The Minolta Hi-Matic F is a compact camera from Minolta. It is part of the Hi-Matic series and was introduced in the early 1970s. The model was built in a factory in Japan.
The Rokkor lens of the 35mm photo camera is fixed. The largest aperture of the lens is f/2.7 and the focal length is 38mm. The smallest possible lens aperture is f/13. The optics is built up of four lens elements in three groups. Focusing is manual with the help of the rangefinder. The closest focusing distance, minimum distance to the subject, of the lens is 80 cm.
The Japanese camera comes with automatic exposure control. Aperture and shutter speed are set automatically by the built-in light meter. When choosing film, you can go to the sensitivities from ISO 25 to ISO 500. The sensitivity is set manually. This also allows you to easily underexpose or overexpose the film. There is no separate exposure compensation.
An external flash can be connected to the PC flash port. Hot shoe flashes can be attached to the top and triggered that way. The 35mm camera offers the possibility to connect a cable release and has a thread for a tripod.
The camera weighs 350 grams. The dimensions are 11.3 x 7.3 x 5.4 cm. The Minolta Hi-Matic F is powered by two Mallory RM-640 batteries.
Films for the Minolta Hi-Matic F
What kind of films does the Minolta Hi-Matic F need? It requires 35mm films. The negatives of the photo camera have a size of 24 mm x 36 mm. After each release, the film must be wound to the next free area. There is a quick-release lever on the top of the housing for this purpose. When the film is full, a button on the bottom must be pressed in and the film material must be transported back into the cartridge with the crank. Now the back can be opened, the film removed and the film developed according to instructions.
Great films for the Minolta Hi-Matic F that are still around today are the Kodak Portra 400* for color photos and the Kodak T-Max 400* for monochrome analog B&W photos. Of course, there are a variety of other films for the camera. However, the film should be in the range of the light meter from the sensitivity.
Minolta Hi-Matic FP
Additionally, the Hi-Matic FP was sold. The “P” probably stands for “Professional.” But the difference between the two models is only in the appearance of the housing, in the Hi-Matic FP this is completely black, and by the self-timer of the FP. Some models with a black housing and self-timer only carry the designation “Hi-Matic F”.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Rangefinder camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Picture format | 24 mm x 36 mm |
| Lens name | Rokkor |
| Focal length | 38 mm |
| Biggest aperture | f/2.7 |
| Minimum focus distance | 80 cm / 2.624 ft |
| Focus | Manual |
| Rangefinder | Yes |
| Filter thread | 46 mm |
| Lens design | 4 elements in 3 groups |
| Exposure times | 1/724 second to 4 seconds |
| Light meter | Yes |
| Supported film speeds | ISO 25 to 500 |
| Exposure modes | Program automatic |
| Manual exposure settings | No |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, PC-Flash |
| Flash sync speed | 1/20 s |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | 2x Mallory RM-640 batteries |
| Size | 11,3 x 7,3 x 5,4 cm |
| Dimensions in inches | 4.45 x 2.87 x 2.13 inches |
| Weight | 350 Grams |
| Country of production | Japan |
| Estimated value / Used price | 111,51 Euro 182,08163,54108,85865,8595,4318316,071299,46119,68 Estimate based on used prices of 58 offers (possibly with different scope of delivery and/or condition). As of 6.5.2024 |
| Average used price in the year 2023 | 103,26 Euro (111.49 US-Dollar) |