Konica Hystory
Sampled by Urs Brunner from different sources to give an
overall
picture about the Konica hystory
1860 Rokuemon Sugiura VI imports medicines and chemicals
Rokuemon Sugiura VI founded Konishi Honten in 1876 . Produces photographic
and lithographic materials .
In the 1880's became agent for Kodak and doing bussines with Ilford Ltd .
[picture of Rokuemon Sugiura VI with George Eastman in 1921 ]
1882 the first cameras where produced
1902 Konishiroku produce the first sensitized products in Japan
1903 Konishiroku produce the Cherry camera
1911 Konishiroku produce the model Minimum Idea and Pearl
1922 the first commercial camers where produced by Konica
1925 Konica produce the Pearlette , Japan's first mass produced camera
1926 Konica produce the Neat Reflex (Graflex style)
1931 first Konica lense , Hexar 105/4.5
1946 Konica I rangefinder camera
1950 Konica I with 50/2.8 Hexanon lense
1951 Konica II
1952 Konica produce the Koniflex ( Rolleiflex style)
1956 Konica IIA with 48/2 lense
1956 Konica III
1958 Konica IIIA with 50/1,8 or 48/2
1959 Konica IIIM with 50/1.8
1952 the first Japanese cameras where exported to US by Konica through
regular photo dealers
1960 Konica F ( first with 1/2000 ? , first with metal blade shutter )
1961 to 1964 Konica FS
1962 Konica FSW ( a FS with date recording base on a little watch )
1963 Konica EE Matic ( automatic flash system )
1963 Konica FP
1964 automatic exposure in a rangefinder model
1965 Koni Omega Rapid ( press camera )
1965 Konica FM
1965 (December) the Auto-Reflex SLR with automatic exposure . Build in but
external exposure metering. AUTOREX was the name within Japan AUTO REFLEX of
AUTO-REFLEX the export name .
1968 (FTA March) Konica T and A where introduced with TTL metering
1970 Konica T(2)
1971 Improved Konica A
1971 Lenses with EE or AE , locking button
1972 Konica A 1000
1973 Konica T3
1975 Konica N-T3
1976 Konica TC
1977 Konica C35 AF , first rangefinder camera with auto focus
1978 Konica T4
1978 Konica FS-1 , first SLR with integrated motor drive
