Konica FS-1

The different direction

Konica is well known for their all mechanical series of cameras, the Autoreflex, but right before the 1980s started Konica released their first electronic SLR camera, the Konica FS-1. Styled with a wonderfully textured hand grip protruding from the front, and an all black sleek design, the FS-1 looks and feels great in the hand. No bright colors or fancy logos to garner much attention makes this a low profile camera. This camera is significantly heavier then any previous Konica camera too, not a light carry whatsoever. The newly added hand grip doubles as the battery compartment used to run the shutter mechanism and the one frame per second motor drive. Within the new hand grip, the FS-1 requires four AA batteries to run the camera. There is no mechanical backup. To open the battery compartment you must push two tabs, located on the right side of the back of the camera, from their green positions both toward the center. You can remove the compartment like its a hinge, hinging toward the front. From here you can replace batteries and be reminded to use Konica brand film!

The viewfinder is bright and large enough, featuring a split image finder surrounded by a micro prism circle. Strangely enough, this is a shutter priority camera, so the indicator scale within the viewfinder correlates to what aperture to use. The meter is always on, whether you are in shutter priority mode or manual, and half pressing the shutter turns on the meter. On most Konica lenses, past the smallest aperture, is an AE symbol. That puts whatever Konica camera you are using into the shutter priority mode. The large M symbol in the viewfinder lets you know whether you are in Manual or Auto Exposure mode for an easy check.

Having a built in motorized shutter and advance makes this a quick shot camera, but being from the early 80s, you have to rewind the camera yourself. There are two great indicators on the back of the camera to show you the progress of your film. The natural is the frame counter, located on the top right of the back of the camera, but the interesting addition is a small LED located on the top left of the camera. When advancing the film, this led is used as a check to let you know the camera is operational. The LED should blink after every advance, but once at the end of a roll, it will stay on for a bit. Working our way to the front of the camera, you have an odd port on the top right side. This is for different types of cable releases and remote releases. Below that is a standard lens release button. On the left side of the front, you will see a clear plastic button. This is used for the self timer; just push the button and the flashing red light will show you the few seconds delay before the camera fires.

Most of the controls of the camera are located on the top, but are very minimalistic in design. To the left, you have the manual rewind crank which is self explanatory, but below that on the left side, you can see the optional PC port for flash. The FS-1 has a few options for flash, you have a PC port for off camera and older flashes, and a hot shoe that has extra contacts for automatic flashes. These were somewhat advanced features for 1979 when this camera was released. To the right of the hot shoe is the shutter speed dial coupled with the ASA setting. The shutter speeds go from Bulb and two seconds up to 1/1000th of a second, definitely usable. The ASA ranges from 25 all the way up to 3200. Finally to the right of that is the shutter release button with the shutter lock underneath.

The SPECS AND FEATUREs

Shutter Speeds - Bulb, 2 sec -1/1000

Aperture - dependent on lens, f/1.4 min for meter

Meter Type - TTL

Shutter - electronic, vertical travel, metal

ASA - 25 to 3200

Lens - Konica bayonet mount

Flash Option - PC socket or hot shoe (with auto option via Konica Auto Strobe X-24)

Batteries - 4 AA to run camera, no mechanical option

Film Type - 35mm

Other Notable Features - auto advance, 1 frame per second motor, self timer, shutter release button lock, film memo holder, quick film loading

The Experience

This was the first Konica camera I have ever used, and I would say a great introduction to Konica. This is an unbelievably solid camera when you hold it in your hand. It has such a heft that you do feel some strain on the neck when you carry it around for long periods of time. Every button and switch has a great feel and seems like they spared no expense designing and creating this camera. It has such an incredible feeling that I tend to use this over the other Konica Autoreflex cameras I have.

I really like this camera, but it needs to be said that it isn’t perfect. Although I am not a fan of shutter priority. I tend to use this camera in manual mode using the meters aperture suggestion to fine tune my exposure. Along with that, the motor is somewhat loud when taking a picture, and other people can hear it very clearly in a quiet area. But the thing that got to me the most was the proprietary shutter release. I hate when camera manufacturers make a proprietary system for only a handful of models because finding the accessories today becomes a pain. Even with these minor annoyances, and other ‘better’ Konica cameras in my arsenal, I find myself always coming back to the FS-1 and its solid design.

There is not much to say about the Konica FS-1 at the end of the day, it knows what it’s doing and it does it well enough. Easy to use, readily available batteries, pick up and go feel, with a very accurate metering system… this camera is a go to for any and all occasions. The Konica FS-1 paired with the Hexanon 50mm f/1.4 was a dream come true and really solidified my new admiration for Konica and their lenses. I recommended this to any camera enthusiast, it has a lot going for it and can be had at a very reasonable price today.