Luddite Frank
Well-known
Was out doing the usual holiday antiquing, and picked-up a bunch of cameras, among them a Minolta Hi-Matic G, w/ Minolta 20 flash for $6.00.
Camera and flash look to be in decent condition.
Replaced the dead mercury cell with a Zinc-Air #675, and the meter needle seems active.
I figured-out the scale-focus hieroglyphs, but do not understand the function of the inner ring which has a series of distance markings under the heading "GN", then an orange "AUTO" all the way to the right.
Can someone explain the exposure management on this camera, or direct me to source for manuals ?
Also, beyond gooey foam light seals, are there any characteristic problems with this camera ?
The shutter speed seems to stay the same, regardless of the setting of the inner ring / masking of the meter cell, and when the lens is "stopped-down", instead of a concentric diaphragm opening, there's a shape that looks like the Star Trek emblem from Kirk's tunic.... ?
Any help is appreciated !
Thanks !
Luddite Frank
Camera and flash look to be in decent condition.
Replaced the dead mercury cell with a Zinc-Air #675, and the meter needle seems active.
I figured-out the scale-focus hieroglyphs, but do not understand the function of the inner ring which has a series of distance markings under the heading "GN", then an orange "AUTO" all the way to the right.
Can someone explain the exposure management on this camera, or direct me to source for manuals ?
Also, beyond gooey foam light seals, are there any characteristic problems with this camera ?
The shutter speed seems to stay the same, regardless of the setting of the inner ring / masking of the meter cell, and when the lens is "stopped-down", instead of a concentric diaphragm opening, there's a shape that looks like the Star Trek emblem from Kirk's tunic.... ?
Any help is appreciated !
Thanks !
Luddite Frank
The GN is for "Guide Number". It is for a fixed-output flash. The F-Stop will stop down as you focus, setting the correct exposure. The Minolta 20 flash- look for an extra contact that sets the mode automatically. My Hi-Matic E "knew" it's GN when attached.
Luddite Frank
Well-known
Thanks Brian...
So for non-flash photography, does one just leave the inner ring set on "auto" ?
Is there manual mode for the VF meter / match-needle ?
So for non-flash photography, does one just leave the inner ring set on "auto" ?
Is there manual mode for the VF meter / match-needle ?