Konica (I), II and III

The Konica (or Konica I) and its successors the Konica II, and Konica III are fixed-lens, leaf-shutter rangefinder 35mm (24×36mm) cameras that Konishiroku made from 1947 until 1959 or 1960.

Rubikon and Rubicon

The Konica was based on an earlier camera called Rubikon, developed by Konishiroku for general purpose photography from c.1938. It was not commercially released and its development was stopped at some point in the late 1930s, because priority was given to the production of aerial cameras for the war effort.

This camera is extremely similar to the Konica, and even the smaller parts show little difference. The top cover is inscribed Rokuoh-sha and Rubikon and has a serial number. At least one prototype is known with a Hexar Ser.IIB 50mm f/3.5 lens (no.3001) and a Compur-Rapid shutter (T, B, 1–500). Others are reported, mostly with a Hexar lens, and sometimes with a different shutter.^{source needed} Some of these might still exist today.

The basic body chassis of the Rubikon was used for a specialized camera for X-ray photography, called Rubicon (with a "c" rather than a "k"), released in late 1940 together with the Sakura X-ray film. This has no finder and uses a dark slide to control exposure, instead of a true shutter (X-ray exposures were rather longer than film exposures, and didn't need to be as precise). The Rubicon X-Ray camera comes in several variants — one with a knob to advance the film,^{source needed} another with a "wing nut" film advance. Most were fitted with a male bayonet mount, to which a Luminon 50mm f/1.6 lens is attached.

With its potential medical applications, the production of the Rubicon X-ray camera certainly continued during the war. The original model was made until 1950, when it was replaced by the Rubicon II, with a chain-driven advance knob, a rewind crank and a differently placed exposure counter.

Konica series

Konica (I), 1950 model, Hexar f/2.8 lens, Konirapid shutter. Image by Inspiredphotos. (Image rights)

After the war during the occupation, production of the film camera was restarted and the name Konica was chosen to be used instead.

Similarly to "Leica", "Yashica" and many others, the name "Konica" was constructed by abbreviating the name of the manufacturer and suffixing "ca" (for "camera"). It would only later become the name of the company too.

Throughout the period when it was manufactured and sold, the Konica was the only camera for 135 film from Konishiroku, although the company also made the Konilette (earlier clamshell models) for paper-backed, unperforated 35mm film. Meanwhile, the main product for 120 film was the Pearl, and even the numbering of the Konica and Pearl seem to have gone up together. Total production of the Konica (I) through the IIIM exceeded four hundred thousand.

The Konica models dealt with here were followed by the Konica S, and its successors: very much 1960s designs.

Konica (I)

Konica (I), Hexar f/3.5 lens, Konirapid shutter, silver face. Picture courtesy of Madrigalrose. (Image rights)

The Konica (later known as the Konica I or Konica Standard) is a knob-wound camera with a single eyepiece for the coupled rangefinder and viewfinder. It has a 50mm Konishiroku lens and a Konirapid shutter with speeds B, 1–500. The only shutter release is on the lens barrel, which also has a lever for cocking the shutter. The top of the camera is inscribed Konica (with the tail of the "a" hooking back to the "K" and beyond) and the number.

The dimensions are 132×80×65 mm and weight is 580g.

There are a number of variants. On the very earliest examples (from March 1948), the lens is a collapsible f/3.5 Hexar (four elements in three groups, with 26mm hood size), the shutter is a Konirapid (T, B, 1–500), the plate over the front of the shutter is black, with Konishiroku and concentric arcs picked out in silver, the distance scale is marked in metres, and the top also says Made in occupied Japan. Konishiroku is embossed in the leather on the back, and MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN is also embossed in the leather of the bottom plate. The price was ¥19,400.

The next version (March 1948) with a shutter plate that is silver rather than black, takes a 32mm hood.

This was followed in April 1950 by a version with a Konirapid-S shutter (B, 1–500) synchronized for flash — and which was advertised as Synchro Konica (シンクロコニカ, shinkuro konika), but still simply inscribed Konica — and f/3.5 or f/2.8 Hexar lens. (For the latter, the depth is 68.5mm, weight 620g, and price ¥23,800.) "Made in occupied Japan" is no longer inscribed. The f/3.5 and f/2.8 versions were sold concurrently. Tests of the camera were published around 1948 and it was advertised in magazines dated June 1948 through June 1950.

This in turn was followed in August 1951 by a version with an f/2.8 Hexanon lens (615g), and distances marked in feet for the US market. It was advertised in magazines dated August 1950 through January 1951.

Something of the order of a hundred thousand Konica (I) cameras were sold.

At least one company (not Konishiroku) offered a conversion that added a device akin to a body release: the new button is at the level of and immediately in front of the top plate; it operates a lever that pushes down the button on the lens barrel.

Konica I, Hexanon f/2.8 lens, Konirapid-S shutter. Set with original box, instruction manual and Koniflash Type II flash gun. Pictures by Apocaplops. (Image rights)

Konica II

Konica II no.44678, Hexanon f/2.8 lens no.95712, Konirapid-S shutter. Picture by Mfophotos. (Image rights)

The Konica II (from 1951) provides a body release. It has a rigid lens, and an accessory shoe. It requires the shutter to be cocked, as on a conventional rollfilm camera of the time: firing the shutter allows the film to be wound further and prevents the shutter from being cocked and fired again unless the film is wound.

Together with its variants (the Konica IIA, IIB, etc.), the Konica II looks very different from earlier and later models. The circular lens mount is not attached directly to the leather of the body covering as on the Konica (I); instead, it is attached to a metal plate mounted over the leather, a plate extending from the top housing to the bottom plate and whose sides are curved. (The Konica III would retain this plate but make it smaller, and do away with the curves.)

The view from the top shows the expected film advance on the right, doubling as the frame counter, and the rewind knob on the left, doubling as a film reminder. The shutter release button is close to the film advance knob and toward the front. The accessory shoe is slightly to the right of centre. The top of the housing is inscribed Konica (again with a decorative end to the "a") and below this, and in much taller lettering, either II (for all the models discussed in this section other than the IIA) or IIA.

Viewed from the front, just within the top left extremity of the curvacious metal plate is, on most versions, a knob for the self timer with two positions, I and T. On cheaper versions this knob is replaced by a decorative round plate.

Toward its bottom left, the larger plate is, on all but the cheaper versions, inscribed 24X36. (On other versions there is no inscription of any kind.)

The appearance of the camera is slick and modern — 1950s rather than 1940s — but the camera is knob wound and rewound.

The dimensions are 132×77×59 mm and weight is 685g. Sales of the Konica II and its variants totaled over 120,000.

Konica II no.414x4, Hexanon 50mm f/2.8 lens no.68933, Konirapid-S shutter. Pictures courtesy of Reid at Pardees Camera. (Image rights)

The original Konica II, released in December 1951, has a 50mm f/2.8 Hexanon lens (five elements in three groups) and a Konirapid-S shutter (T, B, 1–500). It is inscribed 24X36. It was priced at ¥38,000 and advertised in magazines dated from February 1952 till February 1955.

The Konica IIB is a cheaper version. The lens is a 50mm Hexar rather than Hexanon, whose aperture is either f/3.5 (from May 1955) or f/2.8 (from June 1955); T is no longer an option on the shutter; and the self-timer knob is replaced by a round cover marked Konica B. However, the shutter is still the Konirapid-S, with (T aside) the full range of shutter speeds up to 500. The IIB lacks the 24X36 inscription. It was advertised in magazines dated August–December 1955, and priced at ¥27,000.

The Konica IIF (February 1956) has a 50mm f/2.8 Hexanon lens and a Konirapid-MFX shutter. Rather few of these were made.

The Konica IIA (March 1956) is substantially the same as the IIF other than for its lens, a 48mm f/2 Hexanon (six elements in five groups). The top plate is inscribed Konica IIA, as noted above. It was advertised in magazines dated April and May 1956, and priced at ¥35,000.

The Konica IIBm (February 1957) is a revision of the IIB. The lens is now a 45mm f/3.5 Hexar, and the shutter a Seikosha-MX (B, 1–500). The cover replacing the self-timer knob is marked IIB-m (with no mention of Konica). It was advertised in magazines dated November 1956 until March 1957, and priced at ¥22,500.

The distinctive external appearance of the Konica II was shamelessly aped by Tōkyō Kōken for its Dolca 35 II.

Interchangeable-lens prototype

Inspired by the Kodak Retina IIc and IIIc in early 1954, Konishiroku worked on an interchangeable-lens Konica II. It had Hexanon 50/1.9 and 85/3.5 lenses, sharing a fixed rear section behind the shutter. It was displayed in an exhibition of future products held by the company from October 21 in three Tokyo department stores, simultaneously with the teleconverter for the Koniflex TLR and various lenses in Leica screw mount; it never went into production.

Konica III

Konica III. Advertisement in National Geographic, May 1957 (Image rights)

The Konica III (from 1956) is a considerable advance from the Konica II: the shutter is cocked by the film advance.

The Konica III (as well as the IIIA and IIIM, discussed below) is immediately distinguishable from the Konica II (and all its variations) thanks to the film wind lever, which is not on the top but instead on the front of the camera and invites the use of the forefinger (or thumb) of the photographer's left hand (similar to that on the Adox 300 and Zeiss Tenax). This lever needs two strokes and cocks the shutter at the same time as it winds the film. The curvaceous metal plate between leather and lens on the II is reduced and made more rectangular. The self-timer control (where present) becomes a lever and the film rewind knob also has a fold-out crank, both of the kind then becoming conventional. The top cover is engraved Konica, below this (and much taller) III, and below this (and much smaller) NO. and the serial number. Each model has a 48mm Hexanon lens (six elements in five groups).

The dimensions are 132×80×64 mm and weight is 760g.

Sales of the Konica III and its variants (including the IIIA and IIIM) totaled over 170,000.

The original Konica III (or Konica IIIMFX, September 1956) has an f/2 lens (six elements in five groups) with Konirapid MFX shutter (B, 1–500). It cost ¥34,500, including case or $119.75. It weighs 750g.

Konica IIIL. Picture by Voxphoto. (Image rights)

The Konica IIIL (or Konica IIIMXL, April 1955) has a Seikosha MXL shutter, with the then-popular light-value system. Quite aside from the arguable irritations of the LV interlock, this particular implementation is rather half-baked as the LV setting itself is on the bottom of the lens barrel, so the camera must be inverted in order to adjust it. The optical design of the lens is unchanged. It was introduced in the Japanese magazines dated June to August 1957.

All the subsequent models too would have Seikosha shutters: Konishiroku, like smaller companies making shutters, realized it could not compete with the quality and scale of Seikosha and Copal.

Not surprisingly, a Konica IIIL2 (or Konica IIIMXL2) succeeded the IIIL, with the LV setting on the top rather than bottom of the lens barrel. It was introduced in the magazines dated January and February 1958.

A cheaper version of the IIIL2 has an f/2.4 lens and no self timer (March 1958). (This is the least common of the variants of the III.) It was introduced in the magazines dated May 1958.

Konica IIIA and IIIM

While the nomenclature of Konica's next pair of cameras suggests that neither differed from the III more than, say, the IIA differed from the II, they are improved so dramatically as to be considered separately, perhaps as a misnamed IV and V.

The major change is to the finder, greatly enlarged and with projecting framelines that adjust not only for parallax but also for varying frame angle.

This larger finder necessitates a higher top cover, such that the rewind crank of the III would foul it if not radically redesigned. The crank is therefore stepped.

Konica IIIA

Konica III A. Picture courtesy of voxphoto. (Image rights)

When viewed from the front, the Konica IIIA (April 1958) has three finder windows, of which the viewfinder is fairly large even by today's standards. The three are for the rangefinder, projected brightlines, and viewfinder (and rangefinder) respectively.

The finder has 1.0× magnification, such that the photographer can easily look through it with right eye while keeping the left eye open. The lens is a 48mm f/2 Hexanon, with LV system; filter size 35.5mm. Dimensions are 133×81×65mm; weight 800g.

In July 1958 came the option of a 50mm f/1.8 Hexanon (70mm deep, weight 820g).

The two models were available simultaneously, for ¥32,800 and ¥34,800 respectively, including case.

Konica IIIM

Konica IIIM. Picture by Samzabar. (Image rights)

The Konica IIIM (March 1959) adds an exposure meter and half-frame capability to the faster (50/1.8) version of the IIIA - the self timer is moved to the side of the lens barrel.

The meter accounts for two add-ons: a device attached close to where the self-timer is on the III, and a flap hinged across the top that closes a set of selenium cells against the finder windows when the camera is not in use and opens them over the front when it is in use.

The IIIM also came with a mask for half-frame photography. Inserting this automates a change to the appropriate film spacing and numbering systems.

The finder windows are redesigned, such that two large windows appear.

The IIIM cost ¥36,500, including case.

Further reading

In English:

• Herz, Nat. Konica Pocket Handbook. New York: Verlan Books ("A Universal Photo Book"), 1960. A detailed guide to the Konica IIIA and IIIM, as well as the Konica S and 35mm photography in general. (The copy examined also has a separately paginated section, The Konica FS and Konica F: A Guide to Better Single-Lens Reflex Photography, covering the Konica FS and Konica F, bound within the same covers.)
• The Japanese Historical Camera. 2nd ed. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2004. P.83 (Konica IIA), p.84 (Konica III), p.93 (Konica IIIA), p.97 (Konica IIIM).
• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp. 62, 76, 94, 99, 101.

In Japanese:

• Reports in Shashin Kōgyō on the Konica II: May 1952, May 1953, November 1953, April 1955.
• Report in Sankei Camera on the Konica IIA: May 1956.
• Test of the Konica III, Shashin Kōgyō October 1956.
• Test of the Konica III (with Seikosha-MXL shutter), as the first ever installment of "New Face Clinic", Asahi Camera, August 1957.
• Test of the Konica III, Shashin Salon, March 1958.
• Akiyama Seiji (秋山青磁). Konika no tsukaikata (コニカの使い方). Tokyo: Amico, 1950.
• Akiyama Seiji (秋山青磁). Atarashii Konika no tsukaikata (新しいコニカの使い方). Tokyo: Amico, 1955. On the Konica IIB.
• Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 512–15, 1261–6.
• Hishida (菱田耕四郎). "Konica history 10: Sengo no kamera" (戦後のカメラ, Postwar cameras). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.60–80.
• Itō Tsuguyoshi (伊藤ニ良). "Konika I" (コニカ I). Utsushite tanoshimu kurashikku kamera (写して楽しむクラシックカメラ). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2001. ISBN 4879560636 Pp.59–62.
• Itō Tsuguyoshi (伊藤ニ良). "Konika II" (コニカ II). Utsushite tanoshimu kurashikku kamera 3 (写して楽しむクラシックカメラ 3). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2005. ISBN 4879560742 Pp.114–19.
• Itō Tsuguyoshi (伊藤ニ良). "Konika III" (コニカ III). Utsushite tanoshimu kurashikku kamera (写して楽しむクラシックカメラ). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2001. ISBN 4879560636 Pp.63–8.
• Iwama Tomohisa (岩間倶久). Konika no tsukaikata (コニカの使い方). Tokyo: Kōgasō, 1956.
• Konica Group. Konika III gata no tsukaikata (コニカIII形の使い方). Tokyo: Amico, 1957. Written by a group of Konishiroku employees.
• Konica Group. Konika IIIM no tsukaikata (コニカIIIMの使い方). Tokyo: Amico, 1959. Written by a group of Konishiroku employees.
• Konika-Minoruta-ten (コニカミノルタ展, Konica Minolta exhibition). Exhibition catalogue. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005. P.10.
• Konishiroku Kamera no Rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, History of Konishiroku cameras), vol. 10 (Autumn 1985 issue) of Kamera Rebyū Bessatsu: Kurashikku Kamera Senka / All about Historical Cameras.
• Miki Akira (三木旺), et al. Konika no kansei (コニカの完成). Tokyo: Amico, 1953. On the Konica II.
• Miyazaki Shigemoto (宮崎繁幹). Konika kamera no 50nen: Konika I-gata kara Hekisā RF e (コニカカメラの50年：コニカI型からヘキサーRFへ, Fifty years of Konica cameras: From the Konica I to the Hexar RF). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 2003. ISBN 4-257-12038-X. Pp.18–57, 183.
• Photo Art rinji zōkan: Kamera akusesarī zensho (フォトアート臨時増刊・カメラアクセサリー全書, Photo Art special issue: All the camera accessories). June 1955, no.80 of the magazine. "Naigai kōkan renzu sōran" (内外交換レンズ総覧, Table and Japanese and foreign interchangeable lenses). Pp.78–9.
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Konika I" (コニカ I). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.35, November 1995. Nihon no kamera 50nen (日本のカメラ50年, special issue on 50 years of Japanese cameras). P.87.
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Konika IIIA" (コニカ IIIA). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.35, November 1995. Nihon no kamera 50nen (日本のカメラ50年, special issue on 50 years of Japanese cameras). P.94.
• Yoshikawa Hayao (吉川速男). Watakushi no Konica to gentō (私のコニカと幻燈, My Konica and slides). 1948.

Links

In English:

• Instructions for the Konica I, Konica IIB, and Konica III, at Mediajoy's Guide to Classic Cameras
• From the Konica Standard to the Konica IIIM, at matsumo's site
• Konica IIA and Dolca 35 II compared in a page about wannabe cameras at Nekosan's website
• Konica III manual, from Michael Butkus
• Konica III, IIIA and IIIM, by Dante Stella
• Konica III and IIIA at Silverbased
• Photo.Net thread on the Konica IIIA and another on the III and IIIA
• Konica III among 35mm cameras at Cameras Downunder

In French :

• Konica II, Konica III L2 on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand
• JJ's French language page on the Konica IIIA

In Japanese:

• From the Konica Standard to the Konica IIIM, at matsumo's site (with more material than what's in the English version)
• Konica I, Konica IIBm and Konica III at Nobu-chan's classic camera page
• Konica I, IIB-m and IIIA at 一里家
• Konica I (50mm f/3.5), Konica I (50mm f/2.8), Konica IIB, Konica IIA, Konica III MXL, Konica IIIA at Konika/Minoruta no ayumi
• Konica I, Konica IIBm, Konica III, Konica IIIL2, and Konica IIIA at Range Finder (Fukucame)
• Konica I and more pictures in Miyazawa Noriyuki's camera site
• Konica I and Konica IIIA at Itō Sadanobu's camera collection
• Konica I in various posts [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] of the Junk Binbō blog
• Konica I in Koujiya Camera's blog
• Konica I and Konica II in a page of the AJCC website
• Konica I, Konica IIB, Konica III, Konica IIIA and Rubicon II at Japan Family Camera
• Konica II at Honky Tonk Junk
• Konica II in the first page of the Yamada Camera Museum
• Konica II at Shashin o tanoshimu
• Konica IIA in the Camera Mini Museum by Shinmatsu
• Konica IIA, Konica III, Konica IIIA, Konica IIIM in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
• Konica III (black) in a page of classic cameras at Kimata Photo Studio
• Konica IIIA (50/1.8)
• Konica IIIM at Kuramoto Chokusō

In Chinese:

• Konica I, Konica II, Konica IIB, Konica III, Konica IIIA and Konica IIIM at www.ccc2000.net