A Minister Most Rare

<p>I ran a film through this solid little rangefinder some time ago, and I've finally found a few moments to get the results from the computer to the Forum. It's the Yashica Minister 700.</p><div></div>

<p>I posted a few details of the camera when it arrived. <br /><br />http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00YyoR<br /><br />There seems to be very little information out there on the Minister 700, though there's plenty to be found on the Minister D, which appears to be identical apart from the lens. Produced in 1964, I can only assume it was intended to be an up-market version of the "D", but it's strange that so little survives in the way of comments, critiques or advertisments. Anyway, the Ministers are well-built and very hefty for their size; they have good bright viewfinders with moving parallax-correcting brightlines and clear rangefinder images, Copal SVL shutters with speeds from 1 to 1/500th of a second plus "B", and a somewhat annoying cross-coupled aperture and shutter speed system which is set by rotating a ring marked in Light Values, in accordance with the reading displayed by the uncoupled CDS meter. I find it cumbersome, and I never found the LV scale to be of great benefit, anyway.</p><div></div>

<p>The film wind and cocking is by the top-mounted lever, with a reasonably short throw, and the rewind is conventional with a release button on the baseplate. The meter is activated by depressing a button on the rear of the top deck, adjacent to the viewfinder, the circuit being powered by a 625A battery. The lens is the difference between the two cameras, with the 45mm 4-element f/2.8 lens of the Minister D being replaced by a 45mm 6-element f/1.7 lens in the 700. And a very fine lens it is, too. While I can't swear on a bible, I'm fairly certain it's a more generic Tomioka production, and not essentially "Yashinon", since I have a Ansco, a Taron and a possibly a Ricoh which have lenses which appear to be identical. It has a distinctive curved front element, and an unusual clarity, and it takes very fine pictures.</p><div></div>

<p>Anyway, I loaded a roll of Fuji Superia 200, and the camera proved very simple and pleasant to use, with no discernible vices, and with a very creditable performance from the lens. Scans from the Fuji Frontier.</p><div></div>

<p>No.2</p><div></div>

Nice example. Wonderful photos, too.

<p>No.3</p><div></div>

<p>No.4</p><div></div>

<p>No.5</p><div></div>

<p>No.6</p><div></div>

<p>No.7</p><div></div>

<p>No.8</p><div></div>

<p>I don't know which I like better, the photos that you take with your cameras, or the photos that you take of you cameras. Great work on both.</p>

<p>That's a lovely camera, Rick! More intriguing is the f/1.7 lens on it; I don't know of any other older Yashicas that had f/1.7s on them as f/1.8 always seemed to be the norm for fast lenses from that time. Beautiful pictures, of course, with "Chairs" being my favorite. Those old Yashicas are such a pleasure to use. Thanks for posting and sharing.</p>

<p>Really nice. I especially like Chairs and St. Lukes.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Nice-looking camera, the usual stunning Drawbridge camera porn, and some very nice photos as well (4, 6, and 8 being my favorites). Interesting use of the cover of a Creedence Clearwater Revival album for your camera background.</p>

<p>Hi, Rick Thanks for posting some more of your usual great photos, and for reminding me of my mis-spent youth via a Yashica Minister. Mine (back in 1966) was the more ubitiquous 'D' model with the F2.8 Yashinon, but one of my fellow RN pals had a similar Minister 700 to your recent acquisition. The f1.7 aspect may also have had something to do with the later Electro-35 Yashica, that one with the flashing idiot lights and insatiable appetite for expensive batteries, but produced excellent results.</p>

<p> I always have fond memories of the Minister, because it was my first 'serious' camera. However, within less than a year the EV ring was proving a nuisance and I got rid of it. Changing settings from low light (say EV4) to bright light (say EV19) was an especially tedious job, requiring much yanking with the wrists. Several times I missed out on a candid shot because of the yanking factor, so it was a case of 'No, Minister' (groan!). (Pete In Perth)</p>

<p>Nice Range Finder charm! I do not think the industry should have given up on the Range Finders. Thanks, sp.</p>

<p>That is a nice one, as is the frost! I didn't know about this Minister, it seems well specced unlike my humble 111, with it's 2.8 lens.<br>

Looks to perform well, which is no surprise as I have always liked the lenses on all the Yashica rangefinders. Hope the move is going well.</p>

Lucy You .. I like want another wrote regarding your presentation photo vs your working photos. I too enjoyed the CCR cover and liked Stormy sky. Struck on that photo of the wide angle performance for a more proper "normal" lens. All the other photos were great with "chairs", "path" and first frost remaining in memory. These "Biotar" lenses do have a different look, than the Tessar type and lucky you to have such a unique camera/lens combination

<p>Quite right, Subbarayan. Although Cosina did produce some interchangeable lens RF cameras under the Voigtlander and Rollei names as well as its own, these were a bit pricey for many. I would like to see the revival of a fixed lens RF with mechanical operation, perhaps only needing a battery for the light meter. However, unless Cosina can buy the tooling from the manufacturer of a fixed lens RF, they would be starting from scratch and R&D might make the cost nearly as great as the interchangeable lens RF. For a while, though, I recall seeing new Seagull RF (205 or something like that) that had f2.8 lenses and leaf shutters, but no meter. All the great ones, Konica Auto S2, S1.6, S3 etc, as well as various Minolta Hi-Matics, Yashicas, Olympus RC and other Olympus, Canonets, Fujicas, Ricohs, and others that I haven't named, all went out of production when the manufacturer decided that sales were not sufficient to continue production. Now in 120 Fuji does have a multiformat 120 RF, but it is very expensive. <br />Sorry Rick, if I hijacked your post a bit.</p>

<p>The Yashica Guy : <a href="http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/chrono2.html">http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/chrono2.html</a><br>

has an article on Yashica rangefinders, which says of the Minister(IV) Model D "A small number of these cameras were produced under the marque, <strong>Minister <br />700</strong> with an ƒ 1.7 lens. The only 700's that I have ever seen on offer <br />were in the UK."</p>

<p>Thanks for your responses. It's always fun when one comes across an unusual camera, especially when it's of such a common marque. Thanks for the compliments <strong>Ed</strong>, <strong>Chuck</strong> and <strong>Craig</strong>; I think I enjoy photographing these old cameras as much as I enjoy using them. I know you're a Minolta fan from way back, <strong>Andy</strong>, and I'm pleased you enjoyed the post. Don't worry about adding interesting detail to the thread, <strong>Mike</strong>; that's really what the Forum's all about.</p>

<p>Thanks for your reminiscences and the bad pun, <strong>Pete</strong>, and your usual thoughtful contributions, <strong>SP</strong> and <strong>JDM</strong>. The move is under way, <strong>Tony</strong>, but now we're delayed by snow, of all things...That reference from the Yashica Guy is one of the very few I found, <strong>John</strong>; isn't that a great site?</p>

<p>Rick, I have to ask....is that a copy of Cosmos Factory under your product shot? Also I hear that NZ is in for some real Artic weather...looking forward to some snow pictures.</p>

<p>Wonderful post, keep 'em coming Rick. I really love the chairs. Did not know the winter could get to frost level by you. After our last winter, I am really not looking forward to snow, in North-eastern US.</p>