Minolta's SR-7 — early built-in CdS meter, mechanical shutter, MD mount, 1962.
The Minolta SR-7 was introduced in 1962 as the top model of the SR line and is credited as the first 35mm SLR with a built-in CdS exposure meter. It sat above the SR-1 and SR-3 in Minolta's range and pointed toward the fully coupled metering that the SRT series would later adopt.
It is a mechanical 35mm SLR on the Minolta SR/MC/MD bayonet, here labelled Minolta MD. The horizontal cloth focal-plane shutter is mechanically timed and fires without a battery. The camera adds a built-in CdS cell whose reading is shown on a body-top meter window, though the meter is not through-the-lens; exposure is set manually using that reading. The pentaprism reflex finder shows the image through the taking lens.
The SR-7 suits users who want an early metered mechanical body for general and travel work and are comfortable transferring the meter reading to the manual controls. It is sturdy and battery-independent for firing, with the meter being the only battery-dependent element.
On the used market, check the cloth shutter for pinholes, even travel and working slow speeds. Foam light seals and mirror-damper foam commonly perish and usually need renewal. The CdS meter was designed around a mercury cell, so verify meter response and be aware that mercury PX625/625 batteries are no longer sold at their original 1.35V; a voltage adapter or handheld meter may be needed. Inspect the prism for haze, test advance and rewind feel, and note the body still fires with a dead battery.