![]() Being a shutter priority camera, the meter needle moves up and down along the various f-stops (f/1.8 to f/16) displayed on the right side of the viewfinder. The viewfinder is bright and the information presented within is straightforward. Exposure lock is engaged by pressing the shutter release button halfway. The shutter is very quiet and almost stealthy. The film advance lever and shutter release button do not feel as confident or secure as other cameras I’ve used but they get the job done faultlessly. The focusing throw is very short and smooth, which enables fast focusing. The shutter speed (⅛ second to 1/500 second), the ASA/DIN (ISO) film speed settings (25-800), the GN (guide number) settings (7m-56m), the bulb setting and focusing tab are all accessible there. The majority of its controls are on the lens barrel. Its operation is uncomplicated and Spartan. You don’t want to make the mistake of dropping this camera. Unfortunately, it is prone to being dented. The camera body is simple and basic, made of aluminum. ![]() You will never hear anyone bemoan hauling it around after a day of shooting. It is light and compact and can easily fit into the hands or into a large sized jacket pocket. The first thing to notice about the camera is its size and weight. Style, build and use of the Konica C35 FD Then as now, a Leica will put a hurtin’ on your wallet. A Leica CL body paired with a 40mm, f/2 Summicron lens would put you back around $525 or $3,174.38 in 2020. Not cheap, but far cheaper compared to the Leica CL, which also debuted that same year. Adjusted for inflation that’s $1,172.14 in 2020. Its counterpart, the Auto S3 cost $199.92. The C35 FD was the top of the line in Konica’s C35 series of cameras. The Konica C35 FD debuted in Japan in 1973 and was targeted at casual shooters who wanted a convenient and compact rangefinder capable of making outstanding images, but also wanted a camera which wouldn’t blow a major hole in their bank accounts. But like many great film cameras their prices are inching upward. The Auto S3 is rarer, and commands slightly higher prices. Currently, The Konica C35 FD is more widely available within Japan (where I live) ranging in price between $100-$200. The Konica C35 FD came in both silver and in black with the distance scale only represented in meters. The Auto S3 was available only in black with the distance scale on the lens barrel displayed in feet and in meters. ![]() ![]() The Konica Auto S3 and Konica C35 FD are essentially the same camera. ![]() When my Auto S3 succumbed to the inevitable and eventually died its second death, I decided to purchase a Konica C35 FD, the Japanese domestic market version of the Auto S3. After putting just a few rolls of film through it, I knew I’d found a fantastic companion and a worthy compact rangefinder to own. The only part of the camera that I didn’t have to Frankenstein was the lens, which was in great condition. With the aid of some electrical tape, a shoddy soldering job and the replacement of light seals, I managed to coax the previously dead instrument back to life. The light meter was busted, the film advance indicator was inoperable, the leatherette was withering away, and the body had more dents and dings than a 1974 Ford Pinto. When I picked up a broken and beaten Konica Auto S3 for a few coins over a decade ago, I had no idea the little treasure I possessed. ![]()
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