Minolta Hi-Matic E

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satbunny

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Just picked up a Minolta Hi-Matic E in a charity shop for 3 notes.
Seems okay but has no batteries.

This took the old Mallory RM 640 mercury. Do you think the modern 1,5v replacements will work okay or will the exposures all be wrong?

Since the batteries will cost about 7 times the camera I am wondering whether to just get rid.. I had hoped it had a manual only option..
 
I have one and mickey moused a modern battery into it. Seemed to work just fine with print film. Maybe the print film has enough latitude to forgive any slightly off exposures due to modern batteries. Lack of manual mode is off putting but the lens is a gem.

Bob
 
The ongoing RFF Pass the RF Project IV uses such a camera. It is a sleek looking camera with a good lens. It eats up batteries.
 
The HiMatic E was my first camera - got it in 1978 when I was 13 years old. It was a great camera that took really pleasing pictures. I think if you could get it to work you'de be happy.

Check out this photo of my brother from 1979 - if I said it was taken with a Leica, no one would be the wiser...

328134038_f2da50e588_b.jpg
 
My bright yellow lizard- clad (Cameraleather.com) Hi-matic E uses 2 HM-N Kanto/ C.R.IS. adapters and 2 SR44 batteries just fine. Battery life is OK too.
 
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satbunny said:
Just picked up a Minolta Hi-Matic E in a charity shop for 3 notes.
Seems okay but has no batteries.

This took the old Mallory RM 640 mercury. Do you think the modern 1,5v replacements will work okay or will the exposures all be wrong?

Since the batteries will cost about 7 times the camera I am wondering whether to just get rid.. I had hoped it had a manual only option..
Click to expand...

Use two 1.4v alkalines. They work fine. Take the batteries out and cover up the holes if you are not using the camera for a while.

The lens is lovely - apparently a close relative to the Vivitar 35ES and Konica S3.
 
I use the PX625 alkaline batteries, with a home made piece of brass to fill in the extra space and make the contacts. I also bought it in a charity shop for $2.00.
I can't say enough good things about the Himatic E. The form factor, the lens, the metering - all excellent.

Cheers.
 
I inherited my Grandfater's Minolta Hi-Matic E, and love it. Unfortunately, it stayed in the US when I moved to Australia, so I have not used it in a few years. I always used the modern alkaline version of the 640 and it worked fine. Lovely little camera with a jewel of a lens.
 
That's a very nice cam. The first roll is still inside. I need to finish it since I can't wait to see the pictures.
 
satbunny said:
Just picked up a Minolta Hi-Matic E in a charity shop for 3 notes.
Seems okay but has no batteries.

This took the old Mallory RM 640 mercury. Do you think the modern 1,5v replacements will work okay or will the exposures all be wrong?

Since the batteries will cost about 7 times the camera I am wondering whether to just get rid.. I had hoped it had a manual only option..
Click to expand...

Did you keep the camera?
 
I've never used the E but have had a couple of F's and with same 400 b/w its a great street camera. Some problem getting batteries though. Here's one on the subway in NYC. Agfapan 400 Rodinal 1:50
 

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