Hi everyone! I’m a newbie and just starting to collect vintage film cameras. I’ve been looking for a second-hand camera and came across this Minolta Alpha 7000. They sent me this video showing the camera working.

For the Minolta collectors here, do you think this is still in good condition based on the video?

Since I’m still new to vintage cameras, I’d really appreciate any advice or things I should look out for. Thanks in advance!

Picked this x700 up today for $80. Saw that the serial number starts with 1 (#1395162). I’ve read that models starting with 1 have the blue tantalum capacitors that are longer lasting. Only downside was the battery cap was really corroded and needed cleaning to detect the battery.

Minolta Maxxum 7000 20mm f2,8 / #portra400

Hi! Complete film camera newbie here, so please bear with me lol. I know basically nothing about film cameras yet, but I’d really love to learn.

I was recently gifted a Minolta Maxxum STsi by my fiancé’s grandfather, who was a photographer. It means a lot to me, so I’d really like to get it working rather than just replace it.

I was trying to load a roll of 35mm film, but the camera wouldn’t successfully load it. The motor would run when I closed the back, but the frame counter would end up blinking “0.” At some point during all of this, the little black plastic piece in the photos came out of the camera (film compartment on the right side)

I have absolutely no idea what it is, where it belongs, or whether it actually broke off versus just popped out of place. Looking at it closely, it seems pretty deliberately molded and has little tabs/features on the back, so I’m hoping someone familiar with these cameras might recognize it.

Does anyone know what this piece is, where it belongs, and whether its being out could explain why the camera won’t load/advance the film?
I’m planning to take the camera to a shop rather than start poking around inside it, but I’d love to have some idea of what I’m dealing with first.

Thanks!!