INTRODUCTION

The Minolta Hi-Matic AF is a viewfinder camera made in Japan by Minolta in 1979.

BEST SUITED FOR:

Good for nothing!

PERSONAL NOTES

The Minolta Hi-Matic AF, as its name says it, is autofocus. Well it's not a precise autofocus like we are used today, by it's still is.

Basically, it's a point and shoot camera that looks like a rangefinder from the seventies. It uses an infrared mechanism to focus, and is quite quick. It is activated when you take a photo.

When you press the shutter, the lens quickly moves and stops at a specific distance controled by the infrared autofocus system, all of which happens in a fraction of a second. While the lens moves, there is also a weird crinkling sound typical of this camera.

Another good feature of this camera is the presence of an integrated flash. No more flashbulbs!

Using this camera is easy, but the lack of focus control can be disturbing for some. Like many, I prefer having a real rangefinder, keeping control of the focus. Pre-focus or hyperfocals are useful when making street photography.

CONCLUSION

Only if you are curious about camera design or history, I would recommend you get a Minolta Hi-Matic AF.

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