The Minolta Maxxum 7000 is a 35mm SLR camera released in 1985. The 7000 was a significant camera as it was the first to incorporate both auto focus and automatic film advance. Though the camera had many advances at the time of its launch, it still faced many of the common problems experienced with similar 35mm SLR cameras. Before sending the camera off for repairs, try to troubleshoot and fix the issues yourself.
Batteries
Many power issues with the 7000 are related to the batteries. If you turn on the camera and nothing appears in the LCD panel, or if you try to operate the camera and nothing works, check that the batteries are properly installed. To check the batteries, loosen the attaching screw of the battery holder on the side of the camera with a coin. Pull the battery holder out of the camera. The four AA batteries should be placed in the holder according to the indicators on the holder. If the batteries were installed correctly, the batteries are drained and need to be replaced.
Lens
The lens attached to the 7000 can cause various problems when shooting. If the aperture indication shows "--" or the auto focus does not work, you need to make and adjustment to your lens. First, make sure the lens is properly attached to the camera base. Locate the red mark on the lens and align it with the red mark on the camera base. Place the lens in the camera and twist into place until you hear a click.
Another cause of the problem could be dirty contacts on the camera body or the lens. Remove the lens and wipe off the contacts on both using a clean, dry cloth.
If the focus is still not working, make sure the lens is not set to manual focus. Locate the "Focus Mode" switch and select "AF."
Film
If the film counter on the 7000 never advances from "0," the film is not loaded correctly. To load the film, open the film cover by pressing and sliding down the release button located on the left side of the camera. Put the 35mm film cartridge in the chamber with the rounded top facing down. Pull the film leader to the opposite side of the camera and place the holes of the film on the teeth of the take-up spool. Make sure the film is lying flat. If too much was pulled out, push the excess back into the film cartridge. Press down on the film cover until it snaps shut. You should hear the film advance automatically. Check the film counter again to see if it shows "1."
Tags: side camera, auto focus, battery holder, camera base, camera nothing
