Konica Auto S3 w/Leather Case

The Konica Auto S3 is a versatile 35mm, shutter priority, rangefinder camera produced from 1973 through 1977. The S3 has a fast f1.8 38mm, six-element lens that has a reputation for producing extremely sharp and detailed images.  ‘Modern Photography wrote. “One item on the S3 that passed our tests with flying colors is the lens one of the best semi-wide angle optics of its speed we have ever tested”.
The Auto S3 was an upgrade of Konica’s landmark C35 from 1968 using the superb f1.8, 38mm lens from the short-lived 1966 Auto SE Electronic and added an advanced flash system. As the Auto S3 exited production in 1977, the fixed-lens rangefinder market was rapidly contracting as SLR’s dominated the global camera market.
The S3 was copied by cosine and distributed by various brands.
The Cosina copies employed a smaller, darker viewfinder with obvious barrel distortion, a 40mm lens and did not include Konica’s brilliant synchro-flash system.

– Focusing System: Coupled coincident image rangefinder with fixed brightlines and parallax compensation marks.
– Lens: f1.8 38mm, 6 elements in 4 groups with 49 mm filter thread
– Shutter: Copal automatic leaf shutter 1/8 to 1/500 + B and self timer. X-flash sync at all speeds
– Shutter speed: 1/8 to 1/500 sec.
– Shutter priority automatic exposure with exposure lock feature (unusual for compact RF class) activated by partially depressing the shutter release.
– Aperture: f/1.8- 16
– Metering system: CdS photocell mounted above the lens inside filter ring. Shutter priority auto exposure, ASA 25-800. Needle in viewfinder displays current aperture
– Flash: Flash hot shoe and PC socket with balanced daylight/synchro exposure. Guide numbers 7 to 56
– Display in viewfinder: aperture, over/under exposure
– Battery: 1.35v PX675 mercury-type
– Size: 112W x 80H x 60D mm, 410g