Konica III

[lxmike]

I'm very interested in this camera, Konica III and its 48/2 glass, does anyone have such a beast, I have done the usual web search and found some information, I was jusst wondering how other forum memebers found it

regards and thanks Mike

 

[john neal]

I had one for a while - great camera with a nice sharp lens. I finally let it go as I felt a bit constrained by the fixed lens. Would have one again if the price was right.

 

[btgc]

Camera of pre-70's era, built accordingly. Size is small, in fact, smaller than KAS2 but I think it's heavier. RF mirror can't unglue like in cheaper made FL RF's (KAS2 is notorious for this) because it's mounted in frame not glued on.

There are at least two shutters used - earlier mod allows to set spped and aperture independently, latter mods have speed and aperture coupled (though some control-savvy users de-couple them, don't know how easy or difficult it is).
This type of shutter (I mean, Seikosha variations, different from leaf Copals) requires shutter be uncharged to be able to set/unset sppeds 1/500 and....which one from slow speeds it were? Have to look in manual.

Focusing is little different from cameras with knurled focus ring - III has focusing tab on bottom of lens and no knurled ring. No problem at all, but one has to get used with this.

Shutter release is very good (much better than on KAS2) because there is no AE employed though Yashica Lynxes (both models) STILL BEAT KIII !!!

Resume - it depends on price - if you drop $200 for III and $5 for Lynx 5000 then there's space for doubt if tactile feeling of solid engineering and superb Hexanon are worth 40 times over Lynx which is proper name for this sleeper Yashica.

 

[ZeissFan]

These are really excellent cameras. It was the last of three cameras that Konica made, appropriately named Konica, Konica II and Konica III.

The Konica III comes in several variations, including a half-frame version.

The most common is the full-frame version without the bolt-on light meter. It's a very sturdy, heavy camera. The build quality and fit and finish are excellent -- among the best that I've seen in cameras from that era.

It features a leaf shutter (all three models had leaf shutters with six blades in a five-blade design -- something that I've not been able to figure out) and double-stroke trigger wind using the large lever on the front of the body.

Like all leaf shutters, it's not unusual for the slow speeds to not work.

Great camera.

 

[lxmike]

thankyou chaps, its in mint nick, fully working including the slow shutter speeds I can have it for £80, do you think this is an ok price

 

[Bruin]

If I were looking for a fully-manual fixed-lens RF, the IIIA or IIIM would top my list. I hear that the build quality rivals Leica M. That's a decent price, assuming it doesn't need service.

Here's some good info on the Konica III:
http://www.dantestella.com/technical/koni3.html

 

[lxmike]

Thanks Kevin, he says I can have it for £75 and its in stunning nick

 

[Bruin]

Mike, if it's fully clean and working then it's a good price IMHO.

 

[lxmike]

thanks Kevin, the Bessa L is going very strong by the way

 

[raid]

I like using the old Konica RF cameras. The III is quite different from the II and I.
The IIIA/IIIM have a 100% VF that ius brighter than the VF of a Leica M3.
All models have superb lenses.

I have a nice III, and when I picked up a second III, I found out later on that it was defective and that it could not be repaired at any reasonable cost.

The camera is quite heavy.

 

[btgc]

I found out later on that it was defective and that it could not be repaired at any reasonable cost.

What could be broken in this solid camera to point of no return?
Mine had broken aperture blades but that is different.

 

[raid]

My III would not release the shutter. Eddy Smolov took it apart, and then he informed me that it would very hard to fix it. I forgot the details, but maybe it was needing some spare parts. I kept the broken III as "spare parts" for the working III.

 

[Fawley]

I would agree with most of the above comments, and of course they are gorgeous cameras to look at. I like the weight of the camera although I wouldn't want all of my cameras to be this heavy. Mine has a very bright and clear rangefinder, brighter than any of my other fixed lens RF's, but not as good as my Canon P, which is my only screw mount camera. I also like the funky double stroke film advance. The only thing I don't like about this camera is the placement and small size of the aperture adjustment, and the fact that it is coupled with the shutter speed unless you lift and uncouple. If you haven't already found it, there is a good write up of these cameras on Dante Stella's website.

 

[lxmike]

Thanks chaps this is very helpfull, if finances allow I feel I might pick this one up

 

[lkgroup]

I have a Konica III and it is part of my regular rotation of users.

I like using the old Konica RF camera, the lens is nice, the Hex F/2.

I think I paid $80 about 5 years ago, and I really think it is worth more than that. A fun camera with nice solid Quality.

Leo


The camera is quite heavy.

 

[lxmike]

weight wise, how does it compare lets say with a rollei 35S etc

 

[btgc]

My non-scientific kitchen scales suggest III with 48/2 lens weights about same as Yashica G35 (pre-GSN model) or Yashica Lynx 5000. KIII is little smaller and lens is shorter than on other contenders.

 

[lxmike]

thankyou very helpfull, I must admit as I get older weight is becomming an issue, both with my cameras and my waistline

 

[ZeissFan]

Here's a Rollei 35 and a Konica III.

This Konica III does not use the EV system that locks the shutter speed and aperture dial together. You're on your own as far as selecting exposure.

Weight comparison.

Rollei 35: 11 ounces
Konica III: 1 pound, 10 ounces

 

[lxmike]

thanks Zeissfan very helpfull, did not realise that the Konica weighed as much