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152 *Minolta Maxxum 2800AF* Flash not turning on
I have a Maxxum 2800 AF flash I got with a Maxxum 7000 and 100-200 (1:4.5) lens. The camera worked perfectly, but the lens needed some work (AF gear was stuck, which I fixed by taking the rear lens plate off, letting it spin w/o the rear gear on the lens in the way, and coaxing it manually with a flathead) and the lens and camera have both been perfect. However, the flash has never worked. I'm not getting rid of the rest of it over a dead $15-20 flash, especially with the lens is worth as much as I got it all for. I'd rather discard the flash and keep the working lens and camera. The flash is so dead, not even the test button fired.
I have tried reseating the flash a few times, and it just does not work. I used 4 brand new AA batteries as well, so I know it is not the batteries in the flash. I also tried to clean the contacts in the flash (no corrosion, so denatured alcohol was used), and the situation did not improve. That said, while these were new batteries they are from Costco (that is to say, stockpiled) but were not expired. I did change the Jobsmart (TSC) AAA batteries I got with the camera ("batteries not included") with new ones, and neither set changes anything. The TSC batteries also tested good on my analog multimeter.
NOTE: The flash has a connector on the front that interfaces with the camera, but the cable is not required for the Maxxum 7000; it communicates solo -- I suspect it's meant for high-level communication with the vintage ones, or higher end cameras.
Is there anything I can do to verify the flash isn't dead, or is it just not worth messing with?
UPDATE
Tried brand new primary Lithium batteries, the flash is still dead.
UPDATE (3/18)
However I did notice one of my 7000's (one from a lot with a Maxxum 5/other for the lens with the flash) and the lot 7000 was not treated well in 2 ways: the mirror is pitted, and I had to clean battery acid (normal for the AAA cover due to storage neglect so I overlooked it). I'm going to relegate that suspect 7000 due to parts unavailability and see if it works on a 7000/9000 that was well used and taken care of.
UPDATE (3/19)
I opened the flash up after finding out how, and I cannot see any obvious faults on it.
I took a closer look at the main board and this area seems to connect to the button. Everything checks out so I think it's a component soldered to the board.
Esta é uma boa pergunta?
@oldturkey03 can you see if you can find a service manual for this flash? I suspect the capacitors, but couldn't find a way in.
New AAA batteries did not help, so it's not the camera.
por Nick
@nick I'll check on it. Try to see if danj can fix you up. I think he is really into photography and photographic equipment as well.
por oldturkey03
@oldturkey03 I at least want to try before I give up on it. At least it won't be in vein, especially with the lens being repaired, which is arguably the best part of the set as well as the body (the newer Maxxums are better, but this still holds its own).
por Nick
Just dug out my dads Minolta Maxxum 5000 from the closet and he had bought the Flash 2800AF but never used it. Put batteries in it, and when I would try to press the on off button, it would say on if I held it, but turn off when I let go. The switch seems to not be latching. Also, I noticed another odd thing. The Minolta nameplate on the front of the flash began to get warm to the touch after a few minutes. Something behind it must be heating up or shorting. I tried to take it apart, but couldn’t get further than unscrewing the mount at the bottom and the two lenses behind the red diffuser. Could not figure out how to split the case without getting too violent.
por Moose12