Konica Auto SE1965

History

Konica's Auto S line evolved rapidly in the mid-1960s as the market shifted from selenium to CdS metering. The original Auto S (1963) used a selenium cell requiring no battery; by 1965 CdS technology offered substantially better low-light sensitivity and Konica moved to electric metering across the line. The SE introduced the CdS meter while retaining manual exposure control -- a conservative step that let Konica refine the mechanical platform before committing to the full autoexposure system of the S2.

The Auto S2, introduced concurrently in 1965, rendered the SE redundant almost immediately. The S2 offered shutter-priority AE, a slightly wider 45mm Hexanon, and a cleaner exposure workflow. The SE's production run was therefore brief, making surviving examples uncommon in any condition.

Why It Matters

The Auto SE illustrates how quickly Japanese rangefinder design iterated in the 1965 model year. Within a single year, Konica moved from selenium-only manual metering (Auto S) through battery-assisted manual metering (SE) to full shutter-priority autoexposure (Auto S2) -- a complete rethink of the metering and exposure system compressed into twelve months.

The Hexanon glass on the SE inherits Konica's reputation for well-corrected, contrasty rendering. The ~47mm focal length sits between the Auto S's 48mm and the S2's 45mm, occupying an unusual optical position within the product family that adds a minor point of collector interest.

Lenses & Accessories

Fixed Hexanon ~47mm f/1.9. No interchangeable lens capability. Standard clip-on flash accessories compatible with the leaf-shutter sync at all speeds.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Primarily of collector interest; specific documented use by named photographers has not been verified.
• Appears occasionally in Japanese vintage camera auctions; less common in Western markets.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Konica Auto SE