Minolta Himatic 7s - advice please

[smudwhisk]

This is definately the last time I purchase a rangefinder camera on E**y (never had any throuble with any other type of camera purchased there) but perhaps some advice may enable a repair.

The 7s is generally very clean but needs new light seals (not difficult I know and recently purchased the kit to do this), the shutter fires and the blades appear OK. However, even though there is no battery in the compartment (and I suspect never was inspite of it being sold as "full working order"), the meter is stuck at over exposure. Am I assuming that something has shorted out the meter and got it stuck at that level? Not sure which battery it takes (need to google for this) but doubt it will move if I put one in anyway. When I can find a small enough screw driver to remove the bottom, will check to see what state the battery contacts are in.

Any suggestions appreciated again. I may keep hold of this because it should probably working in manual mode but I'm absolutely useless at reading manual light meters so would prefer a working one.

[bmattock]

I believe that is what it reads when there is no battery in it. Not sure how it would read anything else, actually. It has no battery, so can't display the light level.

The battery is a 625A, as I recall - well, that's the wrong voltage, but if you shove one in, you can at least determine if the meter is working at all and you can still buy one of those. There are a variety of converters sold that will make the correct voltage, so you'll be ok.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Here's a 9, very similar. View through viewfinder as well.

http://www.growlery.com/minolta_hi-matic_9/

[zuikologist]

Does the meter needle move at all?

[jon_flanders]

What do you mean stuck at over-exposure? Normally these cameras show the needle at the top of the scale when the battery is turned off. Put a battery in it and see what happens.

[smudwhisk]

Ah, but the other faulty one I had (Konica C35 Auto) the needle was stuck at under exposure. So obviously I was wrong to assume that it would be at the bottom of the screen rather than at the top.

I've a spare original PX675 battery but not 625. Looks like another shopping trip for a replacement battery!

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by smudwhisk

Ah, but the other faulty one I had (Konica C35 Auto) the needle was stuck at under exposure. So obviously I was wrong to assume that it would be at the bottom of the screen rather than at the top.

I've a spare original PX675 battery but not 625. Looks like another shopping trip for a replacement battery!

Late nite shopping! It's fantastic!

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/late+night+shopping/

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[smudwhisk]

G'man that was my thinking. Then I thought I'd check out what battery the Canonet 28 I bought off Kim Coxon last month used. There's a HD625 in it, swapped it over and yes the light meter is working.

Hhm, ignorance is bliss as they say and perhaps a little panic before being educated by yourselves (mucah appreciated) that the light meter needle would be at the top rather than the bottom. Thanks again, I love this forum, you really do learn a lot. I shall take a look at the light seals before putting a film through it. If anyone is able to take a viewable snapshot of the back of this camera showing where the light seals definately should be (I can guess) I'd appreciate it since the previous owner/dealer appears to have removed most of them!

Thanks again.

[Brian Sweeney]

The needle goes all the way to the top of the scale on my Hi Matic-9 when turned off or withoutbattery for the meter. That corresponds to 1/15th and F1.7. You can use the PX675 and an O-Ring as a spacer to use it in the HM7s.

[cbass]

It's probably just your battery but one more possibility is that your meter needle is stuck up against one of the sticky needle stops at the end of the EV scale. This can happen to Hi-Matic cameras in which the foam needle stops have degraded into mucky goo, just like light seals do. You'll know for sure once you've tested your camera with a battery.

[smudwhisk]

Cheers guys, shall go looking for some "o-rings" in the local DIY stores. I think I'll also pay my parents a visit and see if the local Watchbox has any more PX675 batteries in stock, at the price they are and with 4 cameras potentially able to use them with adapters, it's worth having a few extras since once they've sold out I'll have to find an alternative. Still cannot believe they have them, they're all marked "Made in W Germany" and cost £1.50 (which is about $2.50 each) and the Wein-cell replacements are £5.00 (about $8.50). I tried finding some hearing aid batteries last time but got some very weird looks from the shop assistants!

All I need to do now is dig out the Goodman light-seal kit, give the camera a bit of a clean inside and replace the seals - then take it for a spin!

[Kat]

Originally Posted by greyhoundman

If you put a #9 o-ring around the PX675, it will work and be the correct voltage.

Is this the same as the #009 ring? I just bought one and it seemed rather small for the zinc oxide. I was able to stretch and fit it to the battery, but with a lot of effort.