My Minolta Hi-Matic F Experience

[MrDrizz]

As you maybe aware I'm pretty new to shooting and developing 35mm film. I've had a Canon EOS 5 for years but never really used it and while it's a great camera I really wanted a small rangefinder. Enter the Minolta Hi-Matic F, cheap as chips on eBay and there seems to be few around. So I bought one, £45 in total (is that cheap?) it's in pretty decent condition for something that is nearly as old as I am. It's also fully automatic, not ideal but it's a start.

I knew about the battery issue before buying so I ordered a couple of the LR44 battery adapters at the same time. I was also aware that the overvoltage of the LR44 would cause the meter to give false readings, one hack for that is to set the ISO about 1 stop over the box speed to fool the meter to not overexpose. Well after 3 rolls I can 100% confirm that the hack doesn't work on my copy
This did confuse me a little but I have a feeling that the shutter/aperture can't really cope with brightish days, sunny 16 come to mind. The camera has a max 1/724th and f13

What I have found that works is using a variable ND (1-4 stops) filter set to about 2 stops. I got so many more frames exposed well that I think I might keep it as it's fun to use and is nice and sharp.
Here is some result.


Abstract by Mark Boadey, on Flickr

Look Out by Mark Boadey, on Flickr

No Entry by Mark Boadey, on Flickr

Board Walk by Mark Boadey, on Flickr