ALUMINUM HURRICANE SHUTTER

Manufactured by Minolta Camera Co.,Ltd., Osaka, Japan
Model: c.1970, (produced between 1969- ? )
35mm film Rangefinder camera
Engraving on the top plate: Hi-Matic 11
Lens: Minolta Rokkor-PF, 45mm f/1.7 6 elements in 5 groups, filter thread 55mm
Aperture: f/1.7-f/16, setting: fully automatic
Focusing: matching rangefinder images in the viewfinder, ring and distance scale on the back of the lens, w/ a handle on it
Focus range: 0.8-8m +inf
Shutter: Seiko ALA leaf shutter, speeds: 1/8-1/500 +B
setting : auto in auto mode, the manual setting ring and scale on the lens-shutter barrel
The camera can be operated in semi-automatic speed priority or fully automatic modes,
Auto (AA) and Flash marks and manual speed scale are on the same mode ring
Shutter release: on the top plate, w/ cable release socket
Cocking lever: also winds the film, short stroke, on the right of the top plate
Frame counter: auto-reset, advance type, window just beside the winding lever
Viewfinder : bright frame, auto parallax correction when focusing (keep the subject in the bright lines), coupled with diamond-shaped split image rangefinder,
displays aperture scale with meter needle, with over-under exposure red lines on the right side, and speed as a mirror image on the right lover corner,
also battery check rectangular index and flash-matic marks (coupled)
Exposure meter: CdS meter, CLC (Contrast Light Compensator) electric-eye exposure metering, cell and small round light window on the upper front side of the lens' filter ring
Film speed range: 25-500 ASA, setting: by the lever and scale, on mode ring
Metering range: EV 6.5-17
Exposure setting: fully Automatic on auto (AA) mode, or Speed prority auto
Re-wind lever: folding crank type, turns when winding, on the left of the top plate
Re-wind release: small button, on the bottom plate
Hot-shoe
Flash PC socket: left side of the camera, X synch. 1/30
Automatic flash guide numbers setting lever and scale (meter/feet) on the lens,
10-80 in meters
Automatic flash control: fit the flash unit onto the camera, then set the mode ring to the flash mark, then set the GN lever according to the guide number of the flash unit, then check the viewfinder, the needle must be on the flash mark for correct exposure
Self-timer: lever on the lens-shutter barrel, set to V
Film loading: special multi-slot take up spool
Safe load signal: shows proper film load and winding, small window, on the back of the top plate, when the counter shows 1, a red signal appears in the window means the loading is OK and it is also stays visible when proper winding, when re-winding disappears.
Back cover: hinged, opens by a latch on the left side of the camera
Engraving on the bottom plate: Japan
Tripod socket: 1/4''
Strap lugs
Body: metal, Weight: 740g
Battery: 1.35v PX625 Mercury, (can be replaced with the equally sized PX625A Alkalin 1.5v battery or equivelants), Battery compartment: on the bottom plate
Battery check: black and yellow dots must be alligned by turning the ring on the lens
serial no.277027
Engravings on the front of the camera SUPER 3 CIRCUIT means the three auto-modes:
fully auto programmed exposure, shutter priority auto control and auto flash control

The Hi-Matic 7S and Hi-Matic 9, both released in 1966, were slightly improved versions of the popular 7. The 9 was the same as the 7S with the addition of a slightly faster f/1.7 lens.
The Hi-Matic 11 was a version of the 9 with no manual controls.
It is a typical 1960's camera considering its size, close to the Konica Auto S2 and the Yashica Electro 35.
The Hi-Matics always had an automatic exposure mode. The original Hi-Matic had it controlled by a selenium meter, plus a flash mode with shutter speed 1/30 sec. and manual aperture control. Later Hi-Matics had CdS meters, always placed within the filter ring.

I think this is going to be an interesting rangefinder for a test roll. Not bad for $10-12USD, whatever it was. Very clean. No case unfortunately. No dings, bents, scratches. Only thing I've noticed are two tiny specks on the front lens element. Those specks appear permanent, but really don't matter as they are so small. Trying to get them off would be a bad idea I suspect.

There are a couple of things that already kinda bug me about the 7s. One is the very long throw of the advance lever and the other being travel distance of the shutter release. Not short and crisp like the Canon QL25. The feel of the shutter release is no better than that of the Sokol. To bad. Being a Minolta the build quality is rather nice and the 7s has some heft. The heft is something I like with a camera that many avoid. Cameras are best chunky, women ethereal, beer never light. :-) Well.....To each his own.

1/4-1/500 shutter speed range. Fairly fast Rokkor 45/1.8-22. Fingers crossed.....

The amber color reflected from the lens is kinda interesting with the brownish micro-fiber couch as a background. Just a thought.