Konica C35 Flashmatic (1971–1974)

Name: Konica C35 Flashmatic
Brand: Konica

Documentation on the Konica C35 Flashmatic is thinner than you'd expect for a camera that was evidently popular in its day. What survives is tangled, mostly because of naming. In Japan this model was sold as the C35 Flashmatic. In some export markets it appeared as the C35 Automatic. It also gets mixed up with the earlier, non-flash Konica C35 of 1968. The Flashmatic itself dates from 1971, and production stopped in 1974. At the end of its run it retailed in the UK for £49.90.

The core specification is clear. The Flashmatic is a compact 35mm rangefinder built around a four-element Hexanon 38mm f/2.8 lens. It's Konica's own glass, and reviewers and sellers alike consistently note its sharpness. The feature that gave the camera its name is the Flashmatic system: a built-in flash coupled to the automatic exposure metering, so the aperture adjusts itself for correct flash exposure. The user doesn't calculate distance or guide numbers. Add automatic exposure and a built-in light meter, and it was a straightforward point-and-shoot in the early Seventies.

The C35 series proved popular, and the Flashmatic is easy to find on the used market even now, which says something about how many were sold. Black body examples are uncommon, and collectors who favor them note they are rather attractive. As a derivative of the C35, it sits at the start of a Konica compact lineage that would run through the C35 series and toward the celebrated Auto S2 and S3 cameras. Standard silver models can be found for around $25, though prices vary considerably with condition and finish.

Known specifications:

Lens: Hexanon 38mm f/2.8 (four-element)
Format: 35mm film
Focus: Rangefinder
Features: Built-in flash, automatic exposure, Flashmatic flash-coupled auto-aperture system, built-in light meter
Production: 1971–1974
End-of-production UK price: £49.90

Beyond this, little is formally documented. No detailed specifications for shutter speeds, ISO range, or battery type appear in the surviving period literature the archive has been able to locate, and no period magazine reviews have surfaced in its research. What is known comes largely from dealer listings, owner accounts, and the observations of collectors who have handled the camera. If you own one and have the manual or original literature, the archive would welcome the details.