I just found one of these at my grandfathers house, I am taking it off to a camera repair store over the weekend to get it checked out, fingers crossed it works!
My Dad found one of these Cameras in a Park in 1968 or 69. Over the yrs It took several Hundred rolls of Kodachrome. It did have a habit of something going Haywire where the Flash would lose its Sync, and fire before or after the Shutter open and closed. Being a Leaf Shutter it certain had the nice Feature of having sync at all shutter speeds.
Hi Mark, what focal length lens does the camera have, the S2 has a 45mm 1.8 whilst the original S has a 47mm 1.9, could it be that yours is an S and not an S2? Be interested to know.....
I'm awaiting delivery of one of these, a camera described as functional and "in very nice vintage condition". After watching a video by Vintage Optiks, "This $20 vintage lens is out of this world! DIY project", I was eager to get one and adapt it for use on my Sony e-mount cameras. In a way, it's a shame to break down a good and functional rangefinder, but the lens will see a lot more use on my digital cameras.
Hi, should have got a parts camera if you plan on just removing the lens, interesting project but I can't approve of you distroying a functional camera, try shooting some film through it before doing anything, it may change your mind....
@@thephotographersbag Thanks for your reply to my comment. I am thinking about shooting a roll of color film before I dismantle the camera. I actually got a good deal on the camera, considering apparent condition and price, $38 plus shipping. If you watched the video I referenced, I think you can understand why I like the idea of adapting it to digital use. The reduction in minimum focus distance alone is a strong argument for it. I would like to shoot some film again, but I don't know if I can find a good lab here in Ecuador, and the expense will ensure I primarily shoot digital. I do have a Kiev 3A with a Jupiter 8 red P lens both made and sold together in 1956 on the way, so . . .
Hi there! Thanks so much for this review, it's great :)! Does the film advance lever work when there is no battery in the camera? I'm asking because I don't have a battery yet and the lever is stuck (S), and I know that some cameras' levers don't work until you've got a battery in. Thanks in advance :)
Hi, on the Konica S2 you should be able to wind the film without a battery fitted In fact the battery only powers the meter and auto function, you cannot press the shutter release if the aperture ring is set to auto, and no battery is fitted You can however set both a shutter speed and aperture manually and use the camera It seems yours has a problem, assuming there is no film in the camera and it has reached the end of the roll I have not taken one of these apart so have little idea how to remedy the defect, sorry Has it ever worked for you before or is it a recent acquisition, in which case it may be worth talking with the vendor if sold as in good working condition, please keep me posted as they are really nice cameras and a pleasure to use...
@@thephotographersbagthanks for taking the time to answer 🙌 I bought a bunch of cameras and lenses years ago when i just got started in film photography and knew nothing about it (it was a bundle sale at my local antique shop which has now closed). Got them for a steal and thought i'd just keep them as decor if they didn't work. I've recently taught myself how to clean and repair and was able to get them all to work except this one 😕(haven't taken it apart yet) I don't have a battery yet so I don't know if it "works", but other than the film advance lever being stuck, every other piece of the equipment seems okay. I guess I'll just have to take it apart and see if i can fix it 😅 Thanks again !
Hi, good luck with your repair efforts, it's so rewarding once you get them going again, often it's a simple thing, let me know how you get on, spread the knowledge so to speak....
Great video. I own one and my viewfinder image never lines up. The split image never is on top of each other. How do you adjust that? I need to correct this and realign it. Thanks.
Hi, sorry to hear that your rangefinder is out of adjustment but it's quite a common issue given the camera's age, is it out horizontally, vertically or both? Horizontal adjustment is changed via a screw hidden behind the small black plastic cover next to the viewfinder, vertical adjustment is a pain as the top cover has to be removed to get access to the rangefinder mirror, the adjustment screw is part of the mirror mount, hope this helps......
Hi, from memory it does, lovely cameras and usually quite reliable, a thorough check of the shutter and aperture is required or a known working one, prices are rising for these...
@@thephotographersbag Thanks I got it for a song providing it isn't a paper weight when it arrives its coming with a case, strap and instruction manual and even has the optional integral lens hood. I gambled though at the moment all I know is it winds on and fires, fate will show once its ambled its way down from Glasgow to the south of the UK where I'm located!
@@thephotographersbag The Konica Auto S2 arrived this morning it had a sticky shutter when it arrived but after working it on all speeds its freed up and is now firing fairly reliably. The meter seems to be non functional, however there was a Mercury battery left in the compartment so that has probably corroded the wire due to off gassing so I'm hopeful
@@jamesal6138 Hi, sounds like a genuine example that has sat unused for decades, nice find, other than those two issues, is it in good condition, fungus, haze etc....?
@@thephotographersbag There is a tiny bit of fungus in the lens not enough to be worried about but I may well invest in a cla eventually hopefully that'll get the meter working. There was a small amount of corrosion on the top which ive nutrilized. The rangefinder is nice, bright and contrasty and is still calibrated after all these years and luckily perfect for my use, astigmatism be damned. I've got the original purchase receipt from 1969
Hi, I use hearing aid batteries, called Wien cells, they come with a sticker that you remove to expose to air and activate the battery, they don't last as long as say SR44, these can be used but they are 1.5v as compared to 1.35v, the shutter speed and aperture value can be set manually, use "sunny sixteen" rule, separate exposure meter or an app on a smartphone, I get batteries via eBay....
The camera won't let you advance or fire the shutter if it's in Auto with no battery that's what happened here and it is explained in the video after he figured out why
Hi, mine is quite stiff, probably due to lack of use and old grease going hard, ask whether they took it apart and relubricated, was it stiff before you had it serviced? Worth raising your issue with the repairer.....
@@thephotographersbag I did research and it's the tolerances. I went back and had the tech loosen a nut behind the lens. But be careful. This nut keeps the blades secure.
Hi, it takes the old mercury px625 battery which is no longer made, it works well with an adapter and modern LR44/SR44 batteries but the meter will be slightly out as they are 1.5v compared with 1.35 mercury batteries Another option is Worn cell batteries as they are the right voltage, used in hearing aids, they have a short life of only a couple of months though. .
I recently recieved one of these as a gift but it seems the rangefinder is broken in the sense that there is no secondary image box inside so I can't focus it. Do you have any idea how I would go about fixing this?
Hi, wow nice cameras, common issue is the dirty range finder, Japan Vintage Camera has a great video on how to clean them, link below..... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XcQuWbE2Aiw.html Hope all goes well, any problems please come back!
Hi, no I don't believe that it is, lenses containing Thorium are safe to use, the issue is the yellowing of the glass, easily cured by exposure to the Sun, these cameras are renowned for having an excellent lens.....
