CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>After a couple of minor surgeries and a liberal application of Ronsonol, I finally managed to get my Hi-Matic 7 that I acquired last year with a frozen shutter back in action. Having never user a rangefinder before, I was looking forward to trying this camera out. Overall, my first impressions are very favorable. The only issue I have encountered thus far is that the rangefinder needs adjusting, which my research tells me should not be very difficult to do.</p> <p>A few technical details for those interested. According to Wikipedia, the Hi-Matic 7 replaced the original Hi-Matic (circa 1962) in 1963 before being replaced itself in 1966 by the Hi-matic 7S. It is equipped with a 45mm f1.8 Rokkor-PF lens that, on my copy, appears to be both contrasty and super sharp. It has an aperture range from f1.8 to f22 in full-stop increments. The mechanical Seikosha-LA shutter offers speeds from 1/500 to 1/4 seconds (also in full-stop increments only), plus bulb, and has a self timer option. This model has a coupled CdS meter that allows for fully automatic operation in addition to full manual control. The meter on my copy does appear to still be in working order. After repair, I compared the meter readings against my DSLR and it appeared to be spot on, but when I went out yesterday, the needle was jumping around a bit, and then quit working. I think the old mercury cell battery that came in my Nikkormat FTn has finally given up the ghost. Consequently, all of the exposures were made using Sunny 16, since I don't have a hand-held meter.</p> <p>I wanted to shoot B&W film for my first outing and the only option available nearby was some BW400CN. 400 speed film isn't usually the best choice in daylight with a camera that has a max shutter speed of 1/500 unless you want to be stuck at f16 all day, but, luckily, it was very overcast for most of the day yesterday. Most of these images were shot at 1/500 and f8 or so, with a few exceptions as the sun came out at the end of the day.</p> <p>As for processing the scans, I had Walgreen's include a CD with the prints. The prints looked OK, but the scans all had a greenish tint to them, so I had to do a simple black and white conversion in Capture NX2. I adjusted the brightness on most of the pictures to bring out a little shadow detail (the b&w conversion made most of the pics darker), but no sharpening or contrast adjustments were made.</p> <p>Enough talk I guess. Time for some pictures. First things first though, a little camera porn.</p> <div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>A couple more...</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>This is the first shot off of the roll. The seals around the film door are pretty crummy, so I was concerned that there might be some light leaks. I fired off a couple of frames to check it out before sealing the door up with some vinyl electricians tape around the outside of the door. Doesn't appear to be any leaks, at lest not that show up under overcast conditions. In bright sun it may be a different story.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>#2</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>#3</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>#4</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>#5</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>Haven't heard much about Occupy Wall Street in the news lately, but apparently our local group is still going strong. We don't have a Wall Street so I guess Occupy Main Street will have to do.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>#7</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>These next few are from later in the day as the sun started to come out.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>This building has always fascinated me because it appears to have had several sections cut out of it at the top. I can only assume that there was a fire at some point and they just removed the burned out sections.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>Testing out flare resistance with these last two. With the sun just out of the frame, there is some pretty obvious flare, but a lens hood would stop most of it I think.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>Last shot on the roll. This one was cropped from vertical to horizontal orientation.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>As Porky Pig says "ibity-ibity-ibity-ibity that's all folks!" Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed them.</p> <p>Cory</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>Great shots, Cory. That Hi-Matic 7 is a real sharp shooter. I've got one with an inoperative shutter that I've had for about a year. I managed to get the shutter to fire a few times, but now it releases, but the blades don't open. Thanks for posting.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay2 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>Very nice shots. I have the 7S with a stuck meter. Have had the bottom off but will <br /> have to go deeper inside. They do take great pictures. The 7S just added a hot-shoe <br /> and a red slot in back to show film is loading properly. Lucky I do use a hand -held <br /> Gossen meter. A lens hood is tricky for these cameras. The Minolta hood vignettes a little, <br> and a wider one blocks some of the viewfinder. I use a rubber hood folded short for <br> composing, then roll it out full for the shot.<br> <br /> Best regards,<br /> /Clay</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cary_chin1 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 <p>Very nice photos! Goes to show you that you do not need the latest and greatest equipment to produce quality work, it's the person behind the camera.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 <p>Fine photographs, <strong>Cory</strong>, both of and with the 7S. Despite the hassles, the 400CN has produced some great tones and a very crisp feel to the images, over and above what that fine lens is doing. #'s 2, 3 & 4 I really like. Thanks for a very enjoyable post.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_shriver Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 <p>Curious -- which downtown?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_bergman1 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 <p>Cory,</p> <p>Nice set of shots. I have the 7S model and I really should run some film through it.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_bergman1 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 <p>Cory,</p> <p>I did find some ads in Popular Photography for the Hi-Matic 7. These are from 1965.</p> <p>The first on is fairly standard.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_bergman1 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 <p>The second one shows some flair.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_bergman1 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 <p>The 3rd time is the charm.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_lockerbie Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 <p>Nice post all round, the 7S is a good thing as you can by the crispness of your shots. I do like those vintage (fancy the seventies being vintage) ads, always make me smile.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 <p>Nice presentation, Cory.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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