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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The Konica S 1.6 (1960) is among the fastest fixed-lens rangefinders of its era, built around a **Hexanon 45mm f/1.6** lens -- a third of a stop faster than the f/1.8 Hexanon used on the later Auto S and Auto S2. Manual exposure only, with a selenium meter providing uncoupled readings. Mechanical leaf shutter syncs at all speeds. No battery of any kind is required: the selenium cell powers the meter directly and the shutter is entirely mechanical.
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.
View profile →BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
Konica's fastest fixed-lens rangefinder -- Hexanon 45mm f/1.6, full manual, selenium meter, 1960.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Lens | Hexanon 45mm f/1.6 |
| Years | 1960-~ |
| Shutter | ~1s - 1/500s, mechanical leaf |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | Selenium, uncoupled (no battery) |
| Modes | Manual |
| Battery | None required |
The S 1.6 appeared in 1960 as Konica continued developing its fixed-lens rangefinder line from the Konica III series. The f/1.6 lens specification distinguished it from competitors like Canonet and early Yashica offerings, most of which topped out at f/1.8 or f/1.9. By 1963, Konica introduced the Auto S with shutter-priority AE, gradually shifting the line toward automated exposure. The S 1.6's fully manual operation made it a niche product even at launch -- buyers who wanted automation had other options; the S 1.6 was for those who wanted the fastest available Hexanon in a coupled-rangefinder body.
The Hexanon 45/1.6 is the rarest and fastest of the Hexanon fixed-lens RF optics. Konica's lens engineers were competing directly with Leica and Nikon on resolution and correction, and the 45/1.6 demonstrates how seriously the company took that competition. At f/1.6, out-of-focus rendering is distinctive and the lens draws differently from the f/1.8 version -- more character wide open, slightly more aberration that modern shooters may find appealing.
For 2026 buyers, the S 1.6 is a genuine rarity. It appears infrequently on secondary markets and typically commands a premium over S2/S3 examples. The all-mechanical, battery-free operation adds to its durability and collectibility.
Fixed Hexanon 45mm f/1.6. No interchangeable lens system. Standard clip-on and cold-shoe flash accessories compatible with 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.
View profile →C41
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
View profile →Konica S 1.6
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