Minolta hi matic f đánh giá
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In 1972 Minolta released a new version of their Hi-Matic consumer rangefinder cameras, the HI-MATIC F, with the less sophisticated 38mm (f2.7) Rokkor lens. It had the same light and compact camera body as the Hi-Matic E, but it had been cheaper, built with less features. The rangefinder had only parallax marks, no mechanical parallax correction. The CDS meter controlled exposure time and aperture. The camera had a flash guide number selector which provided an automatic aperture control depending on the distance for flashlight photography. Along with the silver bodied HI-MATIC F, Minolta also released a black bodied version that they called the HI-MATIC FP. There is speculation that the "P" stood for "Professional", because at that time, black bodied cameras were considered more professional. However, the black FP was identical except for the inclusion of a self-timer. There was some variation in these cameras, as there was also a black bodied version labeled HI-MATIC F without a self-timer.
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Fast-forward to the midst of the pandemic in 2020, I found myself in the market for a compact film camera to capture my daily activities once I’m able to travel again. Thus, point & shoot camera was my main aim because of the small form factor and ease of use. Not just that, I also wanted a camera that has a sharp, fixed-focal length lens that can fairly compete against the range finders. There are several cameras that fulfill those conditions, such as the Olympus mju-i and mju-ii, Nikon L35AF, Canon AF35M just to name a few, but their prices are overly inflated. After a couple of weeks of monitoring the online marketplace, my search ended when I met the Minolta Hi-Matic AF on sale online, which was sold at a bargain price of $31. A decision was made, and a couple of days later the Minolta Hi-Matic AF arrived at my porch which marked the beginning of our adventure together. The 1979 Minolta Hi-Matic AF was the first camera produced by Minolta to employ the autofocus system, as the name suggests. However, it doesn’t have a motor to advance the film inside; instead, you will have to advance it yourself using the film-advance lever a la your common range finders & SLRs. The camera was one of the last members of the Hi-Matic line, first introduced in the early-1960s and consisted of numerous cameras with some notable mentions, such as the famous Hi-Matic 7sII. The Minolta Hi-Matic AF was replaced by the newer Hi-Matic AF2 in 1982, just 3 years after the initial introduction. Thus, the chance of finding the newer versions is easier than getting the old ones. Body & HandlingBy today’s standard, by no means the Minolta Hi-Matic AF can be considered a compact camera. Compared to the body of my (modern) Olympus OM-D E- M10 Mark ii, the Minolta is both bigger and heavier. Simply put, it won’t fit in my jeans pocket. Even so, we also must remember that this camera is about 40 years old now, and the technological advancements we humans have made in such a short span are ridiculous. I wasn’t even born at that time, and my parents were just barely teenagers, so probably by the standard of the old times, it really was a compact camera. The Minolta Hi-Matic AF with and without the front cap. Minolta Hi-Matic AF weights about 550 grams with two AA batteries needed to operate the camera. The design of the camera is nothing to write home about, the usual 1970s brick-like rectangular design that screams “boring”. The 1970s was also the time where most camera manufacturers moved from the usage of metal bodies to plastic bodies in order to cut costs, and the Minolta Hi-Matic AF was no exception. While plastics weigh lighter than metal, it certainly doesn’t feel as nice to hold. The back of the camera and the film room. Nevertheless, the handling of the camera is good, the size, weight, and proportion are perfect to hold in your hands (at least it fitted perfectly in my Asian hands), but just remember that there is little grip provided with the camera. I can imagine someone being reckless and the camera slipped from their hands, but I was careful enough to avoid that. I would suggest anyone to buy a wrist strap for this camera because it will decrease the likeliness of accidental drops of the camera. Lens & OperationsLet’s talk about that 38mm f/2.8 Rokkor lens equipped to the body. After all, the title of the post suggests that the Rokkor lens is the main talking point of the camera. So, is it special? I’ll gladly say that it is good, really good especially for the price that you pay. Just don’t expect the shallow depth of field and sharp images from corner-to-corner since we are talking about a 1979 compact point & shoot camera here. The lens consists of 4 elements in 3 groups, with a filter thread size of 46mm. Front view of the camera, and that glorious small lens. The operation of the camera is fairly easy, and I believe that everyone can operate it without any problem. Basically, all you have to do is load the batteries and the film (there are lots of youtube videos showing you how to do it), adjust the ISO rating accordingly to the loaded film, advance the film, and voila, your camera’s ready to go! One thing to note, the ISO range is limited to 25–400, and the metering & exposure system uses the CdS system and coupled auto-exposure range from EV 6 to EV 17. Thus, if you’re using a filter, the coupled AE will compensate for it automatically. A built-in flash is available to be used in low-light situations, but after 40 years, not all camera bodies will have the flash in working condition (Mine wasn’t working, not that I need it). Focus distance starts from 1 meter to infinity, so no macro capability if you want it. Since it’s a point-and-shoot camera, the manual controls are taken away from you. Instead, all the settings are done by the electronics of the camera so all you need to do is make sure your object is within the frame of the viewfinder, press the shutter button halfway, and check low-light warning and the focus range, then push it down and hear that satisfying “ckrek” sound! Advance the film once again and you’re ready to take the next shot. Pretty neat, huh? Image Quality & Ownership ExperienceNow let’s have a conversation about things that matter most, the quality of the image, and how good is it to own and use the camera on a regular basis. I shot 3 rolls of films with this camera in a span of 1 year, and I’m quite impressed with the results that I got. We will look at some of the favorite photos I took with the camera. Baloon sellers in Bandung, Indonesia (Left), and a doggo we met on our way (right). Kodak Pro Image 100. a “ghost” cosplayer on our city bus ride in Bandung, Indonesia. Kodak Pro Image 100.Sleepy uncle Sanchez. Kodak Vision 200T.Trailer (shot from a moving train). Kodak Gold 200. The usual inside of Indonesian train and the station. Kodak Gold 200. Sunshine through the woods. Kodak Gold 200. Vegetation & Signpost. Kodak Gold 200. Sunday picnic. Kodak Gold 200. As you can see, the Minolta Hi-Matic AF is a capable shooter for a 40-years old camera. That teeny-tiny Rokkor lens proved that it is worthy of the name and the reputation that comes with it. There’s plenty of sharpness, the overall color renditions are punchy and vibrant, and the contrasts are also great. The pictures ooze quality and gave that unique vintage look that is hard to replicate with modern cameras. The f/2.8 maximum aperture lens can provide some depth-of-field, but the lack of manual control means that it’s a guessing game for you. Vignetting is present at the corner of the pictures (just like so many more lenses), but it is not bad and off-putting. To put it short, the lens is able to take good quality pictures. As I had owned the camera for one year and taking it on numerous trips and walks, I can safely say that the ownership experience is almost a similar story to the image quality, albeit with some differences. The size of the camera means that you’ll probably better have a small bag to carry it, the build quality is okay if not good, but that autofocus system sometimes gets it wrong, especially in low light conditions. I mean, this was Minolta’s first AF system, developed more than 40 years ago, so we can spare them some harsh criticism regarding the AF. ConclusionCurrently, I don’t have the Minolta Hi-Matic AF with me since I sold it (for a profit of almost 100%). Not that I don’t like it, because I do like the camera, the great results that it produces, and how easy it was to use it. Albeit not a pocketable camera like the Rollei 35 or Olympus XA, the size and the weight means that you can bring it anywhere and not worry about it weighing you down. The cons of the camera are its autofocus system as I mentioned before, and the lack of manual controls might be a deal-breaker for some people. Who is this camera for? I think the Minolta Hi-Matic AF is a great beginner camera for anyone new to film photography or someone who wants a small camera as their go-to option. Now, I owned a Minolta XE with a Rokkor 50mm f/1.4, a different beast from the Hi-Matic AF for good (image quality, manual controls) and the bad (the weight and the size). The decision to get another Minolta was influenced by the Hi-Matic AF, which should tell you how much I love the camera (and how I hate to part ways with it). |
