Help me decide what Konica SLR I should get next.greenspun.com : LUSENET : Konica 35mm SLRs : One Thread |
I am in the market (again) for a Konica SLR camera. If you have been following any of my previous posts you know that I have 2 Konica SLR's a T3 and a T that have broken on me in the last 3-4 weeks. (ouch). So I need to buy a 3rd SLR that hopefully won't break on me like the other 2 did.I am looking at a FT-1, FS-1, T3N or something else. The FT-1 and FS-1 are nice, but I really don't NEED any of the features, I just figure they might be more "reliable" then my T and T3. I don't want to get anything really below the T3N beause I will use 100% of its features and like the ME option.
So, my Konica Peers, what should I get next?
Mike michael.lepard@home.com
-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000
Mike, FS-1 does not have ME, and it is an electronic camera and will be useless without batteries. Last time we were in Waterton park, it was so cold (I guess -20C) my FS-1 stopped working after I took it out of my car for 5 minutes... I don't have the remote battery holder...FS-1 does not have DOF preview, no mirror lock up - the self-timer will not lock the mirror up.
I don't know FT-1s, but I guess they are similar...
So, I think T-3 is the best... :-)
Wenbiao
-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000
Hi Mike,I agree with Wenbiao. You don't want the FT-1 either, if you need ME, it doesn't have it.
How about a T4? The major concerns effecting that model are the shrinking leatherette and possible meter burnout, check those out. The T4 has ME, the mirror locks up when you use the timer (the FT-1 doesn't). It also was the last Konica SLR to offer depth of field preview. You can get a winder for it, although it's noisy and only about 2 fps (FT-1 is built in, about 2.5 fps). You should be able to find a T4 body for under $100 US, maybe a lot less. Winders in decent shape sell for about $25 US. If you want new leatherette, I'll sell you a set! (incidently, I see a T4 on eBay this evening with a 50/1.4 lens that looks to be missing the focusing rubber, with a bid of $395!!!)
IMHO, with the winder on the T4 they are a nice size, weight and balance, especially with larger lenses. And, I've always liked the side strap you can attach with a winder, gives a great additional grip. Plus I like the "match needle" metering for manual work, such as with a macro bellows. I'm still getting accustomed to the FT-1's led setup & don't find it nearly as user friendly. Both the FT-1 and the T4 offer AE lock, but the T4 is more elegantly simple, just the first step of the shutter release, hold the button down part way. The FT-1 requires you press a little release button and move the off/on switch an additional notch. My FT-1 pretty much lives in the AE Lock postion when I'm using it! I would only switch to non-AE lock with fast moving subjects, panning, etc.
The T4 without the winder is more compact than your cameras. My original T4 has been all over the world and burned up a lot of film! I think I have had it about 18 years, bought it used and it's been CLAed twice & is still chugging along. I have been trying out Wein 625 batteries to get around the mercury battery problem. (same problem as with the 675s in your cameras) So far the T4 meter with the Wein batteries matches my primary FT-1 exactly, and is very close to both my Sekonic and Minolta meters.
I really like the ease of bracketing with the FT-1 over and under exposure adjusment dial. I also was amazed how quiet the camera was, really like to use it when shooting wildlife or candid shots of people. My other recently purchased FT-1 developed a problem right away with some of the old foam in the film take up area becoming gummy as the old glue seeped through. Film started jamming. This was fixed, but I have other problems on that camera to get fixed. Konica still works on FT-1s. I think it's the only SLR they still service, at least in the US. Also I'm sure Greg Weber might be able to help with any of these cameras.
If you do decide to get an FT-1, expect to pay about $135 for a chrome model, at least $150 for a black model. Keep in mind that the motor is built in, thus you don't have that additional expense.
Honestly I don't think the FT-1s will be as rugged as the T4s (and T3, TCs) have proven for me. But, only time will tell. I'll still drag along a pair of TCs as backup cameras (identical to the T4 in size & share many parts, but doesn't have some of the slower shutter speeds, no depth of field preview, no winder capability, no ME & no battery test).
If I were you, I would seriously reconsider having your T3 and/or T repaired. They are good solid cameras & would at least make a good backup for a newer camera, should you decide to get one, which may be more fragile.
Keep knocking on wood!
Cheers
Alan
-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000
This is TRUELY the best part of owning a Konica system is the help and support you get from the others here who use it and love it. :)T4 Questions: May I ask what you mean by "possible meter burnout" does it use the same match needle system as the T3? The shrinking leatherette must of been nice when Konica made it, but I don't know why they didn't see future problems with it though.
What level of photographer was the T4 aimed at? I have heard that the A line of models (eg. A3) was aimed at entry level and the T3 at "pro" level (as with the FT-1 I think) any ideas on what models were aimed at what market?
I will take a look into getting a T4 then and see how much I can get one for, either on eBay, or from another seller. Thanks for the ideas on the Wein 625 batteries. So the leatherette can be replaced/changed eh? That is neat, maybe I might get a yellow one done up on the black body! haha.
Alot of people are saying the same thing about the FT-1 about its ruggedness ("Honestly I don't think the FT-1s will be as rugged as the T4s (and T3, TCs) have proven for me."). From what I have been seening FT-1's go for, $135-$150 is right on the money.
I got a tip from the Photography club meeting last night about a store in town that repairs older cameras at $30/hr so I'll check this out, might just get the T3 repaired, but I think I'll definately sell the T. I liked the T's meter readout in the viewfinder but other than that, it wasn't the camera for me. Nothing against the T, it is a great rugged camera!
Alan- I was looking at what was for sale at eBay and saw the T4 with the 50mm f1.4 lens at $395?! I thought it MUST be a f1.2 lens for that price but it isn't.. I think it is WAYYYYY over priced right now, but there MUST be something special about it because there are other T4's listed for less than 1/7th of that! Surely, the 50mm f1.4 lens isn't worth $200 usd.
Here is knocking on wood. :) Thanks for the advice.
Mike.
-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000
Too many e-mail accounts, too little time!!!"T4 Questions: May I ask what you mean by "possible meter burnout" does it use the same match needle system as the T3?"
I've heard from others that the meter is the weakest link on the T4 (except for the damned shrinking leatherette, which is only cosmetic, of course) I have seen T4s advertised with meters noted as non-functional. The meter system is very similar to the T3. With the T4 or T3 it's easy to determine the exposure in manual mode, or call it "match needle" or "stop-down", while using a bellows or my Tamron 500/f8 lens, for example. Just position that little moving needle in the right place on the aperture scale in the viewfinder. The FT-1 does essentially the same thing, but with LEDs, which I don't find nearly as easy to use.... they flicker & move around alot. I find myself checking the over & under exposure. Maybe it's just me and I haven't used the FT-1 enough to be comfortable with it, yet. Also, I'm only talking about using the camera's meter in manual mode, here.
"The shrinking leatherette must of been nice when Konica made it, but I don't know why they didn't see future problems with it though."
Good question! Maybe they didn't foresee that we would still be using the cameras 20 years later!
"What level of photographer was the T4 aimed at?"
I would say that the T4 was a semi-pro camera... the FT-1, too. IMHO, I don't think any Konica camera ever really got to the full pro level. They offered a lot in a good, very reasonably priced & easy to use package. And, I know some pros used them, too. But, I wouldn't want to intimidate anyone considering one either. The TC was a much more basic "amateur" camera, the T4 does all the same operations, but offers a lot of enhancements that you can use, or not, at your option.
"So the leatherette can be replaced/changed eh? That is neat, maybe I might get a yellow one done up on the black body! haha."
Go for it... the Konica Bumblebee!!! (I was considering a grey leathette on a chrome FT-1, or maybe brown Moroccan leather)
"Alot of people are saying the same thing about the FT-1 about its ruggedness...."
Call me old-fashioned, but say the batteries die... the old mechanical cameras (T4 & earlier) are prefectly usable at all shutter speeds, manually setting the aperture & using a hand-held meter or estimate the exposure from experience. Not so with the FT-1 (and, I guess, FS-1, etc.)... when the electronically controlled shutter doesn't have power, the best you could hope for is one shutter speed and on the cameras with built-in winders you're really out of luck.
I got a tip from the Photography club meeting last night about a store in town that repairs older cameras at $30/hr so I'll check this out, might just get the T3 repaired, but I think I'll definately sell the T. I liked the T's meter readout in the viewfinder but other than that, it wasn't the camera for me. Nothing against the T, it is a great rugged camera!
"I was looking at what was for sale at eBay and saw the T4 with the 50mm f1.4 lens at $395?!"
Yep, just a 50/1.4 lens.... which it so happens is my favorite normal lens (especially the later model that goes to f22)... but it ain't worth that! Maybe $45-50 in mint condition. "WAYYYYY over priced right now, but there MUST be something special about it..."
Not that I can see, unless you count the missing rubber off the focusing ring as special! (looks like a battle amoung first-time bidders, to me... not being critical, been there, done that)
-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000
This is TRUELY the best part of owning a Konica system is the help and support you get from the others here who use it and love it. :)T4 Questions: May I ask what you mean by "possible meter burnout" does it use the same match needle system as the T3? The shrinking leatherette must of been nice when Konica made it, but I don't know why they didn't see future problems with it though.
What level of photographer was the T4 aimed at? I have heard that the A line of models (eg. A3) was aimed at entry level and the T3 at "pro" level (as with the FT-1 I think) any ideas on what models were aimed at what market?
I will take a look into getting a T4 then and see how much I can get one for, either on eBay, or from another seller. Thanks for the ideas on the Wein 625 batteries. So the leatherette can be replaced/changed eh? That is neat, maybe I might get a yellow one done up on the black body! haha.
Alot of people are saying the same thing about the FT-1 about its ruggedness ("Honestly I don't think the FT-1s will be as rugged as the T4s (and T3, TCs) have proven for me."). From what I have been seening FT-1's go for, $135-$150 is right on the money.
I got a tip from the Photography club meeting last night about a store in town that repairs older cameras at $30/hr so I'll check this out, might just get the T3 repaired, but I think I'll definately sell the T. I liked the T's meter readout in the viewfinder but other than that, it wasn't the camera for me. Nothing against the T, it is a great rugged camera!
Alan- I was looking at what was for sale at eBay and saw the T4 with the 50mm f1.4 lens at $395?! I thought it MUST be a f1.2 lens for that price but it isn't.. I think it is WAYYYYY over priced right now, but there MUST be something special about it because there are other T4's listed for less than 1/7th of that! Surely, the 50mm f1.4 lens isn't worth $200 usd.
Here is knocking on wood. :) Thanks for the advice.
Mike.
-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000
Is there any plastic on the T4? Just was taking a look at one and it looks like the black knobs on top might be plastic. Is it all metal like the T3?Thanks,
Mike
-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000
Hi Mike,I believe the only plastic on the outside of the T4 is the lens mount surround, by that I mean the black "bezel" under the chrome bayonet ring. Oh, also part of the film rewind knob and the depth of field preview button look like they are plastic, too. The camera's frame is cast aluminum, I believe, pretty heavy duty.
Alan
-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000
Hi Alan, (and others)Thanks for that information on what pieces are plastic, atleast the body isn't, and that is good. Well, I will go looking to buy a T4 now, looks like the right camera for me. If I do find a good T3N I will be tempted though. hahah.
Any one else have any comments on the T4?
Thanks,
Mike.
-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000
Hi Mike,Sorry to hear of all your problems. My trusty T3-N developed the mis-firing shutter problem...but only occasionally. I went ahead and sent it to Greg Weber for repair and general maintenance. At the same time I had Greg convert the light meter to run off commonly available silver oxide batteries. I now can use the T3 with confidence, and I expect trouble-free use for the foreseeable future.
Now...the cost of the repair was comparable to the cost of buying a T3 or T4 off ebay. However, I now know exactly what I have, and I know it will probably not malfunction...these are rugged cameras that will live forever if they are occasionally serviced.
You will not recover much investment from the ailing T3, and as you are aware, buying a konica body on ebay is somewhat of a dice roll (although I got lucky on an FT-1). So my suggestion is to repair the T3 rather than risking getting another body that may end up causing you grief down the road.
Whatever you do, keep us informed. It's good to see some action on this forum.
Regards,
-Steve Hughes-
-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000
Hi Again Mike!I just want to echo what Steve said. Three of my camera bodies, a FT-1, a FS-1 and the TC-X were purchased on eBay at reasonable prices BUT all three were sent off to be repaired/adjusted by either Konica or a third party. In some of these cases the repair/adjustment was 2X the cost of the original camera BUT I now have a camera that I can trust to work and I know that the meter is performing correctly. My 'old' T2 and T3 have never seen a repair shop in over 20 years except for replacement foam on the T2 and they work flawlessly. My other body, another FT-1, I tested against my other cameras and it SEEMS to work quite well but it would be the last one I'd choose if a critical (to me) photo opportunity came up - it is a backup 2nd or 3rd body.
If I were you I'd also repair the T3, it may cost $90 - $100 but you would have a reliable body from that point forward. Any camera you purchase without a warrantee you can not be sure of. I know you were taken aback with the cost of the FT-1 I gave you privately but that IS what it cost me to buy it and have it cleaned, adjusted, and with the slight repair. NOW I can trust it! Did I HAVE to do this - nope - it worked pretty well before I sent it off.
For what it is worth, my 2c...
Lee
-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000