Konishiroku Konica II B-m
Konishiroku Konica II B-m
Konica I
Konica II Bm
Konica III
Konica III M
Rangefinders made in Japan in the 1950s.
The Konica II is the second generation of the Konica post-war triplets, between the Konica I and Konica III. Each generation had several variants, all paving Konica’s way to the small circle of camera makers that lasted till the digital era. The Konica I, introduced just at the war’s end, was an immensely popular camera, and with the second generation, Konica had improved upon itself. The first Konica II came in 1951 as a well-built, solid camera, aspiring for markets beyond the GI contingent in post-war Japan.
There were four distinct models: the Konica II, which had a collapsible lens, and the Kobica II B, which had a scaled-down lens. Then, the II A, with a slightly different lens assembly, and the last model, the 1956 Konica II B-m. See the table below. A Konica II F is also cited, but besides a mention on the fly, there is no information to chew upon. It seems it was a prototype that had not matured.
| Konica II | 1951 | Konirapid-S Konirapid-MFX |
T, B, 1–500 | Hexanon 2.8/50 | Slow speed dial |
| Konica II A | 1956 | Konirapid-MFX | T, B, 1–500 | Hexanon 2.0/48 | Slow speed dial |
| Konica II B | 1955 | Konirapid-S | B, 1–500 | Hexar 3.5/50 Hexar 2.8/50 |
No slow speed dial |
| Konica II B-m | 1956 | Seikosha-MX | B, 1–500 | Hexar 3.5/45 | No slow speed dial |
The camera on my bench is the Konica II B-m, the last of this series. It resembles the Konica I style, but on a second look, it is a refined version. The designers added a styled breastplate, as seen on other models of the time. It is just a tad larger but 100 gr / 3.5 oz heavier. It uses a humble lens, a Hexar 3.5/45, whereas earlier versions had better and faster lenses. Perhaps the change was used as a price point. Compared to the Konica I group, added are a cold accessory shoe, a self-reset frame counter and a film-type memo on the rewind knob. These are minor changes but were paramount to keep abreast with the competition.
This model had to stand against some of the giants of the industry, the Canon V, L and P, Mamiya A and 35 series, a plethora of Topcon, Taron, Ricoh and Olympus, and a gaggle of smaller makers that vanished as fast as they appeared. See below a complete list of rangefinders made in Japan in the 1950s.
My camera has arrived from Buyee, where buying is a toss of the dice. Product description, once compiled into English, is puzzling at best, and condition portrayal is much of a thumb suck. Here, I got lucky. The camera is in beautiful condition and fully operational. Kudos to Konica and the original owner for having a 70-year-old camera in such a condition.
The first Konica II had a collapsible lens like the Konica I models. The II and II A had a front-mounted slow-speed dial that added a ‘T’ option. It was dropped in the II B and the II B-m in favour of a cover carrying the model name.
- The camera is precisely balanced, meaning it will fall on its nose if the lens is fully projected.
- Winding is still a knob, which was changed on the Konica III models to a mighty front lever.
- It has a bright viewer, a good patch, and no parallax frame.
- The winder pulls the film, stops at each frame, but does not cock the shutter.
- Shutter cocking lever at 10 o’clock on the lens barrel.
- The trigger activates a fin at 7 o’clock on the lens barrel that pushes the shutter release lever.
- This means the shutter can be actuated by the top trigger or the barrel-mounted lever, this way resulting in double exposure.
- The hinged back is secured via an odd lock, inherited from the Konica I, and then bequeathed to the Konica III.
- To open the hinged back, lift the D ring turnbuckle at the bottom, move the arrow to the ‘O’ mark, then fold the D ring back towards the ‘O’ mark and press it down. This will press the tiny bulge underneath and release the lock.
Note that if the turnbuckle stays on the ‘O’ position and the camera is set on a flat surface, the back will flip open. - Some online articles suggest setting the shutter speed before cocking. There is no such mention in the user manual.
- A llose up attachment, ‘Auto-Up II’ was offered as an add-on. See the image below.
- The lens barrel carries all the action:
- Closest to the body is the focusing dial; having a generous travel, it is a pleasure to focus precisely. It is supported with a finger rest and is limited by good stops at each end.
- On the lens barrel, at 1 o’clock, is a rounded notch showing the ‘f’ value. Set it by a fin at its right.
- The value is positioned against a tiny red dot.
- The shutter speed dial is in front of it; values are set against the same dot.
- The trigger cocking lever is at 10 o’clock; pull it up.
- The red fin at its left is the synch selector.
- Further down on the barrel is the trigger release lever. It is activated by pressing the top trigger or can be clicked right there.
For the collector / film shooter, it is a go-for. A splendid model of 1950s Japan, a no-nonsense shooter, will grace any collection.
| Camdex list number | 29559 |
| Brand | Konica |
| Model | Konica IIB-M |
| Manual | Butkus |
| Value | Konica II Konica II A Konica II B Konica II B-m |
| Format | 35mm |
| Introduced | 1956 |
| AKA | |
| Country | Japan |
| Qty made | |
| Initial price | 22,500 |
| Currency | Yen |
| Typ | Rangefinder |
| Body material | Metal |
| Mode | Manual |
| Weight | 685 gr, Body with lens |
| Class average weight | 641 gr, Body with lens |
| ASA range | Memo only |
| Kit lens | 3,5/45 |
| Lens make | Hexar |
| Filter size | Slide on 32mm |
| Lens mount | Fixed lens |
| Mount size | N/A |
| Aperture | |
| Shutter | Leaf |
| Shutter make | Seikosha MX |
| Trigger | On top & on lens barrel |
| Winder | Knob |
| Shutter cocking | Lever on lens barrel |
| Light meter | None |
| Loc | No |
| Speeds | B, 1-500 |
| Mirror | N/A |
| Viewer | Coupled rangefinder |
| DOF preview | No |
| Exposure lock | No |
| Exposure compensation | No |
| Sho | Cold |
| External sync | X, F, M |
| Timer | No |
| Battery, original | N/A |
| Sync speed | |
| Battery, replacement | N/A |
| Battery voltage | N/A |
| Integral flash | None |
| Other | |
| More | photo.net davidde.com kelnerhank.blogpost.com |
| Service / repair links | See camerlog.com |
35mm rangefinder cameras made in Japan in the 1950s
| Brand | Model | AKA | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Aires | Aires 35 II | 1954 | |
 | Aires | Aires 35 III | 1955 | |
 | Aires | Aires 35 IIA | 1955 | |
 | Aires | Aires 35 IIIA | 1956 | |
 | Aires | Aires 35 IIIB | 1957 | |
 | Aires | Aires 35 IIIS | 1958 | |
 | Aires | Aires 35 V | 1958 | |
 | Aires | Aires 35 IIIC | 1958 | |
 | Aires | Viscount 2.8 | 1959 | |
| Aires | Aires 35 IIISA | 1959 | ||
 | Aires | Viscount 1.9 | 1959 | |
 | Ars Optical | Sky 35 Model II | Burke and James | 1956 |
 | Ars Optical | Acon 35 Model II | 1956 | |
| Ars Optical | Acon 35 Model I | 1956 | ||
| Ars Optical | Acon 35 Model IIL | 1959 | ||
 | Beauty | 35 Super | 1956 | |
 | Beauty | Canter | 1957 | |
 | Beauty | 35 Super L | 1958 | |
 | Beauty | Super II | 1958 | |
 | Beauty | Varicon Super L | 1959 | |
 | Beauty | Light O matic | LM | 1959 |
 | Beauty | LM | Light O-matic (Lightomatic) | 1959 |
 | Canon | II F E-P | 1953 | |
 | Canon | VT Body | 1956 | |
 | Canon | VT Kit | 1956 | |
 | Canon | L2 Black | 1956 | |
 | Canon | VT Black Kit | 1956 | |
| Canon | V | 1956 | ||
 | Canon | L2 Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VT Olive Body | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L2 Body | 1957 | |
| Canon | VT de Luxe M Black Kit | 1957 | ||
 | Canon | VT de Luxe Z Black Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L1 Navy | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VT de Luxe Black Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L1 Black Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L1 Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L3 Body | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L2 Imperial Navy | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VT de Luxe Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L3 Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VT de Luxe Z Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VT de Luxe M Kit | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VT de Luxe Body | 1957 | |
 | Canon | L1 Body | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VT de Luxe Black Body | 1957 | |
 | Canon | VI-T Black Body | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VI-L Black | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VI-L Body | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VL Kit | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VL-2 Black Kit | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VI-T Kit | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VL-2 Body | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VI-L Kit | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VI-T Body | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VL Body | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VL-2 Kit | 1958 | |
 | Canon | VI-T Black | 1958 | |
 | Canon | P Body | 1959 | |
 | Canon | P Body Red Cherry | 1959 | |
 | Canon | P Black | 1959 | |
 | Canon | P Eagle | 1959 | |
 | Canon | P | 1959 | |
 | Canon | P Body Black | 1959 | |
| Ehira | Astoria Super Six IIIB | 1950 | ||
 | Fuji | 35 M | 1957 | |
 | Fuji | 35 Automagic | 1958 | |
 | Fuji | 35 SE | 1959 | |
 | Hokuto | Robin | 1950 | |
 | Konica | Konica I Signal Corps | 1950 | |
 | Konica | Konica I Made In Occupied Japan | 1950 | |
 | Konica | Konica II | 1951 | |
 | Konica | Konica IIB | 1955 | |
 | Konica | Konica III | 1956 | |
 | Konica | Konica IIB-M | 1956 | |
 | Konica | Konica III - MFX | 1956 | |
 | Konica | Konica IIA | 1956 | |
 | Konica | Konica III L- MXL | 1957 | |
 | Konica | Konica IIIA | 1958 | |
 | Konica | Konica III Gold | 1958 | |
 | Konica | Konica III L2 | 1958 | |
 | Konica | Auto S | 1959 | |
 | Konica | Konica IIIM | Half frame option | 1959 |
 | Konica | Snap | 1959 | |
 | Konica | Konica S | 1959 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo 35 | Kallo 35 E, Imperial 356; Graflex Century 35 | 1955 |
 | Kowa | Kallo 140 | 1955 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo 35 F2 | 1958 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo 35 E | Kallo 35 | 1958 |
 | Kowa | Kallo 180 | 1959 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo 181 | 1959 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo W | 1959 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo T 100 | 1959 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo T 85 | 1959 | |
 | Kowa | Kallo 281 | Graflex 35 NE | 1959 |
 | Mamiya | 35 II | 1955 | |
 | Mamiya | 35 II Deluxe | 1955 | |
 | Mamiya | Magazine 35 | 1957 | |
 | Mamiya | 35 III | 1957 | |
 | Mamiya | 35 Wide | 1957 | |
 | Mamiya | Elca | 1958 | |
 | Mamiya | 35 S | 1958 | |
 | Mamiya | Crown 35 | 1958 | |
 | Mamiya | Metra | Auto Metra | 1958 |
 | Mamiya | Metramatic | 1958 | |
 | Mamiya | 35 S2 | 1959 | |
 | Mamiya | Metra II | 1959 | |
 | Mamiya | 35 Wide E | 1959 | |
 | Mamiya | Ruby | Rank Mamiya | 1959 |
 | Mamiya | Sketch | 1959 | |
 | Minolta | A | 1955 | |
 | Minolta | A2 | 1957 | |
 | Minolta | Super A | 1957 | |
| Minolta | Sky | 1957 | ||
 | Minolta | V2 | 1958 | |
 | Minolta | A2 LT | 1958 | |
 | Minolta | A3 | 1959 | |
 | Neoca | Robin 35 | 1955 | |
 | Neoca | 35 2S | Brumberger | 1955 |
 | Neoca | 35 1S | 1955 | |
 | Neoca | Torca 35 | Tor Optical | 1956 |
 | Neoca | 35 III S | 1957 | |
 | Neoca | 35 A | 1957 | |
 | Neoca | 35 SV | Brumberger | 1959 |
 | Neoca | 35 IV S | 1959 | |
 | Neoca | 35 SV Deluxe | 1959 | |
 | Neoca | 35 SV Super | 1959 | |
 | Nicca | Nicca 5 L | 1955 | |
 | Nicca | Nicca 3L | Tower 3L | 1958 |
 | Nicca | Nicca 3L Body | 1958 | |
 | Nikon | S2 Body Dummy | 1954 | |
 | Nishida | Auto West | 1957 | |
 | Novo | Novo 35 | 1955 | |
 | Novo | Novo 35 Super | 1955 | |
 | Novo | Novo 35 IS | 1955 | |
 | Novo | Novo 35 IIa | 1955 | |
 | Novo | Novo 35 S2 | Fodor | 1955 |
 | Okaya | Lord II A | 1954 | |
 | Okaya | Lord IV B Black | 1955 | |
 | Okaya | Lord IV A | 1955 | |
 | Okaya | Lord IV D | 1955 | |
 | Okaya | Lord IV B | 1957 | |
 | Okaya | Lord 4D | 1957 | |
 | Okaya | Lord 5D | 1957 | |
 | Okaya | Lord SE | 1958 | |
 | Okaya | Lord Martian | 1959 | |
 | Okaya | Lord SL | 1959 | |
 | Olympus | 35 Wide | 1955 | |
 | Olympus | 35 S | 1955 | |
 | Olympus | 35 S II | Sears Tower 18 | 1957 |
 | Olympus | 35 Wide S | 1957 | |
 | Olympus | 35 K | 1957 | |
| Olympus | Auto black | 1958 | ||
 | Olympus | Auto | 1958 | |
 | Olympus | Ace E | Tower 19 | 1958 |
 | Olympus | 35 Wide II | 1958 | |
 | Olympus | 35 Wide I | 1958 | |
 | Olympus | Ace | 1958 | |
 | Olympus | Auto B Electro-Set | 1959 | |
 | Olympus | Pen | 1959 | |
 | Petri | 35 2.8 Color Corrected Super | 1954 | |
| Petri | 35 MX | 1955 | ||
 | Petri | 35 X | 1955 | |
 | Petri | Automate | 1956 | |
 | Petri | 2.8 Color Corrected Super | 1958 | |
 | Petri | 1.9 Color Corrected Super | 1959 | |
 | Ricoh | Riken 35 Late | 1954 | |
 | Ricoh | Riken 35 | Ricoh 35 | 1954 |
 | Ricoh | 35 | Riken 35 | 1955 |
 | Ricoh | Riken 35 S | 1955 | |
 | Ricoh | 35 Deluxe | 1956 | |
 | Ricoh | 35 Deluxe L | 1957 | |
 | Ricoh | 35 S --1957-- | 1957 | |
 | Ricoh | 35 S2 | 1958 | |
 | Ricoh | 500 Deluxe | 512 | 1958 |
 | Ricoh | 500 Early | 1958 | |
 | Ricoh | 519 | Five One Nine | 1958 |
 | Ricoh | 519 Deluxe | Trigger winder | 1958 |
 | Ricoh | 300 | 1958 | |
 | Ricoh | 520 M | Sears RF 5 | 1959 |
 | Ricoh | 519 M | 1959 | |
 | Ricoh | 35 S3 | 1959 | |
 | Ricoh | Jet | 500 with 1.9 lens | 1959 |
 | Ricoh | Max | 1959 | |
| Royal Camera | Royal 35 I | Picny B | 1950 | |
 | Royal Camera | Royal 35 | Ogicon 35 | 1955 |
 | Royal Camera | Royal 35S | 1955 | |
 | Royal Camera | Torca | Luxall, Royal 35P | 1957 |
 | Royal Camera | Hiyoca | Royal 35P | 1957 |
| Royal Camera | Mark S2 | 1957 | ||
 | Royal Camera | Ogikon 35 E | Royal 35 LE sold by Ogino | 1957 |
 | Royal Camera | Ogikon 35 E Deluxe | 1957 | |
 | Royal Camera | Royal 35 LE | Ogikon 35 E | 1957 |
 | Royal Camera | Royal 35M | Skylark E, Ogicon 35E, Wirgin 19E | 1957 |
 | Royal Camera | Luxall | Torca, Royal 35P | 1957 |
 | Royal Camera | Royal 35P | Unicorn 35 | 1957 |
| Royal Camera | Royal 35M DeLux | 1957 | ||
 | Samoca | 35 Super | 1956 | |
 | Samoca | 28E Elite | 1957 | |
 | Samoca | 35 Super X 3.5 | 1957 | |
 | Samoca | 35 Super X 2.8 | 1957 | |
 | Samoca | 35 M-28 | Tower 57, Hanimex A35 | 1958 |
 | Samoca | 35 M-35 | 1958 | |
 | Samoca | 35 LE | 1958 | |
 | Shinano | Lacon R | 1955 | |
| Suruga | Mihama X | 1955 | ||
| Suruga | Mihama 35-A | 1955 | ||
 | Taisei | Welmy 35 M3 | Super Westomat 35 II | 1956 |
 | Taisei | Super Westomat 35 | 1956 | |
 | Taisei | Super Welmy | Super Westomat 35 | 1956 |
 | Taisei | Super Westromat 35 II | 1957 | |
 | Taisei | Welmy 44 | 1958 | |
 | Taron | 35 | Fodor 35 | 1955 |
 | Taron | 35 II | Taron 35 | 1955 |
 | Taron | Supra PR | RR, PR | 1957 |
 | Taron | VR | V18 | 1958 |
 | Taron | V18 | 1958 | |
 | Taron | Robin 19 | Taron 35 III MX | 1958 |
 | Taron | 35 III MX | Robin 19 | 1958 |
 | Taron | VL | 1959 | |
 | Teiho Optical | Swan 35 | Blitz 35 | 1955 |
 | Teiho Optical | Blitz 35 | Swan 35 | 1955 |
 | Teraoka | Auto Tera IIB | 1957 | |
 | Teraoka | Auto Terra IIBS | 1958 | |
 | Teraoka | Auto Terra IIL | 1958 | |
 | Teraoka | Auto Terra Super | 1959 | |
 | Teraoka | Auto Terra Super A | Optika Auto 35 | 1959 |
 | Teraoka | Auto Terra Super L | 1959 | |
| Teraoka | Auto Terra P | 1959 | ||
| Tohokoken | Kikuca 35 | 1954 | ||
 | Toko Shashin | Windsor 35 II | 1953 | |
 | Toko Shashin | Windsor 35 I | 1953 | |
| Toko Shashin | Windsor 35 III | 1954 | ||
 | Toko Shashin | Windsor Deluxe | Konair 35, Super Windsor, Argon 35 | 1956 |
 | Toko Shashin | Konair 35 | Windsor Deluxe, Windsor Super, Mansfield Skylark | 1956 |
 | Toko Shashin | Argon 35 | Windsor Deluxe, Mansfield Skylark | 1957 |
 | Tokyo Koken | Dolca 35 IIA | 1953 | |
 | Tokyo Koken | Dolca 35 U | 1953 | |
 | Tokyo Koken | Dolca 35 II | 1953 | |
| Tokyo Koken | Dolca 35 IA | 1954 | ||
 | Topcon | 35 S | 1954 | |
 | Topcon | 35 B | 1954 | |
 | Topcon | 35 JL | 1954 | |
 | Topcon | 35 L | 1954 | |
 | Tougodo | Buena 35 S | Toyoca 35 | 1957 |
 | Tougodo | Toyoca 35 | Buena | 1957 |
 | Walz | Walz 35 | 1956 | |
 | Walz | Walz 35 S | 1957 | |
 | Walz | Walz 35 SV | 1958 | |
 | Walz | Comet | 1958 | |
| Walz | Walz Envoy M I | 1959 | ||
 | Walz | Walz Envoy M-35 | 1959 | |
| Walz | Walz Envoy M II | 1959 | ||
 | Walz | Walz Wide | 1959 | |
 | Walz | Walz Envoy 35 | 1959 | |
 | Yamato | Pax Ruby | Sunscope; Rex; Ricsor, Konair Rubi, Rippa | 1955 |
| Yamato | Pal | Pax Ruby, TAC Rubi | 1955 | |
 | Yamato | Konair Ruby | Rippa, Sunscope; Rex; Ricsor | 1955 |
 | Yamato | Pax M2 | 1956 | |
 | Yamato | Rex | Sunscope; Ricsor, Konair Rubi, Rippa, Pax Rubi | 1956 |
 | Yamato | Lycon M3 | Pax M3 | 1957 |
 | Yamato | Skymaster | Pax M3 | 1957 |
| Yamato | Magnon M3 | Pax M4 | 1957 | |
 | Yamato | Pal M4 | Rex M4 | 1957 |
 | Yamato | Pax M3 | Skymaster | 1957 |
 | Yamato | TAC Deluxe | Pax M4, Pal M4, Atlas Deluxe, Rex M4 | 1958 |
 | Yamato | Riscor | Sunscope; Rippa; Konair Rubi, Pax Rubi, Rex | 1958 |
 | Yamato | Pax M4 | Magnon 35; TAC Delux, Atlas Deluxe, Pal M4 | 1958 |
 | Yamato | Pax Sunscope | Rex; Ricsor, Konair Rubi, Rippa, pax Rubi | 1958 |
 | Yamato | Atlas 35 II | 1959 | |
 | Yamato | Atlas Deluxe | 1959 | |
 | Yashica | YK | 1959 | |
 | Yashica | YL | 1959 | |
| Yoshimura Optic | Rubin 35 | 1958 |
