Konica Auto-Reflex

The Konica Auto-Reflex was Konica's first single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, introduced in 1965 and produced until 1968. It marked a significant step for Konica, transitioning the company from its established rangefinder heritage into the competitive SLR market of the mid-1960s. Utilizing the common 135 format (35mm), it incorporated several notable features for its time. Most importantly, it offered through-the-lens (TTL) metering coupled with an automatic exposure system, specifically aperture priority automation via a CdS cell. This allowed photographers to set the desired aperture while the camera automatically selected the correct shutter speed, simplifying exposure control. The camera utilized a Copal Square shutter with speeds ranging from 1s to 1/1000s. Its design was functional and relatively compact for the era, featuring Konica's proprietary Konica Hexanon lenses, known for good optical quality. While not achieving the iconic status of some contemporaries, the Auto-Reflex demonstrated Konica's engineering capability and was a competent, feature-rich SLR aimed at enthusiasts.