The Konica Jump Auto represented a further step forward in the development of weatherproof compact cameras by the Japanese company Konica. As the successor to the manufacturer's weatherproof camera, the Konica Jump, the Jump Auto offered a variety of automatic functions that made it much easier to use.
Compared to its predecessor, the Jump Auto had a motorized film transport, both for forward and rewind. The automatic film setting using DX coding saved the user manual adjustments, and the self-activating flash ensured reliable exposure in every situation.
In Japan, the model was also sold as the Konica Manbow Woo. This comes with a data back for imprinting the date of the shot.
The lens of the Jump Auto, a Konica lens with a 34mm focal length and a speed of f/4.5, was made up of three elements in three groups.
The focus was fixed, which made it easy to use and guaranteed sharp images from 1.5 meters to infinity, at least within the capabilities of an entry-level camera.
The Konica Jump Auto's exposure control was via a fixed exposure time, with the aperture adjusted according to the set film speed.
The camera offered a fixed shutter speed of 1/125 second and supported film speeds of ISO 100, 200 and 400, which were automatically recognized via the DX coding.
The viewfinder was designed as an Albada type with bright lines to enable clear image composition. The built-in flash with a guide number of 14 (at ISO 100) was activated automatically and did not allow manual deactivation.
Its weather resistance according to JIS standard (4th class) meant that it was characterized by its compact dimensions of 129.5 mm x 70 mm x 50.5 mm and a low weight of 245 grams (without battery). The power supply was provided by a CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*).
Films for the Konica Jump Auto
The Konica Jump Auto relies on 35mm films. Fortunately, 35mm films are still manufactured today and can be developed without any problems in most photo labs.
Possible films for the Konica Jump Auto are recommended: Kodak Portra 400* for color images and Ilford FP4 Plus* for black and white photos. Of course, films from other manufacturers can also be used with this camera.
The color film belongs to the category of color negative films and is developed using the C-41 process. The development of this film is offered by many photo labs.
The negatives of the Konica Jump Auto are 24 mm x 36 mm in size. A standard 35mm film of this size has space for around 36 images. The camera is equipped with an automatic film transport that automatically advances the film after each shot.
The 35mm camera is now only available second-hand. The price depends on the condition and the accessories included.
