Difference between revisions of "Konica SF"
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{{Japanese medium format SLR}} | {{Japanese medium format SLR}} | ||
| − | The '''Konica SF''' (コニカSF) is a 4. | + | The '''Konica SF''' (コニカSF) is a 4.5×6 [[SLR]] camera made as a prototype by [[Konica|Konishiroku]] and showed in 1968.<REF name="date"> Lewis, p.125, says March 1968 for both the Konica SF and Koni-Omegaflex. Shirai, p.78, says that the Konica SF was announced in Spring 1967, at the same time as the Koni-Omegaflex M, but the latter camera is dated 1968 in many other sources. Hishida, p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10, says 1967 too, but the text is obviously based on Shirai. </REF> |
== Description == | == Description == | ||
The Konica SF has exchangeable film backs for 15<!-- yes, 15 --> frames on [[120 film|120]] or 30<!-- yes --> frames on [[120 film#220_film|220 film]], a metal [[focal plane shutter|focal-plane shutter]] by [[Copal]] (1–1000, B),<REF> Shutter by Copal: Lewis, p.125, and Hishida, p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> and [[TTL|through-the-lens]] metering for [[shutter priority|shutter-priority]] automatic exposure. The design allows for interchangeable lenses and finders, and the lens mount is compatible with [[Hasselblad]]. The lenses made for the Hasselblad can be mounted on the Konica SF but can be used in manual exposure mode only.<REF name="KKS10 p81"> Hishida, p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> The dedicated SF lenses have an additional pin for auto-exposure operation, and they cannot be mounted on the Hasselblad.<REF name="KKS10 p81" /> The [[film advance]] knob is interchangeable too and can be replaced by an advance crank; this would have allowed the future development of a motor-drive.<REF name="KKS10 p81" /> | The Konica SF has exchangeable film backs for 15<!-- yes, 15 --> frames on [[120 film|120]] or 30<!-- yes --> frames on [[120 film#220_film|220 film]], a metal [[focal plane shutter|focal-plane shutter]] by [[Copal]] (1–1000, B),<REF> Shutter by Copal: Lewis, p.125, and Hishida, p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> and [[TTL|through-the-lens]] metering for [[shutter priority|shutter-priority]] automatic exposure. The design allows for interchangeable lenses and finders, and the lens mount is compatible with [[Hasselblad]]. The lenses made for the Hasselblad can be mounted on the Konica SF but can be used in manual exposure mode only.<REF name="KKS10 p81"> Hishida, p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> The dedicated SF lenses have an additional pin for auto-exposure operation, and they cannot be mounted on the Hasselblad.<REF name="KKS10 p81" /> The [[film advance]] knob is interchangeable too and can be replaced by an advance crank; this would have allowed the future development of a motor-drive.<REF name="KKS10 p81" /> | ||
| − | == | + | == Development and fate == |
| + | [[Konica|Konishiroku]]'s medium-format SLR project started in June 1965.<REF name="Shirai 81"> Shirai, p.81. </REF> (Actually, the company had already built a prototype 6×6cm SLR in the 1940s or early 1950s, but almost nothing is known on that camera, see [[Konishiroku 6×6 SLR]].) The main objectives were a good image quality, an advanced exposure system, the ability to take snapshots, and a price as low as possible.<REF name="Shirai 81" /> The potential customers were mainly professional studio or scientific photographers and high-end amateurs, but the camera would have to be usable for press photography too.<REF name="Shirai 81" /> The main designer for the project was Nenoi Masayuki (根ノ井正之), who also designed the Konica Auto S and Konica Domirex.<REF> Shirai, pp.80–1. </REF> | ||
| + | |||
The camera was announced in photography magazines in Spring 1968, at the same time as the [[Koni-Omegaflex M]].<REF name="date" /> Two prototypes were made,<REF name="KKS10 p81" /> and one of them has been photographed and exhibited with a [[pentaprism]] finder and an 80mm f/2.8 Hexanon standard lens; it was notably displayed at the [[JCII]] exhibition about Konica and Minolta in 2005. Prototypes of a wide-angle 50mm f/3.5 and a tele 135mm f/3.5 were made, and other lenses were planned but never made: 35/4, 180/4.5, 250/5.6 and 500/8.<REF> Hishida; p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. This source shows a picture of the 50/3.5 and 135/3.5. </REF> | The camera was announced in photography magazines in Spring 1968, at the same time as the [[Koni-Omegaflex M]].<REF name="date" /> Two prototypes were made,<REF name="KKS10 p81" /> and one of them has been photographed and exhibited with a [[pentaprism]] finder and an 80mm f/2.8 Hexanon standard lens; it was notably displayed at the [[JCII]] exhibition about Konica and Minolta in 2005. Prototypes of a wide-angle 50mm f/3.5 and a tele 135mm f/3.5 were made, and other lenses were planned but never made: 35/4, 180/4.5, 250/5.6 and 500/8.<REF> Hishida; p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. This source shows a picture of the 50/3.5 and 135/3.5. </REF> | ||
| − | The Konica SF never went into full production, | + | The Konica SF never went into full production. One cause for this was Nenoi's unexpected death.<REF> Shirai, pp.81 and 86, repeated in Hishida, p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> In addition to that, Konica officials interviewed in the late 1970s explained that the company did not want to disperse its efforts on too many projects.<REF> Shirai, p.86, repeated in Hishida, p.81 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> It may also be speculated that the camera was too expensive to manufacture with the technology of the time. |
| + | |||
| + | The Konica SF was the first Japanese 4.5×6 SLR, years before the [[Mamiya M645]], and one of the first medium-format [[SLR]]s in the world to have automatic exposure. The same year 1968, [[Minolta]] made a prototype SLR in 6×6cm format, the [[Minolta SR66]], having an electronically controlled shutter, perhaps enabling auto-exposure too, but that project was also shelved. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 21:24, 1 September 2010
The Konica SF (コニカSF) is a 4.5×6 SLR camera made as a prototype by Konishiroku and showed in 1968.[1]
Description
The Konica SF has exchangeable film backs for 15 frames on 120 or 30 frames on 220 film, a metal focal-plane shutter by Copal (1–1000, B),[2] and through-the-lens metering for shutter-priority automatic exposure. The design allows for interchangeable lenses and finders, and the lens mount is compatible with Hasselblad. The lenses made for the Hasselblad can be mounted on the Konica SF but can be used in manual exposure mode only.[3] The dedicated SF lenses have an additional pin for auto-exposure operation, and they cannot be mounted on the Hasselblad.[3] The film advance knob is interchangeable too and can be replaced by an advance crank; this would have allowed the future development of a motor-drive.[3]
Development and fate
Konishiroku's medium-format SLR project started in June 1965.[4] (Actually, the company had already built a prototype 6×6cm SLR in the 1940s or early 1950s, but almost nothing is known on that camera, see Konishiroku 6×6 SLR.) The main objectives were a good image quality, an advanced exposure system, the ability to take snapshots, and a price as low as possible.[4] The potential customers were mainly professional studio or scientific photographers and high-end amateurs, but the camera would have to be usable for press photography too.[4] The main designer for the project was Nenoi Masayuki (根ノ井正之), who also designed the Konica Auto S and Konica Domirex.[5]
The camera was announced in photography magazines in Spring 1968, at the same time as the Koni-Omegaflex M.[1] Two prototypes were made,[3] and one of them has been photographed and exhibited with a pentaprism finder and an 80mm f/2.8 Hexanon standard lens; it was notably displayed at the JCII exhibition about Konica and Minolta in 2005. Prototypes of a wide-angle 50mm f/3.5 and a tele 135mm f/3.5 were made, and other lenses were planned but never made: 35/4, 180/4.5, 250/5.6 and 500/8.[6]
The Konica SF never went into full production. One cause for this was Nenoi's unexpected death.[7] In addition to that, Konica officials interviewed in the late 1970s explained that the company did not want to disperse its efforts on too many projects.[8] It may also be speculated that the camera was too expensive to manufacture with the technology of the time.
The Konica SF was the first Japanese 4.5×6 SLR, years before the Mamiya M645, and one of the first medium-format SLRs in the world to have automatic exposure. The same year 1968, Minolta made a prototype SLR in 6×6cm format, the Minolta SR66, having an electronically controlled shutter, perhaps enabling auto-exposure too, but that project was also shelved.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lewis, p.125, says March 1968 for both the Konica SF and Koni-Omegaflex. Shirai, p.78, says that the Konica SF was announced in Spring 1967, at the same time as the Koni-Omegaflex M, but the latter camera is dated 1968 in many other sources. Hishida, p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, says 1967 too, but the text is obviously based on Shirai.
- ↑ Shutter by Copal: Lewis, p.125, and Hishida, p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Hishida, p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Shirai, p.81.
- ↑ Shirai, pp.80–1.
- ↑ Hishida; p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10. This source shows a picture of the 50/3.5 and 135/3.5.
- ↑ Shirai, pp.81 and 86, repeated in Hishida, p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
- ↑ Shirai, p.86, repeated in Hishida, p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
Bibliography
- Hishida Kōshirō (菱田耕四郎). "Konica History 11: Maboroshi no kamera to tokushu kamera" (幻のカメラと特殊カメラ, Phantom cameras and special 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.81–2.
- Konika-Minoruta-ten (コニカミノルタ展, Konica Minolta exhibition). Exhibition catalogue. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005.
- 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). P.125.
- Shirai Tatsuo (白井達男). "Konika SF" (コニカSF, Konica SF). Pp.77–86 of Maboroshi no kamera o otte (幻のカメラを追って, Pursuing phantom cameras). Gendai Kamera Shinsho (現代カメラ新書). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1982. ISBN 4-257-08077-9. (First published in Kamera Rebyū / Camera Review no.9, November 1979.)
