Konica's Autoreflex T2 — shutter-priority AE SLR, AR mount, mechanical shutter, 1970.
The Konica Autoreflex T2 is a 35mm film SLR made by Konica and released in 1970 as the successor to the Autoreflex T. It continued the Autoreflex line of AR-mount bodies aimed at enthusiasts and refined the earlier model rather than replacing its core layout. It carried the Autoreflex name in the United States market.
It is a single-lens reflex for 35mm film using the Konica AR bayonet mount. The camera has a metal focal-plane shutter with a top speed of 1/1000 second plus Bulb, and through-the-lens centre-weighted CdS metering. Its main automatic mode is shutter-priority, where you set the shutter speed and the body chooses the aperture, with manual control also selectable. The shutter is mechanically timed and fires without a battery; the cell powers only the meter and viewfinder readout.
The T2 suits photographers who want dependable shutter-priority automation in a robust metal body, and it works well for general, street and travel shooting. Handling is much like the earlier T, with the same substantial feel. Its strengths are build and simple automation; its limits are weight and the age of the meter circuitry.
When buying used, inspect the light seals and mirror-damper foam because these usually perish with age and want replacing. Run the shutter through its speeds to check for capping or slow-speed lag, test advance and rewind, and verify the meter responds. The meter assumed 1.35V mercury cells (PX625/625 type), so exposure readings may need adjustment with modern batteries; the mechanical shutter still works when the battery is flat. Check the prism and screen for haze or desilvering.