Konica FT-1 35mm film SLR camera w/Hexanon AR 50mm f1.8 lens (serial 519878) | film🎞tested

The Konica FT-1 Motor, released in 1983, is the company's last great film SLR. Thoughtfully designed and built to a high quality standard, the FT-1 is our favourite SLR of its era. 

Popular Photography ran a very detailed Lab Report on this camera, finding it a superb camera (the report was written by Norman Goldberg, author of the classic Dark Side of the Lens camera technology reference book). You can read it here. 

Battery info

This camera requires four AAA alkaline batteries (not included). Rechargeable or lithium batteries cannot be used with this camera.

Condition notes

This camera and lens are both in very good cosmetic condition (see photos) with only minor wear from use.

All functions are working correctly. We film tested the camera and lens combo and got sharp, correctly exposed images. In addition, we verified it has very good shutter speed accuracy across its entire speed range.

Manual

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/konica/konica_ft-1/konica_ft-1.pdf

Specifications 

• Type: 35mm focal plane shutter TTL-AE single-lens reflex camera with built-in auto-winder

• Format: 24 × 36mm negative (standard 35mm film)

• Standard lenses:

  • Hexanon AR 40mm f/1.8

  • Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.8

  • Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.4

  • Hexanon AR 57mm f/1.2

  • Lens mount: Bayonet Konica mount II

• Aperture control: Fully automatic and manual

• Shutter: Digital-control vertical action electronic metal focal plane shutter

• Shutter speeds: B. 2, 1 - 1/1000 see, equally calibrated in 1:1 progression

• Synchro: Hot shoe and X contact with synchro socket, automatically set to 1/100 sec with dedicated Auto-Electronic Flash. Manually set to 2 - 1/60 see with non-dedicated electronic flash. Synchronized with M, FP and ME bulbs at 1/30 see and slower shutter speeds.

• Self-timer: Digital-controlled self-timer with a duration of 10 sec. Operation indicated by LED. Self-timer action may be cancelled.

• Finder: Pentaprism eye level finder, shows 92%of picture field magnification 0.81 at the center. Central split-image spot plus microdiaprism on matte focusing screen

• Finder display: LED dot display indicates aperture opening in AE mode, over/under exposure warning, low voltage warning, manual mode setting and correct aperture setting for manual mode, electronic flash ready light, correct aperture setting for stopped-down shooting.

• Metering system: TTL center-weighted metering at the full lens opening. Silicon-pin Photo Diode (SPD) compound photocell.

• Exposure adjustment: Shutter-speed priority aperture control metering system. Coupled to film speed, shutter speed and f-stop value at the full lens opening with Hexanon AR lens (metering at full lens opening). Automatic aperture control with priority given to shutter speed in the AE mode. Correct aperture value reading in the manual mode. Fixed point alignment system coupled to film speed, shutter speed and aperture with Hexanon lens, bellows, etc. (stopped down metering).

• AE coupling range: EV 0.7 (f/1.8 at 2 see) to EV 19 (f/22 at 1/1000 see) with ASA/ISO 100

• Film speed range: ASA/ISO 25-3200

• Main switch: Turns power source on and off and controls the AE lock

• AE Lock: When main switch set at 'AEL' partial depression of shutter release shows aperture setting in finder and locks aperture at that setting (over/under exposure warning inactive in ALL mode)

• Exposure compensation: +2EV, 1/3 step intervals (at ASA25, -2 to 0 EV, at ASA3200, +2 to 0 EV)

• Shutter release: Electromagnetic release partial depression of shutter activates light meter full depression of shutter triggers shutter.

• Single/continuous advance: S/C switch for single frame auto winding or continuous-shooting at 2 fps

• Film transport capacity: With 36-exposure film continuously used at constant temperature, more than 20 rolls with AAA alkaline batteries, more than 10 rolls with AAA manganese batteries, more than 40 rolls with AA alkaline batteries more than 20 rolls with AA manganese batteries (under Konica's test conditions) before low voltage warning appears in viewfinder.

• Film loading: Auto-loading system

• Film advance: Auto-winding system with electric motor. Index mark turns in the film advance window to indicate positive film wind

• Film rewind: Crank system, LED end of roll indicator. Rewind button automatically returns to the original position. Automatic resetting frame counter.

• Dimensions and weight: 143 x 91 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.6"' x 1.8") 570g (20.1 oz) (without batteries) 143 × 91 x 78mm (5.6" x 3.6"' x 3.1") 740g (26.1 oz) with 50mm f/1.8 lens (without batteries)