benderscameracorner
Member
Hi all,
I recently picked up a Hi-Matic 9 in lovely condition for pocket change. Fortunately all the usual problem spots - sticky shutter/aperture blades, worn lens coatings, fungus, etc - aren't an issue here. Even the light seals look ok. With a little love it should become a great shooter and might even perhaps be the first rangefinder I actually enjoy using.
It has some signs of battery corrosion that has resulted in the wire breaking off the metal tab and disappearing into the camera body - an easy solder fix once I fish out the wire. Looks like the front lens board does need to come off though, can't seem to get at it from under the bottom cover.
It does however have a somewhat weird issue. The lens itself is a bit 'loose' and wonky, in the sense that it has a little play somewhere in the barrel. It doesn't appear to be in the helicoil - focussing is smooth and precise - but just forward of the focussing ring it has a fair bit of free play. It is just enough movement to mess with the alignment of whatever charge/release arm controls the shutter, however, as unless the lens is held/pre-loaded, the shutter usually won't fire. Hopefully that makes sense - I'll see if I can upload a short video later to demonstrate the issue.
I don't think it is a physical damage issue (camera looks well looked after, no signs of dings/dents on the lens itself) and based on an old post elsewhere, it isn't uncommon on fixed lens rangefinders of this era. Anyone got any idea as to where the problem point might be? I've bought the service manual and by all accounts these big, old Minoltas aren't too difficult to open up and work on.
Thanks in advance...
I recently picked up a Hi-Matic 9 in lovely condition for pocket change. Fortunately all the usual problem spots - sticky shutter/aperture blades, worn lens coatings, fungus, etc - aren't an issue here. Even the light seals look ok. With a little love it should become a great shooter and might even perhaps be the first rangefinder I actually enjoy using.
It has some signs of battery corrosion that has resulted in the wire breaking off the metal tab and disappearing into the camera body - an easy solder fix once I fish out the wire. Looks like the front lens board does need to come off though, can't seem to get at it from under the bottom cover.
It does however have a somewhat weird issue. The lens itself is a bit 'loose' and wonky, in the sense that it has a little play somewhere in the barrel. It doesn't appear to be in the helicoil - focussing is smooth and precise - but just forward of the focussing ring it has a fair bit of free play. It is just enough movement to mess with the alignment of whatever charge/release arm controls the shutter, however, as unless the lens is held/pre-loaded, the shutter usually won't fire. Hopefully that makes sense - I'll see if I can upload a short video later to demonstrate the issue.
I don't think it is a physical damage issue (camera looks well looked after, no signs of dings/dents on the lens itself) and based on an old post elsewhere, it isn't uncommon on fixed lens rangefinders of this era. Anyone got any idea as to where the problem point might be? I've bought the service manual and by all accounts these big, old Minoltas aren't too difficult to open up and work on.
Thanks in advance...