Minolta Hi-matic 7s - Super impressed by the lens

[gavinlg]

Well,

Heres a couple of pics from a roll of long expired agfa 400 with my trusty minolta himatic 7s. This thing is simplistic, handsome, reliable and I'm fascinated with how lovely the lens is! Super sharp even wide open.

Please excuse the color balance of the agfa film - as I said it was long expired and only a few shots were salvageable.


This ones wide open @ 1.8

This ones a litte more stopped down - around f2-2.8

I'll post some more once I get some decent film through it - very keen to see some myself.

Gavin

 

[Film dino]

The resolution is certainly imrpessive at 1.8. Your pic seems to work well converted to b&w (green channel in Photoshop; no sharpening; levels tweaked a little)

David

 

[BSchall]

Run some Plus-X developed in Rodinal thru it and really see something glow. Nothing like a classic film with classic developer with a classic camera. As wonderful as the lens in the 7s is, the 7sII is even better (IMO).

 

[gavinlg]

The resolution is certainly imrpessive at 1.8. Your pic seems to work well converted to b&w (green channel in Photoshop; no sharpening; levels tweaked a little)

David

Thankyou David, it really did lend itself to BW conversion VERY well, I might do that for my library as well, thanks!


BSchall, I certainly am going to run some older style bw films through it - I think it's going to be a cracking combination

Gavin

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Well what a coindidence. I have a Hi-matic 7s which I've been contemplating (just in the last day or two) using. It's in perfect shape except for an advance lever that won't return on its own. I understand the advance lever is this camera's Achilles Heel. Generally, is it inexpensive to repair these parts?

Lovely selective focus shot of the tree, BTW.

 

[gavinlg]

Well what a coindidence. I have a Hi-matic 7s which I've been contemplating (just in the last day or two) using. It's in perfect shape except for an advance lever that won't return on its own. I understand the advance lever is this camera's Achilles Heel. Generally, is it inexpensive to repair these parts?

Lovely selective focus shot of the tree, BTW.

Thanks for your complements - can't wait to run better film through it.

I think most well known camera repair places would fix the stuck film advance on your 7s, even local ones. I'm sorry but I don't know how to myself. I would imagine something like $20-70us to fix it - however it may be better to just try yourself if you're so minded or buy another one.


I'd love to try an s2 sometime - but the 7s is just made so well! its a tank! I dont think the cosina built 7s will be as well made, and thats really important for living in my daily bag...

 

[raid]

These are beautiful images. I dug up an ANSO (actually, A Highmatic) with the Rokkor 45mm/2.8 lens. I wonder how it comapres to the lens on the Highmatic 7S.
Raid

 

[gavinlg]

These are beautiful images. I dug up an ANSO (actually, A Highmatic) with the Rokkor 45mm/2.8 lens. I wonder how it comapres to the lens on the Highmatic 7S.
Raid

Thanks Raid, very appreciated. I don't know the camera you speak of, but I think most if not all the rokkor lenses are very good. I've always had positive experiences with them

 

[raid]

Gavin,

I checked online, and I read that the Ansco is a repackaged Minolta Highmatic. I already have a Rokkor 28mm/2.8 lens, and I love it. Most likely, the Rokkor 45mm/2.8 will be sharp too.

Raid

 

[kellymjones]

Well what a coindidence. I have a Hi-matic 7s which I've been contemplating (just in the last day or two) using. It's in perfect shape except for an advance lever that won't return on its own. I understand the advance lever is this camera's Achilles Heel. Generally, is it inexpensive to repair these parts?

Lovely selective focus shot of the tree, BTW.

I remember some posts in the Yahoo group "minoltarangefinders" which detail how to fix the sticky advance lever. I was able to fix my 7s by removing the bottom cover and working a small amount of Ronsonol into the film advance shaft. The long term solution is tear it apart and clean out the sticky lubricant.

 

[Madrigal]

Gavin- I have the Konica Auto S2, which is very similar in many respects to your Minolta. They're wonderfully simple, well made cameras, which produce astonishing results, as you see.

I really love your shot of the tree stand.

I took a sort of mirror image of your shot this past winter while I was testing out an Exakta VX1000 🙂
Acros, D-76 1:1

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/213/507220341_58a0f1aebd_o.jpg

Maybe tree stands make good test subjects?

 

[Trius]

Well ... yeah. The lens on this camera is well beyond the price of admission. I sold mine because the body just felt a little large and klunky for me. But I am wistful for it from time to time.

 

[gavinlg]

It is a bit clunky, but its lasted for weeks in my day bag which I carry everywhere. RF is perfect. Very solid camera!