C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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rangefinder-35mm
The Konica Auto S (1963) is the first camera in Konica's Auto S series of fixed-lens rangefinders, a line that would continue through the Auto S2 (1965) and Auto S3 (1973). It pairs a **Hexanon 48mm f/1.8** lens with a coupled rangefinder, a selenium exposure meter (no battery required), and a mechanical leaf shutter. Exposure is fully manual -- the selenium meter gives a reading, and the user matches it by setting aperture and shutter speed. This is a simpler proposition than the shutter-priority AE of the S2 that followed, but the selenium arrangement means the camera remains fully functional indefinitely without any battery.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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About this camera
The original Konica Auto S -- 48mm Hexanon f/1.8, selenium meter, manual RF, 1963.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Lens | Hexanon 48mm f/1.8 |
| Years | 1963-1965 |
| Shutter | ~1/30s - 1/500s, mechanical leaf |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | Selenium (no battery) |
| Modes | Manual |
| Battery | None required |
Konica entered the premium fixed-lens rangefinder market in 1963 with the Auto S, positioning it against the Canon Canonet and early Yashica Electro offerings. Two years later, the Auto S2 replaced it with a CdS meter, shutter-priority autoexposure, and the refined Hexanon 45/1.8 -- a modest but meaningful upgrade. The Auto S was produced in relatively small numbers over its two-year run.
The Auto S is the foundation of Konica's fixed-lens rangefinder reputation. The Hexanon 48/1.8 lens, though less celebrated than the 45/1.8 in the S2, is a well-regarded piece of glass from an era when Konica's lens engineering was at its most ambitious. The selenium meter makes the camera entirely battery-independent -- a practical advantage for users who want a functional camera without hunting for obsolete voltage-matched cells.
As the rarest and earliest of the Auto S line, it appeals primarily to collectors completing the trio and to users who specifically want the longer 48mm angle of view.
Fixed Hexanon 48mm f/1.8. No interchangeable lens capability. Standard clip-on flash accessories.
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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