Minolta XG-1 and 200X flash

Would anyone mind helping me solve this strange problem? Upon receiving my used 200X flash for my Minolta XG-1 , after the flash is fully powered up and my f.60 led is flashing as it should in the view finder, telling me the flash is ready, then attempting to take a picture, my shutter will actually stop a half a click instead of completely going through the shutter cycle. It is doing this on both of my fully functioning XG-1 cameras under any lighting conditions. Did I possibly get a messed up flash? I have not tried it with film actually loaded in the camera for fear of wasting film. I would think it would not matter if I had film in the camera or not. Also, upon using the G winder, with the flash set in the low sync mode it still is doing the same thing on both cameras. The flash will work with the manual test button so, I know the capacitor is in great shape. It charges up very fast. I am new to SLR's and I am very excited about getting away from digital cameras. Any advice from a SLR 35mm film guru would be be greatly appreciated. Thank you ahead of time.

I have seen a similar problem with a Minolta XG-M and an Auto 132x flash. The flash worked fine for several years, but then developed a problem where the camera shutter did not work properly when the flash was in use. I found that if I used the optional PC Sync cable to connect the flash to the camera flash connector, it would bypass the signals in the hot shoe connector and would work ok. I have not figured out whether the problem was in the flash or the camera.

Thank you for your reply and your time. In regards to your response, I have a late night gig coming up and it will be shot mostly at night in front a stage etc. I do have another flash ( a SUNPACK Auto 321 ) with the pc capable scenario but, it is very slow on the rebound. Being it is stated as auto, is there a chance that it will still perform exposer wise as my 200X with the PC cable ( outside the fast rebound time)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Sounds like I may have to invest in another camera body and flash. I am very happy we have such responsive people here on this site. Thanks to you this is what makes this place work so well. Thank's again, Minoltaman

In those models, the "auto" function is performed entirely in the flash. The flash is set for a certain exposure level. In the case of the 132x, there was a choice of just two exposure levels. You set the lens aperture to correspond to the flash exposure level setting and film ISO.

When the flash fires, a sensor monitors the amount of light being reflected back from the scene. When the amount of reflected light reaches the level of the selected exposure value, the circuitry in the flash shuts the strobe off. In the cheaper units, this was done by dumping the rest of the charge from the capacitor into a dummy load. In the better units, they were able to shut off the high voltage circuit and preserve the remaining charge, shortening the recycle time until ready for the next flash.

The other connection in the Minolta hot shoe allowed the flash to indicate to the camera when it was turned on, and when it was ready to fire. I believe that problems with this signal can cause problems with the shutter. A combination of "turned on" and "not ready to fire" can inhibit the shutter. A misbehaving signal could cause shutter problems. (It's all starting to come back to me now.)

What kind of batteries does your old flash use? If you are using AA or AAA cells (carbon zinc, alkaline, or nickel cadmium), you might try NiMh cells. The voltage is in the same range as the other cells, but NiMh can supply as much current as the NiCd cells, and may shorten the flash cycle time over carbon zinc or alkaline.

Hey Ken. Sorry about the delay, I have been doing research on Super 8mm film and it seems to be going a bit slower than I had planned. You really know your cameras. I have been using just regular alkaline AA Duracell batteries in my flashes over all. That is a good idea you had about trying the NiMh batteries in the slower rebounding SUNPAK Auto 321. That may just shorten the recovery time a bit. I will try it out and let you know. It really bums me out that my Minolta 200X dedicated flash will not work properly with my XG-1's. I even bought another one, ( as an experiment ) and both cameras are still doing the same thing so, it has got to be the cameras fault I would think. Like you said, communication/signal error between the hot shoe and the flash. I hope I can get them both fixed by someone that has the experience to do the repairs. PC cable seems to work fine though. I have yet to get my current film developed to see how well the SUNPACK Auto 321 is actually working out. Thanks again.

are you following the manual?

Typically you set shutter at "X" speed = 1/60th. Then the appropriate f-stop.

Can only guess from your post. Also guessing that you picked up some used equipment. Is there a sync cord, too?

If using a winder, some settings are critical.
--
Gene

I live in Minoltaville, just inside Sony City , successfully waited the 7D upgrade.
'The only thing easier than being wrong .. is denying it!' -me
MaxxuM 7 Digital

11/21/21...

Well, I have collected a few of these minolta cameras and flash units; bottom line it must

be the xg-1 camera, I purchased a used xg-m recently and ran the gamut on 2 -200x units and 1-320px unit, same results, gave me 2 to 3 flash/shutter cycles then locked up. So,

I have an original xg-7; one of the original xg's and voila; all flash units mentioned above fire non-stop with autowinder and without autowinder and no lockups; as should be; so in my case and probably yours as age with new xg series when minolta sold to konica they probably used cheaper transistors/wiring and the works and their cameras and thus degradation over time detiorates the circuitry and eventually peters outs...the xg-m I bid/bought($32.00) on e-bay works great without any lockups when flash is not used, but i noticed the self timer light fluctuates(again due to cheap electronics to make more $$$ on short run); bottom line; srt's and early xds/xgs/xks are quality well made while the more automated series are only good for so long before kaputz...same with original lenses which come in boxes with pictures on lens packaging(original minolta brand); vs konica/minolta which come in white/blue boxes with rising sun logo in brand(cheaper lenses)...so I use the original xg-7 for indoors and the xg-m just for outdoorsy non-flash related circuitry/wizadry needed computations by camera. In the end always remove the batteries from your cameras/flashes and always have silica-gel packets inside their storage areas along with your lenses...Happy Trails of photography to you!!! As an 18yr old; i was relagated to an srt-201; and finally an xd-11 later on, and an xg-7; they work gr8! still today-41 years later!!! now that's quality!!!

the Op might no get this answer, but I think it's ok to answer odl threads. Very often when I google old gear of film stuff I get (quite obviously)  old topics, sometimes the original question is not adressed. If someones can answer 20 years later, it might be useful for someone else along the path.

Well, yeah i saw the dates, but lets not write the users off for "dead"! They just resolved issues or went to manual mode on the mechanical beasts, stay away from the "auto" flash units that minolta syncs-up with their xd/xg series cameras. Use a non-dedicated single pin flash like a "sunpak" or "vivitar" if needing indoor lights, however b/w film hi speed film gives better definition of people and environments anyways. Maybe they just gave up and moved onto digital cameras, kind of like just "buy" another new car and move on.

I saw the dates, but they may still be "alive"!!! Just got busy with life outside of Minolta!