Some say that the Minolta 7S is lacking. It must be, since there’s a Minolta 7S-II, right? And in the eyes of many, newer is better so a model II should have improvements.
But I’m telling you, the Minolta 7S is the most complete rangefinder I ever encountered. It fits my bill 100% and to me it’s the all-in-one rangefinder camera!
The Minolta Hi-Matic 7S is a pretty hefty camera (in more than one way!) that Minolta made in the late sixties. The era of rangefinders was drawing to an end, the Single Lens Reflex camera was the new magic moneymaker for the industry. But, towards the end of the rangefinder era for Japanese manufacturers, there were some models that were at the pinnacle of what the designers and manufacturers were able to come up with, and build quality was still a prime aspect of a good camera. That was a recipe for a fine result and some manufacturers came up with pretty impressive models.
The Minolta Hi-Matic was no different. Or was it?
Here’s the rundown of this late-sixties Japanese rangefinder camera:
- Produced 1966 Minolta Camera Co., Japan
- Film type 135 (35mm)
- Picture size 24mm x 36mm
- Weight 725g
- Lens Rokkor 45mm 1:1.8-22 (6 elements in 5 groups)
- Filter size 55mm
- Shutter speeds B, 1/4-1/500 manual or automatic
- Viewfinder rangefinder w/ coupled parallax correction
- Exposure meter lens mounted CdS CLC with viewfinder needle (EV system)
- EV range 5.7 to 17 @ ASA 100
- ASA 25-800
- Battery originally PX625 1.35v mercury
- Hotshoe PC sync (syncs at all speeds on X setting)
- SLS film loading system (electronic alignment)
- Self-timer
First of all it’s a fully metal camera, hence the weight. There was no skimping on build quality anywhere. And to me that’s a big plus since I really hate flimsy cameras. I don’t mind a big camera, I’m quite ham fisted and this Minolta rangefinder camera matches my hands perfectly. Plus, I need a workout to shed some surplus weight anyway, so why not lug the Hi-Matic 7S around for the day when I go out… haha!
Second, I really like the parallax-corrected viewfinder with the blueish tinge and the yellow rangefinder patch a lot. Those two colours provide natural contrast, easy to see the focus patch that way. Although mine could do with a light clean of the window’s insides, since it’s a bit hazy. So far, it’s not urgent though.
Third, that’s a 45mm 1.8 Rokkor-PF lens you’re looking at. While a true ‘normal’ lens would be 43mm focal length (since that’s the diagonal of the 35mm film frame), most brands opted for a 50mm or even 55mm normal lens in the 1960s and 1970s. Not Minolta, who opted for 45mm normal lenses well into the 1980s when they still supplied them with the excellent X700 SLR flagship. The story goes that the closer lenses are to the ideal focal length of 43mm, the more natural their images look since they approach our natural width of sight more. Whether that’s true or not, the 45mm Rokkor-PF lens is very well coated and very well corrected, even wide open. Images are crisp and evenly exposed.
The Exposure Value System, is it a drawback?
The camera shows Exposure Values in the viewfinder window. What’s up with that? Exposure Values are a horrible system to most people right? And doesn’t EV force you to check the values against the pesky locked-in combination of shutter speed and aperture a lot?
Well, yes and no. The EV system would be pretty obnoxious to use when you want to shoot aperture priority and the camera does not have a separate mode for that, but the Hi-Matic 7S is an all-in-one camera, much to my surprise! Have a look at the image below!
The Minolta Hi-Matic 7S can do all four exposure options! Pretty remarkable!
So, is the EV setting that the viewfinder displays totally useless then? Well, no! Whenever I load the camera with film, I set the film speed notch on the bottom of the lens to the correct value. For instance, I expose Rollei Retro 400S film at 250 ASA. The widest aperture on the camera is 1.8 and often, I’m fine with that. The slowest speed I can use on the static object, is 1/8th of a second, since the camera has a leaf shutter that does not cause any shutter slap. This results in an Exposure Value of 6. That number is all I need to remember now for as long as the film is in the camera. Once the meter passed the number 6 in the viewfinder’s exposure scale, I’m good to go. I can now set the shutter to A or the aperture, or even both. Or set my speed and aperture manually. As long as the EV is above 6, I’m good.
For any subject other than a static one, same procedure. Objects that approach the camera head on at moderate speed, I need to be on or above 1/60th (and pre-focus for a spot where I want the object to be when taking the picture). Objects crossing before the camera, I need 1/125th if on moderate speed, or 1/250th or higher when at higher speed. (You better write those shutter speeds down, they’re very useful to prevent your images from movement blur, or invoke it!)
Each of those results in an EV number that I need to memorise and that’s it!
Long vs short throws
Other writers online have pointed out that the Minolta Hi-Matic 7S has a very long film transport stroke, up to 220 degrees rotary! And yes luckily you can ratchet the transport crank, several short cranks also get the job done. Pfew!
But strangely, nobody online has pointed out yet that the focus throw on the Minolta Hi-Matic 7S is extremely short. To me, that is a big deal! It means the camera can be focused very quickly, no need for a long travel when focusing the rangefinder patch. Just how short it is? Well, the full focus throw is only 45 degrees! from infinity to 0.9 meters (3 feet) is only an eighth of a full circle and you’re done! Very useful for street photography and quick response photography, I’d say.
Other nice features include the cut-out in the bottom plate that facilitates the removal of a full roll of film or the inlay of a new film. And also, the diamond pattern on the battery cap, besides the almost mandatory coin slot. That way, it’s still possible in this day and era to replace the battery when you’re only carrying plastic money…
The Hi-Matic 7S is truly remarkable!
All in all it’s a remarkably complete camera and they aren’t even that expensive! Just how remarkable?
While I was writing this article I went on Facebook to ask about cameras that could do all four exposure modes. I got a number of excellent suggestions: Nikon F4, F100, F80, Minolta X700 but also XD-7/XD-11, the Canon A1 and EOS 1, and the Pentax 645n. But no rangefinder at all, none were suggested, not even when I specifically asked. A few were close, like the Hexar RF or the Olympus 35RD. The Hexar AF can do all modes but technically, it’s not a rangefinder…
Seems this Minolta Hi-Matic 7S was the only rangefinder ever made that can do all four exposure modes!
And, not even mentioned yet apart from a brief remark in the rundown at the top of the article: this camera syncs the flash at all speeds from 1/4th to 1/500th of a second, since it’s got a leaf shutter. That means, fill flash in daylight is possible with this baby, especially when you get a strobist flash that you can manually reduce output on!
I say, you better get one now cause now that the word is out, they might get scooped up pretty quick… I’m getting an extra one!
Absolutely love my 7s and agree that they are really slept on. I have the black version with the classic bolt on hood and it’s such a beauty. It takes some of the sharpest pics I’ve seen or taken for 35mm. Only sharper ones I get are on MF (though my nikon f4 is also very good). I got the 7s over the 7sII initially because of the much lower price and the metal build on the 7s vs the plastic build of the 7sII. Feel really matters for me and I just don’t enjoy plastic cameras. The 7s is such a unique little gem and it was truly ahead of its time imo. I can’t believe how good the auto exposure is on this nearly 60 year old camera. I usually shoot manual but when I’m going XC skiing with gloves on I prefer to shoot auto for ease and comforts sake. I’ve always been floored with the quality of the automatic exposures. The light meter in this camera is exceptional for it’s age. Great article.
Man, I have to say it, I have read this article two times and, wow! Thanks, man! You really did an awesome job with that deep review, for real. I have this camera, and I just getting ready for my first steps on analog photography, though I’ve been working on photography since 2014, but now it’s when I am exploring this amazing world that analog photography brings to us. Thanks you for your article, best wishes for you!
I just got this camera and it is very nice. However, I can’t find a depth of field scale. Am I crazy?
I don’t think this camera has aperture priority nor shutter priority modes. Even if you set one to A, it doesn’t not mean it’s gonna be half automatic. Only fully manual, or fully automatic.
Explain the cutout on the bottom of the camera? How is this used?
I have a clean Minolta Hi matic 7S coming this week. After your article I am excited.
I learned photography on a Bolsey B2 back in the early 70’s. I have had every decent Canon Slr made, Ftb, New F1, EF, Ae1, Av1, A1. I had a Leica M3, Traded up to M4P, and finally M6 Titanium. Sold all that, couldn’t justify all that equipment to take family photos. My Canonet 28 meter is not working and a Yashica Minister ii I bought recently has a seized copal shutter (beautiful camera). I just need a simple rangefinder camera with manual override. All my Canon FD lenses used 55mm filters which I kept. I just need to find a source for affordable b&w film and development. Thanks for your review!
Hello, just wanted to clear up one point. The 7s doesn’t have aperture-priority or shutter-priority modes.
– When shutter ring is on A and aperture ring is on a manual setting, you’ll get the default shutter speed (1/30th I think) in all cases
– When the shutter ring is on a manual setting and the aperture ring is on A, you’ll get the aperture that the automatic mode would have used, with no regard for the selected shutter speed
The camera isn’t designed to make use of these situations. Either both rings need to be on A, or both need to be on a manual setting. That’s why the EV window is either covered or displays a space between numbers when only one of the rings is on A.
You’ve probably seen quite a few other web pages around about this camera that have the same information that you have – however if you check the camera’s manual you’ll see what I mean.
Kind regards,
Simon