Minolta Hi-Matic E help please

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sebino

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Hello,
I'm very new to film, shot 2 rolls about six months ago using yashica 35 GT and Nikon FM2. I just received my hi matic and have questions:
1. I bought an Exell A640PX 1.5V Alkaline Battery, will this work or what battery do I need?
2. Since I can't change aperture, is it a constant F1.7? Do you recommend an ND filter for outside shooting if I want to shoot fully open?
3. What is the equivalent of F5.6 on a full fame on an APS-C sensor?
4. Should I change the ASA on the lens barrel for better exposure?

Thank you

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sebino said:
Hello,
I'm very new to film, shot 2 rolls about six months ago using yashica 35 GT and Nikon FM2. I just received my hi matic and have questions:
1. I bought an Exell A640PX 1.5V Alkaline Battery, will this work or what battery do I need?
2. Since I can't change aperture, is it a constant F1.7? Do you recommend an ND filter for outside shooting if I want to shoot fully open?
3. What is the equivalent of F5.6 on a full fame on an APS-C sensor?
4. Should I change the ASA on the lens barrel for better exposure?

Thank you

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Click to expand...
1. I have used alkaline batteries in the "E" (don't you need two?) with no noticeable detrimental effects on exposure. The alkaline batteries may discharge to fast to work properly over an extended period, silver oxide or zinc-air batteries would be better choices. You can use two button cell type batteries in one side of the battery chamber and fill the other side with aluminum foil if needed. If you need to adjust for consistent over/under exposure, see #4, or find the equivalent zinc-air (Weincell) batteries.
2. The shutter forms the aperture on the "E". It opens wider or smaller depending upon the light. The use of an ND filter may be needed if you are using film that is too fast for the light conditions, or want to force a wider aperture.
4. Only if you are noticing improper exposure on previous rolls, or if you wish to compensate for tricky lighting.
 
What do you mean by forms aperture on the "E"? Is that the E on the small lever on the lens barrel?
Which zinc or oxide batteries would you recommend?
 
The Hi-Matic E will work with 2 LR44 batteries with adapters or spacers. You can make spacers with aluminum foil.

The Hi-Matic is a fully automatic camera, it will open the shutter just enough to allow a correct exposure. When shooting in bright light you will notice the aperture is small, when it gets darker, the aperture will open up.
 
More info on this great little camera can be found on Matt Denton's page. I use mine with those same batteries and by changing the ISO setting you can experiment and find the best for yourself. I simply followed Matt's suggestion and found it works great. The only real control you have with this camera is adjusting the ISO settings. Peter
 
Thanks everyone. One more, Do I need to set the little notch on the lens barrel to any particular letter or is that for flash settings?
 
The settings I believe you're referring to a, b, c, d, e are directly related to the GN number of your flash. For instance, Film ASA 100 flash GN 10 you'd set the tab to letter A, flash GN 28 you'd set the tab to letter D. Hope this helps. Peter
 
I bought a 3v battery and the light comes on but the battery has to be upside down so inside the camera it shows a plus and when I set the battery this way no light. If I reverse the battery it comes on and shows orange circle that turns green inside the viewfinder. Why is this ?The battery isn't snug so it goes on and off. I guess I have to put some cardboard around it so it doesn't move around. Is there a battery that fits in nice and tight? The other side has a spring with some foil under it.
 
I've just used 2x LR44s in mine for quite a few rolls over the last couple of years and it exposes perfectly.
The LR44s don't have enough power to work the lights though, so you need to judge when the shutter speed might be slow.
I have to wrap the two cells in foam to stop them shaking loose and put a piece of metal in the empty space to complete the circuit.
I'm fairly sure that precise voltage isn't necessary in this camera, as long as there's enough power to work the shutter, the exposure will be correct.
If you've already got the 3volt though, it sounds like you just need to make some shims to hold it secure - your description of when the lights come on doesn't sound right though - does the shutter fire at all?
 
Shutter fires. I just don't get the reverse of + - and why it works at opposite tan what is shown.
Edit
My bad , misread the battery direction. So seems to work other than the battery moving around so I just need to add something to keep it in there firm.
Btw, you can see a few I chose from my first 2 rolls ive ever shot with GT and FM2 here
http://dreamplayhouse.tumblr.com/film
 
The red light on top seems to stay on. It flickers when I grab the camera. Is there something wrong? I set film to Asa 200 since its 3volt battery ok?
 
Not what I read. Setting at half yields better exposures.
As suggested elsewhere I basically confirmed that when using 1.5v batteries, setting the ASA to 1/2 what your film rating should be results in better exposures. So shooting Plus-X at ASA 50 looked like normal exposures while those shot at ASA 100 looked underexposed by about a stop.
Click to expand...
 
sebino said:
I bought a 3v battery and the light comes on but the battery has to be upside down so inside the camera it shows a plus and when I set the battery this way no light. If I reverse the battery it comes on and shows orange circle that turns green inside the viewfinder. Why is this ?The battery isn't snug so it goes on and off. I guess I have to put some cardboard around it so it doesn't move around. Is there a battery that fits in nice and tight? The other side has a spring with some foil under it.
Click to expand...
http://www.batterybob.com/product.asp?intProdID=801640
 
Thanks already found the manual when I first bought the camera.
The manual doesn't mention if I will still get pictures if the light doesn't come on at all.
As to the battery link are these large size so they fit as the original mercury batteries did?
 
Yes to the batteries. I think as long as the shutter fires, you will get photos. It locks when light is too low. You are at the point where you need to try it to see if it works. regarding film speed, I would set the first roll at box speed. This becomes your control group. Adjust the film speed on previous rolls according to your results from the first one. It makes no sense to make any pre-adjustment based upon supposition or someone else's suggestion or experience, as your camera may behave differently, and your eye needs to be the one to judge what you feel is acceptable.
 
Thanks for all the help. I have a few shots left and will post my pics when developed. Will probably go cheapest for first roll maybe cvs or Walgreens.
 
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