Minolta established itself as a camera manufacturer in 1928 and created a successful name for itself until 2006 when Konica-Minolta announced that it was ending its run in the camera industry. Nowadays, it may be difficult for Minolta camera owners to find information on their particular cameras since many manuals are out-of-date, and information is becoming scarce as technology moves forward. Despite the shortage of information, there are ways for Minolta owners to find answers to their common and not-so-common problems.
Common Problems
There are a wide range of Minolta cameras, from film to digital, and it helps to know the particular model of Minolta you have when looking for solutions to common problems. If you have a film Minolta, one problem that may arise is a shutter release that doesn't work. You may be able to free the shutter release button by tapping it a couple times with force. If you can't see anything when you look through the viewfinder, your camera might be experiencing mirror lock, or you may need to replace the battery. You can carefully remove the lens to see if the shutter is jammed. When in doubt, always take it to a service repairman rather than try to fix your camera yourself. Most problems, such as difficulties with rewinding film or using the camera's flash feature, are mechanical issues. In these cases, you should look up your nearest camera repair shop. Local shops have expanded their services thanks to the Internet, and you can download a request form and mail your camera into dependable repair shops, like United-Camera.com, which has been repairing cameras since 1955.
Resources and Manuals
Although manuals of Minolta models are no longer in print, there are Internet resources where you can obtain manuals. For example, www.butkus.org/chinon/minolta.htm offers Minolta manuals for free -- with a suggested donation. If you feel competent enough to fix your Minolta yourself, you can browse www.uscamera.com, which has an extensive inventory of camera parts.
Who to Ask
Since Konica-Minolta sold its camera technology to Sony in 2006, Sony has taken over the responsibility of providing Minolta customers with the technical and repair services that Minolta formerly offered. Any limited-warranties bought with Konica-Minolta products carry over to Sony. The phone numbers for Minolta's technical support line are still functional. For film cameras, call 1-877-646-6582. For digital cameras, call 1-877-462-4464. For local service providers or to establish a request for a repair appointment, you can go to http://eservice.sony.com and type in your Minolta model number and your zip code to search for a location that will help you with your Minolta.
Tags: your camera, your Minolta, cameras call, cameras since, owners find
