KONICA AR SYSTEM / FIELD NOTES No. 01
Three primes. Two zooms. A considered kit for the Konica Autorex P—chosen for the photographs you’ll make, and the equipment you’ll want to carry.
Explore the kitEvery lens here mounts directly on the Autorex P. Set a numbered aperture; the P does not provide automatic exposure.
Camera notesTHE SHORTLIST
Practical selections, not an absolute sharpness ranking. A healthy specimen matters more than a famous name.
Full-frame · 24 × 36mm. Focal lengths below show their native angle of view.
AT A GLANCE
Use the format switch above to compare framing. Equivalents describe angle of view, not a change in focal length or aperture.
| Lens | Coverage | Weight* | Close focus | Take it for |
|---|
* Approximate weights. The 24mm’s early and compact versions differ. All five cover both full-frame and half-frame film.
BEYOND THE SHORTLIST
Explore the established Hexanon and Hexar AR range. Later lenses work on the P, too; specialist setups are marked below.
This inventory covers Konica-branded AR-mount lenses, including major optical revisions. It does not include third-party AR lenses or lenses requiring a mount adapter. Choose the AR version when an older Konica F-mount version shares the same name.
Automatic: set a numbered aperture; the P closes the diaphragm for exposure. Preset: focus open, then close to the preset aperture. Manual: operate the diaphragm yourself.
Try a focal length without “mm,” a use such as “portrait,” or reset the filters.
A COMPATIBLE ACCESSORY
Doubles focal length and costs two stops of light. A 200mm f/4 becomes a 400mm f/8 combination. Account for that loss when using an external meter with the P. Konica guidance discussed in the source recommends lenses of 40mm and longer.
Converter operation & review ↗READING THE INVENTORY
Weights and dates are approximate; an introduction era is not a complete production range. Factory production totals are generally unavailable. The poorly documented 58mm f/1.2 and separately listed two-touch 35–70mm f/3.5 are not presented as confirmed production choices.
Collector inventory & specifications ↗THE CAMERA BEHIND THE KIT
The Autorex P is the Japanese-market Auto-Reflex P, introduced in 1966. It combines a mechanical shutter with a choice of full-frame or half-frame photographs.
Compatibility & camera history ↗The P is meterless. Use an external meter, set shutter speed and a numbered aperture, and leave EE/AE unused. These automatic-diaphragm lenses stay open for focusing and close for exposure.
The smaller 18 × 24mm frame has an approximately 1.44× diagonal crop factor. A 24mm becomes a useful everyday wide; an 85mm becomes a much tighter portrait lens.
Later AR lenses include coupling for TTL-metered cameras. That extra coupling does not prevent their use on the P. Check the mount, not just the name on the front.
ABOUT THESE PICKS
This guide distills published firsthand reviews and collector specifications into a balanced kit. It is not an independent laboratory test. Digital reviews help reveal optical traits, but film results and individual specimens can differ. Approximate introduction dates describe design eras, not confirmed production ranges.
Original camera manual ↗