BJ Bignell
Je n'aurai plus peur
I recently bought a Hi-Matic F with neverready case and lens cap for a fair price: 7€. The camera is in excellent condition cosmetically, and appears to function quite well. I replaced the two (very dead) PX640 mercury cells with 4xLR44s.
The camera works very well, and is easy to use. The rangefinder is slightly blue, with a yellow diamond-shaped focussing patch. There is only a full-automatic mode, no setting of anything; when you press the button, the meter takes a reading and the shutter is electronically fired.
Below are a few samples from the camera using a donated roll of Konica Centuria 200, with scans made by the lab. The camera appears to be underexposing a bit, and it shows up in the scans; color print film grain isn't pretty! I suspect the cause of the underexposure is the batteries.
The first picture is full frame, the other two are cropped. All have had some light curves adjustments, and a little bit of sharpening. They aren't high art, but they're good enough to tell me that the camera works. The picture of my girlfriend was taken at the closest focussing distance, and is bang-on.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this little camera. It's small and light, and easy to use. I was looking for a point-and-shoot camera for when I don't want to think about taking photographs, and it fits the bill perfectly.
BJ
The camera works very well, and is easy to use. The rangefinder is slightly blue, with a yellow diamond-shaped focussing patch. There is only a full-automatic mode, no setting of anything; when you press the button, the meter takes a reading and the shutter is electronically fired.
Below are a few samples from the camera using a donated roll of Konica Centuria 200, with scans made by the lab. The camera appears to be underexposing a bit, and it shows up in the scans; color print film grain isn't pretty! I suspect the cause of the underexposure is the batteries.
The first picture is full frame, the other two are cropped. All have had some light curves adjustments, and a little bit of sharpening. They aren't high art, but they're good enough to tell me that the camera works. The picture of my girlfriend was taken at the closest focussing distance, and is bang-on.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this little camera. It's small and light, and easy to use. I was looking for a point-and-shoot camera for when I don't want to think about taking photographs, and it fits the bill perfectly.
BJ
franceluxemburg
First name : J-B
BJ Bignell, you got yourshelf a very good deal. 
I am buying Jon Goodman Hi-matic F + case for $35 but it is supposed to work fine and it as new seals....
If your Hi-matic heavily under-expose after further test, i would just trick the meter by putting 50 or 100 iso instead of 200 iso.
Cheers.
J.B.
I am buying Jon Goodman Hi-matic F + case for $35 but it is supposed to work fine and it as new seals....
If your Hi-matic heavily under-expose after further test, i would just trick the meter by putting 50 or 100 iso instead of 200 iso.
Cheers.
J.B.
zuikologist
.........................
Nice lens. It looks like a good one, especially picking up the detail in the hair in the final photo.
R
ray_g
Guest
Looks like you got a nice bargain, BJ. Did you need an adapter for the LR44 batteries?
I am still putting a roll through the Himatic I got from Brian. The 49mm rubber hood and yellow filter for it arrived yesterday from Kim. I hope my results are as good as yours!
I am still putting a roll through the Himatic I got from Brian. The 49mm rubber hood and yellow filter for it arrived yesterday from Kim. I hope my results are as good as yours!
BJ Bignell
Je n'aurai plus peur
I 'manufactured' an adapter using Scotch tape and cut-up slices of business cards.
I just stacked the batteries in pairs, taped them, and then wrapped them about three times with the card paper. I dropped them in and they worked without the need for any tin foil or other adjustments for electrical contact.
Good luck with your Himatic!
I just stacked the batteries in pairs, taped them, and then wrapped them about three times with the card paper. I dropped them in and they worked without the need for any tin foil or other adjustments for electrical contact.
Good luck with your Himatic!