Konica FT-1 Pro Date1985

History

The base FT-1 launched 1983 as the successor to the FS-1, Konica's first motorized AR-mount SLR. The FT-1 Pro Date followed in 1985. The AR-mount SLR line effectively ended by 1987-1988 when the TC-X launched as a low-cost consumer body; Konica did not release another serious AR-mount enthusiast body after the FT-1 series. By the early 1990s Konica exited the interchangeable-lens SLR market to focus on compact cameras and the Hexar line.

Why It Matters

For collectors working through the Konica AR ecosystem, the FT-1 Pro Date is the rarest standard configuration of the FT-1 line. It carries no premium in the used market relative to the base FT-1 - both trade $80-220 depending on condition - making it a cost-neutral pick for anyone wanting date-back functionality without paying a premium.

The Konica AR mount's best glass - the 40/1.8 AR pancake, 57/1.4 AR, and 35/2 AR - attaches to any FT-1 variant without modification. The integrated motor removes the need for a separate winder that Nikon FE2 or Pentax ME Super users would have to source separately.

Lenses & Accessories

Konica AR mount. Compatible with the full Hexanon AR lens range: 35/2 AR, 40/1.8 AR pancake, 50/1.4 AR, 50/1.7 AR, 57/1.4 AR, 85/1.8 AR, 135/3.2 AR. Standard hot-shoe flash. No winder or grip accessories needed (motor is integrated).

The 40/1.8 AR pancake is the most-discussed pairing: compact, fast, sharp, and unusual. The 57/1.4 AR is the largest-aperture standard option.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Specialist interest: Konica AR-mount collectors and enthusiasts.
• The FT-1 series (all variants) appears in used-camera surveys on 35mmc and Casual Photophile as a budget-tier alternative to Nikon FE2 / Canon AE-1 Program.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Konica FT-1 - primary body documentation; covers all FT-1 variants
• Wikipedia: Konica FT-1 - overview of the FT-1 line history