Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII

The Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII is a rangefinder camera from the late 1970s. It was built in a factory in Japan. There is a suggestion that it was built by Cosina and marketed under the “Minolta” brand. Very similar models in terms of features are the Vivitar 35ES, Revue 400SE and Konica Auto S3.

The Japanese 35mm camera comes with a fixed lens. The manufacturer’s name of the lens, which is placed on the front, is “Rokkor”. The focal length is 40 mm and the maximum aperture is f/1.7. It can be stopped down to a value of f/16. The lens is built up of six lenses arranged in four lens groups. The lens must be focused on the desired subject manually with the help of the rangefinder. The closest focusing distance (minimum distance to the subject) for this lens is 90 cm.

The 35mm camera has a built-in CdS exposure meter. The film speed is set manually. Values from ISO 25 to ISO 800 are available, and both the desired exposure time and the f-number can be set. There is also an automatic exposure mode. In this mode, the desired shutter speed is selected and the camera technology chooses the appropriate aperture.

The shutter of the Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII allows speeds from 1/500 second to 1/8 second. In addition, there is a Bulb setting. In this mode, the shutter can be opened for an unlimited time.

Via hot shoe on the top of the camera, an external flash can be used with the 35mm camera. The 35mm camera also comes with a self-timer with a lead time of 10 seconds. There is also a thread for a cable release on the shutter release. A thread for a tripod on the underside should not be missing either, of course.

The housing weighs 460 grams. The dimensions are 11.5 x 7.2 x 5.9 cm. Power is supplied by a 1.35 V mercury battery.

Films for the Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII

The Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII is a 35mm camera, so of course it needs 35mm film. There is no motor for film transport. With a lever on the top of the housing, you wind the film to the next free area after each exposure. Exposure is in the classic landscape format. When the film is full, a button on the bottom must be pressed in and the film material spooled into the cartridge with a crank. Now the camera can be opened, the cartridge removed, the film taken to the photo lab and the Japanese camera loaded with new film.

35mm film is still made today and is easy to get online. A 35mm film for color photography is the Kodak Ultramax 400*. A possible black and white film is the Kodak T-Max 400*. Of course, there are a variety of other alternatives. Important, the film should be within the sensitivity range of the exposure meter.