Konica Auto S (1963–1966)

A 35mm coupled rangefinder camera with a fixed 47mm f/1.9 Hexanon lens and built-in CdS exposure meter, produced by Konica from 1963 to 1966.

Overview

The Konica Auto S is a 35mm rangefinder camera made by Konishiroku (later Konica) from 1963 to 1965? It belongs to Konica’s S-series line of fixed-lens rangefinders, which culminated in later models like the Auto S2 and Auto S3. The Auto S was marketed as an advanced compact camera for enthusiasts, featuring a high-speed 47mm f/1.9 Hexanon lens and one of the first automatic exposure systems powered by a cadmium sulfide (CdS) metering cell. It uses 135 film for 24x36mm frame size and includes a coupled brightline rangefinder for manual focusing. The camera was sold with a body-mounted CdS meter that required a PX625 battery and displayed exposure information via a needle in the viewfinder.

Specifications

Type	35mm coupled rangefinder camera
Film Format	35mm (135 cartridge), 24x36mm frame
Lens	47mm f/1.9 Hexanon (5 elements in 4 groups?)
Shutter	Copal SVA ten-speed shutter; 1 – 1/500 second, B
Metering	Built-in CdS exposure meter with PX625 battery, hi-lo sensitivity switch
Viewfinder	Brightline viewfinder with coupled rangefinder patch
Production Years	1963–1966
Original Price	£49.15.8 (UK, June 1965)

Context

The Konica Auto S was the first in Konica’s S-series of rangefinder cameras and one of the earliest 35mm cameras to feature automatic exposure via a CdS meter. It laid the foundation for subsequent models like the Auto S2 and Auto S3, which refined its design and metering systems. Positioned as a premium compact camera, it competed with other high-end rangefinders of the early 1960s while offering more automation than many contemporaries.