Minolta 7 series rangefinder quality

[George Mann]

I am looking for a comparison of the 7 series vs. the Konica Auto S2, specifically their viewfinders.

How do they compare? And is the 7 series really more reliable?

 

[craigclu]

Modern Photography had an in-depth comparison article, but I believe the Konica was the S3. I've got it somewhere and will scan it if I find it. I've had the S2 and S3 and also the Minolta 7E. I would put the glass as quite equal and capable on the examples that I had (some multiples).

 

[George Mann]

Modern Photography had an in-depth comparison article, but I believe the Konica was the S3. I've got it somewhere and will scan it if I find it. I've had the S2 and S3 and also the Minolta 7E. I would put the glass as quite equal and capable on the examples that I had (some multiples).

OK. But what I am really looking for is a comparison of their viewfinders (S2 vs. early 7 and 9).

 

[Helge]

I am looking for a comparison of the 7 series vs. the Konica Auto S2, specifically their viewfinders.

How do they compare? And is the 7 series really more reliable?

Don't know if my comparison is good, but:
S2 and 7s finder is very similar in size, with perhaps an ever so slight advantage to the 7s.
The clarity is about the same too, with how lucky you have been in getting a clean one and how far you are willing to go in cleaning it, being much more important.

The S2s party trick is the adjusting finder lines, and the top lit exposure scale.
That is really cool, but does it really aid usability?

What's more the rangefinder mirror in the S2 has a penchant for spontaneously falling off, due to bad glue being used.

Amazingly I have never found a 7s that didn't work perfectly or almost, I have owned about seven or eight. The S2 on the other hand I have five of and all of them has some problem that makes them unusable (going to try the shutter naphtha trick in the video though).

 

[George Mann]

The S2s party trick is the adjusting finder lines, and the top lit exposure scale.

Lit? Mine doesn't do that unless there is something that I have to do to make it.

 

[Helge]

Lit? Mine doesn't do that unless there is something that I have to do to make it.

No, I just mean the light to illuminate it comes from the top.

 

[George Mann]

No, I just mean the light to illuminate it comes from the top.

I just looked. Is that a cool feature or what?

 

[George Mann]

My S2 is an early model without the built-in lense hood. With a hood it would end up blocking 1/4 of the viewfinder!

 

[Helge]

My S2 is an early model without the built-in lense hood. With a hood it would end up blocking 1/4 of the viewfinder!

Yeah, but you can flick it back and forth real quick. Compose and flick the shade out.
It’s a truly good idea.
A shade can mean the difference between a low contrast boring image with veiling and a real eye-catcher.

 

[Helge]

I just looked. Is that a cool feature or what?

Entirely depends on top light though.
If you stand into the shade or photograph someone under a lamp, it gets harder to see the meter.
You always have the option of looking directly at the top though.

 

[George Mann]

Yeah, but you can flick it back and forth real quick. Compose and flick the shade out.
It’s a truly good idea.
A shade can mean the difference between a low contrast boring image with veiling and a real eye-catcher.

Yes. But for me to be able to do this without disturbing the composition would require the use of a folding hood, with the camera mounted to a tripod.

 

[Helge]

Yes. But for me to be able to do this without disturbing the composition would require the use of a folding hood, with the camera mounted to a tripod.

Support the camera with the edge of your palm, little and ring finger and flick the hood with you thumb and index digit.
Hand held your composition is never going be that super tight anyway. It is a rangefinder after all.

The 7s has more of a build in fixed shade though, it seems.

 

[George Mann]

Support the camera with the edge of your palm, little and ring finger and flick the hood with you thumb and index digit.
Hand held your composition is never going be that super tight anyway. It is a rangefinder after all.

I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but folding rubber hoods take a bit of effort to extend.

Furthermore, it would block more of the finder when it is folded.

I was going to buy a shallow hood that is the same diameter as the lens (like the built in ones).

 

[Helge]

I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but folding rubber hoods take a bit of effort to extend.

Furthermore, it would block more of the finder when it is folded.

I was going to buy a shallow hood that is the same diameter as the lens (like the built in ones).

I am talking about the original one, not some rubber folder of course. That was always very bad with rangefinders.
Get a faulty S2 with the retainer ring and the hood, and put that on your working one.
Like this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/124843436265?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item1d113fa8e9:g:6O4AAOSwSsxhDzEA&amdata=enc:AQAGAAACgPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSxXDXcCydCuSj2Tq2S%2F3GnsBgWe9AkHGfzedDM%2BYaNBXTMt7z%2ByngqYEnpGo7Dh%2FLkrWM%2FTQFk3rALLkP0Vu8bwKmBL5NchFPybgKSaPIOMaKQu3RCo29bZW9PVS1c7I%2Fn69%2FgpZqGtEgHH5%2F8x4PHzmudQPsM4NkrPKW3QL9AYgTNww4bm979Grjw%2B1n2X6Dh1rrSzlWZ%2FrhH9%2FsZ3ekJk9ZgEQwKt1fz9buzKU0IsdRCzqUgkKNKL3d2YCFNZMtJ6n1ZdkZtCrNuxw4TtXsIgldIT1i3XpHvkL2AKK7tPe2A6gwJc%2BXAitHhN82WhBAHP6aj0BMatEhpzVo%2F651Wu0KcnDHqCBW17rSZGyaNM4SA3Xsqy%2BzCnCm5G5dwaZP%2FEimYBg8VWz5KvlLstIQkBlAri%2FTlv3lNh%2BiXDRqJVpvA7aeFHTxtvXc1K1n9yyaWCWpCxisAobdYfxH9d690%2FhRIktvL8ik0F7ME6XC5I%2BoxkEfGtD9exzXclg1jYAO8Gkppu3SC0UtIBG9C4jZf588MwnxJc0RUWXm286V1bmMYq%2Ftw16eBEsMz5abiyv5DclrwVlS9ZEcv07QPyS9V%2B5NGsG2B9%2Bht9aP7qjt3gjviZf6E%2FaxY55o8GFI0l0luUdGJbuYOBHv2xU7fYHanh7JBckK%2FLqgiQ0tK2%2FnfDBTgo3uM90YkTbq%2BOyd%2B4JwT1BHJoV5UF3i81XUnpAPE6jWER5jirjtABNUAgi1czl1pNuqXtFK1D%2BmyWVO83fu5QLs7DkGIle8rVzbbWZQUhKUn9H%2FoGwX8%2BL2k%2FVCf5w%3D|ampidL_CLK|clp:2334524&LH_ItemCondition=7000

Or this one
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133840173240?hash=item1f297ef8b8:g:sOsAAOSw9oRhDAve&LH_ItemCondition=7000

 

[George Mann]

I have too many cameras cluttering up my van already. So I am investigating hoods that are slotted in the back

 

[Helge]

I have too many cameras cluttering up my van already. So I am investigating hoods that are slotted in the back

Sure, block the finder permanently.

 

[George Mann]

Sure, block the finder permanently.

Most rangefinders suck because of this issue. My Fed 3 is free of this defect.