Flickering Shutter Scale LED's

[Rosco]

I have a Minolta XG-M that I bought only few weeks ago. The camera seems to be in very good condition. I bought it with three lenses... Minolta 50mm f1.7, Minolta 75-200mm f4.5 and a vivitar 35-70mm f2.8/3.5. Everything really seems to be ready to load film and put into use. However, the little red LED's that indicate proper shutter speed along the scale to the right in the viewer, do a lot of flickering and shifting when I touch the shutter button. I find that I sometimes have to wiggle the aperture ring to get it to settle or give a decisive indication. Doesn’t matter which lens I have mounted, it behaves the same.

Questions: Is this typical behavior for this camera, the result of age and something to get used to or is it an indication of something that needs to be addressed by a trained service person.

I appreciate any input that anyone might be willing to offer. Thanks.

 

[Roger S]

Hi Ross. What mode do you have the camera in? If it's on Automatic, it should find the shutter speed on it's own. If you're on the Manual mode, then what is happening is correct. Those lights will flicker until the camera says you have the correct aperture setting set on the ring for the shutter speed.

 

[Rosco]

Thanks for the reply Roger. I did some more playing around in manual mode, keeping your comments in mind. Today is moderately sunny. With the ISO set for 400, I set the aperture to f11 and the camera displayed an “M” at the bottom of the scale confirming the mode and indicated a shutter speed of 1/1000 with a solid LED light (no flicker). I went on to set the aperture to f16 and received a solid indicator for 1/500 and at f22 saw a solid 1/500 and 1/250. An aperture of f8 resulted in an above scale shutter speed indicator. All of this would indicate that the metering indicators are in fact working correctly… I simply wasn’t applying their use correctly.

Again, I thank you for your response and providing a bit of guidance.

Best

-R

 

[Roger S]

All of this would indicate that the metering indicators are in fact working correctly… I simply wasn’t applying their use correctly.

No problem, Rosco. I used a Minolta SRT 101 all through the '80s, and still have at least 3 Minoltas in my collection now which are ready to have film loaded. Glad I could help.