The Konica C35 of 1968 is a 35mm camera and first of a series of four cameras from Konishiroku that are dealt with in this article, the others being the C35V (C35E&L), C35 Automatic (C35 Flashmatic), and Auto S3 (C35FD). The Konica C35 EF is dealt with in another article.
The Konica C35 was the first of a number of compact cameras that swept the marketplace in the early seventies. Cameras from other Japanese companies after 1970 (see photo at end) show its importance and influence. Its appeal to the general public was obvious from the start: it was a compact, light and simple to use camera with an excellent lens that was distinctly wider than average for the time and that took good photographs because it could be focused accurately. It was an outstanding sales success throughout the world.
Konishiroku may at first seem a mere follower of fashion, updating the design theme of the compact Minolta Minoltina S and Olympus Trip 35, or even its own Konica Eye of 1964. However, the C35 was much more than an update: it brought together a number of other desirable design strands into one camera, not simply light weight and compact size, but a CdS meter in the lens mount (eliminating worries about filter correction factors), a rangefinder and most importantly of all, the simple operation of "auto only" exposure.
There are three versions of the modestly-priced C35:
Konica C35 (1968 - Silver 1969 - black)
The non-rangefinder Konica C35V (1971 - silver), known in Japan as the Konica C35E&L
The Konica C35 Automatic with a more advanced flash control (1971 - silver), known in Japan as the Konica C35 Flashmatic
Available only in silver
38mm f2.8 four-element Hexanon lens - 46mm filter thread
Zone adjustment by four click stops (with pictogram's)
CdS meter (19-27 DIN, 25-400ASA)
No self timer
Closest focus - 1m, 3.3ft
2 blade programmed shutter
Combined aperture/shutter blades
Speeds 1/30 to 1/650
Lever wind, double-exposure prevention, resetting frame counter
Bright line finder
Needle indication of shutter speed and aperture visible on right hand side of viewfinder
Window lower right to few focus positions on lens
Width 112mm (actual 120mm with strap lugs) Height - claimed 70mm (actual 75mm) - Depth 52mm
Weight 340g (12 oz)
Price in Britain £41.48 (April 1974)
Konica X-14 matching flashgun available
Set to 1/25 automatically for flash
Its lens is without focus. 36mm with an aperture of 4.2 in four elements into 4 groups, it is not so bad. The shutter has only one shutter speed, 1/125 sec. The built-in flash has a guide number of 10; it is a little bit, but not so bad for a camera of this range.
This is a point n' shoot superzoom 35mm film camera with quite a high specification; the top model of Konica's Z-up range.
The lens ranges from 38mm to 150mm using the T/W lever exactly where your thumb would expect. The body has a nice champagne and matt black finish, the camera front is metal but the rest of the camera is obviously plastic.
Takes DX coded film, ISO 25-3200. Auto-loading and wind-on.
Lens has maximum aperture of F/5 at 38mm f/13.8 at 150mm. Sharpness should be good with 10 glass elements in 8 groups.
Lens cover is built-in and retracts on power up.
Shutter speeds: automatic from 1/320s to 1.5s.
Auto-exposure via CdS meter. Exposure range is EV4-EV16 at f/5.
Autofocus via infra red scanning. Focus-lock by the common half-click method.
Minimum focus distance is 80cm.
Small "real image" viewfinder that automatically zooms. Dioptre adjustment also present.
LCD indicating frame number, battery power and mode setting. (8 modes for flash and distance).
Flash is not very powerful and has an 8 seconds recharge time.
Self-timer.
Power source: 1x CR123A 3V battery (see image).
Konica Remote controller A: available as an optional extra.
Some models also have auto-date function and panorama setting.
Lightweight camera in plastic and with very simplified handling, only the activation of flash and the electric rewinding are left to the operator… What else?
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.
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.
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.
Présenté à l’occasion du SITI 89, le Konica MT-100 vient compléter la gamme, déjà bien achalandée, dans le créneau des compacts autofocus, motorisé et à focale fixe. Doté d’un objectif de 34 mm, assurant la mise au point avec mémorisation de 1,2 m à l’infini, l’affichage automatique de sensibilité par décodage DX de 100, 200 et 400 ISO. l’alimentation de cet appareil est assuré par une pile lithium DL 123 . L’ergonomie distingue cet appareil de ses concurrents, ses dimensions 118x69x47,5 mm, en font un appareil moins long et plus haut que ses rivaux. Trois touches situées sur la face avant droite, sous le réflecteur du flash, permettent le pilotage des principales fonctions de l’appareil : retardateur de 10 s avec possibilité d’annulation, désactivation du départ automatique du flash avec connection sur un programme basse vitesse (1/4 à 1/500 de s) et mise en circuit volontaire du flash. Au viseur sont associées deux diodes témoignant de la disponibilité du flash et l’obtention du point.
This little camera is autofocus, with a 35-60mm zoom, fitting to most situations of the summer casual photographer.
The minimum distance of focus is at 0.5m.
Its lens has a maximum aperture of 5.8.
The flash has an automatic anti-red eyes device. The viewfinder is very clear. There is also a self-timer.
Konica Z-up 60 - Point & Shoot / Zoom camera - 35mm
Part Number: Z-up 60
GENERAL
Depth 1.7 in
Camera Type Point & Shoot / Zoom camera
Manufacturer Konica Minolta
CARRYING CASE
Type soft case
CAMERA FLASH
Type built-in flash
Red Eye Reduction Yes
LENS SYSTEM
Focal Length 35 mm - 60 mm
Optical Zoom 1.7 x
Lens Aperture f/5.8-9.8
Min Focal Length 35 mm
Max Focal Length 60 mm
Min Focus Distance 1.6 ft
Focus Adjustment automatic
Group Qty 5
Element Qty 5
MISCELLANEOUS
Color silver
Color Category silver
Included Camera Accessories strap
VIEWFINDER
Type Real-image zoom
POWER
Batteries Included 2
CAMERA
Exposure Range 1/450 sec - 1/15 sec
Type Point & Shoot / Zoom camera
Camera Format 35mm
Min Exposure 1/450 sec
Max Exposure 1/15 sec
Exposure Modes automatic
Shutter Control electronic
Timer Functions date imprinting, self-timer
Self-Timer Delay 10 sec
Shooting Modes full auto
Film Speed Range ISO 100, 200, 400
Film Advance automatic
Date Imprint Function Yes
Date Imprint Selections day/hour/minute, day/month/year, hour/minute, month/day/year, no data, year/month/day
Status LCD Display Information battery condition, flash mode, frame counter, red-eye reduction, self-timer mode
BATTERY
Required Qty 2
Form Factor AA type
HEADER
Brand Konica
Product Line Konica Z-up
Model 60
Localization English
Packaged Quantity 1
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Width 4.6 in
Height 2.7 in
Weight 7.05 oz
The Konica C35 AF (nicknamed "Jasupin") is a milestone camera in that it was the world's first production autofocus camera. Launched in November 1977, it used the "Visitronic" AF system developed and produced by Honeywell (see below for description). This was a "passive" rather than the subsequently more popular "active" system (which Canon utilized in the AF35M eighteen months after the C35 AF). Konica is said to have sold one million units. In 1980, the C35 AF was superseded by the C35 AF2 with some cosmetic differences.
Some years after the launch of these Konicas, the Belarusian Belomo factory in Minsk output an autofocus camera that owed a huge debt to them. It was called the Elikon Autofocus, but has only been seen with Cyrillic lettering.
The Honeywell AF system
"Designed by Honeywell for 35 mm cameras (visible light), uses a separate set of detectors and charge coupled devices along with a microprocessor to effect automatic focus. A correlation is performed between sets of detectors utilizing two different, widely separated small areas of the aperture. The technique is based, as in optical rangefinders, on the angular difference between separate receivers in superimposing the same scene. This technique effectively determines not only whether the system is out of focus, but the amount and direction of lens movement required to achieve optimum focus."
"Electronic Focus for Cameras", by N. Stauffer and D. Wilwerding March, Scientific Honeyweller, Volume 3, No. 1 March 1982
Este modelo foi-me oferecido por Sandra Morgado. Muito obrigado!
Características
Especificações
The range of Top's had taken life with the Top's (fix-focus) and the Top’s AF 300 (autofocus). In 1993, the EF-200 SP and the AF-300 SP were added. These last ones are weatherproof variants of the previous ones. SP means "Sand Proof", but they are also watertight.
The 4 classification of JIS (Japan Industry Standard) determines that it must resist 5 minutes to sprayed water at a rate of 10litres / minute / square meter, according to an arc of 180 degrees at a distance from 30 to 50cm.
The two new cameras have a 4.5/34mm lens with three elements and accept 100, 200 and 400 ISO films. The advance and the rewinding of the film is motorized.
The Top’s 200 is fix-focus, with a focus on minimum 1.5metre. The shutter is set to 1/125 per sec (with an aperture at 8) under normal conditions and 1/50 per sec (with an aperture at 4.5) with the flash.
The price in 1993 was 490 francs.
The Konica Revio Z2 is a compact and nice looking point-and-shoot camera that uses APS film. APS is the shorthand of Advanced Photo System and is introduced in 1996. Unlike previous film formats, APS film cartridge (see photo below), with dimensions about the same as 35mm, stores data such as date, exposure info. and even short text message beside the photographic image itself.
APS film does not have a leading strip for film loading because it is not needed. Loading APS film is merely a simple drop-in (see upper photo below) and the film itself stays inside the cartridge whenever it is not loaded into the camera. In other words, you get the whole cartridge, rather than cutted strips, back from the lab. Moreoever, it also provides much easier mid-roll exchange than 35mm film. So how can you tell in what stage a particular roll of APS film is? The bottom of the cartridge gives a four-stage indicator system (see lower photo below): 1. brand new roll, 2. one or more but not all frames exposed, 3. all frames exposed but not developed and 4. all frames exposed and developed.
However, with all the advantages above, APS format is pretty short-lived (less than 10 years of production span). Well, you may ask why? There are two man reasons. First of all, APS film gets phased out because of the quick emerging of the digital era. Photojournalists started using the earliest DSLRs (digital-back conversions of film bodies and “true” DSLR like the Nikon D1) in the late 1990’s and comsumer-level DSLR dropped below the $1000USD price-line in 2003 (Canon Digital Rebel/300D). By late 2004, many entry-level digital point-and-shoots had dropped to a price-level so close to their film counterparts that many people would go for the digital ones because of the savings on film and processing in the long run. The other reason, probably the main cause in my opinion, is APS film, with a dimension of 30.2×16.7mm only has about 59% of the coverage of 35mm film (36x24mm). Smaller coverage with the same type of film emulsion leads to poorer quality enlargments. However, APS film is not cheaper than 35mm film because of its complicated cartridge design. Processing is also more expensive because photo labs need to buy new machines to deal with the format.
Other than the special features that come with the APS format, the Knoica Revio Z2 is just an ordinary point-and-shoot camera. It has a 24-48mm zoom lens which has a coverage approximately equivalent to a 32-64mm zoom lens in 35mm format (based on a ~1.3X crop-factor). The Revio Z2 also provides limited selections on scene modes, flash modes and date imprints. Along with the multi-format selection switch, the buttons and LCD screens which provide controls for the functions above are all conveniently located at the back of the camera.
One last thing that interests me about this obsolete point-and-shoot is its convenient “self-portrait” feature. Note that I did not say “self-timer” because it is actually a small mirror on top of the camera which allows the user to frame a self-portrait for him/herself. This is for sure a nice handy feature for persons or couples who travel alone. How many of you have taken self-portraits of yourself or with your other-half with a compact digital camrea? How many of you think that those Samsung digital point-and-shoots with small front LCD screens are great? Well, to me the Konica Revio Z2 is like a grand-grandfather of the dual-LCD Samsungs.
GENERAL
Depth 1.2 in
Camera Type Point & Shoot / Zoom camera
ManufacturerKonica Minolta
CAMERA FLASH
Type built-in flash
Red Eye Reduction Yes
Features flash +/- compensation
Shooting Range 1.6 ft - 28 ft ( wide lens )
1.3 ft - 14.4 ft ( tele lens )
Power Consumption Recycling time - 5 sec
Flash Modes auto mode, fill-in mode, flash OFF mode, night mode, red-eye reduction
CARRYING CASE
Type soft case
Type soft case
LENS SYSTEM
Lens Construction 5 groups / 5 elements
Optical Zoom 2 x
Lens Aperture f/4.0-7.6
Min Focal Length 24 mm
Max Focal Length 48 mm
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 30 m
Min Focus Distance 15.7 in
Focus Adjustment automatic
Group Qty 5
Element Qty 5
MISCELLANEOUS
Color green
Color Category green
Included Camera Accessories strap
CAMERA
Backlight Compensation Yes
Type Point & Shoot / Zoom camera
Camera Format APS
Min Exposure 1/500 sec
Max Exposure 2 sec
Exposure Modes automatic
Shutter Control electronic
Timer Functions self timer
Self Timer Delay 10 sec
Exposure Metering center-weighted
Information Exchange (magnetic IX) date/time imprinting, index prints, title imprinting, triple format selection
Auto Focus infrared-active
Remote Control Optional - infrared
Film Speed Range ISO 25 - 3200
Film Advance automatic
Date Imprint Function Yes
Status LCD Display Information battery condition, date / time, film speed, flash mode, frame counter, self-timer mode, shutter speed
BATTERY
Required Qty 1
Form Factor CR2
Technology lithium
HEADER
Brand Konica
Product Line Konica Revio
Model Z2
Localization English
Packaged Quantity 1
OPTICAL SYSTEM
Image Stabilizer none
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Width 3.7 in
Height 2.2 in
Weight 5.18 oz
SERVICE & SUPPORT
Type 1 year warranty
SERVICE & SUPPORT DETAILS
Type limited warranty
Full Contract Period 1 year
It was offered in red and black, and had a simple aperture stop adjustment (labeled with the intended film speed). The provision of a 43mm filter thread seems like an odd touch for such a basic model.
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.
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).
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.
