A76 batteries from the hearing-aid side of the battery display. Used at an average frequency and turned off between uses, two A76 batteries should last at least one year.
hey i have a question, i'm not familiar with film cameras so your video has helped me a lot but i just got a minolta and the shutter wont pull back all the way, idk what to do i figured out everything with these videos but the shutter thing
What do you mean that the shutter won't pull back the whole way? Do you mean that the film advance lever won't go the whole way?
If so, the shutter has to have cycled before the film advance lever will be able to advance. The shutter requires batteries to operate.
Does that help?
David Hancock yes the lever won't go back all the way
Hey I know it’s been awhile since you’ve made this video, but i’m leaving this comment in case you happen to see it. I purchased this camera today and was lookin through youtube to get a better idea about it. But when it came to the self timer, the light wouldn’t show up. It does light up when I BC it, but doesn’t when i put it in self timer. Any reason this may be, perhaps the battery?
If it lights up with the BC, then it's not likely to be the batteries, but definitely replace them as a first test. If the light is still not turning on then it's likely that the wiring from the timer to the light or the timer to the shutter has failed in some way. If the timer still works, then the issue is only with the timer and light.
Hi, I just bought a XG1 at a thrift shop and couldn't figure out how to load the film. I figured out that it didn't have batteries so i ordered those. I tried to use the film advance thing, I pulled it back but it only goes back halfway, is it because there are no batteries in it? or is it broken/stuck? Also does the camera need two of the little batteries or 1?
Nicole B The camera probably needs batteries. The shutter requires batteries to complete a full cycle, and you won't be able to advance the film until after the shutter completes a cycle. So when your batteries arrive, pop them in and rotate the camera's dial to "B". That forces the shutter to unjam. Then you can switch it back to either a set speed or "A" and load your film without issue.
thank you!
Hi David, do you know what the the red "R" on the lens stands for? For that matter can you explained what all those numbers on that dial mean?
I sure do.
The red R is your focusing point with infrared film. There are only one or two of those left, whereas back in the day they were popular enough film stocks that every manufacturer put infrared indications on their good lenses.
As for the rest of the lines:
th-cam.com/video/vynAafDG9b4/w-d-xo.html
Thank you very much for the information. It's great to learn new things.
All the best
Good afternoon, I got one of these cameras but the lens has fungus inside, and in the viewfinder you can also see that it has a layer of fungus, can these cameras be opened and the fungus removed or is it better to go to someone professional?
That's a repair I'd suggest using a professional for.
I have a question: Is the Monolta XG - M the most advanced model in the whole XG series and what is the difference between XG - M and X700? Thanks.
Yes, the M was the top-end XG. As for how it differed from the X-700, well, there's the color. Actually, I think the only important difference is that the X-700 had program mode and the XG-M did not.
Where do you get your film for the xg1 Minolta
Lots of places still sell film -- Adorama, B&H, Freestyle Photo is a great source, and Amazon are all common places. I have a series of videos called All About Film. Each has a list of places where film is still sold in the video description. That would be a good place to look for online film sellers.
Hello David,I have an XG-2, I don't use it often, but is there something I should do to make counter reset when I remove the film? Mine doesn't seem to reset anymore after a few shots without film.Thanks in advance :)
Hmm. It should automatically reset when you open the film back. If not, then something is amiss. It could be as minimal as there being an obstruction in the film back channel where the film back trips the closure confirm button, or it could be something inside. Either way, if that's the only issue, all you'd need to do is keep track manually. A broken film counter won't impair other functions.
David Hancock Just as a follow-up. I found a workarround by pressing the reset button manually with a screwdriver. :)
Hello. I am having the same trouble as Kyle Caldwell posted four months ago. The lever switch will not move pass the little red S. I saw one video where the guy pushed the button two times to "unlock it" but still nothing happens. Any suggestions to fix it? Thank you!
+Hope Miller I have four of these right now waiting to be sold and I can't replicate your and Kyle's problem with any of them except that the film advance lever won't advance until after the shutter release is actuated. Just to make sure, you have fresh batteries in the camera and the shutter has been released, correct? I've tried to replicate the issue and I'm at a loss for what could be causing it.
Okay. Thank you for taking the time to help. I'll try replacing the batteries again and see what happens!
+Hope Miller I was able to replicate that issue you described with an XG-M that I picked up today. In the case of my XG-M, I tried eight sets of batteries and nothing worked. With my XG-M, I think that the problem lies in the batteries not being able to provide power to the board. In my case, the light meter doesn't light up, the shutter doesn't advance; there's no signs of life. My guess is that the board on mine has a short or there's a loose wire somewhere, but maybe the on-off switch is bad. Whatever the case may be, I haven't found a solution yet and suspect that it's a sign of a dead camera or one that needs an overhaul.
David Hancock OK!!! Thank you so much for taking your time to help out! 😊
Do you have any videos on taking the top off an changing the prismhow to disassemble lights to change the present I should say
I do not, but the Fix Old Cameras channel might.
Ok thank you anyway if you do make one can please let me know
Hello David, I happen to own one of these XG1 which I think I would really love if it would fire consistently. Every two or three pictures it will simply refuse to release the shutter. At first I thought it had something to do with the "auto" feature and maybe some kind of safety system to avoid taking improperly exposed photos, but I am not able to find any logic to it. Can you think of a reason why - other than being broken - it would do this? Again, it does work for a few pictures, become unresponsive until it fires again - generally when I'm not framing my subject.
Thanks for any ideas. - Nicholas
Hmm. That's curious. I forget if these have an exposure protection system built in. Are the batteries new? If they're dying or weak then it may take longer for the electronic shutter's capacitor to build up a charge and fire.
If they're new, I'd be tempted to think it's either a sticky shutter release button or a dying capacitor. But it's hard to know for sure without some diagnostics.
Thanks David. The batteries are no longer new as they have been inside the camera for at least a year, and I am sure I have left it "ON" for some weeks without switching off. However, I have had this behaviour from the start even when the batteries were new. So I was wondering if the power of those LR44 batteries is sufficient (I know they don't have the exact specification that the original mercury battery had...). Also must I deduce that firing the shutter needs the batteries? I was under the understanding it was only the metering that required it and have been using the camera to learn how to work with a handheld meter... If you can confirm this I may start looking for a camera that doesn't rely on them. Any suggestions? I hear a lot of good about the XD model. -Nicholas
Just got one for £20 with lens, battery pack? And flash. Just need film to try it. :-) I am learning from your detailed educational videos sir. Thanks
That's a great deal! And thank you!
I have never used a camara which uses film, but today i got a XG-1 with alot of accs. for 15$, so i thought i would try it. Sorry if this is a very stupid question, but what film does this camera take?
That's a FANTASTIC deal! These XG-1 bodies are great.
And definitely not a stupid questions at all. There are a lot of films out there and it can be really confusing. Your camera can use any 35mm film -- color, slide, or black and white. You can use very slow films, like 25 ISO, or ultra-fast like 1600 ISO. To start out, give a 400 ISO film a try. That's good for evenings and some indoor shooting. 100 ISO is good for bright daylight.
The key with film is, if you don't develop it yourself, to use a good lab with a quality scanner. I used OldSchoolPhotoLab.com for my color film and they're significantly better than Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart, and so forth.
Hi David, great videos. I purchased a XG1 at a flea market and used it a couple times. There's now a black fuzzy line across the view finder. I've examined the camera and don't see the line on the mirror or prism from the inside of the camera. I was just wondering if you knew of any do it yourself remedies for the issue.
Well, there's a semi-common culprit that this may be, but I've never heard of it happening in a Minolta. It is more common in camera manufactured in China, which I seem to recall the XG1 was.
So look through the viewfinder with no lens on the camera. If the line is still visible, then it's a problem with the prism. What I suspect is happening is that you're seeing oxidation of the silver that coats the pentaprism. That's not repairable and requires a new prism if it's the case. An oxidation line would be generally straight and appear to have branches coming off it.
The bad news is that this happens with camera that were poorly stored and mistreated, and could indicate that the previous owner kept it in a garage or attic.
So that would be my guess. That said, if the line disappears when the lens is unmounted, it could be something else.
@@DavidHancock Hi! Great videos. They’ve helped me out a lot…. So the black line this guy is talking about- Neither of you mentioned if it affects the photos at all or if it’s only a matter of a fuzzy black line in the viewfinder. Any idea? If it affects the photos and is not cleanable, would you call the camera trashed?
Thanks in advance; I know it’s an old comment :)
@@Marlg It won't directly affect photos but may affect your ability to focus if it's severe enough. Three only fix is a new prism.
@@DavidHancock Ah, I see. I suppose after trying to find a new prism and with the cost of the repair, I may just be better off finding a healthier XG1. I’m going to test it out nonetheless. Thanks so much for the quick response. I appreciate it -mg
Hey I recently bought the same Minolta XG1 with a 45mm lens at the thrift store. This is my very first film camera. The advance lever seems to only go half way is there a problem ? I do also think the battery is dead because the RED LED light on it doesn't light up when its on Battery Check. Please help thanks
Have you tried putting fresh batteries in?
I have the same problem but pretty sure its the batteries, going to buy some today
me too
I hope you still reply to this video. I have an xg1 and after putting in my latest film canister I cannot get the lever to advance the film. It worked just fine before this current canister, is there something simple I’m missing?
Batteries are newas of today, winding back the last film was done properly so it’s not those.
I do still reply to these, yes. I would try re-loading the film. It's possible -- I've done this with cameras a bunch of times -- for the film to get pinched between the film back and camera body. Typically, that happens at the base of the film canister where the film exits the canister. So try re-loading it and advancing a frame or two before closing the film back. Then you'll know that the film is moving through the camera smoothly.
David Hancock thank you it was catching as you stated
I don't know if you still answer but i'll ask anyways. So you said there's no red dot in the viewfinder when using the manuel mode. Does that mean, it doesn't tell us the proper shutter speed for the aperture we are at? If so, how can I decide which shutter speed should I go with?
And also could you tell the difference between xg1 and xg2 if you know it?
Good question. The XG-2 is a new one to me. Looks like it's the same as an XG-7 but for a different market. The XG-7 was a step up from the XG-1 and had more information in the viewfinder.I think that's the only difference.
I'm trying to remember exactly how this one works because it's been years since I used one. I recall that the shutter speeds for 1/2 to 1/15th of a second were designated by a single LED, not broken out separately. I do think that the shutter speed indicator only lights up in auto mode.
hey dude, never used an old camera before but i found this at a flea market. battery cap is missing so i need that, but besides that, maybe im just stupid, but the knob to change shutter speeds and stuff is jammed. Thoughts?
So you're not stupid at all. You noticed some good things and gave me everything I need to answer your question.
So you need a battery cap in order for the camera to work (here's an eBay listing, full disclosure, I'm the seller: www.ebay.com/itm/152406967882?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649). The shutter won't actuate without power, so there's no way to know for certain if your shutter works until you can put batteries into the camera. What you're describing sounds normal for an XG1 without batteries.
David Hancock hey thanks for the speedy reply! so I found some illfitting batteries and I put them in. by holding them in place with my finger I actually got the shutter to work. it made the satisfying snap noise and all that jazz. I'll definitely try to get the battery cap and proper batteries. I'm just worried cuz the dial for the shutter speeds still wouldn't turn. I hope it isn't a sign that it's broken.
If it's in "A", there's a lock button you need to push to move the dial.
this helped a lot! thanks
Just picked up this 📷. But am a newb at this and need much help before purchasing film. You did say advanced the film five times before beginning to take photos? And to pictures I should live on the A without touching anything else? Is 35mm the right film for this 📷? Thanks in advance for helping me.
Three or four should be okay with this one. Just load the film as shown and you should be okay. You'll need to advance the film because once film is exposed to light it either makes an image (when inside the camera) or is ruined (for instance with the loading leader.) If you were to pull a whole roll of film out of the cassette in the light, for instance, the entire roll would be ruined.
You can definitely just set it in "A" and adjust the aperture until you're comfortable enough using the camera to try manual mode.
35mm film in the right film. Since you're just starting out, it sound like, try some of the entry-priced films like Ultrafine, Kentmere, Arista, or Foma. That will let you make the mistakes you need to make to learn without it costing as much as it would with expensive films.
The only film I found was a 3 pack x 36 color exposures of Fujifilm 400 speed film for US$15.98. I like to try Black and White film. What is the best place to find them?
The Fuji is a good first film. For black and white, if you're in the U.S., Freestyle Photo, B&H, and Adorama are good sources.
bro this video was super helpful but im having trouble advancing..i replaced the batteries.
do i need to adjust the shutter speed to 60 ?
It should fire if the batteries are replaced and the dial is set to any speed. When you look through the viewfinder and depress the shutter button, does the light meter gauge have any lights on next to it?
@@DavidHancock the dial is next to the shutter correct ?
@@nate6935 correct
hey! Thanks a lot for the video! I recently got this camera for 5 euros, and it's my first analog camera. Do you have any tips for someone starting out with analog photography?
Thank you!
The best thing you can do is make sure that you have good batteries, learn to interpret what your camera is telling you, and trust that it will work. Also, only take one roll before you develop it. You'll want to make sure that you don't have any issues with the camera before you shoot a whole bunch of film.
Also, as you're starting out, don't invest in a tone of gear. Get to know how your 50mm lens works. Maybe pick up a small flash and a tripod, but keep only the 50mm lens for a year. That will help you learn how to take photos and use your camera because it removes the confusion and complication of other lens focal lengths.
David Hancock Thank you so much! I will totally remember your tips and use them !
I don't think I ever realized that about the exposure compensation (not that I ever use it) :)
Yeah, it's a nifty trick that this guy can do.
My lever won't advance for the film. And my camera seems to not come on even though we changed the batteries and everything. Any theories on why¿
A few. Let's work through the non-issues first.
The first thing to rule out is that there's no film already in it. So just to verify, you rewound any film that was in it and there's either no film in it or a fresh roll, correct?
Secondly, the advance won't work until the shutter has been actuated. Were you able to fire the shutter after putting the new batteries in?
One last thing to check, of course, is that the batteries are in properly. It's very easy to put them in upside-down.
What else is your camera doing or not doing? If you switch the dial by the rewind from on to B.C., does the light on the front of it light up?
+David Hancock I put the batteries in twice thinking I put them in backwards too. But I didn't. I noticed there was no shutter sound. And the battery light did not come on.
Does this use the Minolta trick of having the sensor shutter release button? My X-370 can be left on and the meter/indicators only come to life when my finger touches the button, I recall a friend's Minolta functioning that way as well. That looks like the same type of shutter button... Good videos as always!
Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
As for the light meter and shutter button, yes, that is correct. The light meter only comes on when the shutter button is partially depressed. That's not only a Minolta trick, though. The Nikons, Canons, and Pentaxes of similar vintage have basically the same functionality.
David Hancock Ah, it's a depress? Or does it come on by just placing your finger on the button? I don't much like half-press systems, at least not my zenit 122 that stops down as well, finding the line between stopped down at small apertures and actually taking the picture is too tense :p
Corbin Goodwin IIRC, it's a half-depress system. I sold my XG1, so I'm not 100% certain that my memory is correct on that.
ALL Minolta SLR Film Cameras, you MUST slightly depress the Shutter Button to Activate the TTL-Minolta Red Led Metering Systems!!
thank you!
Thank you!
David-- I'm just starting out with film. What is the best cheap film and where can I get it developed cheaply?
There are a LOT of good films. But if you're just starting, try Kentmere, Foma, and Ultrafine. Those are inexpensive but deliver pretty good results. For color, Fuji's Superia is pretty inexpensive. For developing, I use www.oldschoolphotolab.com. Black and white is easy to do at home with a pretty minimal startup cost, so if you find you like black and white, developing it yourself can be really rewarding.
thanks!
Hii I bought new batteries and put them in but my battery check doesn’t work? Do you know why that would be?
The solution that I hope works is to clean the battery cap and contacts. For that, use distilled white vinegar and a cotton swab. Clean the battery cap and the battery contact and the thread around the battery chamber. Then clean all those areas with rubbing alcohol. If that doesn't work, let me know.
@@DavidHancock thank you! I’ll try that hopefully it works
@@DavidHancock hey so I did everything you told me to but the battery check light still doesn’t come on, is there anything else you can think of that I could try?
@@erincoombs9505 hmm. Two quick things, ensure that the batteries are fresh and installed correctly. If so then check the camera's function in Auto mode. Set the apperture to f11 and point the camera out of the window on a sunny day then point it under a desk or at a dark corner of your room. The shutter times should be much different and sound much different. If so then the battery check bulb is dead. If not then the camera's electronics might be dead.
Hi my shutter is not clicking. Is that cause the camera batteries are flat ?
Probably, yes. The shutter requires a battery to operate.
Ok got it thanks.
Thanks for this. I got this camera from my dad several years ago, but I never really used it because I've been unsure about loading the film. I always wondered how it would know it's on the first frame or not. I'm looking at the camera now, the batteries are new, but I put the film in probably 7 years ago (lol). Resistance on the rewind knob, shutter count is at '8', but the little window above the shutter count has no red in it. Yikes. Maybe I'll waste the rest of the roll and start over.
Try tightening up the film rewind a turn or two and then taking a couple of dead frames. If the film rewind turns, then you know for certain that the film is moving through the camera. If it does not, then the film was probably loaded incorrectly.
The advance lever on my camera is stuck and won't go far enough to load the film in…what can I do?
Well, let's troubleshoot. I assume there's no film in it already that needs to be rewound. Are the batteries fresh? If not, try putting in new batteries and seeing if that helps. Let me know if that does or doesn't work and we'll take it from there.
David Hancock I don't have brand new batteries, but the battery check worked for the ones I have. Should I go buy new batteries?
It won't hurt, certainly. There may be enough juice to illuminate the LED but not enough to finish the shutter cycle.
my camera will not advance the film or take the actual picture! What is wrong? Please helppppp
first6digits Do you have a battery in it?
My camera had the same problem, mind hadn't been used in decades so the shutter was stuck, I just gave it a little very gentle push and it got unstuck, I took a few test pics and now it moves fine
I took my Minolta out for the first time today, and when I tried to replace the film after shooting through my first one, my film advance lever stopped working. I am worried that it is broken. Did I do something wrong or do I have to push a button? Also, when I was shooting the shutter didn't respond very well towards the end of my roll. Could that be due to the batteries dying?
Stanton Cook It sounds, from your description, like it's nothing to worry about. My guess is that your batteries are dying or dead. So first step is to replace them. That will probably take care of the issue. If not, let me know and we'll figure it out.
The film advance is a battery issue also?
The film advance, no, but it won't advance until the shutter has actuated. The shutter does require the battery to actuate.
One thing you could check is if your camera's mirror is down or part-way up. If it's the latter, you can try switching it to a manual shutter speed and seeing if that resets the shutter.
ok, Ill replace the batteries. A cheap fix to start with. Though my B.C. light comes on pretty bright. Also on the film advance lever it isnt locked from swinging as in when it it set for you to take a shot, it is just freely moving.
So do you have film in the camera now or did you rewind it and remove the cassette?
Ok. So the camera has turned on. I'm not sure what I did. It made a shutter sound. I'm trying to put film in it. But it won't shutter again. There was a red triangle next to the one in the viewfinder, then a red circle above the triangle. By the way, I am a beginner all the way.
Hmm. What is your shutter speed dial set to? A number or "A"?
David, after taking a photo, the (auto winder G) continues to run and I don't believe the film is advancing. Thanks in advance.
Is the film rewind knob spinning while the winder advances?
David Hancock, no.
Sounds like the film didn't latch on the spool. To make sure, try taking the slack out of the spool with a single rewind turn of the film rewind. Then try advancing a few frames without the power winder and see if the rewind spool starts moving. If not, you can probably open the film back and try to re-attach the film.
David, I tried that after viewing I believe part 1 or 2 of your TH-cam video.
I just bought this camera this morning from a yard sale for $10.
the advance lever switch does not move the way its supposed to. I put in brand new batteries and film but its still not working.
shutter switch is fine just the advance film lever doesn't move any farther than the spot where the 's' is displayed.
help!?
+Kyle Caldwell Let's troubleshoot. I assume there's no film in it correct? When you put the batteries in and pushed the shutter button, it actuated the shutter, correct?
David Hancock There is film in it. When i push the shutter the lights work and it seems like it should take a picture. The only issue I have is the lever.
Have you used the entire roll of film (24 or 36 images, depending on the film)? If so, you'll just need to rewind the film and then take it out of the camera.
David Hancock no the film has never been used. we bought it right after we bought the camera and put it in but when we tried to 'advance' it the lever wouldnt go any farther than 30 degrees.
Kyle Caldwell Hmm. And you activated the shutter before advancing the film, correct?
I rewind my leader inside the role, is that okay?
+tallaganda83 When you finish taking a roll of photos? That's the best way to do it because it prevents you from re-using a roll that's already been exposed. I only leave a leader when I rewind these so that I can use the same roll of dummy film over and over.
Oh ok i thought so, otherwise i have been doing it wrong for 25 years, lol.
So the "60" setting means the flash? Sorry! I'm super new to cameras! Thanks for the amazingly helpful videos!
I'm glad to help!
The numbers on the dial with the "60" indicate how fast the shutter speed will be. So 1000 means 1/1,000th of a second. 60 means 1/60th of a second. 1 means a full second. So if you want to use a flash, use 1/60th and slower. You can use any shutter speed without a flash. Any shutter speed faster than 1/60th will only return a partial image if you use a flash.
So what you're saying is that I could use this camera in low light without a flash if I had a fast shutter speed? Am I understanding that correctly?
You could use it in lower light without a flash with a fast enough film (high ISO) and a fast enough lens (large maximum aperture.) That said, if you're talking about taking a photo of a person under a street lamp at midnight in the rural countryside where there's no other light, you probably can not get a fast enough shutter speed to hand-hold the camera at all. If you're talking about concert photography, you could probably get some shots with a 1600 or 3200 ISO film and an f/1.4 lens.
Perfect! That's very helpful! Thank you so much! I'm sure I will have more questions in the near future.
Took a bunch of pic's. Film was all black lost all my pictures. Very new at taking pictures with this camera. How can I take just baic pictures to get started?😢😮#inovermyhead
Natasah Wiggins Was your whole film black, including the perforations, or was the film a series of black squares?
Took it to get developed an, nothing the clerk; said it was all black!!!
Natasah Wiggins So the clerk didn't return your film?
No, they kept it!#?? Should I got it back?
If it was CVS or another mail-out store that uses Fuji, they shred the negatives. It's infuriating and I suggest not using them. I would suggest trying again and sending your film to oldschoolphotolab.com. They do all my color film now and are great. A better value for basically the same money since they return negatives, provide prints, and do high-res scans of your film. Those guys are also really experienced and they can tell you what went wrong if something did.
Here are a couple of tips for your next roll of film. 1- make sure the camera back stays closed the whole time from when you locad the film until you rewind it. 2- Make sure that the ASA setting matches the film's speed (for instance, 400). As long as you meter correctly, the images should turn out. If they do, then you know that the first lab messed up and didn't want to admit it. If they don't, then the guys at oldschoolphotolab can tell you what's wrong based on your image results.
Just put in new batteries and film and the lever still won't go back far enough to move from "S" to "1"
Hmm. There's no film in it correct? Another possibility is that the film in it is either at the end of the roll or jammed. (It shouldn't be at the end of the roll since your counter is at 1.)
When you take the lens off, is the mirror locked up?
Can you take a photo of the lever and how it's jammed?
David Hancock The new batteries worked! Only thing is when I took a few photos, the lens closed when I snapped the photo but never opened back up. Each time in order to get the lever to switch all the way back and click onto the next photo I had to open up the lens and hit a switch for the mirror. Any idea what this problem could be? I'm worried my photos may not come out so I want to wait before I take any more.
Kelly Coughlin Fantastic news about the batteries! Okay, so for the lens, with it unmounted from the body, close the aperture blades on the lens (you may need to manipulate a lever on the back of the lens for this.) What you're looking for is the aperture's operations -- is it smooth and snappy? Also, do the aperture blades have anything shiny on them?
If the answer to the first is no or the answer to the second is yes, then the lens isn't operating properly. At that point your best bet is to pick up a new lens from a local camera shop, a major online source, or eBay, or send the lens for repair. If you do buy a new lens, you can always sell the old one on eBay for parts and pick up a few bucks to offset the new lens' price.
If the lens works fine, then rewind the film until you feel the tension break and hear a click or pop from inside the camera. You don't want to rewind the film fully, just until you have a leader so that you can re-insert the film later and pick up where you left off.
With the film out, check the aperture levers during shutter operation. They should move quickly back and forth ahead of and then behind the mirror's movement.
One design flaw with Minolta's lens-camera connection is that it's susceptible to dirt getting into the mechanics and gumming up the oils that keep the camera working properly.
If the levers aren't working properly -- if they're sluggish or don't return to their resting position, then you'll need to have the camera serviced. There is a guy who services only Minoltas, but I forget his name. Gary Airapetov in Niles, Illinois, and the guy (I also forget his name -- Jim, maybe) who runs the TH-cam channel Fix Old Cameras may both be able to work on the XG1.
And having it serviced if needed would also make sure the light seals are good and that the meter is properly calibrated. A good service can give a camera 20 to 30 years of life.
yez
Great video.Thx. I got myself an xg1 yesterday and had some mirror stuck problem. See th-cam.com/video/urQtfl5D2q0/w-d-xo.html It works well when I turn it upside down and the weight of the mirror helps it finish the job. I used new batteries. Do you by any chance know why this happened? many thanks
I do not and that issue is curious.
You went way too fast through loading the film process and didn't show everything clearly. I'm a beginner and it was very hard to follow and I ended up messing up my expensive film.
I'm sorry to hear that. There's a pause function for the videos that could help if you need to give it a second go.
Frustrating about what? Mindful artist should be aware of their tools
I don't recall what I found frustrating.