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I'll try to answer any question you might have.
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My Cameras and I
In the field of SLR photography, Konica is my first love, a pure and
simple fact. However, you'll see that I now have more Nikon related equipment.
This is simply because Konica hasn't been in the SLR business since the 1980's,
and to be able to go with new eqipment and new technologies, Nikon, for me, was
the way to go.
However, one might ask, "Why Nikon? Why not Canon, Minolta, Pentax
or some other brand?" And, I am sure, there are those who would ask, "Why
Konica in the first place?"
Time, itself has answered the above questions. Most Konica and Nikon
bodies have withstood the test of time. With few exceptions, their bodies were
built to last and have done so. Konica and Nikon SLR cameras of the 1960's and
'70's, as well as later models, are still functioning, dependable and in demand.
The same is true of their optics.
Most notable among these hardy and long lasting cameras are Konica's T,
T2, T3, T3n, T4, TC and similar bodies (the Autoreflex line). On the Nikon side
we have the Nikkormat/ Nikomat line, top-of-the-line F series, FE and FM series,
and probably the same will be true of many of its autofocus cameras over time.
And, before we get any further along, I am a 35mm SLR man. I have no
interest, nor will there be any mention of, point and shoot, rangefinder, medium
or large format, or other types of cameras here, unless they happen to be ones I
now have or have owned.
Most of my cameras are 35mm SLRs (Single Lens Reflex). However, I also
have a Konica Q-M200 basic digital camera, and an Olympus C-5050 advanced
digital camera, as well as a Nikon D100 didgital SLR; and my video camcorders
are VHS models made by RCA and Hitachi. Of my seventeen SLRs nine are from
Konica, with the other eight being Nikon.
My first SLR was not a Konica or Nikon, however. My introduction into
SLR photography came by way of a Petri V6, which I acquired while stationed in
Japan with the army in 1965. Petri, Kuribayashi Camera Works, has the
distinction of being the first company in Japan to manufacture SLRs, although in
1919 it was not called a Petri. The Petri name was used following World War II.
I wish I still had my Petri for sentimental reasons, but it was sold when I got
my first Konica. That Konica, which I still own, is an all black body T3N, the
finest SLR Konica ever produced. The T3 was introduced in 1973, and I got mine
in 1975, when the T3N was released. The only difference between the T3 and T3N
was the addition of a built-in hot shoe, a squared off pentaprism and other
minor changes, with the camera still engraved as T3. There were several Konica
SLRs before and after the T3, but it is by far the best. Since then I have also
acquired other T3n's, an Auto-Reflex, T2, T4, FS-1, FT-1 and TC-X Konica bodies.
My first Nikon cameras were bought in 2001, a used manual-focus FE2, a new
auto-focus N60, and a new FM3A manual-focus. In 2002 I
bought a new Nikon F100 and a used Nikkormat EL. I acquired the N65, N80 and
D100 in 2003. In 2004 it was a used Nikon F4s. The year 2005 bought a new Nikon
F5. And in 2006 I bought what might very well be my last camera, a D200 digital
SLR.
For further Konica and Nikon information, photo galleries, my personal
equipment, views, etc., check out the links above.
A Little History
The origin of Konica goes back to 1873 when Konishi-ya, the forerunner
of Konica, was established in Tokyo. In 1876 they moved to Honcho and changed
the company name to Konishi Honten. Shashin Geppo, a photo magazine,
was started by Konishi Honten in 1894, which helped spark the interest of
amateur photography in Japan. In 1902, Konishi Honten established Rokuoh-sha in
Tokyo, which was a division dedicated to the production of photosensitive
materials and later photographic equipment. The company introduced the first
portable Japanese camera, the Cherry Portable, in 1903, and in 1907 marketed the
first Japanese SLR, the Sakura-flex Plano with a Tessar f/6.3 lens. In 1931,
Mohri Hirowo of Konishiroku Honten Co. produces a f/4.5, 4-element H-type lens
with Jena glass. The lens, named "Hexar," was based on the Carl Zeiss
Tessar lens. "Hex" is for Sugiura Rokuemon where "Roku"
means six. The lens was a success and claimed equal performance to the Tessar
lens. The "Hexar" label was used on Konishiroku's top-quality lenses
up to 1959, when the lenses were renamed Hexanon. Konishiroku Honten changesd
its name to Konishiroku Co., Ltd. in 1937 and began making aerial cameras and
X-ray photographic equipment. The company name is again changed in 1943 to
Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. The year of 1948 saw the marketing of the
Konica I Type, the first Konica brand 35-mm camera, and 1960 saw the
introduction of the Konica F, the world's first single-lens reflex camera with a
built-in exposure meter. A number of innovations followed over the years, and
although Konica still produces cameras they ceased production of SLR cameras in
the mid 1980's. Their last SLR, the Konica TC-X, was introduced in 1984. So,
as you can see, Konica has a distinguished history, and many companies have
copied or incorporated Konica innovations. In 2003, Konica merged with Minolta,
whether the Konica name will remain in years to come remains to be seen.
Nikon's history isn't as old as Konica's. The first Nikon camera was
produced in 1948 and in 1959 came their first SLR, the legendary Nikon F.
Unlike Konica, Nikon still produces SLRs and lenses. If you've found this page
I need not tell you the reputation Nikon has gained over the years.
SLR cameras are still produced by other comapnies as well, most notably
by Canon, Minolta, Pentax, Olympus, and Contax.
At left, you'll find a button where you can see a quick overview of my
primary shooting kits. |
