Konica's compact Autoreflex TC — shutter-priority AE SLR, AR mount, 1976.
The Konica Autoreflex TC is a 35mm film SLR made by Konica and introduced in 1976 as a smaller, lighter and more affordable member of the AR-mount Autoreflex line. It was aimed at the entry to mid range and marketed as a compact companion to the larger T-series bodies. It was sold under the Autoreflex name in the United States.
It is a single-lens reflex for 35mm film using the Konica AR bayonet mount. The TC uses a metal focal-plane shutter with a top speed of 1/1000 second plus Bulb, and through-the-lens centre-weighted CdS metering. Its automatic mode is shutter-priority, so the user sets the shutter and the camera chooses the aperture, with manual control also possible. The shutter is electronically influenced by the battery for the auto mode, and the body needs a working cell for its metered and automatic operation.
The TC suits students, beginners and travellers who want a lighter, simpler Konica SLR with automatic exposure. It is noticeably more compact and easier to carry than the T-series, which makes it a practical everyday camera. Its strengths are size and simplicity; its limits are a more basic feature set and greater dependence on the battery than the mechanical T-series.
For used buyers, check foam light seals and mirror-damper foam, which perish with age and need replacing. Test the shutter for capping and slow-speed faults, confirm advance and rewind feel right, and verify the meter and auto exposure respond, since this body relies on the battery to work fully. The meter was designed for 1.35V mercury cells (PX625/625 type), so allow for drift with modern batteries. Inspect the prism and focusing screen for haze or desilvering.