Lens mount
Konica AR mount
Konica AR is the 1965 bayonet with a 40.5mm register used by Konica Autoreflex SLRs and Hexanon lenses until 1987.
- Type
- bayonet
- Flange distance
- 40.5 mm
- Introduced
- 1965, Konica Auto-Reflex
- Status
- Discontinued in 1987 with the Konica FT-1.
About the Konica AR mount
Konica AR is the bayonet Konica launched with the Auto-Reflex in 1965 and used through the Autoreflex T series to the FT-1 of 1983, the last body, which was discontinued in 1987. The Autoreflex T of 1968 was the first 35mm SLR to combine TTL metering with shutter-priority automatic exposure, and the AR aperture ring reflects that heritage with an AE or EE position that hands control to the body. The flange distance is 40.5mm, the shortest of the mainstream 35mm SLR bayonets.
Konica's Hexanon lenses have a strong reputation for sharpness and build, and the AR mount's short register keeps them cheap because they never adapted to DSLRs: 40.5mm is less than Canon EF (44.0mm) or Nikon F (46.5mm), so infinity focus is impossible without optics. On mirrorless the calculation reverses and AR lenses need only a plain ring with more than 20mm of room to spare. Set the ring off the AE lock and the lens behaves like any other manual-aperture optic.
Aperture control
Automatic diaphragm with an AE (later EE) lock position on the aperture ring for shutter-priority bodies. Press the lock button and move the ring off AE to use the aperture manually.
Adapting it
Plain adapter ring. The 40.5mm register is the shortest of the classic 35mm SLR mounts, so AR lenses adapt to mirrorless but cannot reach infinity on any DSLR.
Konica AR lenses in the catalog
| Lens | Focal length | Aperture | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.7 | 50mm | f/1.7 | 1965-1980s | $40 to $150 |
| Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f/1.2 | 57mm | f/1.2 | 1965-1970s | $500 to $1,600 |
Adapting Konica AR to a modern body
Frequently asked
Can Konica AR lenses be adapted to mirrorless cameras?
Yes. Konica AR has a 40.5mm register, longer than any mirrorless mount, so a plain mechanical adapter reaches infinity on Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount. Plain adapter ring. The 40.5mm register is the shortest of the classic 35mm SLR mounts, so AR lenses adapt to mirrorless but cannot reach infinity on any DSLR.
What is the flange distance of the Konica AR mount?
The Konica AR flange distance is 40.5mm. It is a bayonet introduced in 1965 on the Konica Auto-Reflex. Discontinued in 1987 with the Konica FT-1.
How much do Konica AR lenses cost used?
The 2 Konica AR lenses in the LensVault catalog range from $40 to $1,600 used. The least expensive is the Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.7 at a typical $75. Values are estimates from recent sold listings and dealer pricing, not appraisals.