I've recently gotten a hold of my dad's older Minolta XG-1, but it seems the light-meter is broken. If anyone out there knows how or where I could get this fixed, I'd be more than glad. I'm also curious on techniques using black and white film. I've got a 36-shot professional-quality BW film, but have very little clue as to using it properly. Any help in this department is welcome. Of course, any tips and tricks of the trade are welcome. I need all I can get

With a little help from my friend Google, I found that camera needs: 1.35v PX625A battery I got that info from this page http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?MinoltaXG1.html~mainFrame A new battery might be what the meter needs. You should also check the battery compartment -- if it's nasty in there (battery leak, etc) it will ned a repair. If you don't have the manual, search both Google and eBay to buy one. On using any special film, you should first get the meter working ... otherwise, you are just spinning your wheels. IOW, if you use a workaround until the meter is OK, then you will be doing something different after it's fixed. As to using that film, or any film ... you shouldn't have to do more than set the ISO/ASA on the camera to match the value on the film. Of curse, that depends on the meter working.

The batteries it's using are brand new, obtained from a local professional photography shop specializing in manual cameras. They work fine, so I doubt it be the batteries. I checked the compartment when I had them changed... clean as a whistle. Im currently using 100ISO B/w film and will be for Thursday. Only problem I forsee now is that its having some trouble rewinding. It may just be my inexperienced mind, but whenever I rewind the flim, it'll go great for a bit then get quite difficult to turn, then impossible. If I continue, I can hear a ripping noise, which im sure isn't good! I'm thinking it may be the film holes being torn.

Some 35mm cameras have a pin on the underside of the body. Pressing the pin allows the rewind. Were you able to locate a user manual for the camera?

I've found a sort of pin-like button thing on the bottom. It seems to work better once pushed in. I haven't had the chance to look for an owner's manual quite yet, as I was at a concert for the majority of the evening. I'll check tomorrow afternoon.

Here is a link to most of the Minolta manuals (including the XG-1) http://www.geocities.com/eskoufos/fmm.html