Minolta Hi-Matic CS (c. 1972)
The Minolta Hi-Matic CS is a 35mm rangefinder camera built by Minolta in Japan, introduced around 1972. It was positioned as a derivative of the Hi-Matic F, with a strong emphasis on automatic functions. It is a snapshot-oriented model in Minolta's long-running Hi-Matic line.
Surviving documentation on the CS is thin. Here is what the record shows. It has a fixed Minolta Rokkor 38mm f/2.7 lens and fully automatic exposure. One seller listed a serviced example (light seals replaced, camera cleaned and checked) at €275. A single tracked sale on CameraWorth came in at £38. The exterior is primarily black. One owner described it as "probably the first camera I've ever taken a picture with." The usual practical caveat is the meter, which originally relied on mercury 640 batteries. Those are no longer manufactured, which is a familiar problem for cameras of this era.
Beyond its listing in period directories and a handful of seller and owner accounts, almost nothing else is documented about the CS. There is no shutter speed range, no ISO range, no dimensions or weight, and no original launch price. The German-language manual is available at butkus.org for those who want to dig deeper.
Known Specifications
- Type: 35mm rangefinder camera
- Manufacturer: Minolta (Japan)
- Introduced: c. 1972
- Lens: Fixed Rokkor 38mm f/2.7
- Exposure: Fully automatic
- Battery: Mercury 640 (no longer manufactured)
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