Minolta Hi-Matic family list

The Hi-Matic models were a line of entry-level cameras aimed at the growing market of casual photographers, offered from the 1960s to the late 1980s. The cameras were positioned against similar camera class such as the Yashica Electro, Cosina Hi-lite, Canon Canonet, Konica C line, and Olympus 35 series. As with other camera makers, the Hi-Matic line had begun with good intentions and capable models, but competition from fellow camera makers and the emergence of user-friendly SLR cameras had pushed the able rangefinders out of the game. Aside from the common name, the late point-and-shoot models shared little in common with the early cameras.

Minolta rebranded some of its models for distributors; some models bore a fresh name, such as the famed Ansco Autoset, while others were sold exclusively through distributors, as with the Hi-Matic 5, which was exclusive to JCPenney. See the notes column in the table below.

Information about Minolta should have been readily available, but it is not. There are reviews by the bucket, but specs are scarce and contradictory. I had to pick and peck at slivers of data, and I take full responsibility for any errors that may have occurred. Moreover, there is a one-time mention of Hi-Matic CS II, S II and SD II, which could either be distributor-specific models or a figment of the writer’s imagination.

For the collectors, this line is a mixed bag. The early models are worth collecting, as they are well-made and retain the aura of old-world craftsmanship. The 1980s models are cheap point-and-shoot cameras, not worth much in either practical value or sentiment. The Hi-Matic 7S II leads the value column by a wide margin, and most other models are reasonably priced. Please see Table 2 below for a snapshot of values as of June 2025, which displays realized sale prices and sampled transactions. The information is based on camdex.ca database.

It is worth mentioning that Minolta still exists, if only in spirit. After the merger with Konica, Sony took over the brand, which means that by using a Sony digital camera, you salute the celebrated Minolta brand.

More:

MUG: Minolta Hi-Matic Range Finder Cameras
Minolta Hi-Matic-Serie – Übersicht über die Kleinbildkameras

Table 1, Minolta Hi-Matic camera line

	Model	Year	Type	Lens	Shutter	Notes
	Hi-Matic E	1971	Rangefinder	Rokkor 1.7/40	Seikosha
	Hi-Matic ES	1971	Rangefinder	Rokkor 1.7/40	Seikosha	K-Mart
	Hi-Matic CS	1972	Rangefinder	Rokkor 2.7/38	Seiko ESL	As the F, but black
	Hi-Matic S	1978	Viewfinder	Rokkor 2.7/38	Auto	Flash
	Hi-Matic S2	1978	Viewfinder	2.7/38	Auto	Flash
	Hi-Matic SD	1978	Viewfinder	Rokkor 2.7/38	Auto	Flash
	Hi-Matic AF D	1979	Autofocus	Rokkor 2.8/35	Seiko	Flash
	Hi-Matic AF	1979	Autofocus	Rokkor 2.8/35	Seiko	Flash
	Hi-Matic AF 2	1981	Autofocus	Minolta 2.8/45	Auto	Flash
	Hi-Matic G2	1981	Viewfinder	Minolta 2.8/38	Auto
	Hi-Matic 7	1963	Rangefinder	Rokkor 1.8/45	Seikosha
	H-Matic 7s page	1966	Rangefinder	Rokkor 1.8/45	Seikosha	CLC metering
	Hi-Matic 9	1966	Rangefinder	Rokkor 1.7/45	Seikosha	CLC metering
	Hi-Matic 5	1969	Viewfinder	Rokkor 2.7/40	Citizen	JC Penny
	Hi-Matic 11	1969	Rangefinder	Rokkor 1.7/45	Seikosha	Super 3 Circuit
	Hi-Matic C	1969	Viewfinder	Rokkor 2.7/40	Seikosha
	Hi-Matic D	1970	Rangefinder	Rokkor 2.7/40	Citizen
	Hi-Matic F	1972	Rangefinder	Rokkor 2.7/38	Seiko ESL
	Hi-Matic FP	1972	Rangefinder	Rokkor 2.7/38
	Hi-Matic G	1973	Viewfinder	Rokkor 2.8/38	Copal B
	Hi-Matic 7 S II	1977	Rangefinder	Rokkor 1.7/40	Copal	Revue 400 SE
	Hi-Matic	1962	Rangefinder	Rokkor 2.0/45, 2.8/45	Citizen	Ansco Autoset
	Hi-Matic GF	1984	Viewfinder	Minolta 4.0/38		Flash
	Hi-Matic AF 2-MD	1982	Autofocus	Minolta 2.8/38		Flash, motor
	Hi-Matic AF 2-M	1982	Autofocus	Minolta 2.8/38		Flash, motor

Table 2, Minolta Hi-Matic real value and sales transactions sampled, as at June 2025