Konica collection update

[@bjornthalin8285]

I am a Konica-only collector in Sweden. Some 1100 items in total. Good to see other people rediscovering this amazing brand.

[@gregoryluna535]

Just returning to film have a Konica set up on the way. Taking a trip to Sweden in 6 weeks and will shoot some B&W. Is film easy to get in Sweden?

[@bjornthalin8285]

@@gregoryluna535 Hi, I am a collector only. Know little about film, but if you tell me what you want I can look around.

[@gregoryluna535]

@@bjornthalin8285 I’ll have a digital camera but I’ll also have a Konica Autoreflex T2 with 35mm and 57mm lenses. I’ll bring some film but wasn’t sure how easily I can pick it up in Sweden. It will be my first visit. Uppsala, Vasteras, Ezkiltuna, Nykoping, and Stockholm. G

[@MrGranovski]

Back in the early 70's I wished I would have listened to my city's high-end camera store recommendation for the AR System. Now pushing 67, I took his heed and have a nice collection.

[@1973sonvis]

The Konica SLR system deserve some love! Really great cameras and lenses.

[@jeghedderhenrik]

i agree, konica got a lot of personality and its own look, totally forgotten, deserve all the attention

[@linjicakonikon7666]

I've bought two Autoreflex T2 cameras in the last year, each with 28mmf3.5 Hexanon (my standard focal length). I have a bevy of Nikon/ Nikomat cameras plus a Canon F1n. I love all these cameras. Thank you for your channel, both for it's content as well as your well articulated presentation.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Always glad to meet another fan of the old "built like a tank" 35's!

[@randallstewart175]

A friend of mine collected Konica for years, but I never paid much attention. I'll have to explore the collection next time I visit. I am a terrific fan of their medium format system based on the Koni Omega.

[@johnapperson7495]

Konica is so great, really love them. Cant quit buying them and rebuilding them. If anyone needs help let me know. Brian I also have fell in Love with these OLE Konicas

[@jordanbouwer8081]

Love it, I have a few of the cameras ( T2, A3, T3, TC ) and lenses myself that I've collected over the past year and a half. Love using the 40mm 1.8 with the TC even though the cameras split-prism doesn't completely line-up at infinity focus (doesn't affect final image). Enjoy using these cameras and I'm happy with the results I get.

[@RetifsGarage]

Konica is a great system ! I have a T2, a T3 a Tc plus a whole set of the excellent Hexanon lenses but my favorite one is the konica that allows half-frame and full frame shooting ! Nice vidéo !

[@MrGranovski]

Wow, it's a pleasure to meat a Konica expert.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

'Tis a sad commentary on the state of knowledge in the collector community if an average middle-age dude like me is now an "expert". But thanks, I do appreciate the kind words.

[@MrGranovski]

@@BriansPhotoShow I was trying to be polite because you love Konica AR like me..

[@smyrnianlink]

@@MrGranovski Keep trying :)

[@wcrofford]

Back in 1972-73 my 1st camera was Konica t3, it since went missing and I`ve purchased another one w/ 50mm f/1.4. Apparently the fé1.7 was the best of the 50mm offerings. I also just bought a 200mm for $50 CA and have a 35mm coming. My primary use will be (at least for now) is for B&W. I just remember how sharp the images were back in the day; my daughter used it whiling in high school and developing B & W also remarked how sharp and clean the images were. For now I will have the film developed by a lab and scan with my canon t3i using the 50mm lens with extension tubes. As soon as I get a handle on this one I hope to add a 6x6 (tlr) or 645 (not sure which one) to the collection.

[@bennett4490]

My wife's grandfather left a Konica T2 with a 52mm 1.8... I now have several, including my favorite T3n. Still love the 52mm but I grabbed an 85mm 1.8 which is awesome, and have a 57mm 1.4 on the way... It really is an underestimated system!

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I'm still kicking myself for selling my Hexanon 85/1.8 years ago . . .

[@bennett4490]

@@BriansPhotoShow I've been stalking them on ebay for months... finally found a cheap one with a little fungus that hasn't affected image quality one bit! Saved a couple hundred bucks from the most expensive options.

[@rpdee7344]

Konica Autoreflex T2 with a 50mm f1.4 lens was the 1st pro-style 35mm camera I used with Sunpak flashes for wedding photography, love the camera cause of the lens EE setting and the rugged copal shutter with a sync speed of 125th for electronic flash. The lenses are super sharp and with may versions to choose from. Used mine with a Tamron 35-80 zoom on my Autoreflex T3. I agree that the earlier models were built like and weigh like a tank and some of the last models were consumer-grade with more plastic bodies, fewer features but were comparable to other brands of its day. After Konica, I upgraded to medium format camera with a Mamiya 645 with an 80mm lens that used a 120mm/220 mm film. I have adapted the Konica lenses with a manual adapter to use on my Sony SLT A-mount cameras.

[@Magnetron692]

Hi Brian, did you know: There was an adapter made by Konica available (and still is on eBay), with which you can adapt Nikkor lenses on these Konica cameras. So you can use both systems, the Nikon and the Konica lenses. Best wishes, Ralf

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I'm more interested in the factory adapter for M42 lenses so I don't have to buy a Spotmatic.

[@tomallen6073]

Picked up an all black T3 on your recommendation, I already own a couple TC and a few hexanon lenses from my days of shooting film.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I'm fond of my little TC but the T3 is tops in Konica world. Enjoy!

[@AbDaniel21]

i´ve really enjoyed watching this

[@tomc8273]

Nice video, good information, Thanks. Don't own any Konica but information and education are always good!

[@samsen3965]

Wish you expand your Konica collection and share your journey here with us. I have no doubt they worth every penny you spend on, only multiply by a bigger number. Time will prove this.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I believe Konica is the best deal for the money, as compared to all other classic manual-focus 35mm systems.

[@sonuvasteele2226]

Ita my favorite system ever. I have several lenses amd camera models. T3n, TCX, TC-1, T4, TC, auto S2. FS1. All in working condition. The lenses are great. Really sharp. If you dont have one, I highly recommend it. People sont talk about Konica enough. That pancake lense is super sharp and compact.

[@samsen3965]

5:30 Thanks for this important piece of info.

[@heroaomedia]

I understand that it stands up to the Nikon and Takumar but does anything stand up to Contax Zeiss or Leica R? I know Takumar, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Minolta don't but wondering if Konica or Zuiko could.

[@johnapperson7495]

BRIAN you are going to have to get the FS-1 You will love it

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I'd rather have an FC-1 but I'm not sure how reliable the electronics are

[@johnapperson7495]

@@BriansPhotoShow USE only Alkaline Battery's and they either work or dont. But it is automatic wind and it winds the film for you

[@rpdee7344]

@@BriansPhotoShow The electronics can be an issue if you don't remove the batteries between uses/ rolls of film. I own 1 1/2 dead ones which is to bad cause the cameras have lots of nice features along with the built-in motor drive.

[@cjewe1z]

Can you let me know how to tell the difference between the three different versions of the Konica Hexanon AR 50mm 1.7 please?

[@BriansPhotoShow]

This is the best source I am aware of: www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/Objektive/e50_17.html

[@tomallen6073]

My first SLR was a Konica TC, Great little camera and the hexagon lenses are excellent also. Still have mine, not going anywhere. Just waiting out the digital fad!

[@rpdee7344]

You might have a long wait, use the hexagon lenses on a mirrorless camera instead, still take great photos at a reasonable cost per vintage lenses.

[@russellwelton813]

Hi Brian - Love your photo show! So, I am so keen to get on the Konica 'train'/cabin/tuk tuk. As such I have purchased a TC with 50mm 1.7 but it seems I can't get access to clean the internal side of the focus plate. The shutter is so powerful it has pounded the pads into many tiny black pieces and I just cant clear them out. Could the dirt be on the prism and is this also servicable? Ok - I purchased it on Ebay from 'Camera Collector' with a wide range of camera items. However - I'm in two minds if I should send it back as the lens isn't particularly free of small 'artifact' dust either. Am I expecting too much or should I anticipate definite maintenance on this item which is now 44 years old? (The same as me and my somewhat sentimental purchase). I don't want to be unreasonable but it just detracts a lot from the viewing experience to a point which makes me think this is why it's been moved on. I'd really appreciate your thoughts if I should shell for light seals, lens cleaning, mirror pads and camera service. Logic says no. Keep up the excellent content sir!

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Sounds like you need new mirror foam. The dirt in the prism may be desiccated mirror foam. If it were me I'd ask the tech to get the focusing screen as clean as possible without removing the top plate. A bit of dust in the prism won't affect the pictures.

[@martiningram8799]

Hi Brian, thank you for this! It's really great you are popularising Konica, I for one would not have known about them without your work. They seem like they are unjustly ignored. One question for you: can you comment on the build quality of the Konica lenses? I know you mentioned the T-series are well built; how about the lenses themselves, compared to Nikon and any other contemporary lenses? I've heard they are well made. Personally I'm a sucker for all-metal lenses with smooth focusing, so that could sway me in the favour of trying a Konica system.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Hexanon lenses are extremely well made, at least up until the 80s. Personally, I avoid the later downsized Hexanons. The earlier "classic" Hexanons stopped down to only f/16. Some of the later Hexanons which stopped down to f/22 are perfectly good, others less so.

[@SammyandTex2]

do you have konica made adapters for exakta,praktika and nikon lens to konica bodie ?

[@BriansPhotoShow]

No, I don't.

[@mvonwalter6927]

@@BriansPhotoShow This could be the secret to the Autoreflex resurgence. That super short flange distance could be a fantastic platform for lens adapting, especially for ancient stop-down legacy lenses. M42 comes to mind. The adapters are rare though, and probably cost more than most Autoreflexes!

[@apostolicbible1]

There's lots of people who use Hexanon lenses on mirrorless cameras. I have about 20 Hexanon lenses which I started using in my Canon M, M3, M50, RP and now R8. So far I like the 55mm f3.5 the best. The 15mm goes for a $1000.00.

[@paulgreen6903]

At time frame.....7:45......you said CANON and MINOLTA.....can t say that......What do s that mean? Are you saying that ....KWANNON (Canon ) and MINOLTA......lens are not as good as KONICA? i hope not.....as i have sold many 35 m.m. products.........and their all equal.

[@EridenEstrella]

Hi! I'm building my Konica collection too. It's better to stay away from F22 lenses

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I'm not sure that's true across the board. Would you avoid the f/22 versions of the 50/1.4 or 24/2.8?