Konica EE-Matic Deluxe

Konika EE-Matic Deluxe

Características

The Konica EE-Matic Deluxe was a rangefinder camera with selenium meter controlled exposure, made by Konica in 1963. It was also marketed as Wards xp 501 by Montgomery Ward. The built-in meter was called "electric eye". Its window was around the lens opening, within the filter thread. The selenium photo cell behind that window automatically controlled shutter-speed/aperture setting. The actual speed was shown by an indicator in the optical bright-frame viewfinder. There was also an indicator for under-enlightment in the finder.

Fonte: Camerapedia

The EE-matic is a 35mm film rangefinder camera. It’s manual focus with two images in the viewfinder. You adjust the focus until both images perfectly overlap (i.e. creating one image) and your subject is then in focus. The deluxe version was apparently manufactured from 1963 onwards. It’s all-metal construction with a fixed Hexanon 40mm f/2.8 lens. The f/2.8 aperture means it will work nicely in low light, and the 40mm focal length – slightly wider than ‘normal’ – means I can get closer to my subject.

Surrounding the lens is a selenium photosensitive cell, which meters the light and selects shutter speed and aperture. There’s a semi-automatic aperture override. There’s no battery (so no problem with battery leakage and corrosion).

Fonte: Phil Mark Jones

This often overlooked camera was made from the mid-to-late 60s and has some great Point and Shoot features not the least of which was a fantastic Hexanon lens.

- all metal, solid body, no plastic anywhere well built.
- a sharp f/2.8 Hexanon lens with a nice wide focal length of 40mm
- great depth of field when you want it.
- extremely quiet shutter
- shutter speeds from B to 1/250
- ASA (ISO) range from 12 to 400
- Manual override (with an exception)
- Unique non-battery selenium metering system (see below).
- Coupled rangefinder (see below)
- Can usually be found with it’s nice black leather case.

This is a solid camera and built out of metal. It’s fun to shoot with and feels great in your hands. The best part of the camera is the lens. In fact, Konica used to advertise ‘Buy the lens, we’ll throw in a camera’. On the downside, the coupled rangefinder at this age is probably out of adjustment. The rangefinder can be readjusted. There is a slight possibility that the selenium meter is worn out, unrepairable and unusable. However, that downside is easily overcome.

The Konica EE-Matic Deluxe can be used in manual mode. This can be quite nice. If you have one with a defective or worn out selenium meter then it’s all you have. However, you have only one shutter speed which is 1/30 of a second. With color negative film or black and white film this should not be a problem. Just adjust you aperture using the Sunny 16 rule.

The Konica EE-Matic Deluxe is perfect for lomographers and street photographers for any lighting condition. Using Lomography’s Lomography Color Negative 100 35mm you will get great results regardless. The overexposure at the ISO 50 setting it will give a fantastic saturation of colors and exposure latitude that you’ll be quite amazed. I always have mine loaded with film and ready to go. All I have to do is zone focus it and fire away. Most of the examples were done exactly that way.

Sure there are better retro rangefinder cameras but not at the price you can get these at on eBay (usually under $50) and the quality of the camera and the photos it takes can be stunning. If you want ‘point and shoot’ ease in a 35mm rangefinder camera get one of these to carry around as a second camera and load it with your favorite Lomography film.

Fonte: Lomography / Terry Funk

A minha tem o n.º de série 846229


Modelo

A minha pertence é do modelo original, fabricado a partir de 1965.


Manual

Em inglês, parte 1
Em inglês, parte 2


Sites de referência

Camerapedia
Lomography / Terry Funk
Phil Mark Jones 


Vídeos