Minolta HiMatic FP (Anybody got one?)

[tedwhite]

Thinking about bidding on one. However, I don't know anything at all about them, other than what I read on Karen's site. She had an F, but what's an FP?

Would appreciate input from anyone who has one.

Ted

 

[bmattock]

Don't have one, but I am reading Google and it would appear that the FP is just a black F. If this is true, then it is a semi-automatic like the Yashica Electro series - you can't set the shutter speed, it has to set itself. That requires the battery/meter to be working correctly. I tend to stay away from cameras where I cannot have manual overrides, but that's just a personal thing for me. The Yashica Electro GSN's seem to do ok with the automatic speed setting.

I prefer the Hi-Matic 9, but it is quite a bit larger.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[tedwhite]

That's mostly what I suspected, Bill. I actually have a GSN and it's a pretty nice shooter. However, yesterday I couldn't get anything to light up so I stuck a new battery in it (Energizer A544 - I've got the Yachica_Guy adapter) and it resumed functioning perfectly. What is weird is that the old battery tested in the middle of the green, while the new battery pegged the high end of the green. Camera store owner thought the older battery should have continued to deliver the goods as long as the test needle was in the green.

I thought the FP was interesting due to its small size and (probably) very good lens. Plus, in black, it's good-looking. I guess I'm a hopeless slave to aesthetics.

Ted

 

[cbass]

Bill is correct...the Hi-Matic FP is simply a black version of the F (I think the "P" signified "professional" or something like that). The Hi-Matic E and F models are notorious for developing problems with their "electro-control" systems. They are great shooters but can require quite a bit of maintenance.

Find yourself a nice Hi-Matic G (avialable in black or chrome). It's full AE and will work with an S76 battery, thus avoiding the finicky "electro-control". The G is zone focus and has a slightly slower lens (38/2.8 vs. 38/2.7), but oh...the results! I had one of these and sold it, a decision I regret to this day. It was the best street shooting cam I ever used.