MINOLTA HI-MATIC 71963

Serial No.451344
Characteristics and functions
The Minolta Hi-Matic 7 is presented in December 1963. It is the first Japanesecamera that has a CdS cell in the lens mount so as to be considered coaxial.
This camera is equipped with a new electronically programmed Seikosha-LAshutter (SLV 317) with manual control for exposures between 1/500" and ¼".
Laying is also foreseen. The shutter works from EV 3.7 to EV 18. In automaticthe combinations go from 1.8 with 1/15" to 22 with 1/250", while in manual theworking range it goes from 1.8 with ¼" to 22 with 1/500". The flash cable socketwith X synchronization with electronic flashes is available on all times. The
mechanical self-timer has a delay of 10 seconds. The camera has a traditional
appearance with chrome-plated caps and a central part in black imitation
leather. The lens mount is partly chrome and partly satin. On the upper cap
there are: the foldable knob for film recovery, the flash-slide bearing the serial
number, the wording "HI-MATIC 7", the shutter button - located inside a circularcrown - includes thread for use with flexible release (Cable Release).
Continuing to the right we find the charging lever for the advancement of thefilm and the simultaneous arming of the shutter which is made entirely of satinfinished metal with a glossy circular part; at the extreme right is the squarewindow of the additive type counter with automatic zeroing when the back isopened. On the back side of the upper shell is the black plastic eyepiece
window. In the viewfinder the luminous frame is visible with the telemetricsystem in the center, while to the right is the scale of the EVs (5.7 - 17) with theneedle of the black exposure meter. The two over-and under-exposure areas
are red. The back covered in black imitation leather occupies the entire
remaining area of the back side of the Hi-Matic 7. On the bottom we find: on theleft a large flare covered by the door that facilitates the introduction of the film
spool; the metal cap with central cut that covers the battery compartment (1 PX
675 or similar), the thread for the use of the stand, the JAPAN engraving andthe clutch release button for the recovery of the exposed film located in a areaslightly depressed. On the front of the upper shell there is a rectangularoverhang that contains the word "minolta" and the chrome frame of the windowof the rangefinder system and the viewfinder. The large Minolta Rokkor-PF
1:1.8 F = 45mm lens is positioned in the part covered in black imitation leather.
In the part closest to the camera body is the distance scale (on the left from 0.9infinity, in meters and on the right from 3 to infinity, in feet); a white striped
plastic foot improves grip when you rotate the satin ring of focus and supports
the camera when it is placed on a surface such as in self-timer photographs.
Continuing towards the front we find a satin-finished part with the socket for theflash cable on the left and the lever for activating the mechanical self-timer witha delay of about 10 seconds to the right of the body of the lens (move the lever
to position “V"). In the lower part, instead, the code of the mounted shutter isprinted (SEIKOSHA-LA). Two chrome-plated rings, with the lower part lined,
carry engraved: the first, the values of the diaphragms (1.8 - 2.8 - 4 - 5.6 - 8 - 11- 16 - 22) followed by the A of the automatic exposure function); the second ringbears the values of the shutter speeds (500 - 250 - 125 - 60 - 30 - 15 - 8 - 4 - B)
and therefore a square window where the EV values appear (18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 3.7 The shutter speed "30" is red and indicates
the time of the synchro-flash, and also at the bottom of this scale an A appears
for the automatic exposure function: a small chrome-plated lever, locatedbetween the second ring and the satin front (right side of the lens), if pressed it
unlocks the ring nuts of the diaphragms and speeds from position A. The satin
front bears engraved a black reference arrow of the set values, while in thelower part there are the Asa and Din scales (800-25 OFF and 30-15) with theselector placed in a central rail. Around the first lens there is a plastic frame
black which bears the incision for the identification of the target in white (Mionce Rokkor-PF 1: 1.8 F = 45mm), followed by a chromed crown with the cell atthe CdS of the light meter, located in the upper part. There is also the thread foradapting Minolta conversion or compensation filters with 55mm diameter. On
the sides of the camera, in symmetrical position the two chromed triangularrings are arranged for the shoulder strap. On the right side the back zipper isvisible, while on the left is the cantilever frame with the back release systemitself (raise the small chromed lever).
Weight 720g. battery not included.
Width 140mm.; height 82mm. to the upper shell, 91mm. at the edge of theshutter button; depth 73mm. including the lens.