Minolta Himatic G

[KameraKev]

Hi All;
I purchased a MInolta Himatic G the other day at a local thrift store for 2.99 Cdn. It appears to be a well made camera, similar to the Olympic Trip 35, except with cds metering. I was wondering what is the opinion/experience of others here who have used this camera.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[KameraKev]

Minolta Himatic G

I loaded it up with 675 zinc air batteries, and the meter sprang right to life, I was reading that this particular model wasn't so hard on batteries as some of the earlier Himatic models, it apparently will shoot at 1/30 when the battery is dead, and of course there is no meter at that point. It makes a very pocketable camera, I can carry it in my winter jacket with no problems.

 

[KameraKev]

Thats great. I think the guy I was reading was criticising more the fact that it was dependant on batteries, as some of the cameras competition at that time were using older, selenium meters, but IMO your cds meter is far superier.

Now get out and take some pics !!!

I've already got a roll of Kodak Gold 200 in there, I'm itching to start as soon as I get away from the dreaded workplace.

 

[ampguy]

I have one of these and it is of amazing build quality, but the meter is dead, so it is fixed at 1/60, 2.8. Very nice camera.

 

[KameraKev]

I'm currently in Canada, it's minus 20 Celsius here, hope the shutter doesn't freeze up due to the cold. I am very impressed with the build quality as well, it was very grimy when I picked it up, but a little cleaning, and it looks virtually new. I need to find out what size filter this sucker uses.

 

[cbass]

I owned a Hi-Matic G for about two years. It is one of the best cameras I ever used; and I still regret selling it. The H-M G has a nice lens, accurate meter, bright VF with high eyepoint, and it's small, tough and easy to use. What else could you ask for?

You got a great deal on an excellent, under-rated camera. Use it and enjoy it!

PS - I used mine during a blizzard in 2004, and I dropped it into a snowdrift. The camera came through fine. The shutter is very simple and durable. Cold won't bother it. I think the filter size is 46mm, but I'm not sure.

 

[KameraKev]

Tks CBass,
I did a quick look and you are correct, it is in fact a 46mm filter, I have a feeling that this will quickly become my favorite pocket camera.

 

[gene.park@comcast.ne]

Minolta Hi-Matic G

Minolta Hi-Matic G

I have a Minolta Hi-Matic G that has sat on the shelf of a few years and so it was no surprise that the battery is dead. I've read where others have replaced the battery with hearing aid air batteries and find a short battery life span.
Out of impatience I bought a Duracell 76S because it seemed the same size and approximate voltage of 1.5. I put it in and the metre started to register immediately, then I put on a flash and it seemed to function. Of course the proof will be in the photos, but that again is another story as I don't know how long the roll has been in the camera or hot it got sitting in the jockey box in the car. Time will tell.

😱

 

[kuzano]

There's a latch somewhere on that camera

There's a latch somewhere on that camera

I have a Minolta Hi-Matic G that has sat on the shelf of a few years and so it was no surprise that the battery is dead. I've read where others have replaced the battery with hearing aid air batteries and find a short battery life span.
Out of impatience I bought a Duracell 76S because it seemed the same size and approximate voltage of 1.5. I put it in and the metre started to register immediately, then I put on a flash and it seemed to function. Of course the proof will be in the photos, but that again is another story as I don't know how long the roll has been in the camera or hot it got sitting in the jockey box in the car. Time will tell.

😱

I think you pull the rewind knob straight up and the camera pops open. There's a door on the back and it opens up. You can then pull out that old film and put in a new, fresh roll. It's true that a roll of film may cost as much or more than you paid for the camera, but that's really the way to go. Use new film.

 

[KameraKev]

Got first pics back.

Got first pics back.

Hi;
I finally finished off the first roll with this little charmer and got it back today. I am very impressed with the lens on this little sucker. Very crisp with good colours. The only thing I noticed is that the lens is a bit flare prone. This being said most of the shots were taken on very bright days with lots of snow on the ground. Overall I am very pleased with the results.
Kevin

 

[Bill58]

Didn't I read somewhere on the 'Net that the "G" was a lower-priced successor to the "F"? Mybe so, but apparently they didn't cheapen the lens.

 

[KameraKev]

Himatic G

Himatic G

I believe the "F" was a rangefinder, while the"G" that I possess is a zone focus camera, I also read somewhere that the lens is a simpler formula, but that many feel that it is an equal, if not better performer.

 

[FalseDigital]

I just got one in the mail today.
Got it for $10 off of ebay. I loaded it with a zinc 675 battery also..but it doesn't seem to be working. The shutter fires at that default setting..but It seems the camera isn't getting power. I wonder if there's some corroded wires inside.

When I press down the shutter slightly I can see the light meter barely twitch.
It's like it's struggling to get power 🙁

 

[KameraKev]

Hi Matic G Power Problem

Hi Matic G Power Problem

Try using vinegar on a Q-tip, rub it vigorously on the contacts, then dry them with a clean Q-tip, then re-insert the batteries, it may come right back.
Regards,
Kev

 

[FalseDigital]

No luck. I may have to open it up.
Hopefully I don't destroy it by accident in the process :[

 

[JohnTF]

Try using vinegar on a Q-tip, rub it vigorously on the contacts, then dry them with a clean Q-tip, then re-insert the batteries, it may come right back.
Regards,
Kev

Respectfully, there are lots of contact cleaners out there, my local camera shop, for example, will clean the contacts and sell you new batteries for the cost of the batteries. They do it every day.

I have seen people clean them with a good pencil eraser, (watch the debris) and perhaps follow with a rub with a very conservative amount of WD 40, but the Hydrogen Ions you introduce with vinegar (about 5% acetic acid) may not only hang around, but migrate.

I have personally seen a room that had a bottle of stop bath leak enough ions through the cap to cause almost all metal in the room to corrode over time. A Chrome Pentax showed lots of pits and green, the metal on the enlargers were rusty.

Am afraid not too many good shops out there. ;-)

Normally you only use acid to clean up something that can be thoroughly washed afterward, like a copper pipe.

Now if I can get my Petri 35 E to click---

I would have given some eye teeth for almost any of the cameras mentioned in this forum when I was young.


Regards, John

 

[alexcarman]

hi i recently bought a hi-matic g2.
it will only take the same exposure time. does this mean that it's faulty? the little aperture measurement thing in the viewfinder seems to be moving.
how do i tell whether it is broken or not?

it also came without a manual. i dont understand how the focusing works. could someone please explain to me?

thanks in advance.

 

[FallisPhoto]

Respectfully, there are lots of contact cleaners out there, my local camera shop, for example, will clean the contacts and sell you new batteries for the cost of the batteries. They do it every day.

If that does it, you're lucky. Usually that fluid that seeps out of old bodies also attacks the solder and the wires attached to the battery holder. It isn't a big deal to do it, but more often than not, if the battery was leaking, you will have to replace those wires.

 

[5:00 PM]

> I believe the "F" was a rangefinder, while the"G" that I possess is a zone focus camera...

Correct...a Hi-matic F was my first real camera, a direct competitor for the Canon QL17 at the time (no manual mode but a 1/1000 shutter compared with the Canon's 1/500 shutter). It was eventually stolen but I was able to buy one with all original accessories in perfect condition on eBay in 2007, about 20 years after the theft. Makes gorgeous photos, much better than my first one because after all this time, I sort of know what I'm doing now.

I love the internet. 🙂