Old camera won't advance film?

Question

My Minolta 35mm won't show any signs of power from the batteries (which are new). Am I doing something wrong? It won't advance the film...

Answer 1

This sounds like one of the SLR Minoltas and if so I suspect that in addition to your being unable to advance the film the camera has shut down altogether.

If so,the likely problem is that one or other of the 2 capacitors has blown which is a very common problem with these.(probably the upper one).

You will need to take this to a repair shop if you want your camera fixed but I would suggest that the cost of repair will be more than replacing the body-which you can buy 2nd hand on e bay and the like for probably $30-$40 thereby still getting use from whatever lenses you use/have accumulated over time.

Answer 2

My Pentax SF-1 had a very similar problem. I just bought a new camera body and was able to use the lenses I had.

Just get a camera body that takes the same lens mount. For Minolta, it'd likely be the AF  mount.

As you can see from the ebay, link, you shouldn't have to spend more than $20 on a camera body. It's the lenses that will cost more.  

Answer 3

To answer intelligently we need the model of your camera.