Konica FM
The Konica FM was the last of the Bayonet Mount I (aka "Early" or "F-Mount") SLR cameras from Konishiroku. It was introduced in 1964. The next Konica, the Auto-Reflex, would have a larger diameter bayonet mount allowing the linkage for aperture control to be completely enclosed within it.
The Konica FM joined an early 1960s mini-boom for SLRs with a CdS meter eye just under the rewind crank, such as the Minolta SR-7, Yashica J-3, Canon FX, and the like. The FM's meter was powered by a single 625 mercury cell (1.3V).
The FM continued use of the Copal Square shutter found in the F series predecessors and shared the same specifications as the FP and FS models.
By the time the FM went into production, Konishiroku was beginning to hit is stride in camera production with four years experience in the manufacturing of SLRs.
The FM are wonderful handling cameras. Currently, few can be found with accurate, working light meters. However, because the Konica FM is a fully-mechanical in operation, the camera is usable without the meter.
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| image by Alan Myers (Image rights) |
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| 52mm Hexanon 1:1.8 lens image by Kim MacPherson (Image rights) |
Links
- Konica FM user manual at Konica-collector.org
- August, 1965, Konica FM advertising (Modern Photography Vol. 29, No. 8; page 7)
