Minolta himatic 7sii

[jbharrill1]

Hi guys!

This is my first post on the forum, which is more of just an introduction I guess(i couldn't find a thread for introductions, maybe i missed it) but I've been lurking the forum for a few weeks now. I have been shooting with 35mm point and shoots for quite some years now and a minolta x370 slr here and there, but finally decided to make the move to where I actually want to be.

I bought a Minolta himatic 7sii from a camera store in town that fixes and resells old film cameras along with new everything else. Everything seems to be working just fine, the shutter isn't sticking, aperture ring is smooth, shutters works at the correct speeds, and most important the light meter seems to be almost spot on. I've tested it with a light meter app on my phone and an older light meter my dad had.

Now this may seem all well and good but seeing as I am a worry wart of the highest level this is actually stressing me out to no end. I keep planning on any and everything to go wrong with this camera. I shot a test roll and had it developed with no issues, no light leaks from what I could tell, but I've read online that it can take a few rolls of film for the leaks to start showing up. When I bought the camera I noticed that there were almost no light seals almost anywhere except for the very thin strips that run along the top and bottom of the door. The hinge does not have any nor does the other side. Would you guys say that this will be a problem for me down the road? So far the rolls I've shot, the camera has stayed in the bottom half of the original case it came with so the sides have more or less been blocked from direct light.

Also I've read online that the wires and soldering are notorious for going bad on these models, would you say to more or less expect this to happen at some point during the cameras life?

I understand that buying a camera that is 40 years old will come with plenty of risks and that's just the way it goes, but if there are any sort of tips or tricks to help extend the life of this camera I would be more than grateful if you shared them. Also a list of things to look out for that could signal something could be about to go wrong would be awesome

Thanks a bunch everyone!

 

[Peter Jennings]

Welcome! I had one of those a few years ago. I still admire the nice, sharp images it produced. If it's working, don't worry about it. If it stops working, try to fix it or get a new one. They're not expensive cameras, so there's really no risk. Just have fun with it.

 

[farlymac]

There is not a forty year old camera out there that you can totally rely on, JB, unless it had just been overhauled. If the shop you bought the camera at did a good job, you should have no worries. And if something does go wrong within the time limit of the warranty I hope they gave you, they should be able to repair it.

That said, to eliminate worries about old electronics, look for a fully mechanical model that has no meter. Then you can get a new digital hand-held meter to use with it, or go by the Sunny-16 method of exposure setting.

But if everything is working fine now, just shoot it. A lot! Run that baby until it drops so you get your money's worth out of it. It's not going to be fun if you are constantly worrying about something going kablooie. The Minolta 7 series were well built cameras (I have a 7s), and you should get plenty of good use from it.

Oh, and there is a "Members Only" section with a thread for introducing yourself.

Welcome to the Forum!

PF

 

[johnnyrod]

Don't worry, if it's been looked at and seems to be working fine, which it is, then just use it and enjoy it. As said, an old camera can always throw up a problem now and again, but it's rare enough not to worry about. You have a camera with a lens of which I have never heard anything but praise.

 

[lxmike]

Try and stress less, shoot the camera it may probably last you years, enjoy it and its great glass

 

[jmilkins]

Welcome to a great corner of the Internet of Rangefinder Things. I have two 7sii cameras, both with that feeling of a loose back door, but both fine. The 40mm 1.7 is great rokkor glass.

Enjoy shooting, and the only thing you might worry about is saving for almost inevitable expansion of your RF collection, when for example you decide you need to compare the Rokkor to a Zuiko in an RC or RD, or you venture into the interchangeable lens RF world of never ending choice....

 

[jbharrill1]

Thanks for all the replies guys, everything is much appreciated! And yup you are absolutely right jmilkins, I'm already putting a little money to the side wondering what the next purchase will be.

I've noticed that when I adjust the shutter speed from 1/8 to 1/15 to 1/30 of a second I'm hearing a noise that almost sounds like a mechanical timer when going from one speed to the next, sort of like what the timer sounds like when you use it. I've had the camera for about two weeks now and this noise just started happening a few days ago. I've also noticed that it only happens sometimes. I haven't figured when exactly it is and isn't making he strange noise but it does seem to just randomly stop and start up. I read somewhere that slower shutter speeds use a clockwork mechanism when they are opening and closing at slower speeds, which makes sense, but i just don't understand why you would hear the mechanism just when switching speeds and not actually pressing the shutter.

 

[DwF]

Welcome to a great corner of the Internet of Rangefinder Things. I have two 7sii cameras, both with that feeling of a loose back door, but both fine. The 40mm 1.7 is great rokkor glass.

Enjoy shooting, and the only thing you might worry about is saving for almost inevitable expansion of your RF collection, when for example you decide you need to compare the Rokkor to a Zuiko in an RC or RD, or you venture into the interchangeable lens RF world of never ending choice....

Or the Konica Auto S3, which is practically a twin to the 7Sii. With reliability a concern for you, another camera that can be found at reasonable prices is the Rollei 35 or 35 S. With exception of the uncoupled meter, those are mechanical and will be repairable for years to come. Wonderful little cameras-beautiful design and build! The zone focusing takes a bit to get the hang of but worth the effort imho.

Welcome to the forum.

David

 

[Peter Jennings]

Thanks for all the replies guys, everything is much appreciated! And yup you are absolutely right jmilkins, I'm already putting a little money to the side wondering what the next purchase will be.

I've noticed that when I adjust the shutter speed from 1/8 to 1/15 to 1/30 of a second I'm hearing a noise that almost sounds like a mechanical timer when going from one speed to the next, sort of like what the timer sounds like when you use it. I've had the camera for about two weeks now and this noise just started happening a few days ago. I've also noticed that it only happens sometimes. I haven't figured when exactly it is and isn't making he strange noise but it does seem to just randomly stop and start up. I read somewhere that slower shutter speeds use a clockwork mechanism when they are opening and closing at slower speeds, which makes sense, but i just don't understand why you would hear the mechanism just when switching speeds and not actually pressing the shutter.

I think you only hear the gears if you change the shutter speed after advancing the film and cocking the shutter. Anyway, these sounds are normal with leaf shutters. I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[DwF]

Thanks for all the replies guys, everything is much appreciated! And yup you are absolutely right jmilkins, I'm already putting a little money to the side wondering what the next purchase will be.

I've noticed that when I adjust the shutter speed from 1/8 to 1/15 to 1/30 of a second I'm hearing a noise that almost sounds like a mechanical timer when going from one speed to the next, sort of like what the timer sounds like when you use it. I've had the camera for about two weeks now and this noise just started happening a few days ago. I've also noticed that it only happens sometimes. I haven't figured when exactly it is and isn't making he strange noise but it does seem to just randomly stop and start up. I read somewhere that slower shutter speeds use a clockwork mechanism when they are opening and closing at slower speeds, which makes sense, but i just don't understand why you would hear the mechanism just when switching speeds and not actually pressing the shutter.

I don't know that I'd worry too much about that if the speeds seem to be accurate. My Konica Auto S3 with similar shutter does not do that -I just tried several times. The slowest timed speed before B is 1/8th and I think is the same with your Minolta. The well known disconcerting aspect of the Konica is that the lens barrell feels loose at the body. In spite of that, I feel like these cameras are bomb proof...they just go! 🙂

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

... this is actually stressing me out to no end. I keep planning on any and everything to go wrong with this camera. I shot a test roll and had it developed with no issues, no light leaks from what I could tell, but I've read online that it can take a few rolls of film for the leaks to start showing up. When I bought the camera I noticed that there were almost no light seals almost anywhere except for the very thin strips that run along the top and bottom of the door. The hinge does not have any nor does the other side. Would you guys say that this will be a problem for me down the road? ...

Also I've read online that the wires and soldering are notorious for going bad on these models

I say relax, just shoot it, if the shop worked on it, this will probably last many years. Mine have.

 

[jbharrill1]

Peter Jennings, I almost had a feeling that was going to be the case when I asked that question and it seems that you're right.

Thanks a bunch for the peace of mind y'all!

 

[jbharrill1]

I was reading through the former Soviet Union section and noticed that on certain rangefinders you need to set the shutter speed before or after you cock it. I haven't noticed that my shutter speed has been incorrect with setting it before or after but I'm curious if one way is better for the camera? You know, if you have it cocked and change speeds if you are putting more stress on the camera and shortening it's life

I checked an online manual and didn't see anything specifying so I'm assuming it's fine either way, but it's nice to be sure.

 

[splitimageview]

No worries on a leaf shutter.

Burn some film up! 🙂