oops wrong camera... or not (Hi-Matic)

[JamieB]

So a few weeks ago I was on here asking about rangefinders. My first one. On a budget. I had decided it would be a Canonet QL17 iii. I couldn't find one for less than about 150 euro with postage from anywhere I looked online. The original QL was also really hard to find. The QL19 was almost 100 and the focal length is less for me.
Anyway, last evening I saw a Minolta Hi-Matic F and put in an offer for 30 bucks and won it. So now I have a different camera than what I wanted. Oh well. Anyone have experience of the Minolta? I was hoping there would be a lot of tutorials on YouTube but not the case so a manual but also personal opinions, advice would be good.

 

[darkosaric]

Hi-Matic F was my first rangefinder. Great lens - superb! Small and silent camera. Only you don't have any control over exposure and f stops, it is fully automatic.
But look at this as a bonus - you can concentrate on framing and picture making, not on technical details .

 

[macfred]

No experiences with the Hi-Matic F. I know it was kind of an economic model in the Hi-Matic series. The lens isn't very fast with f/2.7. But who knows ...
Jamie, go out and shoot your camera and tell us your experiences !

 

[macfred]

Here's the manual : http://www.massimoscottinelweb.com/...d'epoca/Libretti di Istruzione/Hi-Matic F.pdf

 

[darkosaric]

Here is one example that I have shoot with Hi-Matic-F:

 

[JamieB]

Hi-Matic F was my first rangefinder. Great lens - superb! Small and silent camera. Only you don't have any control over exposure and f stops, it is fully automatic.
But look at this as a bonus - you can concentrate on framing and picture making, not on technical details .

Hi Darko, what batteries did you use in it? I am totally confused about this issue now. I don't want to do DIY adjustments. I can buy Zinc instead of Alkaline is Alkaline puts off the meter. Thanks

 

[darkosaric]

what batteries did you use in it?

I have used normal LR 44 batteries, and then with small testing I have seen how much I need to adjust ISO dial on a camera to get proper exposure.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where is no wrong rangefinder cameras. Where is only working and not working. Hopefully yours for 30 is the working one. Hopefully...

 

[JamieB]

I have used normal LR 44 batteries, and then with small testing I have seen how much I need to adjust ISO dial on a camera to get proper exposure.

I thought normal LR 44 batteries won't fit in the chamber of this camera (?) Pity I don't know in advance of using up a whole roll of film, how much I need to change the ISO especially since I send stuff to the lab and not develop myself. Anyway, thanks

 

[MattKing]

Get an adapter from Jon Goodman, and put hearing aid batteries into it.
The adapter deals with the size difference, and the 675 hearing aid batteries give you correct and consistent voltage. They don't last particularly long, bur hearing aid batteries are cheap and come in multiple unit packages.
An LR44 (alkaline) will give different voltage over its life, and therefore your "adjustment" may vary over that life. You also have to add something to make it stay in place in the battery compartment - it is smaller.
An SR44 (silver oxide) would be more consistent in voltage, but harder to find, and more expensive.

 

[JamieB]

Get an adapter from Jon Goodman, and put hearing aid batteries into it.
The adapter deals with the size difference, and the 675 hearing aid batteries give you correct and consistent voltage. They don't last particularly long, bur hearing aid batteries are cheap and come in multiple unit packages.
An LR44 (alkaline) will give different voltage over its life, and therefore your "adjustment" may vary over that life. You also have to add something to make it stay in place in the battery compartment - it is smaller.
An SR44 (silver oxide) would be more consistent in voltage, but harder to find, and more expensive.

Thanks a lot for the info. Who is this Jon Goodman you speak of?

 

[MattKing]

Thanks a lot for the info. Who is this Jon Goodman you speak of?

He has recently started posting again on APUG - including recent threads on this battery issue. This might help you find him and "Start a Conversation" with him on APUG: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
He is better known for his light seal kits: http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/sealreplacement.html One of his email addresses is shown on that web page.
He is really good to deal with.

 

[darkosaric]

LR 44 batteries won't fit in the chamber of this camera

I used (not only here, but many times) kitchen aluminum foil in this situations.

 

[Eric Rose]

I used a Hi-Matic 7 for years. Great camera and wickedly sharp lens. Not sure about the F.

 

[mklw1954]

I've used this adapter with 675 hearing aid batteries in my Hi-matic 7S and other cameras that used the old mercury batteries: http://www.paulbg.com/Nikon_F_meter_batteries.htm. They work well. Extend battery life by removing the battery and covering the + side with the tab provided or scotch tape.