Konica FT-1 (1983–1987)

Name: Konica FT-1
Brand: Konica

A 35mm SLR with built-in motor drive and microprocessor-controlled exposure, aimed at serious amateurs and professionals.

Overview

The Konica FT-1 is a 35mm SLR made by Konica from 1983 to 1987. It was the last SLR both branded and built entirely by Konica. It was aimed at serious amateurs and professionals, especially documentary and travel shooters. A built-in motor drive handles film advance and rewind, and the camera offers program and aperture-priority autoexposure. It belongs to Konica's Bayonet Mount II SLR lineup, along with the Autoreflex T, FS-1, and FC-1.

Specifications

Lens mount	Konica AR mount (also referred to as Konica Bayonet Mount II)
Viewfinder	Bright pentaprism viewfinder with LED exposure indicators
Exposure modes	Program and aperture-priority autoexposure modes
Shutter speed range
ISO range	25–3200
Autofocus	Not stated (manual focus implied by era and design)
Batteries	4 AA or AAA
Weight
Metering system	TTL center-weighted metering at the full lens opening
Meter type	Silicon photodiode
Exposure compensation	±2 EV

Design

The FT-1 has a built-in motor drive with a switch for single or continuous shooting. It advances and rewinds the film automatically. A microprocessor controls exposure and supports multiple exposure modes. The body is weather-resistant. Metering is TTL center-weighted, read at full lens aperture by a silicon photodiode.

Context

Konica introduced the FT-1 in 1983 as the last SLR it fully developed and built itself. It landed in a crowded 1980s market with the Canon T50, Minolta X-570, Nikon FG, and Yashica FX-70. Konica positioned it for serious amateurs and professionals, and pushed reliability and automation for documentary and travel use.

Market

With a standard lens, the Konica FT-1 sold for about $175-225 in 1983. Working examples today typically go for $50 to $225. Non-working or parts units have been listed as low as $24.50. The light meter is a common failure, though the camera may still work mechanically.