Konica Auto S 261

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image by Michael Raso (Image rights)

The Auto S 261 is a c.1968 camera from Konica designed to accept drop-in 126 film cartridges. It stands apart from many "Instamatic" -era cameras by offering true rangefinder focus, as well as autoexposure which reads the correct ASA setting from notches in each loaded cartridge. This is powered by a (now-unavailable) 1.3v mercury battery and reads light levels using a CdS cell located within the lens barrel, to compensate for any attached filters.

The camera accepts flashcubes and has a setting to adjust the aperture based on the rangefinder's focus distance. Power for the flash requires two additional 1.5v penlight batteries.

This model was apparently uncommon enough to be missing from McKeown's. Its original advertised price was around USD $70, with a bonus "starter pack" of film, flashcubes, and batteries for an additional dollar.

Links

• Konica 261 user manual (PDF) at Mike Butkus's OrphanCameras.com