Konica Auto S2 EL

[upnorthcyclist]

Hi all,
I just noticed a listing on that popular internet auction site for a Konica Auto S2 EL. It was NOS in the box for a couple hundred bucks starting bid, which takes it right out of consideration for me. Does anybody know what the EL means? I've never come across that before.
Mike

 

[maderik]

From this one Japanese site (autotranslated ), I'd guess the EL was Konica's answer to Canon's QL quick loading system, i.e. some sort of film load assist. (Easy Load?)

 

[upnorthcyclist]

Thanks maderik. EL = Easy Load sounds logical. I'd like to see how it works. Tough to improve on the ol' Auto S2!

I remember that site you linked now that you reminded me of it - I think I followed a link from Photoethnography to get there a long time ago. Lots of cool pictures of the innards of rangefinders. That was where I discovered the trick of getting the top cover off of a Hi Matic F. The Google translation can be pretty funny - I recall reading about a lens that had crabs...

Best,

Mike