Hi-matic 9 test photos

Greyscale

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Note to self: Never buy film at the local WalMart again. Their selection is limited to one selection, Fuji 200 (not Fuji Superia), and I think it is a little on the grainy side.

Second note to self (sorry for shouting): TAKE THE LENS CAP OFF BEFORE SHOOTING, THIS IS NOT AN SLR. I shot four shots of the back side of my lens cap. :eek:

I am not going to make any final judgement on this camera until I try some better film, but I think some of these shots came out OK. I shot most of these using the camera set to full auto fairly early in the morning, but even at 8 A.M in the middle of an Iowa summer, the sun can be very bright. Is there any may to lock exposure on this camera while in full-auto mode? Or do I need to compensate by adjusting the ASA speed? I think that a lens hood may be a "must get" for this camera in bright sunlight.

Anyway, here are the photos that I am happiest with from this first roll, please keep in mind that I am no Ansel Adams:

One of the two things in life that money can't buy. This is my favorite photo of the set. :)


One of the two things money can't buy. by Greyscale3, on Flickr


A beautiful summer morning and an empty swing-set. How sad.


Where are the Children? by Greyscale3, on Flickr


Infinity focus seems OK:


Under Reconstruction by Greyscale3, on Flickr


This is either loneliness or anticipation, I'm not sure:


Blank Slate by Greyscale3, on Flickr

Some "vintage tin" at a local auto restorer. Believe it or not, each of these rusty old hulks will be restored to collector-quality vintage automobiles. I think that many of those in this forum share the same mind-set as Bower Bros. of Fort Dodge when it comes to fine, vintage machines.



Is this what Aerosmith meant? by Greyscale3, on Flickr

I love the hat on the back dash: :)


Now, where did I leave my hat? by Greyscale3, on Flickr

I look forward to seeing this one when it is finished, there is a beautiful car in there somewhere:


442 by Greyscale3, on Flickr


The tornado sirens were sounding while I snapped these last two. I was hoping to catch a twister, but no such luck.:(


Storm Clouds 4 by Greyscale3, on Flickr



Storm Clouds 2 by Greyscale3, on Flickr

My initial impression is that I like this camera very much, except it doesn't seem to handle shooting into the sunlight as well as the Yashica Electro G does. But until I shoot a roll with the same film as I did with the Yashica, that may be an unfair assessment. But it does feel wonderful in my hands, and the lens is nice and sharp, and contrasty.
 
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Nice shots, seems a fine little camera.

My experience with almost all of the minolta RFs is that they have a lot of flare, especially shooting into the light. I've even heard this said about non-RF lenses.
 
Lovely stuff!

Armoured: I can't speak for the fixed-lens Minolta RFs (never used 'em), but Minolta's SLR and RF lenses, for the most part, didn't flare any more than the other usual suspects of the day.


- Barrett
 
It does flare quite a lot. The problem is to find a 55mm lens hood suitable for such a focal length, even though the lens cell is recessed deeply enough to act as lens hood. Of course later Minolta lenses do not flare that much, but most people use 1970s and 1980s lenses, not 1960 formulas and coating! The Hi-Matic is a contemporary of the very first SRT 101 after all.
Anyone, it's a fabulous camera. Nobody would dare making a compact weighting 750g nowadays! And the look conferred by the lens really is unique...
 

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Greyscale,

Congrats on the Hi-Matic 9 and the pics came out nicely. I know what you mean about Wal-Mart and film. Living in the Southwest, I have to shoot slow film with these classic cameras and I can't find any 100 film at Wal-Mart or any of the other chains. I have to get Ektar 100 at the local (40 miles round trip) camera store. Anyway, the Hi-Matic 9 is a great camera. I really like mine. Enjoy.
 
Greyscale,

Congrats on the Hi-Matic 9 and the pics came out nicely. ... Anyway, the Hi-Matic 9 is a great camera. I really like mine. Enjoy.
Thanks. Reading your posts (while I was a lurker in this forum) about your ongoing love affair with the Minolta Hi-Matic series was probably the main reason that I decided to buy this camera in the first place. :D
 
Zumbido, it's not so much lens flare that concerns me so much as overexposure on "A" settings while shooting toward the light source (sun). Perhaps I need to use slower film, and invest in a neutral-density filter for these midsummer days.
 
Armoured: I can't speak for the fixed-lens Minolta RFs (never used 'em), but Minolta's SLR and RF lenses, for the most part, didn't flare any more than the other usual suspects of the day.

@Barrett: Thanks! My own experience mainly with the fixed-lens RF, which I've found very flarey (otherwise great lenses). I've heard from others they found "all" Minoltas tend to flare, but clearly that's a huge generalization...not had this problem with other Minolta lenses (80s-era SLR and M-mount), but my own experience there is quite limited.

Agree with the comment that it can be hard to find hoods that fit the lens, don't block the viewfinder, and the focal length.
 
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