Group: Moderator
Post: 2,038 (562 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
|
|
on Jun 13, 2020 20:46:52 GMT
Posted: Jun 13, 2020 20:46:52 GMT
Hi everyone, This lovely camera appeared today - the Minimatic-C from way back in 1963. It's not really that small so I've always wondered why it's called a Minimatic. There were three models in the Minimatic series - the EL, S and C. I'm waiting for a sunny day as I'm keen to see just how this performs - the Yashinon 4.5cm f2.8 aperture range goes down to f22 so dof should be amazing. The good news is that the selenium-powered meter is working! Hooray! And even the leather case is intact...
|
|
Group: Member
Post: 411 (90 liked)
Join date: March 2017
Status:
|
|
on Jun 14, 2020 12:24:11 GMT
Posted: Jun 14, 2020 12:24:11 GMT
It's not really that small so I've always wondered why it's called a Minimatic. Maybe to give the impression of being small, as a advertising maneuver. I do not think it is about its features, because seems to have the options of fully automatic or aperture priority controlled by the meter, pretty advanced for the time and on the same level of the top brands. Very nice looking camera.
|
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 1,010 (77 liked)
Join date: January 2014
Status:
|
|
on Jun 21, 2020 21:09:09 GMT
Last Edit: Jun 21, 2020 21:12:09 GMT by ridgeblue99
Because it is an automatic model of the Minister line of cameras, so Mini+Matic. Don't make the mistake like I did and try to use it like an Electro 35, as the aperture scale is on there only for using flash, as it is Program Automatic.
PF
|
|
Group: Moderator
Post: 2,038 (562 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
|
|
on Oct 28, 2020 22:58:08 GMT
Posted: Oct 28, 2020 22:58:08 GMT
I was able to add the Minimatic-S to keep the -C company. Minimatic-SIt boasts the faster 4.5cm f1.8 lens which is an excellent piece of glass. This one hails from 1964 and has the grey trim around the nameplate and a red ASA/DIN scale; the alternative version has a white trim and grey ASA/DIN scale. I don't know which was the original version.
|
|
Group: Moderator
Post: 2,038 (562 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
|
|
on Dec 4, 2020 12:40:14 GMT
Posted: Dec 4, 2020 12:40:14 GMT
Here's the best of the lot, the minimatic-EL. This seems a lot closer to the Lynx than the earlier Minimatics. minimatic-ELWith its stunning Yashinon-DX 45mm f1.7 lens, so admired by users of cameras such as the Electro 35 GT, this is a serious piece of kit. It is fully automatic though in Flash mode, you can set its aperture from f1.7 to f16 as dictated by the flash output. In the event of battery failure, it operates at a default 1/125s. One important thing to remember with this camera is to keep the lens cap on when not shooting as the meter will continue to draw current in the presence of light. Top shutter speed is 1/500s. This is a top quality camera, built to last; this one continues to perform after over half a century of use. Marvellous!
|
|
Group: Administrator
Post: 770 (71 liked)
Join date: August 2016
Status:
|
|
on Dec 4, 2020 14:03:41 GMT
Posted: Dec 4, 2020 14:03:41 GMT
Very reminiscent of the Yashica Half 17 (1964, 32mm lens), and Half 14 (1966, 32mm lens).
|
|