Konica EYE

The Konica EYE is a 35mm viewfinder camera manufactured in the 1960s by Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. (now Konica Minolta). It is characterized by its ease of use and automatic exposure control, making it a popular camera for hobbyist photographers.

Later, two more versions followed with the Konica EYE 2 and the Konica EYE 3. They differ in lens, exposure meter, and self-timer.

In the USA, the EYE was also sold under the name “Wards EYE” by the department store chain Montgomery Ward. The model offers the same features.

Lens

The Konica EYE is equipped with a permanently installed Hexanon 30mm f/1.9 lens. This lens consists of 6 elements in 5 groups and features an improved amber coating.

The lens allows focusing by rotating the lens barrel. The camera offers a zone focusing system, indicated by symbols in the viewfinder. Autofocus is not available.

The filter thread of the lens is 46mm with a pitch of 0.75mm. Screw-in filters can be used.

Exposure Settings

The Konica EYE features automatic exposure control (Electric-Eye) controlled by a built-in exposure meter. Exposure metering is integral.

A selenium exposure meter is used for exposure metering. This has the advantage that no batteries are needed. The disadvantage is that the selenium meter may no longer measure correctly after years or may fail completely.

The camera automatically selects the appropriate aperture and shutter speed depending on the lighting conditions. The exposure range is between EV 6.8 (1/30 sec at f/1.9) and EV 17 (1/800 sec at f/13) with ASA 100 film.

For special situations, the camera can also be operated manually. The aperture can be set manually from f/1.9 to f/16, with the shutter speed fixed at 1/25 sec.

For long exposures, the B (Bulb) mode can be used, where the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release is pressed. In this mode, the aperture is fixed at f/1.9.

Flash System

The Konica EYE does not support automatic flash control. For flash photography, the camera must be set manually. The manual control ring must be moved away from AUTO and set to the corresponding aperture (f/1.9 to f/16) that matches the flash’s guide number and the distance to the subject. The shutter speed is fixed at 1/25 sec. Synchronization is via an X-contact.

Additional Features

The Konica EYE has a tripod thread. A self-timer is not integrated but can be used with a separately available cable release.

A red warning indicator in the viewfinder signals underexposure. The camera prevents multiple exposures.

On the bottom, there is a thread for a tripod. On the sides, there are eyelets for a camera strap or wrist strap.

Dimensions and Weight

The dimensions of the Konica EYE are 112 mm (width) x 46 mm (depth) x 69 mm (height). The weight is 420 grams.

Film Recommendations

The Konica EYE uses 35mm film. Film sensitivity can be set manually from ASA 10 to ASA 400 (DIN 11 to DIN 27). A good color film for this format is the Kodak Ektar 100*.

The Konica EYE is not equipped with DX-recognition; film sensitivity must be set manually. The camera’s exposure range depends on the film sensitivity and is between EV 6.8 (1/30 sec at f/1.9) and EV 17 (1/800 sec at f/13) with ASA 100 film.

The negatives are 17.5 mm x 24 mm in size, which is the so-called half-frame format. This means that a normal 36-exposure roll of film can hold twice as many images.

Quick Operation Guide

1. Load Film: Open the camera back and insert a 35mm film cartridge. Ensure the film is correctly threaded onto the take-up spool.
2. Set Film Speed: Set the film speed (ASA/DIN) according to the film roll used.
3. Aim at Subject: Look through the viewfinder and select your subject.
4. Focus: Estimate the distance to the subject and set the distance on the lens.
5. Take Picture: Press the shutter button to take the photo. In good lighting conditions, the camera operates automatically. If lighting conditions are poor, a red warning indicator will appear in the viewfinder, and the shutter will be locked.
6. Advance Film: Operate the film advance lever to prepare the film for the next shot.
7. Rewind Film: After the last picture, rewind the film using the rewind crank.