The Auto-Reflex and Autoreflex is a series of 35mm SLR cameras made by Konica from 1965 to 1988.konicafiles.com, Konica TC-X (1985-1988) Retrieved 7 November 2020. All these models have the Konica AR bayonet.

Konica AR-mount

The Konica AR camera lens mount was introduced in 1965 alongside the Konica Auto-Reflex (Autorex for the Japanese market). Konica sold a range of lenses for the AR-mount branded Hexanon, joined later by a budget line branded Hexar. The AR-mount features a relatively short flange focal distance of 40.5 mm for a 35 mm film SLR camera. Its diameter is 47 mm.

The focal lengths offered by Konica ranged from 21 mm to 2000 mm along with a 15 mm fisheye lens; from the start, one zoom, the 47-100mm f3.5 Hexanon AR-H, was offered.hifi-archiv.info/Foto, Konica Auto-Reflex, catalogue pages 6 and 7 (German). Retrieved 8. November 2020. In addition, Konica also initially offered a line of Hexanon lenses with preset diaphragm operation, which were optically identical to the preceding Konica F-mount lenses, updated with mechanical interfaces directly compatible with AR-mount cameras. Adapters were available to mount older Konica F-mount lenses on AR-mount bodies.

The Konica AR-mount SLR camera and Hexanon lens lines were discontinued in late 1988.

Mount types The AR-mount lenses may be divided into several types, based mostly on cosmetics. When the Autoreflex T was introduced in 1967, Konica added a lever to signal the widest aperture setting for the through-the-lens (TTL) in-body light meter; Konica also offered a free service to retrofit the earliest AR-mount lenses with the new lever.

+AR lens mount types Style Approximate dates Cosmetics Functionality Notes Fixed portion of lens body Autoexposure setting marked as Focusing ring Widest aperture coupling 1 1965–1967 Chrome yellow "" All-metal, splined 1T 1968–1969 rowspan=5 Updated with widest aperture signaling lever for TTL metering with Autoreflex T 2E 1970–1973 Black All-metal, splinedRubber inset with fine pyramid pattern Changes to focusing ring phased in gradually starting in 1970 2L 1973 green "" Rubber inset with fine pyramid pattern "EE" mark color change around 1973 3 1974–1982 green "" Some lenses modified after 1976 (click stops for full stops, instead of half-stops) and 1979 (addition of settings) 3S 1983–1987 Plastic with fine pyramid pattern Further cost reductions starting with introduction of FT-1 & TC-X

List of Konica AR-mount lenses +Konica Hexanon and Hexar AR-mount lenses FL (mm) Ap. Angle Ele / Grp Min. focus Filt (mm) Wgt Dia × Len Notes Fisheye lenses 15 180° 9/6 built-in "UC" (ultra compact) line Wide angle lenses 21 90° 9/8 55 11/7 77 24 84° 8/8 55 28 75° 8/8 55 "UC" (ultra compact) line Preset diaphragm 7/7 55 5/5 55 Hexar 35 63° 9/7 55 6/5 55 Preset diaphragm 6/5 55 Normal lenses 40 56° 6/5 55 50 46° 7/6 55 6/5 55 55 52 45° 6/5 55 57 42° 7/6 55 6/5 55 Portrait lenses 85 28° 6/5 55 100 24° 5/4 55 135 18° 4/4 62 5/4 55 4/4 55 Preset diaphragm 4/4 55 Hexar 4/4 55 Telephoto lenses 200 12° 5/4 67 5/5 72 Preset diaphragm 5/5 55 4/4 55 Hexar 6/4 Preset diaphragm 300 8° 8/5 72 9/5 55 Fluorite elements 400 6° 4/4 55 Manual diaphragm 9/5 77 "UC" (ultra compact) line 800 3° 2/1 55 Manual diaphragm 1000 2° 7/6 55 Reflex lens 2000 1° 9/8 55 Reflex lens Zoom lenses 28–135 75–18° 18/12 67 35–70 63–34° 9/9 55 35–100 63–24° 15/10 82 Varifocal design 45–100 52–24° 11/10 55 "UC" (ultra compact) line 47–100 49–24° 13/8 52 58–400 41–6° 14/9 55 Manual aperture 65–135 36–18° 13/9 55 70–230 34–11° Preset diaphragm 80–200 31–12° 17/10 67 ?× 14/10 62 "UC" (ultra compact) line 55 Teleconverters 2× ×2 × 6/5 Same Generally suited for lenses ≥ 100 mm; with shorter lenses, stop down to or smaller. Macro lenses 55 43° 4/3 55 105 23° 5/3 55 Requires accessory bellows or Konica Auto Helicoid; min. focus given with Helicoid.

Konica AR-mount SLR cameras +Konica AR-mount SLR cameras Gen Name Img Intro Disc -frame switchable Meter AE Shutter Dimensions US JP EU Type Speeds Synch Wgt W×H×D 1 Auto-Reflex Autorex Revue Auto-Reflex 1965 1968 non-TTL CdS S Mech. B+1- s  s Auto-Reflex P Autorex P Revue SP 1966 1968 Accessory 2 Autoreflex T FTA Revue TTL 1968 1970 TTL, 2×CdS S Mech. B+1- s  s Autoreflex A 1968 1971 TTL, 2×CdS S B+1- s 3 Autoreflex T2 New FTA 1970 1973 TTL, 2×CdS S Mech. B+1- s  s Autoreflex A2 1971 1972 TTL, 2×CdS S B+1- s Autoreflex A1000 1972 1973 TTL, 2×CdS S B+1- s 4 Autoreflex T3 1973 1975 TTL, 2×CdS S Mech. B+1- s  s Autoreflex A3 1973 TTL, 2×CdS S Autoreflex T3N 1975 1978 TTL, 2×CdS S 5 Autoreflex TC ACOM-1 1976 1982 TTL, 2×CdS S Mech. B+- s  s Autoreflex T4 1978 1979 TTL, 2×CdS S Mech. B+1- s  s 6 FS-1 1979 1983 rowspan=2 TTL, 2×GaAs S Elec. B+2- s  s FC-1 1980 1983 FP-1 1981 1983 TTL, 2×CdS P only Elec. - s  s FT-1 1983 1987 TTL, SPD S Elec. B+2- s  s TC-X 1985 1987 TTL, 2×CdS S Elec. B+- s  s Konica Auto-Reflex, Autorex, and Revue Auto-Reflex

The Konica Auto-Reflex of 1965 was the first focal-plane-shutter 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 that ever offered 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.

Autorex is the name for the domestic Japanese market. In Germany the camera was also sold as Revue Auto-Reflex.

For the Auto-Reflex, the meter sensor is mounted on the front, right-hand side of the camera. This is not TTL metering, although it does offer a shutter-preferred, auto-exposure mode. TTL auto exposure appeared in a Konica a few years later, with the Autoreflex T (FTA in Japan).

It has the new Konica Bayonet II mount, which is also often called K/AR mount. PX675 type mercury batteries are only needed for the light meter. Shutter speeds run from 1s to 1/1000 and B.

Lenses, Konica named them Hexanon, with focal lengths from 21 mm to 1000 mm and a 47-100mm f3.5 Hexanon AR-H were offered; additionally a bellows and an angle viewfinder.

All versions of this model were available in both matte chrome and all-black finishes. All-black cameras are considerably rarer and tend to be more valuable.

Lenses offered with the Auto-Reflex/Autorex are a bit unusual, too. They originally did not have a registration notch on the rear, which was needed with latter TTL metered models but was unnecessary on this model. The notch tells the camera the lens' maximum aperture. At the time the later models were introduced, many Auto-Reflex/FTA lenses were sent in for a service upgrade to modify them for use with the TTL models. For a period of time, factory service facilities performed this service for free. The result is that un-modified original Auto-Reflex/Autorex lenses are somewhat unusual today.

Also, normal lenses sold with the Revue version of this camera were often unlabelled, fitted with a plain finish ring that did not have the Hexanon name on it.

Konishiroku apparently did not rebrand any of their K/AR mount SLR models for sale through Montgomery Ward in the United States, as they had with the FP in the earlier mount. They did continue to market a number of rebadged rangefinder cameras through Wards, however (EEMatic and Auto S models, for example).

Konica Auto-Reflex P, Autorex P, and Revue Auto-Reflex SP

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 1/1000 and B. As with the Auto-Reflex, the frame size can be switched between 24×36mm landscape and 18×24mm portrait mid-roll.

There is a special accessory light meter offered for use with the P models.

It is believed all versions of these models were only offered in matte chrome finish.

There is in existence a black finish Konica Auto-Reflex P camera which has just come to light. Serial number 857560. This camera is in full working order and good cosmetic condition. Picture can be made available.

Autoreflex T, FTA, and Revue TTL

The Autoreflex T was the first focal plane shutter 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 (two PX 675 type mercury cells) were only needed for the CdS light meter. The shutter speed range was from 1s to 1/1000 and B.

There is one rare and special version of this model, known as the Autoreflex W. This is a camera fitted with a special timing back, for use at sporting events. It imprints the time of the exposure on each frame of film. The back is similar in function to the one offered in 1963 on the Konica FS-W, an F/FS mount camera.

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 1/500 top shutter speed.

Autoreflex T2 and New FTA

The Autoreflex T2 is an improved Autoreflex T. The model name on the body still says "Autoreflex T". In Japan it was sold as "New" FTA. Both the versions of T and FTA were hugely successful and are still widely found today. These models might be considered the SLRs that truly established Konica's reputation for quality. Many of both versions continue to function well 35 or more years after they were manufactured.

The most recognizable differences between the T1 and T2 (and FTA and "New" FTA) is that the latter has the on/off switch as a small collar that rotates around the shutter release button. On the earlier camera, the switch was located on the back, left-hand side. Also omitted from the later camera is a small lever under the shutter speed dial labeled "Override" on the earlier camera. This change shows the improved range of the meter sensitivity, and the override capability was no longer considered necessary.

The T2/"New" FTA also saw a number of small, internal changes in the materials used and methods of assembly. This was largely to make the camera more easily serviced. For example, where some brass screws were used originally, these were replaced with stronger steel screws that were less inclined to strip or snap off when being removed.

Although the names T2 or "New" FTA never actually appeared on the outside of the camera, there were references to the model designation in Konishiroku memos and literature at the time. Service bulletins, for example, distinguished the later cameras from the earlier by reference to these model designations. Also, note that the next model offered was known as the Autoreflex T3.

One small flaw found in Autoreflex T is the battery compartment. It appears the wrong type of flux was used when soldering the wire connections. This makes the wire and solder more vulnerable to any battery leakage, more prone to corrosion. The fix is simple, though. Perhaps 9 out of 10 times an Autoreflex T with a non-responsive meter can be easily repaired with a little cleaning and soldering.

Both the Autoreflex T"2" and "New" FTA can be found in both matte chrome and all black finishes. The black versions are rarer and more valuable.

There was also an optional split image focus assist screen available on a few of this model. Up to now, the Konica K/AR cameras all had matte focus screens with a micro-diaprism dot in the center to help with focus. The split focus assist feature is not interchangeable by the user (the way some camera's focus screens are), and is pretty rare. (Note: In the earlier F/FS mount, Konica has similar screens with matte field and a central micro-diaprism dot, except for the highly valued and rare Konica F which not only had an interchangeable pentaprism, but also had the split image focus assist feature.)