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Minolta Maxxum 5xi not loading film

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jds560

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I recently picked up a Minolta Maxxum 5xi that seems to work well from a thrift store. I put a new battery in and did a function test, however upon loading film and closing the door, I noticed it still said 0 for the film counter. I heard what i believe were the winders trying to pull the film but sounded like they were spinning and slapping the film reel. I tried again and again and again to load the film, yet it still would not pull on the winder. Could I have a bad camera? Is there something I'm doing wrong. It's not my first Minolta, I have an X-700 that I quite enjoy using.

Any help would be beneficial and most appreciated.
 
Is it possible you didn't give it enough lead?
 
As has been suggested, you may not have pulled the film leader out far enough.

If you download the manual here :-

Loading…

photo-manuals.com

then it has a section showing how to load the film.
 
jds560 said:
I recently picked up a Minolta Maxxum 5xi that seems to work well from a thrift store. I put a new battery in and did a function test, however upon loading film and closing the door, I noticed it still said 0 for the film counter. I heard what i believe were the winders trying to pull the film but sounded like they were spinning and slapping the film reel. I tried again and again and again to load the film, yet it still would not pull on the winder. Could I have a bad camera? Is there something I'm doing wrong. It's not my first Minolta, I have an X-700 that I quite enjoy using.
Click to expand...
How much assistance does this camera require for loading film? I.e., is it necessary to ensure that the film is wrapped around the sprockets of the takeup roll, the way that it would need to be on a manual SLR?
 
Tom_N said:
How much assistance does this camera require for loading film? I.e., is it necessary to ensure that the film is wrapped around the sprockets of the takeup roll, the way that it would need to be on a manual SLR?
Click to expand...
From the manual, it looks like it needs to be pulled over to a mark on the right hand chamber, when it should then auto feed - similar to a lot of other cameras of the time.
 
Good answers already - and a very useful link to the camera's user guide courtesy of smithim.

The auto film loading function seems to be quite picky - a bit like Goldilock's porridge. Not enough leader, and it won't work - but also too much leader and it won't work. It has to be just right.
 
I have tried just about everything. I put extra film, and a bit less and nothing works. I only have Fuji Superia so at the moment I can't test with another film. When I put the film in and pull it over to the winder, I close the door and then flick the camera on. I hear the winder spin, but it sounds like it's slapping the film reel, yet not pulling it.
 
jds560 said:
I have tried just about everything. I put extra film, and a bit less and nothing works. I only have Fuji Superia so at the moment I can't test with another film. When I put the film in and pull it over to the winder, I close the door and then flick the camera on. I hear the winder spin, but it sounds like it's slapping the film reel, yet not pulling it.
Click to expand...
It sounds as if it may not be engaging with the film advance sprockets. Looking at the manual, it would be the lower sprocket that does the work when loading film - maybe that's not engaging with the film properly.

Another option is that the advance isn't working correctly - can you check the action without film and the camera back open?
 
"can you check the action without film and the camera back open?"

I very much doubt that would be possible on such an automated camera.

It sounds like the OP is trying to use just a single roll of film over and over. It would be worth checking that there are no tears between the sprocket holes on that roll - and also that the film is able to move freely in and out of the cassette. It sounds to me that the camera is trying to do what it's supposed to - given a good roll of film to work with.

Maybe that's the problem, not the camera itself.
 
John Michael Winterbourne said:
"can you check the action without film and the camera back open?"

I very much doubt that would be possible on such an automated camera.
Click to expand...
With many of them you can fool the interlocks - press in a recessed button, that type of thing.
John Michael Winterbourne said:
It would be worth checking that there are no tears between the sprocket holes on that roll - and also that the film is able to move freely in and out of the cassette. It sounds to me that the camera is trying to do what it's supposed to - given a good roll of film to work with.

Maybe that's the problem, not the camera itself.
Click to expand...
Could well be....
 
I've tried another roll of Fuji Superia and I still get the same results. I just hear the winder spinning and what I assume is slapping the film. I stretched out the film a bit longer and rolled it around the winder, still no dice. I think I may have to buy another roll of film from a different make just to see if that's the issue over the camera.
 
Its broken. Not common, but happens. Loading was not magic or hard with the Minolta.
 
First , it has nothing to do with the film you are using.

Take a look at this photo :

7674d4f346c0492cbd703d7298480d3a.jpg

it is a 7xi , so not the same but similar.

See the red mark? that is the film indicator mark. So the tip of the film should rest about there.

Note that both the film wind on spool and the back cover have a spring loaded guide.

If one of those is missing or no longer spring loaded, the film will not be wound on .

Photo from :

https://simonhawketts.co.uk/2016/08/05/minolta-dynax-7xi-35mm-autofocus-slr/

You could also test to see if the film spool is indeed spinning or not. If it does not work by pressing the shutter button with the door open, you can trigger the door latch on the body with a small screwdriver so that the camera thinks the door is now closed.

Lastly, if all else seems to work, put a finger, gently, on the take up spool when it rotates to see if it stops when you do that or still tries to still rotate.
 
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Put some pressure sensitive adhesive (not permanent glue) in the opening/locking cover button release. Roll tight film cassette holding film leader. Put carefully cassette in camera with leader in the line Extend film leader to the red mark in chamber. Close camera's . Push opening /locking button in the locking position .
 
I had the same problem with the same camera. When you open the back of the camera there should be a space for a watch battery. This battery controls the wheel that moves the film. When I first got my camera the battery was dead. Might be the same problem.
 
Mike Nolan said:
I had the same problem with the same camera. When you open the back of the camera there should be a space for a watch battery. This battery controls the wheel that moves the film. When I first got my camera the battery was dead. Might be the same problem.
Click to expand...
You might be thinking of the DB5 Data Back, but that had nothing to do with transport anyway.

The Maxum St si/Dynax 404 had the battery for the inbuilt data back where you describe :



9cb57e654a694996a6dc0fb0a804535c.jpg
 
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AD_ROCK said:
@FrancoD Aligning the end of the film with the red mark worked perfectly- thanks!
Click to expand...
Good to see that some thread remain useful year later.

And thank you for letting me know. On average only one in three will bother to say thank you.
 
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