why no Konica?

Les Sarile · Feb 4, 2013

horacekenneth said:
how about Konica film? What happened to that? I didn't even know they had made film until about a week ago I bumped into some Konica IR stuff in a darkroom fridge.

I managed to use a few rolls of Konica Impressa ISO50 negatives and it is impressively fine grained.

Trask · Feb 5, 2013

I have the Konica AR 85mm f/1.8 lens that I picked up at a garage sale or somewhere for 10 bucks. I was considering a T3, but AFAIK it comes with a microprism spot only, and I vastly prefer a split image focusing device as the microprism ones are definitive enough for me. Same issue with SRT-101s, hence my having a 102 for the split image.

I guess a very late model T3N may have the split image.

h.v. · Feb 5, 2013

So I've got a question I've been pondering for a bit. Like the OP, I've noticed lots of non-SLR Konica cameras get rave reviews and the glass is to be considered exceptional. But, I don't here much about Konica SLRs. I'm wondering if they are very good cameras compared to 1960s-1980s Nikons, Pentaxes, Olympus OMs, and Canons. The reason I'm asking is I've been meaning to get a manual focus SLR for a bit. Nikon would be the logical choice, because it is what I already use for SLRs, but the Konica's I've found online are often very cheap and come with lenses. The Nikons and others generally don't come with a lens and are more than double the price (say $60 for a Konica with 50/1.9 vs a $120+ Nikon).

I'm glad this thread came up. I was going to post a thread regarding this, but this thread here works perfectly.

nyoung · Feb 5, 2013

horacekenneth said:
how about Konica film? What happened to that? I didn't even know they had made film until about a week ago I bumped into some Konica IR stuff in a darkroom fridge.

A school shooter I knew in the late 90s used long roll 35 and 70mm Konica film for a while. It proved to be too thin and prone to scratching in the processing machines (originally set up for Kodak product) and he switched back to Kodak. It was, otherwise, a very nice portrait film. I think it was manufactured by Fuji to Konica spec - not rebadged Fuji.

Les Sarile · Feb 5, 2013

h.v. I only have experience with the 1968 Autoreflex T and I would say it's build is like the other cameras of the time - robust. Capable of pounding a nail. In fact, when I bought mine from across the country, the seller sent it in a USPS box with no fillers or padding! I received it with no cosmetic flaws and all shutter speeds accurate but I haven't even tried to see if the meter works as it uses the now unavailable mercury batteries. The shutter has a rather long throw like my Chinon CE-II. I really do need to exercise it some more as the only lens I currently have is very good too.

If you haven't already, take a look at this website of the Konica SLRs -> http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eKonicaStart.html

cajuncc · Feb 5, 2013

I've got an Autoreflex TC on my shelf here. Needs new light seals and the meter doesn't work, unfortunately. I think if the meter worked, I'd be more inclined to take it out and shoot with it.

waynecrider · Feb 5, 2013

I remember reading the ads in the photo magazines back in 69 when I started looking for a SLR. I wound up with a Spotmatic F because it had open aperture metering. I know some cameras at the time didn't, but don't know which ones. The price and reviews on the Pentax were great so that's what I got. The Konica from what I remember seemed like a so called third party manufacturer compared to Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Minolta although I seem to remember some full page ads of the Konica system. The Nikon F I know was hyped big time and seemed like everybody's dream camera. My price range with lens was more in line with the Pentax and Minolta lineup and after handling them both at a local Mall store decided on the smaller camera. I don't remember there being a Konica to handle. I think it was more of a order item, or truck into Chicago, and that didn't work for me.

pen s · Feb 5, 2013

Funny this tread came up now. I was just gifted a non-working Konica FT-1 with 28 f3.5 Hexar and 50 f1.4 Hexanon lenses. I fixed the problem with a bit of sheet brass and now the camera operates within nominal limits. Guess I should pop in a roll of film.

dynachrome · Feb 5, 2013

I tried to make a posting but got an error message that I was not authorized to do so. I was insructed to refresh the page, log out and then log in again. I don't know if I got "timed out" or if I need to be a paid member to make postings now. In the future I will do what I do with photo.net. I will compose the posting in WORD and then transfer it. Without doing it that way anything composed is just as easily lost.

lancekingphoto · Feb 5, 2013

You can always send your Konicas to Greg Weber (mentioned all over camera forums on the web). He does meter conversions so you can use more common battery types, as well as other kinds of repairs. He worked on my Konica Autoreflex T3 recently.

Paul Howell · Feb 5, 2013

Les Sarile said:
To distinguish it from the other SLRs, it had shutter priority auto exposure. As I understand it, this is the first SLR with autoexposure. Canon introduced a shutter priority SLR in October 1969 with the EXEE but that had a dedicated screw mount with only interchangeable front lens element. The Pentax ES aperture priority SLR didn't get released until 1971.

The other cool thing with the Konica Autoreflex T's shutter priority auto exposure is that it works with all shutter speeds when batteries are dead. Until the release of the Nikon FM3A in 2001, all autoexposure cameras of the aperture priority type, had limited shutter speeds available when batteries are dead.

Both Konica and Miranda's EE had shutter prority, Miranda's had interchangalbe viewfinders but not screens. At the time Miranda was more expensive than Konica and Konica had a full range of lens. In the same time frame Kowa and Petre also offered EE SLRs.

AgX · Feb 5, 2013

Konica were the first to produce an autofocus camera.

Excalibur2 · Feb 5, 2013

pen s said:
Funny this tread came up now. I was just gifted a non-working Konica FT-1 with 28 f3.5 Hexar and 50 f1.4 Hexanon lenses. I fixed the problem with a bit of sheet brass and now the camera operates within nominal limits. Guess I should pop in a roll of film.

The F1.4 lens is very good, the Hexar in theory shouldn't be as good as it's predecessor the Hexanon 28mm f3.5 (a very good lens), as Konica started to produce cameras and lenses the cheapest way and sorta went down the pan as they couldn't compete with the big names.

Viggi · Feb 5, 2013

I use both T3 and TC, have two bodies of each. Only one of the four has an accurate meter - a TC. I really do like the T3, a lovely winder. The TC has a loud shutter and somewhat dim finder. T3 is better. I use the 135 f3.2 a fair bit and it is just lovely. Not terribly keen on the 28mm, the most common lens it seems. I find it very hard to use the 21mm f4 on the TC - cant read the display in the viewfinder. Better on the T3. Actually, the T3 is rather good. Definitely keep using it.

Tom Hicks · Feb 5, 2013

Konica made some very high end Rangefinders, each and everyone made like a Rolex Tank.

Tom Hicks · Feb 5, 2013

A few more images made with the Konicas

Jim Rice · Feb 5, 2013

I had a Koni-Omegaflax M until it was lost in a house fire c. 2004-5. The only 6x7 TLR that I know of and also the criterium that I personally use to rate the chops of reviewers who often state that the Mamiyas are the only interchangable lens TLR. Strictly speaking the Omegaflex was not a "flex" (the finder was straight through, though a reflex accessory finder was available.) I REALLY loved the eye-level chimney finder and the Hexanons, especially the 58 and 135. With the 58 I shot the original PRR GG-1 locomotive hand-held at 1/30s with the 58 wide open at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The National Engineering Landmark plaque (the size of an historical marker) was easily readable when the slide was projected.

Les Sarile · Feb 5, 2013

Tom Hicks said:
Konica made some very high end Rangefinders, each and everyone made like a Rolex Tank.

Beautiful collection!

dbuckle · Feb 6, 2013

I am a big fan of Konica SLR cameras and have a FT-1, 2 T4s,a T3 and T3n along with a dozen or so lenses. The one T4 was like new and has had the battery conversion done on it. I also have Konca III RF. I have recently started buying up their P&S cameras and got a NIB Zup 150 for $10.50. A Ln A4 just arrived from France that takes very sharp photos a sleek black beauty.

Koni Kowa · Apr 2, 2013

Why indeed ?

benjiboy · Apr 2, 2013

Konica was the the perfect example like Miranda of an example of the old addage that you can make the best the best product in the World, but if it doesn't sell it's nothing.

Paul Howell · Apr 2, 2013

benjiboy said:
Konica was the the perfect example like Miranda of an example of the old addage that you can make the best the best product in the World, but if it doesn't sell it's nothing.

I have both Miranda and Konica gear as well as Pentax M and K and I used Nikon, F, F2, F3 for years. Although both Konica and Miranda had good glass, Konica made some of the best lens of the day, each had flaws. Miranda had a very limited lens line up, for the EE only a 25 to 200 and a non EE 300, the 400mm made by Soilgrar and other third party lens makers used a 44mm internal thread mount and did not couple to the meter at all. Compared to Minolta and Pentax, Mirandas were also expensive. I bought a Konica T in the late 60s with a 50mm 1.2 lens, best 50ish 35mm I ever owned. I have the Konica 1.4, 1.7, and 1.9 all are great lens. But I needed a motor drive and moved to a Nikon F. Later Konicas, T 4 and FS ect had slow winders without rewind. Miranda never made a motor drive. It seems that the Dx had the contacts for a drive or winder but the company filed before coming out with a winder. The puzzler to me has always been Minolta, they competed with Nikon and Cannon without a full system camera until the XK which had its own flaws.

cyrano55 · Apr 2, 2013

On the subject of the T series, does anyone know of a UK service to give my T3n a CLA? I've also got a T3 in great condition, built like tanks, almost a kilo in weight but fantastic mechanical cameras, I love them and want a working pair.

dynachrome · Apr 2, 2013

If you can handle the shipping charges then send it to Greg Weber at 2022 East 7th Street Fremont, NE 68025 402-721-3873 gweber@webercamera.com

cyrano55 · Apr 2, 2013

Thanks for the link, I'll have a gander but it's probably more than I'll willingly pay in the event that a good one will surface nearer here for the cost.
But I appreciate your effort.

why no Konica?

Les Sarile

Trask

h.v.

nyoung

Les Sarile

cajuncc

waynecrider

pen s

dynachrome

lancekingphoto

Paul Howell

AgX

Excalibur2

Viggi

Tom Hicks

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Jim Rice

Les Sarile

dbuckle

Koni Kowa

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benjiboy

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cyrano55

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why no Konica?

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