using dynax 5 and maxxum 5000af

Unable to get dedicated external flashes to fire on our dynax 5 as it's in-built flash keeps popping up..no matter what setting we try ...
The flashes are independent brands but fully dedicated according to the sellers.
And the 28-80 AF kit lens supplied with dynax 5 will not open its apertures at all when on the maxxum 5000af, but it works 100% fine on the dynax 5.
Plus remote cord RC1000l won't work on the dynax 5 but is ok on maxxum 5000af.
Have been told its just the age of these cameras, which is approx 20 years, but they are both in exceptionally good cosmetic condition.
NB The lens is 8 pin and the maxxum 5000af is 5 pin : is that somehow relevant??
Could somebody PLEASE offer some answers ? Many thanks for reading

What model of flash are you using with the Dynax 5?
It sounds like the camera and flash are not talking to each other. So the camera does not realise that an external flash is fitted.
Have you tried cleaning the contacts on the hotshoe? Use something like the wooden end of a match stick to gently rub over the four contacts on the hotshoe.

The lens aperture is operated by a lever on the inside of the lens mount the number of lens contacts does not effect the aperture. Do you have any other lenses to try on the 5000AF? As does look that the aperture problem could be with the camera body and not the lens.

On a camera with the 5 pins it will not autofocus with the newer lens with the autofocus motor in the lens. The Minolta xi zoom lens I think will focus but you cannot zoom them. Any other screw drive lens will work.

The remote cord not working on the Dynax 5 this could be the contact pins oxodised and not allowing a proper circuit. Again try rubbing the 3 pins on the camera body with something like a matchstick to clean off any oxidisation.

stophed wrote: Many thanks for above replies. I have studied the camera manuals several times and cannot see any answers to my problems. The flash is a Miranda Multi Dedicated 700CD which on the Dynax 5 is used with a Pixel Hot Shoe converter ref TF-325. The contacts all look clean but tomorrow I will try cleaning them. again.

A Pixel Hot Shoe converter ref TF-325 ?
If you need a converter , then that suggests it's not a dedicated flash .
I assume the flash has an ISO shoe and the converter changes this to a Minolta iISO hotshoe ?
Most of these converters just join up the +/- contacts to force it to flash and provide no communication between camera and flash , which is why the pop up flash keeps popping up , as you don't have a compatible dedicated flash attached .

stophed wrote: Both cameras work completely fine in all other respects which is why this is all so frustrating. I have cleaned the remote control pins on the Dynax 5, bearing in mind the remote works fine on the Maxxum 5000af.

Have you considered picking up a wireless remote for the camera ? they work on infrared , like a TV remote .

stophed wrote: As previously said, the Dynax5 flash pops up all the time and I cannot see how you can fire this camera with non minolta external flash : except by using a slaved unit, which defeats the whole object. I have used it with a Minolta 3600HS many times but no longer have one..

As mentioned above , you need to disable the pop up flash .
see page 37 of the manual I linked to you .
It's "Flash Cancel" .
Wireless triggers and manual flash still work .
Unless the adapter you are using is faulty ?

EDIT ;
Possibly the reason why the pop up flash is popping up isn't because it's automatically wanting to do flash , but because the camera is automatically using it for the AF assist illuminator .
Use the custom function settings to disable this , and that should stop it .
CF 11 set to option 2 ( off) page 107 of the manual .
Had you a non adapted compatible flash attached , its infrared illuminator would do the focus assist , rather than the cameras pop up flash .

stophed wrote: As far as the lens not opening I suspect that the Maxxum 5000 is at fault, especially as that has been mentioned as not being an uncommon issue with these.

Most likely .

stophed wrote: I regret to return to the age of these cameras, being circa 20 odd years, as I am coming to the conclusion that the problems lie therein.

20 years old ?
They'd gone digital by then !
I've got film loaded in my Minolta 9000AF of the same vintage , 1985 .
That's 38 years old , not 20 !
My first SLR was a Minolta 7000AF I bought used with three lenses in around 1992 . It cost me a good few weeks wages to pay for it . I still have it and the lenses .

stophed wrote: Namely that although I used these cameras for about ten years, that period ended about ten years back and as a trade expert has pointed out, that's the worst thing you can do with them, ie not use them,- essentially some vital electronic bit just gives up the ghost. It matters not how fine these cameras look, tis what's inside that counts. Anyhow, I'll try to keep positive and sincere thanks for reading all this, Best regards to you and yours...

Quite .
Electronic or mechanical , it's the lack of use that tends to cause problems .

Edited by neilt3 - 06 May 2023 at 00:27

typing error


Edited by michelb - 06 May 2023 at 00:54