You certainly do find them, Tim. Konicas are rare birds. And I can sort of see why, to be honest. It's quite interesting seeing you get into it, though. I often find that the best part of your videos. Keep digging them out. 😁
Cheers Neville, the first Autoreflex (I think it was either a model T or A) was at an auto jumble - I really liked how it fired (not knowing that it had the lovely Copal shutter inside at that time) - I very nearly bought it, but I was trying to be good, and had already bought another camera. I regretted not buying it as soon as I got home, so adding some form of Autoreflex to the collection was inevitable sooner or later. If I had all the time in the world I could happily spend it dismantling and repairing old film cameras......
That's fantastic Scott, a vintage camera is even nicer when it belonged to a family member. The first time I held a Konica (it was either an Autorex T or A) I fell in love with it, but bizarrely I didn't buy it because I'd already bought a camera that day and I was trying to limit myself!!! From that day it was inevitable that I'd get one sooner or later.......
"Simply a case of reassembling the camera", made me chuckle Tim. Nothing about the inner workings of this old snapper (the camera, not you) looked simple, but I guess it is a testimony to the quality of construction that it works at all. I wonder how many of today's digital cameras will still work 60 years from now. Very enjoyable to watch someone with the skill and knowledge to fettle these old machines - thanks for sharing.
Hi David, theoretically, if I've made notes and taken photos as I dismantle a camera, the reassembly is usually easier than the disassembly. There are occasions when realigning gears or linkages correctly can be a bit of a pain, and putting in aperture blades or the blades from a leaf shutter usually involves half an hour of not breathing so they don't blow all over the place......and then they still fall out and I have to start again anyway!!!
Oh, and yeah, not sure how well digi cameras will age, in theory, if the sensor doesn't degrade over time and chips don't fail, they might last quite well. I wouldn't fancy working on them all that much, not the same level of satisfaction.
I have the Autorex, I use it with the 40mm f1.8 and the 28mm f3.5. Great chunk of a camera, unfortunately the light meter on mine doesn't function, I guess I should service it... Haven't got positive results with the Phoenix on half frame, too much grain 😅. Great video, I watch all your videos with great interest, keep up the good work! ❤
Cheers ciprianoravet, I'm less bothered about non working or inaccurate light meters in cameras these days, I've got so used to using a hand held meter that I use that method of metering instead. I agree, Phoenix isn't really the film for half frame, but I still wanted to give it a go. I might throw a roll of black and white in the Autorex, something with reasonably fine grain might look quite good shot half frame.
Thanks ciprianoravet, I really should experiment with a few more B&W films - so far I've stuck to the two popular offerings from Ilford, the two options from Kentmere and the three from Foma. I have got a couple of rolls of Rollei Retro 400 in stock but they've not made it into a camera yet.
Hi ohjajohh, there were a few medium format (ie using 120 roll film) cameras that could do both full and half frame with the addition of a plate that you inserted to reduce the size of the film gate, but you had to make the decision before you put the film in the camera. The Autorex is the only one that I know of that can change format mid roll, but it wouldn't surprise me if there are others that I don't know about.
It’s such a great camera. A true hidden gem. And somewhat rare. I do love the Autorex. I feel similar about seeing a full frame shot but then having it actually restricted to the narrow middle - though you can lean into this like a rangefinder, seeing outside the frame to compose. I had to repair the meter linkage on mine, which is an interesting process, but to have an SLR with half frame, full frame, interchangeable lenses AND auto exposure is very cool
Hi flowermaze, I'm sure if I use the camera enough I'll get used to the viewfinder when shooting in half frame mode. I do rather like the option of shooting in both half and full frame, and I've recently resurrected my old film scanner, so I'll probably do my own scanning with this camera, that way I can swap formats as often as I want and not risk upsetting any photo labs.
I did own a Konica Autoreflex TC for a time in the 1970's. I did look around for the T4 to get "the full range of shutter speeds," but that model was hard to find, and 1/8 of a second was rarely used. I sold it to a retiring elementary school principal with a Metz 34 BCT-1 flash unit a 35-70mm, f/3.5-4.5 (17A) Tamron Adaptall-2 lens and the 40mmm f1.8 Hexanon "kit lens." which she found useful in her last year "at school." I looked at he original Konica Autoreflex at the time, but my focus was on a higher speed X-synch/electronic flash than I could get on Ye Olde Nikkormat FTN.
Hi Otokichi, I've never been that fussed about flash sync speeds on film cameras, because I rarely use flash for my film photography. Strangely, I've used flash, both speedlights and studio flash, far more on digital than I ever did on film.
Its good to see some more videos about this camera, its an interesting one i managed to pick one up from a seller in the US for around £80 with a 28mm F2 lens unfortunately it had issues but ive just received it back from its second round of repairs under warranty. I look forward to seeing what the results will be like. The Konica Auto-Reflex was released in 1966.
Hi James, I've liked all the versions of Autoreflex that I've handled, probably largely down to the Copal Square shutter, which is a bit of a gem. The Autorex/Auto-Reflex has got to be the most exciting version though, due to the variable format capabilities. Hope yours works ok now, after it's two repairs.
I bought one of these Autorex an over a year ago, because of a podcast mentioning it, and my friend reviewing it for her blog. The slow speed is a bit sticky so I need to send it off. But camera is nice to use. Sadly I’ve not used it for a while, an aim for 2025! The AE was a surprised when I read it was capable of it!
Hi Sam S-J, they're a great little (or not so little) camera. Depending on how much you plan to use the slow speeds you could always just live with it as it is - for general hand held photography they're not always that important. Hope you get to shoot it a bit more in 2025.
Hi Ben, yep it's a fairly interesting and unique camera, beautifully made, and designed to be repaired, like so many things of that time. It kind of depends on the camera and how far I need to dismantle it, but it'll usually run into a few days - some of that time is figuring out how it comes apart and documenting the process. If I stuck to a handful of camera models I could probably turn each camera round in a single day without too much hassle once I was familiar with the process.
That's too bad Rhett, but maybe one day it can be fixed and you'll be able to enjoy some full frame/half frame fun. In the meantime it'll look great on the shelf.
You certainly do find them, Tim. Konicas are rare birds. And I can sort of see why, to be honest. It's quite interesting seeing you get into it, though. I often find that the best part of your videos. Keep digging them out. 😁
Cheers Neville, the first Autoreflex (I think it was either a model T or A) was at an auto jumble - I really liked how it fired (not knowing that it had the lovely Copal shutter inside at that time) - I very nearly bought it, but I was trying to be good, and had already bought another camera. I regretted not buying it as soon as I got home, so adding some form of Autoreflex to the collection was inevitable sooner or later. If I had all the time in the world I could happily spend it dismantling and repairing old film cameras......
I have by dad's Konica FP with 50mm F2 lens. He bought it in 1964. It's been serviced exactly once, in the late 80's, and it still works today.
That's fantastic Scott, a vintage camera is even nicer when it belonged to a family member. The first time I held a Konica (it was either an Autorex T or A) I fell in love with it, but bizarrely I didn't buy it because I'd already bought a camera that day and I was trying to limit myself!!! From that day it was inevitable that I'd get one sooner or later.......
"Simply a case of reassembling the camera", made me chuckle Tim. Nothing about the inner workings of this old snapper (the camera, not you) looked simple, but I guess it is a testimony to the quality of construction that it works at all. I wonder how many of today's digital cameras will still work 60 years from now. Very enjoyable to watch someone with the skill and knowledge to fettle these old machines - thanks for sharing.
Hi David, theoretically, if I've made notes and taken photos as I dismantle a camera, the reassembly is usually easier than the disassembly. There are occasions when realigning gears or linkages correctly can be a bit of a pain, and putting in aperture blades or the blades from a leaf shutter usually involves half an hour of not breathing so they don't blow all over the place......and then they still fall out and I have to start again anyway!!!
Oh, and yeah, not sure how well digi cameras will age, in theory, if the sensor doesn't degrade over time and chips don't fail, they might last quite well. I wouldn't fancy working on them all that much, not the same level of satisfaction.
I have the Autorex, I use it with the 40mm f1.8 and the 28mm f3.5. Great chunk of a camera, unfortunately the light meter on mine doesn't function, I guess I should service it... Haven't got positive results with the Phoenix on half frame, too much grain 😅. Great video, I watch all your videos with great interest, keep up the good work! ❤
Cheers ciprianoravet, I'm less bothered about non working or inaccurate light meters in cameras these days, I've got so used to using a hand held meter that I use that method of metering instead. I agree, Phoenix isn't really the film for half frame, but I still wanted to give it a go. I might throw a roll of black and white in the Autorex, something with reasonably fine grain might look quite good shot half frame.
@@GrumpyTim Try Adox CMS II, super fine grain on that
Thanks ciprianoravet, I really should experiment with a few more B&W films - so far I've stuck to the two popular offerings from Ilford, the two options from Kentmere and the three from Foma. I have got a couple of rolls of Rollei Retro 400 in stock but they've not made it into a camera yet.
Oh wow this is interesting! I know about half-frame camera's, but I didn't know there was a camera that could do both!
Hi ohjajohh, there were a few medium format (ie using 120 roll film) cameras that could do both full and half frame with the addition of a plate that you inserted to reduce the size of the film gate, but you had to make the decision before you put the film in the camera. The Autorex is the only one that I know of that can change format mid roll, but it wouldn't surprise me if there are others that I don't know about.
It’s such a great camera. A true hidden gem. And somewhat rare. I do love the Autorex. I feel similar about seeing a full frame shot but then having it actually restricted to the narrow middle - though you can lean into this like a rangefinder, seeing outside the frame to compose.
I had to repair the meter linkage on mine, which is an interesting process, but to have an SLR with half frame, full frame, interchangeable lenses AND auto exposure is very cool
Hi flowermaze, I'm sure if I use the camera enough I'll get used to the viewfinder when shooting in half frame mode. I do rather like the option of shooting in both half and full frame, and I've recently resurrected my old film scanner, so I'll probably do my own scanning with this camera, that way I can swap formats as often as I want and not risk upsetting any photo labs.
I did own a Konica Autoreflex TC for a time in the 1970's. I did look around for the T4 to get "the full range of shutter speeds," but that model was hard to find, and 1/8 of a second was rarely used. I sold it to a retiring elementary school principal with a Metz 34 BCT-1 flash unit a 35-70mm, f/3.5-4.5 (17A) Tamron Adaptall-2 lens and the 40mmm f1.8 Hexanon "kit lens." which she found useful in her last year "at school." I looked at he original Konica Autoreflex at the time, but my focus was on a higher speed X-synch/electronic flash than I could get on Ye Olde Nikkormat FTN.
Hi Otokichi, I've never been that fussed about flash sync speeds on film cameras, because I rarely use flash for my film photography. Strangely, I've used flash, both speedlights and studio flash, far more on digital than I ever did on film.
Its good to see some more videos about this camera, its an interesting one i managed to pick one up from a seller in the US for around £80 with a 28mm F2 lens unfortunately it had issues but ive just received it back from its second round of repairs under warranty. I look forward to seeing what the results will be like. The Konica Auto-Reflex was released in 1966.
Hi James, I've liked all the versions of Autoreflex that I've handled, probably largely down to the Copal Square shutter, which is a bit of a gem. The Autorex/Auto-Reflex has got to be the most exciting version though, due to the variable format capabilities. Hope yours works ok now, after it's two repairs.
I bought one of these Autorex an over a year ago, because of a podcast mentioning it, and my friend reviewing it for her blog. The slow speed is a bit sticky so I need to send it off. But camera is nice to use. Sadly I’ve not used it for a while, an aim for 2025! The AE was a surprised when I read it was capable of it!
Hi Sam S-J, they're a great little (or not so little) camera. Depending on how much you plan to use the slow speeds you could always just live with it as it is - for general hand held photography they're not always that important. Hope you get to shoot it a bit more in 2025.
Nicely done. Thank you .
Cheers Gunther.
Interesting camera and an interesting idea. Many thanks! Out of interest, how long does it take you to service a camera?
Hi Ben, yep it's a fairly interesting and unique camera, beautifully made, and designed to be repaired, like so many things of that time. It kind of depends on the camera and how far I need to dismantle it, but it'll usually run into a few days - some of that time is figuring out how it comes apart and documenting the process. If I stuck to a handful of camera models I could probably turn each camera round in a single day without too much hassle once I was familiar with the process.
@@GrumpyTim That is a lot of time in each camera! Wow.
Nothing seems to happen very quickly in GrumpyTim land Ben, or at least not any projects, it's just time that passes by at an alarming rate!!!
I have one. Sadly broken.
That's too bad Rhett, but maybe one day it can be fixed and you'll be able to enjoy some full frame/half frame fun. In the meantime it'll look great on the shelf.