Konica's Auto S1 — fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder, shutter-priority auto, Hexanon lens, 1964.
The Konica Auto S1, from 1964, was a fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder in Konica's Auto S range. It offered coupled-metering automatic exposure in a solid metal body and sat within the family that ran from the Auto S to the later compact models.
This is a 35mm coupled-rangefinder camera with a fixed Hexanon lens and a mechanical leaf shutter. Exposure is shutter-priority automatic using a built-in CdS meter, with a manual option available. The shutter is a mechanical leaf type, while the meter and automatic exposure require a battery.
The Auto S1 suits general, street and travel photography for users who want a sharp Hexanon lens with the option of automatic or manual exposure. The coupled rangefinder gives accurate focus and the metal body is durable, though heavier than later compact designs.
When buying, test the CdS meter and note that the original mercury cell is obsolete, so a substitute is usually required. Check the lens for haze and fungus, confirm the leaf shutter and aperture blades move cleanly, and verify rangefinder patch contrast and alignment. Replace perished light seals as needed.