Great shots! I just love the contrast. I used to have a Hi-Matic SII since college and actually sold it. Part of me regrets it but it truly had an issue with the lens, so good shots were sporadic. If I ever find another at a decent price I would not hesitate. The series is a bit finicky, isn't it?
Oh thanks, Juliette! Yeah, no sense in holding onto something if it’s no longer working, those 7sII’s can be pricy these days so I wish ya luck. Im definitely finding out through others that yes, this line can be finicky but I try to remember how old they are as well to give them a bit of grace, cause they old.
I actually had a Hi-Matic E years ago, which I ended up trading to a friend for a tape Portastudio (one of the bad ones). I remember really wanting to like it, but something about it wasn't working for me. Here's hoping you get that QL17 fixed eventually; the fact that it doesn't need batteries will hopefully solve the underexposure issues
Yeah, I think I might give it another go now that I know what I’m dealing with as my QL17 won’t be repaired until the summer. Yep, the fact it’s more manual will be more what I’m used to, some of the results I’ve seen out of the Canonet from other photographers have been sooo nice.
If the camera is not fun to shoot that’s really a shame. The images you got look great and it could’ve been a real deal for $30. It seems like the meter struggles in backlit situations (I love an underexposed silhouette shot though so those are still keepers to me 😂).
Good luck on getting those other cameras repaired to fulfill your rangefinder dreams!
It’s funny, after I posted the images here, I was thinking that I actually like a lot of them more than I originally thought. The challenge in getting them dialled in was the hard part. I may just load up another roll and shoot at mid day, with even light and see how it fares now that I got a better sense of what I’m working with.
"it’s also very loose and can shift just by taking your fingers away from the lever, which makes it hard to lock in focus."
I'm also finding this with my Konika rangefinder. The short throw is partly what drew me to it but I'm struggling with the focus, especially with low light. Thankyou for this write up
Oh yeah, I can’t imagine how difficult it would be in low light. After realizing all of this with the Minolta, I made sure to check my Canonet to ensure the focus lever isn’t as loose (it’s not). No problem, it was a fun morning, if a bit challenging.
Looks like you got some very nice images from that roll even if the camera was ultimately a disappointment. I have experience using the Canonet with the 40mm lens and that can be a nice camera if it’s in good condition, once you get it fixed.
Thanks Ari, yeah it just wasn’t a fun camera to use in the state that it’s in and the repair to the focus will cost enough that I’m not sure it’s worth it. Maybe in time if I hold onto the camera, we’ll see. Yes I’m so excited to use the Canonet, it was handed down from a family member, the only issues is that the shutter blades are sticky and so it will not fire.
I have no idea how I missed this article at all, but you know my feelings on rangefinders by now lol
I do! This one didn’t click with me but I have many others to test out.
I actually really like my Minolta Hi-Matic E, but shared many of the same sentiments about it as you did with your camera.
Great shots! I just love the contrast. I used to have a Hi-Matic SII since college and actually sold it. Part of me regrets it but it truly had an issue with the lens, so good shots were sporadic. If I ever find another at a decent price I would not hesitate. The series is a bit finicky, isn't it?
Oh thanks, Juliette! Yeah, no sense in holding onto something if it’s no longer working, those 7sII’s can be pricy these days so I wish ya luck. Im definitely finding out through others that yes, this line can be finicky but I try to remember how old they are as well to give them a bit of grace, cause they old.
I actually had a Hi-Matic E years ago, which I ended up trading to a friend for a tape Portastudio (one of the bad ones). I remember really wanting to like it, but something about it wasn't working for me. Here's hoping you get that QL17 fixed eventually; the fact that it doesn't need batteries will hopefully solve the underexposure issues
Yeah, I think I might give it another go now that I know what I’m dealing with as my QL17 won’t be repaired until the summer. Yep, the fact it’s more manual will be more what I’m used to, some of the results I’ve seen out of the Canonet from other photographers have been sooo nice.
If the camera is not fun to shoot that’s really a shame. The images you got look great and it could’ve been a real deal for $30. It seems like the meter struggles in backlit situations (I love an underexposed silhouette shot though so those are still keepers to me 😂).
Good luck on getting those other cameras repaired to fulfill your rangefinder dreams!
It’s funny, after I posted the images here, I was thinking that I actually like a lot of them more than I originally thought. The challenge in getting them dialled in was the hard part. I may just load up another roll and shoot at mid day, with even light and see how it fares now that I got a better sense of what I’m working with.
"it’s also very loose and can shift just by taking your fingers away from the lever, which makes it hard to lock in focus."
I'm also finding this with my Konika rangefinder. The short throw is partly what drew me to it but I'm struggling with the focus, especially with low light. Thankyou for this write up
Oh yeah, I can’t imagine how difficult it would be in low light. After realizing all of this with the Minolta, I made sure to check my Canonet to ensure the focus lever isn’t as loose (it’s not). No problem, it was a fun morning, if a bit challenging.
My first 'real' camera was a Minolta Hi-Matic 7s, great little camera that set me on the Minolta path over ten years ago now!
Yeah I’m looking to get a 7s or 7sII. A 7s popped up locally recently but I wasn’t fast enough and by the time I saw, it was already pending pick up.
Looks like you got some very nice images from that roll even if the camera was ultimately a disappointment. I have experience using the Canonet with the 40mm lens and that can be a nice camera if it’s in good condition, once you get it fixed.
Thanks Ari, yeah it just wasn’t a fun camera to use in the state that it’s in and the repair to the focus will cost enough that I’m not sure it’s worth it. Maybe in time if I hold onto the camera, we’ll see. Yes I’m so excited to use the Canonet, it was handed down from a family member, the only issues is that the shutter blades are sticky and so it will not fire.