Hi-Matic E exposure lock?

[David van Sluis]

Hi fellows,

I'm new to this forum and to rangefinder photography in general. I just acquired a Minolta Hi-Matic E and I noticed the green light in the viewfinder that goes on when I press the shutter slightly. It corresponds with a light labeled "Electro Control" on the top... does this indicate exposure lock? If so I'd like to use it to recompose and compensate for backlight situations and such. I've looked around but can't find an online manual or other information.

By the way, my first RF is a Yashica GSN which I got a few weeks ago... it's great! Very accurate exposures and nice sharp images.

Thanks for any help,

David

 

[taffer]

David, welcome to the forum !

I don't own that camera myself, but as a beginning, maybe you'll find this useful:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/minolta_himatic_e.html

Also, as for the manual, don't know if it's here, but it's one of the greatest source for online free manuals:

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics

Just now the site seems to be down, but as far as I know, it's still there, you may also take a look whey it's up and running again.

Best !

Oscar

 

[David van Sluis]

Thanks a lot, Oscar - I will check that out.

David

 

[Sonnar Brian]

My Hi-Matic E does not appear to have exposure lock. We had a discussion on this a while back on Steve Gandy's RF list. Taking a reading in the dark, partially depressing the release, and moving into a well lit area DID NOT hold the exposure. The Hi-Matic uses an electronic shutter, not trap needle. Memory lock on an "analog" electronic camera requires that a memory "capacitor" be used, as was done on the Nikkormat EL.

FROM MY MEMORY: Early electronic cameras depleted a capacitor through a light sensitive resistor element, like a CDS cell. Low light, high resistance slow bleed-off. The Polaroid Pack cameras are a great example of this. The EL used a memory capacitor that was charged and held. When the shutter fired, a second capacitor was charged up to match the "memory". A "Compariter" closed (release second curtain) the shutter when charged to the same levels.

 

[David van Sluis]

Thanks for the information Brian