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.
View profile →
slr-35mm
The Konica FT-A (1983) is a mid-tier AR-mount SLR positioned between the consumer-end FS-1 and the flagship FT-1 Motor released the same year. It uses an electronic vertical-metal shutter with a top speed of 1/1000s and a flash sync of 1/100s. Exposure modes cover aperture-priority automatic and program AE in addition to manual, making it more flexible than the shutter-priority-only Autoreflex bodies that preceded it. Metering is TTL centre-weighted using an SPD (silicon photodiode) cell - a step forward from the CdS cells in older Konica bodies.
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
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
Konica's mid-tier 1983 SLR: electronic shutter, aperture-priority and program AE, AR mount.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Konica AR bayonet |
| Years | |
| Shutter | 2s – 1/1000s + B, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | ~1/100s |
| Meter | TTL centre-weighted SPD |
| Modes | Aperture-priority / Program / Manual |
| Battery | 2x AA (required for all functions) |
| Mechanical fallback | None |
By 1983, Konica's SLR line had shifted decisively away from the shutter-priority mechanical design of the Autoreflex T-series toward electronic, aperture-priority cameras. The FS-1 (1979) had been the first 35mm SLR with a built-in motor winder; the FT-1 Motor (1983) was its refined successor with integrated drive. The FT-A occupied a middle position: electronic shutter and multi-mode AE like the FT-1, but without the built-in motor drive, making it lighter and less expensive.
The shift from shutter-priority to aperture-priority reflected a broader industry trend in the early 1980s. Canon's AE-1 Program (1981), Nikon's FE2 (1983), and Minolta's X-700 (1981) had all established aperture-priority and program modes as the expected feature set for a serious amateur SLR. Konica's FT-A aligned the AR-mount line with these expectations.
The FT-A was eventually superseded by the TC-X (1985), Konica's last AR-mount SLR, which further simplified the body in polycarbonate construction.
The FT-A offers a broader exposure mode set than any of the earlier Autoreflex bodies - program mode in particular makes it accessible to photographers who want automation without committing to shutter or aperture choice. The SPD meter is faster to respond and more consistent in low light than the CdS meters in the TC and T3.
For buyers in 2026, the FT-A sits at the crossroads of the Konica AR system: it is modern enough to offer multi-mode AE and electronic reliability, while remaining compatible with the entire run of Hexanon AR lenses. The 40mm f/1.8 AR pancake, the 50mm f/1.7, and the 57mm f/1.4 are the lenses most often paired with it.
The trade-off relative to contemporary alternatives (Nikon FE2, Canon AE-1 Program) is the AR-mount ecosystem: smaller installed base, lenses harder to source outside used markets, and essentially no factory service in 2026.
Full Konica AR mount. The complete Hexanon AR range is compatible. Notable lenses:
Konica AR lenses adapt to Sony E, Micro Four Thirds, and Fuji X via passive adapters.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →C41
Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →