This amazing 60-year-old vintage camera is resurrected - 1963 minolta hi-matic 7 restoration.

Minolta hi-matic 7 is a 35mm rangefinder film camera that is the ancestor of the famous hi-matic 7s. 7 was introduced in 1963 and 7s in 1966. Minolta Hi-Matic 7 camera comes with the CdS cell for accurate light metering and auto exposure mode. It used Seikosha LA with the shutter speed range from 1/4 to 1/500s. The lens is a 45 mm f1.8 lens with an aperture range down to f22, and film speed is supported up to ISO 800.

At first, I couldn't even press the shutter because the shutter rod and gear slot were out of alignment. It had a broken hairspring at the shutter speed escapement which caused the shutter not to be able to operate as it should be. The lens cleaning work takes a lot of effort due to too much dirt and coating damage and stains. But after repairing the lenses, they are still very good. The metering is still working. I only had to adjust the meter for using with the 1.5v battery because 1.35v cell are difficult to find. Now everything is working fine.

I tried my best to restore this camera and hope you enjoy the video.

Chapters
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0:00 Intro
1:24 Disassembly
4:00 Checking the shutter
7:28 Shutter unit cleaning and repair.
15:45 Focusing Helicoid Unit.
19:47 Viewfinder
21:20 Lens cleaning and repair.
25:19 Working on body parts
28:21 Shutter speed test
28:54 CdS cell unit
35:55 Light Meter adjustment
36:51 Infinity focus adjustment
37:45 Picture plane and viewfinder focus
38:45 Light seals
39:58 Leatherette
41:26 Reinstalling the rest of the parts
43:27 Final touch-up and outro
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Amazing background music by Kevin Macleod - Incompetech
-Ebbs and Flows
-Blue Feathers

Check my channel for more vintage camera repair and restoration.
If you don't mind please subscribe and help me restore more of the vintage camera.
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#filmphotography #minolta #vintagecamera #rangefinder #restoration #camerarepair #hi-matic7 #35mmfilm #analog
#analogphotography #oldrestoration

[krishotti]

I am so happy that you always willing to share all the processes with us.

Now I’m fix my Hi-matic E by my own. I’m so happy that you made this video☺️

Keep on doing this amazing work. 1000% respect to you

[time_to_waste]

37:20 Oh.. wish to know about this trick sooner. Will wait for the video for sure, seems like really precise method. Thank you!

[Max__]

Appreciate your knowledge and information, been learning a lot. Rooting for your channel !

[kingderamos]

this is awesome. can you do one for an olympus 35sp if you have a chance. thank you

[WhoIsSerafin]

Not sure why you wearing the gloves bugs me so much? But I do enjoy these kinds of videos along with watch repairs.

[NocheHTX]

how long did it take you to until you mustard up the courage to record yourself doing full CLAs?

[tylerchristensen]

Love it!! Can you please link the glass polish you use?? What’s the company name?

[pkeiths]

before you start i just go and get a cup of tea back in a Okay ready

[heikoh.schulz]

Did you have develope the film, which had been left inside?

[makkyd]

I was totally on board until you started cleaning the lenses. Have to gently rinse off all the grime first! Otherwise they will be scratched from all that rubbing. And you have removed all the original lens coatings with your polish. Beautiful job otherwise though!