Minolta Hi-matic E or 7sii ?

[coff_savio]

<p>Guys,<br /><br /> Does anyone have any experience in using the <strong>Hi-matic's E</strong> and<strong> 7sii</strong> ?<br />I still cannot decide which to buy.<br /><br /> The <strong>Hi-matic E</strong> has a faster maximum shutter speed of 1/1000s, which is important to me for shooting with max. aperture. However the <strong>Hi-matic 7sii</strong> seems to be lighter and more popular for some reason.<br /><br /> Are the lenses on them the same? What are the essential difference between them?<br />Thanks for your answers.</p>

[User_502260]

<p>It should be easier to get a battery for the 7SII.</p>

[Mike Gammill]

I don't think the HiMatic E displays the shutter speed selected by the camera. Also won't operate without a battery. But usually less

expensive than 7sII.

[Mike Gammill]

<p>More info: the shutter in the HiMatic E is electronically controlled whereas the shutter in the 7SII is mechanical. The 7SII allows shutter priority automation or manual setting. </p>

[coff_savio]

<p>Thanks guys. I'll give the hi-matic 7sii a try :-)</p>

[coff_savio]

<p>Does anybody know whether the maximal flash sync speed is still 1/500s in Hi-matic 7SII at f/1.7 ?<br>

(since I heard some rangefinders have reduced sync speed at maximum aperture.)</p>

[carbon_dragon]

Bear in mind that by this time, those cameras are very old. My own 7sII experience was bad. That wasn't the camera's

fault, it just needed maintenance. That might happen to you too. Those cameras weren't the high end premium cameras

and even if they were, it's been a long time probably without good maintenance.

 

I guess I'm just saying be cautious checking it out and budget in a service from someone reputable.

[winfried_buechsenschuetz1]

<p>Yes, the HiMatic's shutter speed is faster... but you will not get this speed when shooting with f/2 since on this camera, the shutter speed is related to the max. opening. It has only one set of combined shutter/aperture blades, and the 1/1000 can only be reached at higher f numbers. Also, there is a LOT of eletronics inside the HiMatic E. Like many other cameras of that age, it is quite prone to wire corrosion of the battery connection. There are a lot of very thin wires running close to the battery compartment, and if these wires are corroded they are hard to fix. The 640 cells are no problem, they can be replaced by 625 cells + spacers. <br>

However, I would prefer the 7SII. Of course the max. shutter speed is 1/500 at any aperture setting - in manual mode there is no linkage between the aperture and the shutter mechanism (yes, both have their own set of blades). </p>

[mwmcbroom]

<p>Several years ago, I participated in a "pass the rangefinder" event over at the Rangefinder Forum. The camera that got passed around was a HiMatic E. I had no experience before with such a camera -- closest I had gotten to it was a Canon QL17 GIII, which I prefer because of its mechanical shutter -- and it had so few controls -- just range focus and ISO setting, as I recall -- that I didn't trust it at first. I ran a couple of rolls of Kodak 200 through it and was very surprised at the results. The images were perfectly exposed for the most part, and focus was spot on.</p>

<p>So you can't really ask for an easier camera to use, this side of a point-and-shoot . . . or a HiMatic AF2, far as that goes. Here are a few photos I took with the HiMatic E.</p>

<p>A depth-of-field study<br>

<img src="http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/minoltahimatic/bewaredog.jpg" alt="" width="595" height="900" /></p>

<p>The "heart" of an 850 Norton Commando<br>

<img src="http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/minoltahimatic/norton3.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p>

<p>An old oak tree -- a difficultly lit scene, which the HiMatic E's meter handled almost perfectly. Great latitude with the Kodak 200, which probably had a lot to do with it as well.<br>

<img src="http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/minoltahimatic/oak2.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="596" /></p>

<p>A rope ladder -- good contrast and saturation on a very overcast day<br>

<img src="http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/minoltahimatic/ropeladder.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="589" /></p>

<p>All in all, a quite remarkable little camera -- one I wouldn't hesitate to use again. With confidence, this time. ;-)</p>