Konica Autoreflex

The Auto-Reflex and Autoreflex is a series of 35mm SLR cameras made by Konica from 1965. All these models have the Konica AR bayonet.

Konica Auto-Reflex

The Konica Auto-Reflex of 1965 was the world's first successful auto exposure 35mm SLR; hence the name. This model and its rarer, meterless companion the Konica Auto-Reflex P are the only models where "Auto-Reflex" is hyphenated. These are also the only two SLRs offering a choice of full- or half-frame exposures, switched by a lever on top of the camera. The frame size can be changed between 24×36 landscape and 18×24 portrait in mid-roll.

The Autorex is the Japanese, home market version of the camera. In Germany the camera was also sold as as Revue Auto-Reflex.

The Auto-Reflex broke new ground, but doesn't meter through the lens. The sensor is mounted on the front, righthand side of the camera. TTL auto exposure was also pioneered in a Konica a few years later, with the Autoreflex T (FTA in Japan).

It has the Konica AR bayonet, and shutter-priority auto-exposure with built-in CdS light meter beside the lens. PX675 type mercury batteries are only needed for the light meter. Shutter speeds run from 1s to 1/1000s and B.

See also: 47-100mm f3.5 Hexanon AR-H lens.

Konica Auto-Reflex P

The Konica Auto-Reflex P is basically a stripped-down Auto-Reflex without light meter and therefore without auto-exposure. In Japan it was sold as Autorex P, in Germany as the Revue Auto-Reflex SP.

It is fully mechanical and therefore does not have batteries. The shutter speeds are the same: 1s to 1/1000s and B. As with the Auto-Reflex, the frame size can be switched between 24×36mm landscape and 18×24mm portrait mid-roll.

Autoreflex T

The Autoreflex T was the first 35mm SLR with auto-exposure and TTL metering combined in one body. In Japan it was sold as FTA, in Germany as Revue Autoreflex TTL.

It is fully mechanical with shutter-priority auto exposure. The batteries (2x PX 675 type mercury cells) were only needed for the CdS light meter. The shutter speed range was from 1s to 1/1000s and B.

Autoreflex A

The Autoreflex A is a stripped-down Autoreflex T without self-timer, mirror lock-up, depth-of-field preview, on/off-switch, and battery control, and with 1/500s top shutter speed.

Autoreflex T2

The Autoreflex T2 is an improved Autoreflex T. The engravings on the body still say Autoreflex T. In Japan it was sold as (New) FTA.

Autoreflex A2

The Autoreflex A2 is an improved Autoreflex A or stripped-down Autoreflex T2 without self-timer, mirror lock-up, depth-of-field preview, on/off-switch, and battery control, and with 1/500s top shutter speed. The engravings still say Autoreflex A.

Autoreflex A1000

The Autoreflex A1000 is an improved Autoreflex A2 or stripped-down Autoreflex T2, with a top shutter speed of 1/1000s, but without self timer, on/off switch, depth-of-field preview, and mirror lock-up. It was sold only in the USA.

Autoreflex T3 and T3N

The Autoreflex T3 is an improved Autoreflex T2, now providing stop-down (depth-of-field) preview, double-exposure possibility as well as a wider range of film sensitivities (ISO 12–3200).

The Autoreflex T3N is an improved version of the T3 with a fixed hot shoe and a viewfinder shutter, while the earlier T3 has a detachable accessory shoe. The engravings still say "Autoreflex T3".

Autoreflex A3

The Autoreflex A3 is a stripped-down Autoreflex T3 without self-timer, depth-of-field preview, mirror lock-up, multi-exposure provision, on/off switch, battery control, M flash synch, and hot shoe.

Autoreflex T4

The Autoreflex T4 looks similar to the simpler Autoreflex TC. Both are smaller than the earlier Autoreflex bodies, uses plastic top plate, but frame is still made of metal.

It is still a full-featured, fully mechanical SLR with a CdS TTL light meter and shutter-priority auto-exposure. The shutter speed range is 1s to 1/1000s and B, and the batteries (two PX625 mercury cells) are only needed for the light meter.

Autoreflex TC

The Autoreflex TC is a simpler version of the Autoreflex T4. The shutter speeds run from 1/8 to 1/1000s and B. In Japan it was sold as the Autoreflex ACOM-1.

Links

General links

• www.buhla.de: Konica SLR system, with detailed pages about every model in the Auto-Reflex/Autoreflex range, for example:
  • Auto-Reflex
  • Autoreflex T
  • Autoreflex A
  • Autoreflex T2
  • Differences between the Autoreflex T and T2
  • Autoreflex A2
  • Differences between the Autoreflex A and A2
  • Autoreflex T3
  • Autoreflex T3N
  • Differences between the Autoreflex T3 and T3N
  • Autoreflex A3
  • Autoreflex T4
  • Autoreflex TC

Repair notes

• Konica Autoreflex TC shutter servicing notes at Rick Oleson's website