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The T3 was a Top SLR from the 70's - all chrome and metal, with shutter priority auto-exposure- a big deal back then. Konica optics were the best in Japan and were used as the basis for rating all Japanese optical products that carried that little gold sticker. The cameras were expensive and could not compete with Nikon at their price point, so they faded into history. I was shocked when Konica got out of the photography business in 2006 - a business they started in 1879! Today the Konica lenses are prized by users of digital cameras like the Sony Nex-5. Certain lenses are legendary and keep these cameras in demand. Their quality of materials and construction keep them functional and a joy to own. Using film today is not that hard, drug store processing like at CVS has gotten very good and convenient. Film images will last a lot longer than any digital media, especially quality Black and White prints which have been around for over a hundred years. It's a good idea to take important family images on film, not only for the nostalgia -which is fun- but for the permanence of the image!Read full review
I was a Konica shooter for over 20 years. Ultimately I moved to Nikon and Leica when Konica dumped us, but I still shoot Konica at times. At one time I preferred the more modern FS1 and to a lesser degree the FT1 due to the smooth electronic shutter which allows sharp handheld pictures at seriously slow shutter speeds. Both are electronic and utilize plastic, some in the FS and more in the FT, the problem is, while I still have a couple bodies that work, most of these are wearing out and are difficult or impossible to repair. Enter the older T3, the mechanical metal Cadillac. Yes it does have some mirror slap and won't be as sharp at 1/8th a second, but it will be fine at 1/30th. Expensive in it's day but built to last and still today easily repaired. A few years ago I found a pristine T3 and had it CLA'd, new light seals and had the meter calibrated to run on modern batteries as opposed to the no longer available Mercury cells. My reason? It is an economical brick of a camera, you literally can beat a mugger over the head with it and take a picture when you finish. My second reason was to have a totally reliable body for the wonderful glass I own. Finally, while nearly all of the older Konica AR lenses are pretty good a few of their offerings are absolutely exceptional and to this day unmatched. The 57mm f1.2 is quite nice, the 85mm f/1.8 has a beautiful and unmatched signature for portrait work. The 135 f/2.5 is an incredible concert lens, fast and smooth with a signature that pushes 35mm. There are a few more amazing goodies out there too. Sure I shoot digital but, still today film offers advantages over digital, for one thing it will capture and preserve memories for a lifetime, unlike easily deleted or corrupted electronic files or quickly ink prints. Second with good glass and film you still capture more information than any digital. Try it you will like it! Besides you can have your slides or film digitized and you will have images that may just best the full frame digital wonders of today.Read full review
The Konica "Autoreflex" camera was miles ahead of the competition. it was constructed in the most sturdy body ( and heavier) camera o the market . It was also backed up with the finest selection of high quality lenses. I know from experience because I had a camera store and I sold many of them. When the digital age evolved the company main business was in films, paper, and chemicals for the camera and offices machines saw the future for film cameras and merged with Minolta to combine there efforts for the business market. The new company Konica/Minolta produced one digital camera and left that market . They are in the office machine business today.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought a Konica T3 in 1975- it was my first SLR. I shot primarily Kodachrome and my 40 plus year old Kodachromes are still beautiful and sharp. The T3 was a good camera, but by its day no longer unique. My T3 was not particularly reliable and needed repairs several times. Got fed up and got a Konica FS-1 instead. Remarkably, that was worse in terms of reliability. So bad that Konica swapped cameras for me twice. When first considering an SLR, I was quite drawn to the Canon EF also which was quite similar in features but it was more expensive than a T3. I later owned an EF and concluded it was a superior camera with a more varied lens line. By 1981 I was fed up with Konica products and switched to Nikon, which I still shoot. Remarkably, one lens I bought in 1981 is still in my camera bag and is still used. Overall, the T3 is a good, but not great camera. Good lenses- the 50/1.7 is sharp. The Canon EF was a better camera and the Canon FD series of lenses were more extensive than Konica's own lenses. If you want a great 1970's AE camera, that is still quite usable, look for a Nikon FE, but that's aperture priority. If you insist on shutter priority, I think the Canon EF is the way to go.Read full review
Verified purchase: No
I once owned a Konica T which was purchased in the mid 70's. It was so well used that it was in deed of extensive repair. I was happy to purchase one on e-bay which was in excellent condition. It was and still is a great film camera. In my opinion film still beats digital for picture resolution and quality. It competes well with very expensive digital SLR's. I find it easier than most digital cameras to control all aspects of the picture taking experience such as focus, depth of field, exposure, etc. Admitedly I miss the ability to see my picture the instant it is taken and it will not replace my digital camera for everything but I do enjoy working with a 'simple' SLR again.
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