Here, I've summarized the most common problems with the Minolta 9000 AF and the solutions we've developed in the threads over the past few months.
The good news for all fans of this unique SLR is that these problems can be solved with DIY.
The only requirements are interest, patience, appropriate tools, soldering skills, and a passion for precision mechanics.
The basis for this guide is the Minolta Service Manual for the 9000 AF.
It is excellently written and contains exploded diagrams, instructions for assembling components, and a detailed troubleshooting list.
Minolta Maxxum Alpha Dynax 9000 Service Troubleshooting Manual : Minolta : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
The service manual for the Minolta Alpha/Dynax/Maxxum 9000 (or A9000/α9000) film SLR.
archive.org
As far as I know, the service manual is the only technical document available for DIY.
Have fun and success in your work!
Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Most common problems:
- Malfunctioning shutter caused by a sticky damper.
- Malfunctioning aperture control, probably due to defective magnets.
- Blurred viewfinder, even though AF and manual focusing using the focus aid produce sharp images.
- Blocked film transport, shutter, and mirror.
- Defective LCD in the viewfinder.
- Plastic parts on the handle and back door crack or fall off; whitish coating.
1. Malfunctioning shutter caused by a sticky damper
Problem:
At the bottom of the vertically moving Copal focal plane shutter is a damper for the rear curtain (closer), which rots and becomes sticky over the decades.
The remnants of this damper are absorbed by the shutter blades and impair the shutter action. The result is incorrectly exposed or even unexposed images.
In my estimation, every Minolta 9000 AF today is affected by this problem. This makes the camera unreliable.
Solution:
Since the shutter cannot be adequately cleaned from the outside, it must be removed, disassembled, cleaned, the damper replaced, and reassembled.
To access the shutter, the mirror box must be removed.
When the shutter is removed, it also offers the possibility of mechanically adjusting the curtains travel times. This is an option and not a must; a camera tester is required.
Difficulty level for DIY:
Medium to high
There are numerous soldered connections and cables to loosen, components to remove, and the shutter is delicate, requiring a steady hand. But it's doable with the instructions.
See
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Tutorial for removing the mirror box, notes on assembly, cleaning/adjusting the Copal S shutter
In order to access the shutter for repairs or replacement, the mirror box on the Minolta 9000 AF must be removed. The same applies to fixing problems with the aperture control or the mechanics of the mirror box. This tutorial provides information with direct reference to the Minolta Service...
www.photrio.com
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Removal of the mirrorbox/assembly, investigating the aperture issue, replacing the sticky damper in the shutter unit
Cleaned in acetone bath and reworked with cleaning swabs. It's clean here again too. The last sticky residue has been removed. I didn't install a replacement for the damper. I want to see if the shutter works without it. The assembly requires a steady hand and good photo...
www.photrio.com
Copal S(quare) Shutter: Testing when removed?
I am currently working on the Minolta 9000 AF shutter, which has problems with a rotting damper that is sticking the blades together. An attempt to clean it from the outside while it was removed was unsuccessful; the shortest times of 1/4000 to 1/1000 s are not formed or are not formed...
www.photrio.com
2. Malfunctioning aperture control, probably due to defective magnets
Problem:
With this issue, the aperture doesn't close, even though it's displayed correctly on the LCDs. This results in overexposed images.
I assume this is due to malfunctioning aperture magnets, of which the 9000 AF has two.
Solution:
You can try cleaning the contact surfaces of the magnets.
A more effective solution would be to replace the entire aperture control, which houses the magnets. A 9000 AF for spare parts, which has a functioning aperture control, must be available for this purpose.
To access the aperture control, the mirror box must be removed.
Difficulty level for DIY:
Medium
Disassemble the camera according to instructions.
See
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Blockage fixed, shutter cleaned/adjusted, exposure system checked, AEL, aperture control base plate, mirror stop
A common problem with the 9000 AF, that has not yet been investigated, is a blocked shutter/mirror/aperture sequence. The mirror stops halfway, the winding lever can no longer be moved, and the camera is locked, it can no longer be used. I have two 9000 AFs with this problem, and I will...
www.photrio.com
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Tutorial for removing the mirror box, notes on assembly, cleaning/adjusting the Copal S shutter
In order to access the shutter for repairs or replacement, the mirror box on the Minolta 9000 AF must be removed. The same applies to fixing problems with the aperture control or the mechanics of the mirror box. This tutorial provides information with direct reference to the Minolta Service...
www.photrio.com
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Removal of the mirrorbox/assembly, investigating the aperture issue, replacing the sticky damper in the shutter unit
Details The flexible circuit board. View from the back. All removed parts from left to right.
www.photrio.com
3. Blurred viewfinder, even though AF and manual focusing using the focus aid produce sharp images.
Problem:
The viewfinder image appears partially blurred, even though AF and manual focusing using the focusing aid (light balance with LEDs) produce sharp images.
This is caused by a small metal plate that has come off the mirror and forms a stop. This causes the mirror's height adjustment to be incorrect.
Solution:
If the small metal plate (inside the mirror housing) is found, it can be glued back to its original position on the underside of the mirror frame.
If it's lost, the mirror stop in the mirror box (eccentric screw) can be turned to readjust the mirror height.
Difficulty level for DIY:
Easy to medium
Working in the mirror box.
See
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Blockage fixed, shutter cleaned/adjusted, exposure system checked, AEL, aperture control base plate, mirror stop
A common problem with the 9000 AF, that has not yet been investigated, is a blocked shutter/mirror/aperture sequence. The mirror stops halfway, the winding lever can no longer be moved, and the camera is locked, it can no longer be used. I have two 9000 AFs with this problem, and I will...
www.photrio.com
Minolta 9000: Checking shutter and focusing screen, adjusting the mirror, replacing parts, cleaning
In my inbox for defective/untested photo equipment there were still a few Minolta/Maxxum 9000s. Together with the others in the cupboard I now have eight of them. In terms of functionality - I quickly checked the AF, the aperture control and the shutter - the distribution is as follows: three...
www.photrio.com
4. Blocked film transport, shutter, and mirror
This problem
can arise from the previous one (blurred viewfinder).
If the small metal plate that forms a stop to the mirror support comes off, it can block the submirror.
This prevents the camera from being wound up, and the aperture/mirror/shutter sequence is blocked.
Solution:
Either the small metal plate can be removed from the outside via the mirror box or the mirror box must be removed to gain access to the rear side of the submirror.
Difficulty level for DIY:
Medium
Working in the mirror box or disassembling the camera according to instructions.
See
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Blockage fixed, shutter cleaned/adjusted, exposure system checked, AEL, aperture control base plate, mirror stop
A common problem with the 9000 AF, that has not yet been investigated, is a blocked shutter/mirror/aperture sequence. The mirror stops halfway, the winding lever can no longer be moved, and the camera is locked, it can no longer be used. I have two 9000 AFs with this problem, and I will...
www.photrio.com
5. Defective LCD in the viewfinder
Problem:
The LCD in the viewfinder no longer displays all digits, displays only partially, or has completely failed.
This is caused by a faulty connection between the connector pins on the circuit board and the LCD.
Solution:
The connection must be removed, the contact surfaces cleaned, and then reconnected.
If the connection between the circuit board and LCD is not secured, e.g., with adhesive, a loose connection may occur when the top cover is replaced.
Difficulty level for DIY:
Medium
Disassembling the LCD unit.
See:
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Removal of the mirrorbox/assembly, investigating the aperture issue, replacing the sticky damper in the shutter unit
One question though, these were also known for having leaking LCD windows. Can they not make these leak proof? This problem also affects The Nikon F4 as well and I had to stop using one because the LCD went blank after a few years in my use. With the F4 you can replace the LCDs quite easily...
www.photrio.com
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 7000 AF: Aperture issues resolved/shortcut; LCDs, aperture ring, shutter unit replaced; aperture solenoid cleaned
Under „Aperture Malfunctions“ in the C & C guide there are instructions to unsolder the white cable to the aperture magnet and then trigger the shutter when the aperture is always open, the LCD displays are correct and the shutter speed is plausible. The aperture then either closes or it...
www.photrio.com
6. Plastic parts on the handle and back panel crack or fall off; whitish coating
Problem:
The plastic on the handle and back door is disintegrating.
Some 9000 AFs are more severely affected, others hardly at all.
Solution:
Cracks and broken parts can be repaired or replaced with Sugru.
Alternatively you can take the intact parts from a 9000 AF for spare parts and replace them.
See
Minolta 9000: Checking shutter and focusing screen, adjusting the mirror, replacing parts, cleaning
The Reveni Labs Camera Tester in action. I reconstructed the photo, so my jumper tape solution is not visible 😌 1/4000 s 1/2000 s 1/1000 s 1/500 s 1/250 s 1/125 s 1/60 s 1/30 s 1/15 s 1/8 s 1/4 s 1/2 s 1/1 s As you can see, both shutter...
www.photrio.com
A whitish coating, which often occurs, can be temporarily wiped off with isopropyl alcohol.
See
Minolta (Maxxum/Alpha) 9000 AF: Removal of the mirrorbox/assembly, investigating the aperture issue, replacing the sticky damper in the shutter unit
An SLR from 1985 that is not only beautiful but also technically innovative, but which you don't read much about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_Maxxum_9000 Inspired by @Paul Howell in...
www.photrio.com
Difficulty level for DIY:
Easy
Working with Sugru adhesive, replacing parts according to instructions, working with isopropyl alcohol.
Minolta 9000 AF repair reports, attempted solutions and technical discussions on PHOTRIO
Workshop reports for further study.
Please note that not everything serves as a template for work, but rather for discussion or as an experiment.
See
Search results for query: 9000
www.photrio.com
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All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
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