MINOLTA HI-MATIC 51971

Serial Nr.126633
Minolta Code 0181

Characteristics and functions
Minolta presented, in 1971, the Hi-Matic 5 intended for the American market
only. The Hi-Matic 5 derives directly from the 1969 Hi-Matic C, but lacks theretractable lens. The lens is a 40mm Rokkor. f.1/2.7. this is a very simple andinexpensive camera: already in the aesthetic aspect it appears totally in black
plastic; the front and rear shells also integrate part of the caseback. Chromed
are only the loading lever, the shutter button, the ratchet for rewinding the film,
the ridges of the rails of the flash shoe, the rings for the shoulder strap and thethread for use on the tripod. The upper cap is occupied, from left to right, by thefoldable knob for rewinding the film, by the hot shoe flash, by the shutter button
and by the rectangular window of the additive frame counter with automatic
reset when the back is opened. The shutter button is threaded for the use of theflexible release (Cable Release). The serial number is engraved on the hotshoe. On the rear side of the hood are the black plastic frame of the eyepiece
window and the flat part of the charging lever where the right thumb rests, while
the rest of the charging lever's mount slides into a horizontal slot covered by amount retractable black that rises automatically when the lever passes. The
opening of the back is obtained by raising the film recovery pawl to the end of
its travel; the back is closed by pushing it fully into the retaining hinge. On theback there is a table with the NG and corresponding working distances of thelightning expressed in meters and feet. On the lower case there are: thread fortripod, clutch release button for film recovery, battery compartment cover and asemicircular frame with radial grooving which, when rotated, acts as a releasefor opening the battery compartment door. The battery is a PX 675 or similar.
On the front there are the lens mount, the viewfinder window, the flash socket
and in the upper right part the black plate with metallic lettering placed on twolines: "Minolta" and "Hi-Matic 5". This camera has no rangefinder, in theviewfinder there are the bright frame to determine the frame complete withreferences for shooting at close range and, along the right side, the aperturescale (2.7. 5.6. 11. 22) with a highlighted upper part that indicates
underexposure when the galvanometer hand occupies it. The lens mount isoversized, inside we find, in addition to the first lens, the exposure meter
calibration system with separate Asa/Din scales (the chromed references to set
the correct sensitivity are instead connected to each other so it is indifferent touse one or the other scale) and the CdS exposure meter cell. There is also a52mm thread. in diameter for the adaptation of Minolta filters. The external partof the lens body is fixed and is engraved from right to left with the red symbol of
the full sun, the white symbol of the cloudy sky and the Guide Numbers (7, 10,14, 20, 28, 40) expressed in meters for automatic use of the electronic flash. All
this refers to a red dot engraved on a thin chrome part that runs around the lensand that rotates as it is connected to two striped black plastic frames placed on
the sides of the lens that facilitate grip. The black ring closest to the camerabody is the focus ring. The rotation is facilitated by the presence of a stripedblack plastic frame positioned in the lower part. The focus is by estimation(distance scale in Feet/Meters) or by means of the 4 symbols placed on the left
side of the lens. Focusing is possible from 0.9m. to infinity (3 feet - infinity).
Distances in feet are painted green, distances in meters white.
Weight 364g. battery excluded.
Length 128.5mm .; height 77mm .; depth 57,5mm.