5 Frames with my Minolta HiMatic 9

Recently I posted a 5 Frames featuring my Minox 35GT, a lovely and tiny 35mm camera which gave me pleasing results. Well, this post is about my recent experience with the latest addition to the fold, the Minolta HiMatic 9. First introduced in 1966, I understand this was quite a desirable rangefinder in its day, and was designed with both photographers and non-photographers in mind. You can choose from fully automatic, aperture priority, and shutter priority. I brought this from a reputable online dealer, boxed, with manual, lens cap, immaculate full leather case, and warranty card for £79 guaranteed working, and it is in mint condition. The price label indicates the first owner brought it from St. Louis Photo (USA?) for “119.50.” According to an online calculator, if this was the price in $ at launch in 1966, then at today’s prices it would be equivalent to $1,191.49.

At the outset, let me just say one word – “WOW!” This camera blows the image quality of the Minox 35 GT out of the water. Probably as a result of the beautiful hunk of glass sitting front and centre – the Minolta Rokkor 45mm f1.7 lens – it looks like, and performs like, a beaut!

The light meter is battery powered and contained within the filter ring. Shutter, Aperture and ASA are set around the lens, along with the focus ring. The ASA dial can be set to “Off” to disconnect the battery from the meter and prolong its life. You can choose your preference of manual, semi-auto or automatic settings by setting the shutter and aperture rings to either your desired setting or to “A” for automatic. Two A’s = fully auto, and that is how I mostly shot on its first outing.

A sunny August Bank Holiday weekend saw me attend the Honiton Hill Rally at Smeatharpe Airfield, Devon, England – about 30 minutes from home. This rally is a large steam and tractor rally set in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB.) The airfield is disused now but was the home of the US 101st Airborne Division during WWII, and from here, on the eve of D-Day, paratroopers set off in towed gliders, with the mission of disabling heavy German Artillery before the D-Day landings. I have also have had the privilege of flying my own paramotor from there on many occasions.

The HiMatic 9 is a bit of a beast – it is the biggest and heaviest 35mm camera I have, and you could feel its weight around your neck. I was happy to forgive it though, as it is also an attractive camera. Interestingly enough, and by coincidence, my first picture of the day was of this US truck, with a wonderful patina (some would say rust!)

Cars, tractors, truck and steam engines were everywhere, but my next favourite shot was of this Austin Healy “FrogEye” Sprite, which seemed to be winking at me. Together, this car and the first US truck, reminded me a little of the Disney animated classic film “Cars.”

A little tractor and truck pulling came next. If you are not aware, usually heavily modified vehicles are given the challenge of pulling a large sledge over the maximum distance they can manage. The “sledge” is specially designed and the front end drags along the ground, at the same time as a heavy (several tonnes) of weight slides along the sledge from the rear to the front, causing the front end of the sledge to become increasingly weighted and dig into the ground adding resistance. In this shot a Volvo Tractor Unit is taking the strain and managed around 100 metres.

Steam traction engines followed, and I wanted to capture a little bit of motion here, so I used the cameras light meter to read the EV, and then set a slow 1/30 second shutter speed, and f16 to match. The result is a quite pleasing “motion-blur” sense of the machine in action.

My fifth and final picture was the shiny chrome dashboard of an American truck, with the camera back in “Auto” mode. I love the highlights, reflections and contrast in this shot.

The 36 frame film was the first I shot in this camera, but brought me to four films needing development. Until now I had only just developed three Minox sub-miniature films, so I was a little nervous. However, developing the Kentmere 100 film in Pyro 510 staining developer, with a water stop bath and then using Zone Ecofix Plus before washing, seemed to go well. Digitisation took place using my Olympus Pen E-P7 camera, 60mm M. Zuiko Macro lens and my home made light box and film screen. Minor crops and lighting amendments were then made in Lightroom.

So, I think I might have a new favourite camera! I plan to shoot and develop Black and White all this year, gaining experience, then will try some colour film and processing next Spring. In the meantime if you see a HiMatic 9 for sale – grab it – you will not be disappointed!

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