Konica TC-X (1983)

Konica TC-X (1983)

#285

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Características

Last Konica SLR, already built by Cosina a third-party supplier, not in the Konica factory.
First SLR to use a body completely cast of plastic, and first camera to use the then new DX encoding for film sensitivity.

Fonte: camerapedia

The TC-X is the last SLR model under the Konica brand name before Konica discontinued the SLR line. It was produced by Cosina for Konica, not by Konica themselves.

This is probably the reason, why the TC-X has not too much in common with other Konica SLR models, all camera controls look and feel quite different.

The TC-X was the first SLR camera in the world that had a body and frame completely made of plastic. Today this is normal, but 1983 is was not clear if the market would accept such a camera – there were big doubts concerning ruggedness and longevity. In this respect the concept was quite daring and revolutionary. Only the ring of the lens mount and the tripod socket were made of metal.

Even more, the TC-X was the first camera to use the automatic film speed setting via DX coding on the film cartridge. This system, nowadays well established, has been developped by a consortium of manufacturers, Konica being one of them.

Due to the full-plastic construction, the TC-X is very light – it is the lightest and at the same time the smallest Konica SLR. Thus, it is well suited as a camera for the pocket, it can easily be taken anywhere.

It is a matter of taste, whether you like the plastic construction of the TC-X for its weight savings or not. To me, the TC-X is not appealing, it makes more the impression of a toy. To me, it looks and feels cheap. Certainly this is not very fair towards the TC-X, it can take pictures as good as the other Konica SLRs and is quite rugged, but it is simply not my taste...

The smallest aperture the TC-X can set is 22. Obviously for this a matching lens with a smallest aperture setting of 22 is necessary. After introduction of the internal linkFS-1, that was the first Konica to provide a smallest aperture setting of 22, the Konica Hexanon lenses have been adapted to this one after the other.

The TC-X does not provide the system flash controls of the electronic models, it only has a normal accessory hot shoe for manual flash operation.

The film loading too is a step back to the pre-electronic times. With the TC-X, the film tip has to be threaded in a slot on the take-up spool.

The back of the TC-X has a window for the film cartridge, so that the film in use can be seen from the outside. The back is opened by pulling the rewind crank, like on the internal linkFC-1 and the internal linkFP-1.

The TC-X was available only in black.

The TC-X uses an easily obtainable 1.5 V alkaline manganese battery, either of type AA or AAA, depending on camera version. All camera functions other than metering are completely mechanically controlled, the battery is only necessary for the light meter. Because of the protruding battery case, one has a good grip on the TC-X, although it is very small and light. The plastic battery case lid is quite fiddly and gets damaged easily, so be careful when changing batteries!

Changes over the predecessor models:
The TC-X has more similarity to the internal linkAutoreflex TC than to any one of the later, electronic predecessor models. Like the Autoreflex TC, the TC-X is completely mechanical and has no slow shutter speeds longer than 1/8 s.

But the TC-X is not an improved version of the Autoreflex TC, it is a completely new design, entirely made of cast plastic.

The shutter speeds are set with a dial that is made as a collar around the transport lever. The film speed setting is set on a collar around the rewind crank or automatically by DX coding on the film cartridge. The on/off switch acts as a shutter release lock, the shutter release can only be pressed when the switch is set to »on«.

Aperture indication in the viewfinder is done with a needle, which is shaped very differently from the meter indication of the older mechanical cameras of the »Autoreflex« series. It is situated on the left side of the viewfinder, like the LED indicators of the electronically controlled models of the »F« series. The viewfinder is much darker than those in the electronic models or the internal linkAutoreflex T4.

Like on the electronically controlled Konica SLR models, the self timer does not provide a mirror lock-up function.

Different to most of the Konica SLRs (except the internal linkFC-1 and the internal linkFP-1), the camera back opens on the TC-X when pulling the rewind crank, not through a separate mechnism on the side of the camera body.


Fonte: buhla.de


Especificações

Fully mechanical, basic SLR. CdS TTL light meter. Shutter-priority auto-exposure. Shutter speeds 1/8s to 1/1000s and B. Konica AR bayonet. Battery only needed for light meter, AA or AAA alkaline, depening on model.

Fonte: camerapedia

Type: Automatic 35mm single lens reflex camera

Image size: 24 x 36 mm

Film: Standard 35 mm film cartridges

Lens mount: Konica bayonet II, diameter 47 mm , flange-film distance 40.5 mm

Shutter: Vertically travelling metal focal plane shutter

Single, non-rotating speed setting dial

Shutter speeds: B, 1/8 s – 1/1000 s in constant progression

Flash synch: X synch: 1/60 s with electronic flash

1/30 s with flash bulbs of types M, FP, and FM

X synch contact in built-in accessory hot shoe

Self timer: Variable from 4 s up to 10 s

Viewfinder: Pentaprism eye-level finder with upright, unreversed image

Magnification: 0.87x (with 50mm lens at ∞)

Viewfinder shows 92% of actual image area

Mat screen with central split-image focussing and microprism collar

Viewfinder indications: Light meter needle shows metered aperture value at actual shutter speed

Warning indicators for over- and underexposure

Warning indicator for manual exposure control

Index mark for stopped-down aperture (match-needle) metering

Mirror: Fully automatic instant-return mirror

Exposure control: VFully automatic exposure control (AEC) with shutter speed priority

Smallest aperture 22

When using appropriate lenses, metering is done with aperture fully open

Stopped-down aperture (match-needle) metering for manual preset lenses or third-party lenses mounted with adapters

Light meter: Metering through-the-lens (TTL) with 2 cadmium sulfide CdS-cells

Sensitivity range exposure values EV 5 – EV 18 with ISO 100/21°

Centre-weighted metering

Power supply: 1 piece 1,5 V alkaline manganese batteries type AA or AAA (depending on version)

film speed settings: ISO 50/18° – ISO 1600/33°

Automatic film speed setting with DX coded film cartridges possible

Exposure lock: The metered aperture is locked when slightly depressing the shutter release

Film loading: Konica Easy Loading system

Film transport: Single-stroke lever with 135° travel and 20° play transports film and cocks shutter simultaneously

Equipped with double-exposure prevention

Film counter: Automatically resets with opening of camera back

Counts up to 38 frames

Rewinding: Foldable rewind crank

Rewind release button self-locks when actuating the transport lever

Other features: 1/4" tripod socket

Weight (without lens): 375 g (approx. 13 oz)

Dimensions (without lens): Width x height x depth: 130 x 84 x 45 mm (approx. 51/8" x 35/16" x 1 3/4

Fonte: buhla.de

Modelo

A minha tem o n.º de série 234150


Sítios de referência

buhla.de

camerapedia


Manual

Manual em Inglês


Baterias

1 AAA battery

Filme


Fotografias tiradas com esta máquina


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