Minolta's Hi-Matic 11 — fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder, 45mm f/1.7 Rokkor, shutter-priority auto, 1969.
The Minolta Hi-Matic 11, from 1969, was a fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder in Minolta's Hi-Matic line. It followed the Hi-Matic 9 and offered a fast lens with automatic exposure aimed at enthusiasts wanting a capable rangefinder.
This is a 35mm coupled-rangefinder camera with a fixed 45mm f/1.7 Rokkor lens and a leaf shutter. Exposure is shutter-priority automatic using a built-in CdS meter, with the aperture set by the meter and finder indication of the reading. The meter and automation require a battery; the original design used a mercury cell.
The Hi-Matic 11 suits general, street and travel photography for users who want a fast lens with convenient automatic exposure. The coupled rangefinder focuses accurately and the metal body is sturdy, though it is a fairly large and heavy camera.
When buying, test the CdS meter and note the original mercury cell is obsolete, so a substitute is generally needed. Check the lens for haze and fungus, confirm the leaf shutter and aperture blades operate cleanly, and verify rangefinder patch contrast and alignment. Replace perished light seals before use.