The 1960s can be considered the glorious era of RF (rangefinder) cameras, especially with the Japanese camera industry gradually posing a threat to Western camera brands during this period. When you pick up these cameras for appreciation in the 21st century, you'll undoubtedly be captivated by the solid feel of the metal body and the image quality of the large aperture standard lenses. If you're interested, you can easily collect these cameras on online auction websites.
The two cameras I want to introduce here are the YASHICA LYNX-5000 and the KONICA auto S1.6. The YASHICA LYNX-5000 was a gift to my grandfather from someone in Japan. It wasn't until I graduated from graduate school, and my grandfather found out about my interest in photography, that he took out this camera from the cabinet. At that time, the viewfinder had some mold, but the lens was still clean. The KONICA auto S1.6, on the other hand, was my father's camera, accompanying our family for over a decade until it retired with the rise of point-and-shoot cameras. Currently, both cameras are waiting for the right moment in my humidity-proof box.
60年代可說是RF測距式相機的輝煌時期，尤其是日本的相機工業更是在這個時期逐漸威脅到西方品牌的相機。在二十一世紀的今天再度拿起這些相機賞玩時，絕對會著迷於那金屬相機的扎實感與大光圈標準鏡頭的成像品質。有興趣的話上上拍賣網站，很容易就可收藏這些相機喔。
這裡要介紹的兩部相機分別是YASHICA LYNX-5000與KONICA auto S1.6。YASHICA LYNX-5000是祖父的日本有人送他的，直到我研究所畢業，祖父知道我喜歡攝影才從櫥櫃中找出這台相機，當時看機況，觀景窗有些發霉，鏡頭到還乾淨。KONICA auto S1.6則是父親使用的相機，陪過我們家五口有十幾年的時間，直到傻瓜相機開始流行後才退休。目前兩部相機都在我的防潮箱中等待時機重出江湖。
YASHICA LYNX-5000
During the era when RF rangefinder cameras were popular, YASHICA launched the flagship model LYNX-14, boasting a 1.4 large aperture lens. Subsequently, they released more affordable cameras such as the LYNX-1000 and LYNX-5000. The LYNX-5000 in hand features a 45mm f1.8 standard lens. Like the typical structure of RF rangefinder cameras, starting from the front of the lens, there are the shutter ring, aperture ring, and focus ring in sequence. The body has only the shutter button and the film advance/rewind mechanism. Even the film sensitivity adjustment and self-timer are designed on the lens barrel, giving the body a clean and minimalist appearance. The metering uses a non-coupled external metering system, requiring a PX-625A battery for operation. The rangefinder patch in the viewfinder is circular, providing a quick and clear focusing experience.
YASHICA在RF測距相機流行的時代，推出了旗艦機種LYNX-14，標榜了1.4大光圈的鏡頭，之後陸續推出了LYNX-1000與LYNX-5000等較平價的相機，手邊的LYNX-5000採45mm f1.8的標準鏡頭。如一般RF測距相機的結構類似，由鏡頭前方起算，依次是快門轉環、光圈轉環與對焦環，機身則僅有快門鈕與過/回片機構。就連底片感光調整與自拍計時器也都設計在鏡筒上，機身看起來相當簡潔。測光採用非連動式外部測光，需要一顆PX-625A的電池來驅動。觀鏡窗內的疊影區域是圓形的，對焦感覺快速且清晰。
YASHICA LYNX-5000 上視圖
YASHINON 1:1.8 f=4.5cm
KONICA auto S1.6
In the late 1960s, Konica also produced an RF rangefinder camera with a large aperture, similar in structure to most cameras of this type but incorporating what is commonly known as an "electric eye (EE)" automatic exposure system. The operation mode involves (1) using the shutter ring to link the size of the incoming light to the metering component (the slower the shutter, the larger the incoming light), (2) generating a current based on the size of the incoming light (larger incoming light results in a larger current), and (3) using the generated current to drive the aperture magnetic valve (larger current leads to a smaller aperture). The combined action of (1), (2), and (3) achieves a metering effect where the slower the shutter, the smaller the aperture, or the faster the shutter, the larger the aperture – a precursor to shutter priority functionality.
60年代末期Konica也堆出了標榜大光圈的的RF測，距式相機，結構上與大部分這類型的相機類似，但卻加入了俗稱「電眼(EE)」的自動曝光系統。其操作模式是 (1) 利用快門轉環連動測光元件的進光口大小(快門越慢進光口越大)，(2)利用進光量的大小來產生電流(進光量越大電流越大) (3) 利用產生的電流來驅動光圈磁閥(電流越大光圈越縮小)。綜合(1)(2)(3)的動作，即可達到快門越慢光圈越小或快門越快光圈越大的測光效果，可說是快門優先功能的起源。
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| KONICA auto s1.6 上視圖 |
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| HEXANON 1:1.6 f=45mm |
機身規格
詳細機身
規格比較
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機身
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YASHICA LYNX-5000
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KONICA auto S1.6
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生產者
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Yashica Japan
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Konica Japan
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發售年
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1962 年
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1967 年
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底片型式
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24mm x 36mm
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24mm x 36mm
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鏡頭
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YASHINON 45mm F1.8 (6群7枚)
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HEXANON 45mm F1.6 (5群7枚)
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快門型式
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鏡間快門
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鏡間快門
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快門速度
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B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500-1000
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B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500
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對焦方式
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手動測距式疊影對焦
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手動測距式疊影對焦
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測光
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外部測光
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外部測光+EE光圈連動
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自拍器
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有，機械式
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有，機械式
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閃燈同步
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所有快門
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所有快門
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閃燈接點
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有，X接點
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有，PC/X接點
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機身高度
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86mm
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82mm
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機身寬度
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127mm
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138mm
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機身深度
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74mm
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74mm
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重量
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710g
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770g
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