New Maxxum 7D Problems

[Crumbley]

I bought a Maxxum 7D with Tamron 18-200 around Christmas and have been pleased with the performance...when it works! I have 2 problems:
1. Sometimes the camera will not turn on. Removing and replacing the battery will sometimes fix things, but not reliably. This occurs most often when the camera has not been used for a few days.
2. Newest problem. The shutter will not release. The LCD monitor shows an empty CF card with lots of frames remaining, but the counter in the viewfinder registers "0" frames remaining. I have reformeatted the card and reset the camera to default settings but it still will not shoot.
I have sent an email to KM but they have not answered yet and I'm getting despirate. I live in Charleston SC where there are no really good camera specialty shops to help. I was ion San Francisco and tried one out and bought it on the spot, but I am here and they are 3 time zones away.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

[Flowerd]

Today on 2-3-2006 I recieved my KM 7D.
I quickly read the documentation and charged the battery.
I made some pictures and connected it to my computer and uploaded the photographs. all looks well. I tried some other lenses but they did not work. I put on the originally lens, which first worked fine, but also that one didn't work anymore.
I saw the teller in the right bottom corner on zero and I can"t get it on a higher level. Reset and battery take-out, formatting nothing works. Read the documentation but got no solution for this problem.
Please help and also thanks in advance to anyone who can help !!

[Crumbley]

I tried to get Konica-Minolta to answer an email for help (the only way I can find to contact them) but they have not answered any of my emails. Where did you buy your camera?

[Flowerd]

I bought the camera on the internet via www.kamera-express.nl (= in Holland)
I have phoned to that company and they say that maybe the problem is the CF-card.
I use a 2 GB Sandisk Extreme III and that one is brand new. It's used for the first time. I made 5 pictures and it works good. After uploading to my computer and after deleting the files the problem arises.
I have to find someone in my neighbourhood with a CF-card and try if that solves the problem. The company also said that maybe one of the pins in the camera is bowed, but that is also not the case.
They said that than the only solution is te send the camera back for repair.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I looked further on the internet and saw the following link.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1035&message=11398078
It describes the same problem and 2 other problems which I also have:
A noise for 3 seconds at startup and a not working anti-shake system ( 5 lights continuously lighting up)
I have send my camera back for repair.

[Crumbley]

I talked to KM repair and they told me that they are not accepting (US site) cameras for repair until after Sony takes over on April 1. So I have to wait with a camera which has not worked reliably since it was bought. Then I will have to wait an additional 3-4 weeks while they evaluate the problem. ALL I WANT IS A CAMERA THAT WORKS!:mad: :mad:

[Blondn6ft]

:mad: I am new here and understand your pain!
I had the same problems with my 7D, so I called KM on 3/7
and they advised how to box it up and send it in for repairs.
I did just that ... $70 in shipping costs to 2 day air it and cover
the cost in insurance. I just called to check up on my camera
today and got the big song and dance how they are "overwhelmed"
with cameras and that any camera that had been sent in that was
not "opened" out of its shipping box was being mailed back
to the owners. This is the fate of my camera. The KM service rep
said they were advised of this yesterday and given no real explanation
other than to try and deal with the customers as they call in. No call or
email was going to be sent and nothing has been put with the camera
for explanation on its return. So now, I wait for my camera to be returned, and then have to wait until after April 1st to call them again and find out where to send it now for repair.:mad: Talk about company BS !!! I want to know who is paying all of my shipping costs??!! Its a good thing I use my camera as a secondary job and not a primary. This is ridiculous! Sorry ... didn't mean to vent on my first post. * Robin *

[bobert]

Hi everyone...I too am a fellow victim of the 7D curse. Friday I recieved my new 7D, did everything I needed to do, put on a lens, turned it on...then that famous grinding noise lasting 3 seconds. From the start I new this wasn't right. Then the AS meter was flashing...checked manual = CCD Error. I couldn't even take one photograph...the shutter wasn't releasing either. I posted this on dyxum.com with the following reply.

Real shame you've got the AS problem in your cam.
The noise should normally last about half a second. It's the AS system checking/calibrating. So if things are wrong the cam keeps trying to get a positive result from the AS until it gives up. And at some point this will result in an error and total lock-up of the cam. I've seen that happen unfortunately. :-/
Having it repaired under warranty is the only fix.


So everyone...if you recently purchased the camera from a store...send it back and get a new one!

[Crumbley]

:mad: I'm just sitting here waiting like you are. This really is outrageous.

[Blondn6ft]

Another friend of mine over at PhotoZo.com is in the same boat.
She just found out they sent her 7D back unrepaired too. She is having the same extra noise upon turning in the camera. WOW ... they all take a poop about the same time ... strange.

[bobert]

haha lol. Yeah it must have been the last batch that KM made before they signed to Sony and probably didn't care much about "quality control"

[Crumbley]

Long discussion by phone with the folks at the new number. Basically, the same "Gee, we've never heard of that" reply. Now I am required to send the camera in to Connecticut with 2 to 4 week turn around anticipated. There is apparently a "senior consultant" who was (is) supposed to call me about the problem, but no one has any idea when that might be. Further, and incredibley, they are not sure if the consultant will be able to affect the outcome of the repair. I am extremely dismayed that I did not buy a Canon 20D instead. By the way, the $200 rebate check has never arrived, eventhough they report that it has been sent twice. I suspect that this is just a smoke screen. Has anyone had a positive experience with KM repair?

[Coltess]

I had the LCD go out on my A200. After I sent it in for repair, it came back within a couple of weeks as I recall in perfect working order.

Regarding the rebate check for the 7D, I got mine weeks ago, so maybe yours did just drop through the cracks somewhere.

[WinterWolf]

I've had my 7D for about a year and a half. Just after the warranty expired the camera wouldn't turn on. GOt that fixed. just got it back, went ot use it, turned it on, tried one pic and now the shutter locks and won't release.

Going to have to take it back AGAIN :mad: and probably have to pay cause it's not under warranty any more. Never mind the depot it went to before was a Minolta depot, now it'll be sony so I'm totally screwed.

REALLY tempted to sell all my KM stuff and buy a canon or something!

[DonSchap]

I was a big Minolta fan...

my collection of 35mm cameras include four Maxxum 9000 bodies, one Maxxum 7000 body and the humble and rather rare Maxxum XPsi body. I have a ton of supporting gear and glass with them. Nothing extraordinarily expensive, but good stuff.

I had enjoyed the company from the early 80's through the early 90's... but then it changed. First the flash mount changed... for no real reason (just greed on their part, I suppose), then I began to see Minolta changing models, again, for no apparent reason, compromising here and there on quality... just stuff you do not want to see when you hang with a manufacturer.

It got so bad, I simply quit photography for over a decade... hoping and waiting for them to settle down.

What I wound up waiting for was real digital. Believe it or not, and you might find this interest, the Maxxum 9000 was the first 35mm with a truly digital back. The SB-90S, together with its sister model the SB-70S intended for the 7000 camera were, in a way, the first digital SLR cameras from Minolta (they were first shown at Photokina in 1986). The Still Video system was a way of capturing the image electronically through a CCD, but storing the images in an analog way -- much like VHS, but the storage for still video were on small (two inch) magnetic discs, allowing 25 or 50 pictures per disc depending on quality. The SB-90S uses a 2/3 inch CCD with 380 000 pixels, has a sensitivity of ISO 200, and relay optics acting as a 2x tele converter. It has automatic white balance with manual settings available on a small LCD display. The 9000 thus holds the merit of being the first (and only until the digital back for the R8/R9 is released) 35mm SLR that can be used to capture both film and electronic images. The Still Video system was unfortunately of too low quality to be really useful, and died a swift death with the advent of "real" digital cameras.

Admittedly, it is nothing like today's super sensors, 2-GB memory cards and such, but it was such an advanced idea... you couldn't help look in wonder and admiration at the "Mind of Minolta". Imagine... all this... back in 1986!

Anyway, whatever happened happened and Konica and Minolta wound up joining forces. It sent a chill up my spine, because in a way... it was the clearest sign, yet, that the end was near.

In February 2006 (probably as early as May 2005 - when its intent with SONY was announced), Minolta ceased to exist for all intents and purposes. Some say that SONY will be an improvement, overall, but after having my own prior dealings with SONY in both their market and PC markets... I will not be cajoled into believing this is any kind of improvement.

SONY seemingly shutdown the Konica/Minolta webpage, with no indication of alternate site. (Not too professional, I would say) Reports are coming in of all sorts of issues with the KM-7D... and the users with no recourse.

I won't sell my collection of circa 1980 equipment, mainly because it still does what it does. But anything I would have that they produced after 1995 is history!

I was offered the choice of KM-7D, early on... or the Nikon D70... or just waiting for the Canon 20D. I had the 7D in my hands... and the knowledge of KM's continued issues... so I handed it back to the representative... muttering to myself that "I know better"... and decided to wait. The Nikon D70s came out... and improvement to the D70... still, I waited. The reports came back on the Canon EOS 20D... thumbs up all the way! The choice was simple.

I own it... it works... and the Minolta Company is truly history. My advice... sell the KM rig for as much as you can get and buy your new Canon. Sadly, there appears to be no upside to keeping the 7D, at all. :(

Whatever you decide, please know that YOU are not abandoning K-M... they left first. :mad: You can still see the vapor trail... if you look quick!

[WinterWolf]

Hi Don...I will find out today the fate of my 7D, but I'm also thinking today I will become a new convert to Canon. I need a digital. I have weddings to shoot next month and I just can't bank on having this one back in time. Cause we know that won't happen :(

I'll probably ebay my stuff that works. Get some money back. I am beyond dissapointed at minolta. Way beyond.

[DonSchap]

In fact, Winter...

as much as I am disgusted with this turn of events, I know my investment with my Canon EOS 20D will be ongoing. I recently bought a EOS-3 35mm body to make 35mm use of my new investment in Canon glass. It was cheap enough ($280). Manufacturer's lenses are progressing in phenomenal ways... a slew of new f/2.8s and my current set, of course, can not be used on my old Minolta mount.

I do have to watch which lenses I do decide on, because the EOS-3 restricts the use of the newer APS-C lensing, due to their design, so the Canon EF-S, Tamron Di II and similar lines of lenses are out... unless I want to dedicate it entirely to the digital line.

Anyway, you have my personal understanding of this problem and I wish you luck with your new Canon system. :)

[WinterWolf]

Whelp...I am now the proud new owner of a Canon EOS 30D w/ 17-85 image stabalizer lens. I have to get a flash but they didn't have any in stock, so that'll be next weekend's investment.

There is a chance that the KM7D will be fixed under warranty since the depot broke it but it's not for sure. Even if it is, I'm selling it. In the last 6 months I've only had the camera for MAYBE a month and I really can't work like that.

It's really sad that Minolta went so down hill. I was a huge fan. Now...not at all. I'll be selling all my gear within the next little while and switching myself over to canon now.

[DonSchap]

Honestly,

I do believe you will be a much happier "camera-jockey" with your Canon. I have thoroughly enjoyed using mine and seeking its limitations. The 30D sounds like it has some dandy improvements to the 20D, but I'm sure you already are aware of that.

That lens, though... did it come as the high-end kit? It'll get you off to a dandy start, also.

Let me look into my crystal ball...

11288

oh yeah, I see many more purchases for you... very soon. In fact, there seems to be an EF 70-200mm f/4L USM and an EF 1.4x Tele-converter calling your name, as I type. :D They want you to come in and look at them, right away.

Who knew? :eek:

[coldrain]

Whelp...I am now the proud new owner of a Canon EOS 30D w/ 17-85 image stabalizer lens. I have to get a flash but they didn't have any in stock, so that'll be next weekend's investment.

There is a chance that the KM7D will be fixed under warranty since the depot broke it but it's not for sure. Even if it is, I'm selling it. In the last 6 months I've only had the camera for MAYBE a month and I really can't work like that.

It's really sad that Minolta went so down hill. I was a huge fan. Now...not at all. I'll be selling all my gear within the next little while and switching myself over to canon now.
The 17-85 IS USM is not a totally crap lens, but it does lack a bit of vibrance in colour rendition and contrast. it also can CA quite a bit. So, if you do not really like the image quality it provides, you should head over to the Canon DSLR forum for some feedback. The Canon EF 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM II provides very surprising image quality for its price (a bit above 200$), and may serve you well.

There are a number of experienced wedding photogs in the Canon forum, and they will be able to advice you in lenses (primes and zooms).

[WinterWolf]

Thanks for the tips coldrain :) I'll head over to the forum and see what I can see.

The lens came included in the price of the camera so I didn't have much say there, but I do like the sounds of the 28-105 lens. I will probably see how much it costs here (canada) and I have to get a flash too.

From my playing last night I like the camera so far, it's akward right now, everything is backwards to the KM so that's taking some getting used to. I do like the resolution and looks of the few practice shots I did last night though.

Don :) I like your list of goodies in my future! Course, I gotta pay this puppy off first. Figure I should be able to sell my KM gear for close to enough to satisfy me though. Or at least I hope so.

I have to do a lot of reading, find out what goodies will work with the camera and stuff. But it's pretty cool so far. I'm not one for reading manuals unless I am really stuck so it was a little frustrating last night but fun all the same