Minolta Hi-Matic SD
The Minolta Hi-Matic SD was the premium version of the Hi-Matic S. Both were introduced in 1978 and transitioned the Hi-Matic line to a plastic flash integrated line of cameras.
The SD adds a self-timer and a date option to the top of the S model. The SD give you the versatility of adding a date from 1978 to 1992 (what reasonlable person would use a camera more than 15 years). The year dial also has the option of a blank, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, or H. The days, as expected, are 1-31 with a blank. The months are 1-12 but strangely did give a blank option. The date option may not be of much use now but other then dials on top and a date on/off switch on the back, this is the same as the S version.
My take:
I was not that kind to the S when I first used it. My problem was that it was not the Hi-Matic 7sII. I have gotten over that (mostly) and see the S and the SD as what there are, consumer grade point and shoot (zone focus and shoot) plastic cameras. As such they are good for what they are. I prefer the zone focus to the auto focus versions that followed and like the images they deliver.
There are lots of similar camera that followed in the '80s but from what I have seen the early ones tended to have a better build quality and give better images. I also like that they run on AA batteries so you never need to worry about finding them. Keep an eye out for one and give it a try. Or if you have one you don't use, give it to someone new to film and get them hooked so we can all go broke together.
Lens: fixed Minolta Rokkor 38mm f2.7
Film: FujiColor 100
