C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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rangefinder-35mm
The Konica Auto SE (1965) is a transitional refinement of the original Auto S (1963), bridging the selenium-metered manual rangefinder of its predecessor and the full shutter-priority autoexposure of the Auto S2. The SE swaps the Auto S's selenium cell for a CdS photoelectric meter powered by a small battery, yielding better sensitivity in low light. Exposure remains manual -- the meter informs the user, who sets aperture and shutter speed independently. The lens is a **Hexanon 47mm f/1.8** (some sources list f/1.9 ), a slight revision from the 48mm f/1.8 of the Auto S and a close sibling to the acclaimed 45mm f/1.8 introduced on the Auto S2 that same year.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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About this camera
The Auto S refined -- 47mm Hexanon f/1.9, electric CdS meter, mechanical RF, 1965.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Lens | ~Hexanon 47mm f/1.9 |
| Years | ~1965 |
| Shutter | ~1s - 1/500s, mechanical leaf |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | CdS electric (battery required) |
| Modes | Manual |
| Battery | ~PX625 or equivalent 1.35V |
Konica's Auto S line evolved rapidly in the mid-1960s as the market shifted from selenium to CdS metering. The original Auto S (1963) used a selenium cell requiring no battery; by 1965 CdS technology offered substantially better low-light sensitivity and Konica moved to electric metering across the line. The SE introduced the CdS meter while retaining manual exposure control -- a conservative step that let Konica refine the mechanical platform before committing to the full autoexposure system of the S2.
The Auto S2, introduced concurrently in 1965, rendered the SE redundant almost immediately. The S2 offered shutter-priority AE, a slightly wider 45mm Hexanon, and a cleaner exposure workflow. The SE's production run was therefore brief, making surviving examples uncommon in any condition.
The Auto SE illustrates how quickly Japanese rangefinder design iterated in the 1965 model year. Within a single year, Konica moved from selenium-only manual metering (Auto S) through battery-assisted manual metering (SE) to full shutter-priority autoexposure (Auto S2) -- a complete rethink of the metering and exposure system compressed into twelve months.
The Hexanon glass on the SE inherits Konica's reputation for well-corrected, contrasty rendering. The ~47mm focal length sits between the Auto S's 48mm and the S2's 45mm, occupying an unusual optical position within the product family that adds a minor point of collector interest.
Fixed Hexanon ~47mm f/1.9. No interchangeable lens capability. Standard clip-on flash accessories compatible with the leaf-shutter sync at all speeds.
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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