Konica C35 EFP (1978)
The Konica C35 EFP is a 35mm viewfinder camera with a fixed-focus Konica Hexanon 38mm f/4 lens and a built-in electronic flash. It was one of the first cameras to come with flash built in. It was introduced in 1978 and made in Japan. Some people call it the "Pikkari." Operation is deliberately simple. You choose between two ISO settings (100 and 400 ASA), which switches between two apertures inside a 46mm filter thread. The shutter is fixed at a single speed of 1/125s. The flash runs on two AA batteries.
The body is black plastic, roughly 131 x 82 x 54mm, and weighs 312g. A small button on the lens barrel is meant to be pressed when using the flash close up, to shade the lens from flare. The camera was designed primarily for flash use, and reviewers have called it "a shining example of a point and shoot." One writer for EMULSIVE noted that having so little to interact with forced him to focus on composition, and to think about how to make a good photo with what he had. The manual admits there is a learning curve, saying that "its operation is probably somewhat different from cameras and accessories which you have previously owned."
Surviving documentation on the C35 EFP is moderately thin. No original price, detailed production run, or common repair issues are recorded. The camera is still collectible, though. Verified second-hand units currently list from around €109 to €119, often with a warranty, and it's described as hard to find and great for collectors. A downloadable PDF of the original manual exists (23 pages).
- Type: 35mm fixed-focus viewfinder camera with built-in flash
- Lens: Konica Hexanon 38mm f/4
- Shutter: 1/125s (fixed)
- ISO: 100 and 400 (switches between two apertures)
- Filter thread: 46mm
- Flash: built-in, powered by 2 AA batteries
- Dimensions: 131 x 82 x 54mm; 312g
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.