Konica

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The Famous Old Konica Colourwheel Logo

Konica (コニカ, Konika^?) was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers. The company traced its history back to 1873 when pharmacist Rokusaburo Sugiura began selling photographic materials at his store.

On August 5, 2003, Konica merged with Minolta to form Konica Minolta. In March 2007 the new company will close down its photo imaging division, which produces color film, color paper, photo chemicals and digital minilab machines. Its digital SLR camera section has been transferred to Sony. Dai Nippon will purchase Konica's Odawara factory site and continue to produce paper under its own brand, while Seapac will acquire the Konica chemical factory.

1 History
2 Products
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

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[edit] Products

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[edit] Film

Konica was a major producer of 35mm film and related products, including film development processors and printing technology. While never equal to giants like Kodak or Fuji, Konica film was generally acknowledged to be of excellent quality.

[edit] Cameras

[edit] 35mm Rangefinder

Konica 1(1946) Konica's first 35mm camera
Konica 2(1950)
Konica 3(1956)
Konica S(1959) with exposure meter
Konica S2(1961)
Konica S3(1963)
Konica Auto S(1963) first CdS AE camera
Konica Auto S2(1965)
Konica C35(1968) best seller compact camera
Konica C35 Flashmatic(1971)
Konica C35 E&L(1971) C35 economical model
Konica C35 EF(1975) first model with speedlight
Konica C35 AF(1977) first AF camera
Konica Hexar RF

[edit] F-mount SLRs

The first series of Konica single-lens reflex cameras used the Konica F lens mount, named after the first camera to use it. This was a bayonet mount, and is not compatible with later Konica lens mounts. The flange focal distance of the F-mount was 40.5 mm, one of the smallest ever used for a 35 mm SLR. The diameter was 40 mm.

It is not identical with Nikon_F-Mount, which has a much longer flange focal distance of 46.5 mm.

Konica F (1960-?)
Konica FS (1962-1964)
Konica FSW (1962-?
Konica FP (1963-?)
Konica Domirex (1963-?)
Konica FM (1965-?)

[edit] AR-mount SLRs

Konica's second series of SLR cameras began with 1965's Auto-Reflex. This line came to an end in 1987 when Konica abandoned the SLR market.

Konica's AR lens mount kept the same flange-film distance that the earlier Konica F lens mount had (40.5 mm), but it has a larger diameter of 47 mm.

Konica Auto-Reflex (1965-1968) Known as the Autorex in Japan.
Konica Auto-Reflex P (1966-1968) Known as the Autorex P in Japan.
Konica Autoreflex T (1968-1970)
Konica Autoreflex A (1968-1971)
Konica Autoreflex T2 (1970-1973)
Konica Autoreflex A2 (1971-1972)
Konica Autoreflex A1000 (1972-1973)
Konica Autoreflex T3 (1973-1975)
Konica Autoreflex A3 (1973-?)
Konica Autoreflex T3N (1975-1978)
Konica Autoreflex TC (1976-1982)
Konica Autoreflex T4 (1978-1979)
Konica FS-1 (1979-1983)
Konica FC-1 (1980-1983)
Konica FP-1 (1981-1983)
Konica FT-1 (1983-1987)
Konica TC-X (1985-1987) Built by Cosina.

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[edit] Lenses

Konica SLR interchangeable lenses were named Hexanon. The optical quality of most Hexanon lenses is regarded as truly superb, particularly the older fixed-focal length (prime) lenses. Many camera manufactureres of interchangeable lenses produce a few great lenses among their line, but Konica managed to achieve near excellent quality over a broad range of focal lengths. In lens tests conducted by several photographic publications over the years, the acutance and resolving power of Hexanon optics often surpassed many of their competitors at the time, and excellent even today (providing they haven't been abused or worn out).

[edit] See also

Fotomat - acquired by Konica in 1982.

[edit] References

Konica Minolta (2004). Konica Minolta - History. Retrieved on November 6, 2005.
Konica Minolta (2003). History of Konica. Retrieved on November 6, 2005.
Buhl, Andreas (2005). Konica Start page. Extensive Konica SLR site. Retrieved on November 6, 2005.